Stand-in captain Steven Gerrard is confident England's "dark days" are behind them and believes they can achieve trophy glory if Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney start scoring regularly for their country.
Gerrard has been part of the England side which has often flattered to deceive and reached a low when fans booed them off the pitch at half-time during the March Euro 2008 qualifier with Andorra in Barcelona.
But since then the signs have been more encouraging and back to back wins over Israel and Russia have put England's hopes of qualifying for next summer's finals back in their own hands.
The 27-year-old feels Steve McClaren's side can become even better and take that step to the next level if Rooney and Owen click as a partnership - starting with Saturday's home game with Estonia and the return with Russia in Moscow four days later.
It will be the first time the pair have started under McClaren and they last appeared in the same side when Owen sustained his knee ligament injury in the World Cup encounter with Sweden in Germany 16 months ago.
The Liverpool midfielder, who will deputise as skipper for the injured John Terry, said: "We've had some bad times as a team but we have improved from those times and I don't think you will see us go back to those kind of games.
"Everyone is confident and looking forward to the games in the future. We know we are a good side. We've just got to try and find some consistency.
"What were the bad days? I am talking about winning one game, and then putting in a bad performance, the inconsistent days.
"It was difficult times. When you are not getting the results you want and a lot of criticism, it is difficult but you've got to get on with it and be man enough to take that on the chin and try and improve.
"All good teams go through stages like that. I think the mental strength has improved but also the thought of under-achieving drives you on.
"We know we've got good players and talent. If we don't achieve something we'll be gutted. Now we've come off the back of two good wins and performances and we need to move forward from that."
Gerrard has been impressed with Rooney since his return from a broken metatarsal and he is confident he can be as effective alongside Owen as was the now injured Emile Heskey against Israel and Russia.
Gerrard said: "He has missed big games where he would have been able to play well. If Wayne gets a run in the side and stay fit, there is no reason why Rooney can't do for England what he does for Manchester United.
"The ability and talent is there. He has been sharp in training and I am sure he is confident he can play well for the country. Wayne can do as well as Emile did in the last couple of games.
"If Michael and Wayne score goals for England, it will take us to the level we want to be at. To achieve something big for England, you need forwards performing to their level and scoring big goals.
"If both of them are scoring goals and playing well, we are confident we can beat anyone."
But since then the signs have been more encouraging and back to back wins over Israel and Russia have put England's hopes of qualifying for next summer's finals back in their own hands.
The 27-year-old feels Steve McClaren's side can become even better and take that step to the next level if Rooney and Owen click as a partnership - starting with Saturday's home game with Estonia and the return with Russia in Moscow four days later.
It will be the first time the pair have started under McClaren and they last appeared in the same side when Owen sustained his knee ligament injury in the World Cup encounter with Sweden in Germany 16 months ago.
The Liverpool midfielder, who will deputise as skipper for the injured John Terry, said: "We've had some bad times as a team but we have improved from those times and I don't think you will see us go back to those kind of games.
"Everyone is confident and looking forward to the games in the future. We know we are a good side. We've just got to try and find some consistency.
"What were the bad days? I am talking about winning one game, and then putting in a bad performance, the inconsistent days.
"It was difficult times. When you are not getting the results you want and a lot of criticism, it is difficult but you've got to get on with it and be man enough to take that on the chin and try and improve.
"All good teams go through stages like that. I think the mental strength has improved but also the thought of under-achieving drives you on.
"We know we've got good players and talent. If we don't achieve something we'll be gutted. Now we've come off the back of two good wins and performances and we need to move forward from that."
Gerrard has been impressed with Rooney since his return from a broken metatarsal and he is confident he can be as effective alongside Owen as was the now injured Emile Heskey against Israel and Russia.
Gerrard said: "He has missed big games where he would have been able to play well. If Wayne gets a run in the side and stay fit, there is no reason why Rooney can't do for England what he does for Manchester United.
"The ability and talent is there. He has been sharp in training and I am sure he is confident he can play well for the country. Wayne can do as well as Emile did in the last couple of games.
"If Michael and Wayne score goals for England, it will take us to the level we want to be at. To achieve something big for England, you need forwards performing to their level and scoring big goals.
"If both of them are scoring goals and playing well, we are confident we can beat anyone."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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