Wednesday, 4th June, 2014
Ex-England full-back Kenny Sansom feels his nation will endure a “very tough” World Cup campaign in Brazil.
The Three Lions, who will play their penultimate World Cup warm-up game against Ecuador tonight, are in Group D of the showpiece event with Costa Rica and former champions Uruguay and Italy.
And although Sansom tipped England to reach the knockout rounds of the competition, the Arsenal legend remained apprehensive about his country’s chances at the World Cup.
The 55-year-old however, believes England can beat an “ageing” Italy team in their World Cup opener in Manaus on 14th June.
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"I have got to be honest, I think it will be very tough," Sansom told the BBC.
"You need some luck. You need your best players to be on top form.
“I think they will get out of the group stages – the Italy squad is quite old and I think with our youth we can defeat them."
Sansom, who amassed more than 300 appearances for Arsenal between 1980 and 1988, represented England in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups in Spain and Mexico respectively.
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