Wednesday, 11th June, 2014
Everton defender Phil Jagielka believes that the current England national squad are better and stronger than they were two years ago.
The Three Lions kick-start their World Cup campaign against 2006 champions Italy on 14th June in Manaus.
The Azzurri were in fact the opponents to show England their way out of the European Championship in the quarter-finals of 2012.
Even though the Everton man was frustrated by the loss, he believes that the current squad are capable of performing better than they did two years back.
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“I feel like as a squad we have got stronger since then," Jagielka told Everton's official site.
“There are only three games in the group and you need at least one win.
"It’s important to get off to a good start.
“Hopefully after the Italy game we will be happy and have teed ourselves up nicely.”
Manager Roy Hodgson has kept faith in a relatively young squad and will be hoping for them to deliver the goods for his team during the tournament.
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