With the country in the middle of a recession, fans losing their jobs and football dragged through the mire by hooliganism this week, Cole knows the nation is in need of a boost.

And with England tantalisingly close to reaching the World Cup he hopes that victory over Croatia on September 9 can start to turn things around.

"We're so close at the minute it's starting to feel like we're on the way and it would be nice if we could make the country a bit proud of football again," said the Chelsea defender who was speaking at an event organised by England Team sponsors Nationwide Building Society.

"We've got a very big game coming up against Croatia and if we get a good result then we're virtually there. It would be a great achievement for the players and the country as well - and hopefully it would put a smile back on people's faces.

"We know what it did to the country when we missed out on Euro 2008.

"It put the country in a bad state - everyone was thinking we weren't good enough. But we've been very focused since then, we are top of the league and hopefully we can beat Croatia and get one back on them."

Cole has undergone something of a transformation himself since the fateful day 21 months ago when England crashed 3-2 at home to Croatia to miss out on the European Championship finals. He was not even selected in Steve McClaren's team that day and had to watch from the sidelines as it all went wrong.

But since then England have been transformed under the guidance of Fabio Capello while Cole, who was booed by England fans for a brief spell, has turned his career around too.

He was outstanding for Chelsea last season, being voted Players' Player of the Year and then man of the match in the FA Cup Final. And he has also rediscovered his best form for England - even if those old accusations that he always looks miserable just won't go away.

"When I play, that's how I play, I'm afraid," he laughed. "I'm not miserable - I am always laughing and joking along with my team-mates but it's right that people want you to treat it like a job when you play.

"I don't think other people laugh and joke all the time at work and I am not going to either.

"I take it seriously. I want to win and if people think I am moaning there's nothing I can do. I enjoy playing football, I love playing football. Yes, maybe sometimes I can be a bit moany but I won't change.

"There's a lot at stake. Right now I feel the fittest I have ever felt so all I want to do is keep trying to improve and keep trying to help the team win trophies.

"I love winning trophies and I love the feeling of winning - that's the kind of guy I am. And I want to do it with Chelsea and with England."