Jack Wilshere knows the weight of a World Cup better than most. He was inside the England camp when expectation curdled into despair at Brazil 2014, a group-stage exit that left deep scars on everyone involved. That history makes his current optimism all the more striking.

In an interview with Sky Sports, the former Arsenal and England midfielder — now managing Luton Town — declared that this squad is fundamentally different from those that came before, and that he believes England can lift the trophy for the first time since 1966.

The Tuchel difference

Wilshere's confidence begins with the head coach. Thomas Tuchel, a UEFA Champions League winner during his time with Chelsea, arrived carrying the kind of elite managerial credentials England have rarely had at a World Cup. But for Wilshere, the most significant quality Tuchel brings is psychological distance from the burden that English football places on its own teams.