David Beckham: England can win the World Cup

Former England captain David Beckham believes England has what it takes to win the World Cup next summer.

Beckham, now retired, was part of the ‘Golden Generation’ that was lauded as the set of players to win the country’s first major trophy since 1966, but players such asFrank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Ashley Cole and Michael Owen failed to deliver on their promise.

However, Beckham now thinks the current crop can go all the way in Brazil next summer.

“I’m always optimistic about when England go into competitions because I’ve been there, I’ve felt how it is when you go into a big competition,” he told Sky Sports News.

“Roy’s come in and changed the team around a lot, introducing a lot of young, talented players to the squad. When you go through a qualifying campaign, there’s always ups and downs, it’s like a rollercoaster.

“But when you actually reach the competition, once you’ve qualified, everyone calms down and everyone starts looking forward to the competition that’s coming up.

“I think you always go into competitions thinking you’re going to win it. It’s obviously very difficult because you come up against some of the best countries with some of the best players in the world.”

Beckham touched on one player in particular who he thinks has had, and can make more of, an impact on the international stage.

“But we have some young players coming through like Andros Townsend, who has come into the team and there’s a freshness now. He is playing without any worries and that’s great to see,” Beckham continued.

“He’s a player who hasn’t always been in the starting line-up, he’s gone out on loan a few times, but he’s now established in the England team.”