'We have the confidence': Saka insists England can go the distance at World Cup

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] winger was part of Gareth Southgate's team that twice fell at the final hurdle in the European Championship and reached the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar in 2022.[/p][p]That came after a run to the semi-finals in Russia four years earlier.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saka-bukayo/08NLEo06/"]Saka[/a] was asked at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a]'s Kansas City training base on Monday what lessons the squad could take from recent tournaments ahead of their opening match against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a].[/p][p][b]"I think with each tournament it was a different lesson, especially reaching two finals," [/b]said the 24-year-old, who has 49 international caps.[/p][p][b]"I think it's mainly the belief. When I look around in the team I see the talent we have, the passion, the confidence.[/b][/p][p][b]"We have some real winners, some real leaders. With belief, I think we can go to the next step."[/b][/p][embed guid="f311ab7e-2780-4629-8871-3144fda11f52" url="https://x.com/England/status/2066290092495319196" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"I'm excited," [/b]he added. [b]"I think all the players are in good spirits. The vibe around the camp is good. We're just itching to get this first game underway and start our tournament."[/b][/p][p]Saka said Arsenal's Premier League title win had been a major boost.[/p][p][b]"I think for myself and the other boys from Arsenal, we have a confidence and a freedom that we can approach the World Cup in," [/b]he said.[/p][p][b]"I think that will definitely improve us."[/b][/p][embed guid="37888c0d-fb32-433f-b625-583c5c03b78a" url="https://x.com/England/status/2065929729459294625" social-type="twitter" /][p]England boss Thomas Tuchel said last week that Saka's fitness would have to be managed carefully after he struggled with an Achilles injury towards the end of the domestic season.[/p][p]But the forward, who returned for the climax to the campaign, announced he was "ready to go" [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/croatia-K8aznggo/england-j9N9ZNFA/summary/stats/?mid=b5qGuKMs"]ahead of Wednesday's game against Croatia[/a] in Arlington, Texas.[/p][p]England's other two opponents in Group L are [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a].[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]