The 32: Hamann says mentality shift can see England win World Cup

German Dietmar Hamann has told The 32 that the big changes implemented by Gareth Southgate can see England go on to lift the World Cup.

Hamann, the special guest on Yahoo Sport’s fantastic World Cup show, thinks the Three Lions have impressed him more than anyone else in Russia.

Southgate tomorrow takes his team into the biggest game the country has seen since the 1990 semi-final.

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Unlike against his Germany back in Italy 28 years ago, Hamann is now backing England to make the final.

“They are playing with the ultimate confident and it’s a joy to watch,” said the former Liverpool man, who played in both the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. “The way they use the ball, they make it look easy and now there is every chance.

“England has been the most impressive team so far. Against Sweden they were magnificent.

“The way they performed, they were exceptional. You can’t play much better than they did.

“This is a World Cup where the unexpected has happened. England can beat Croatia and they could win the final.”

Hamann reckons the squad is actually weaker than before – but togetherness is strong than it has ever been.

“I don’t think the players are as good as they have been in the past, but it almost doesn’t matter,” he said.

“The style of play has changed and so have attitudes. I wouldn’t question the mentality of the players in the last ten or 15 years, I have played with a lot of them.

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“But in this situation everybody has got to be united. It has to be about the team not the person. In the past that hasn’t happened. Southgate wasn’t flash, he was a team player. That’s what sets him apart.

“When he came in he wasn’t worried about individuals or big names. He said he didn’t want Hart and he didn’t want Rooney. He knew there was a chance to make history. That’s why I think they can go all the way.”