ENGLAND legend Peter Shilton says fans should be “optimistic” about the Three Lions’ chances going into the World Cup.
Ahead of Harry Kane and co kicking off their bid for glory tomorrow (MONDAY), the ex-international goalie told GB News: “I’m very excited.

There’s been a lot of talk about political things which I suppose you’re going to get with Qatar staging the World Cup. When they were awarded the World Cup, everybody was surprised for different reasons, mainly football-wise because of the climate. But we’ve stopped our season and we’re there now and I think now we’re there we should concentrate on football.

“It is the greatest football tournament. It’s going to be a test really, because of the climate, who can cope with it, game after game in very hot conditions.

Certainly, looking at England, we’ve got a lot more experience of big tournaments, the last World Cup we finished in the semi-final and the Euros we got to the final.
“We’ve got some good young players coming through too. I think we should be optimistic, but it is an open World Cup with four or five teams who I think they’re capable of winning.”

On Wales’ chances he added: “I think Wales, they’ll do okay. I don’t think they will have any chance of winning it but they have a lot of pride and a lot of skill. I think they could do well.”

Asked how players focus on the game rather than the expectation placed on them, the Shilton said: “The players won’t know what’s going on back in the UK because they will be away in hotels, and they will be resting and preparing. Maybe, with the internet now, they’ll catch a bit of it but certainly when we lost on penalties in the Semi-Final in 1990, we were so surprised when we came home.

“But I’m sure that the lads will be aware that the country is expecting big things. We’ve set a standard now and they will want to give 100%. You don’t go to the World Cup and not give 100%. I think we’ve got the balance now between experience and youth. So I’m very optimistic but I think the first game is going to be a tough one against Iran. They’re very difficult. They’re very difficult to break down, they’ll sit back and then they’ll break. But get a good result there and I think we’ll start flying then.”