Former Ipswich and England star Kevin Beattie is confident the country will be celebrating a place in the World Cup Final by the time the sun goes down this evening.
Gareth Southgate’s men take on Croatia in Moscow, looking to reach the final for the first time since Sir Alf Ramsey’s men lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy on home soil all the way back in 1966.
Beattie, who played nine times for England and was part of Sir Bobby Robson’s great Ipswich sides of the late 70s and early 80s, believes Croatia will provide a tough test but expects Southgate’s men to prevail.
“You have to feel confident, that’s the main thing,” he said.
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“We’ve got this far so what’s stopping us from going even further? You have to have faith, you really do.
“It’s so difficult in these games but you have to believe in yourself. That’s what the players are doing, it’s what the fans are doing and it’s magnificent.
“I’ll be going out to watch the game and I think we’ll do it, I really do.
“Croatia are a good side and (Luka) Modric and (Ivan) Rakitic are superb players but we have the players to do it.
“Everyone was brilliant in the last game, that’s what Gareth’s done – he’s got us working as a team.
“It’s going to be difficult but I fancy us.”
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Beattie has been impressed by the way Southgate has created a united front at this World Cup, with supporters up and down the country dreaming that football might, just, be coming home.
“I’m just so proud of all the squad and Gareth because they’re all working together and doing the country proud,” he said.
“I never thought I would see this day come but I am so happy I have. To see these players come to the fore under Gareth is different class.
“I wasn’t too sure about Gareth when he was appointed to be honest but he’s got everyone on the same page now, the players, the media and the fans.
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“My phone is going off all the time with people talking about the World Cup and he’s really got the country together again. It’s fantastic.
“The Boss (Sir Bobby Robson) did that in 1990 and, since then we’ve had Terry Venables (at Euro 96) but not really anyone else who has managed to get the country together. Everyone’s been off the page and I’ve never had confidence in the team.
“Nobody really thought we were going to get this far but here we are and I can’t wait.”
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