The best display by an England team in the World Cup, post 1966, was Italia 90. In that tournament England had the unbridled genius of Paul Gascoigne and a lame duck manager, Bobby Robson, who had already jumped ship and signed a contract with a Dutch club.

The players took over and played with freedom, commitment and self belief.

Now that hopeless Hodgson has done his selection duty, and done his worst, the sooner the players can get free of his influence the better. Hodgsons every move is designed to pacify some segment of his broader support from within the FA and the press. Without an original vision or dynamic impetus of his own he has decided to leave the left side of the English defence unsecured without Cole and used his attacking wild card on the industrial Lambert – when it is Andy Carrol who can really unnerve defences.

Undoubtedly he will want to drill the players into his rigorous defensive shape – and good luck with that Roy – but hopefully Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have been around enough quality managers to know what it really takes.

Roy got a bit red in the face when asked about winning it. He managed to mutter something about having “some hope.” England has the strongest football leagues in the world, produces great players and has fantastic clubs. Over 30% of the players in the best league on the world, the Premiership, are English. Getting them playing together to win a tournament should not be impossible.

If England are saddled with donkeys in the leadership function they do at least have lions on the field. Rooney alone has emerged from the Manchester United debacle with credit, Gerrard has led Liverpool magnificently and Lampard has been working alongside Europes most outstanding manager. Sterling and Sturridge have proved they can rip into any defence and there is the promise of more danger from Barklay, Wilshire and Oxlade-Chambelain.

England will set off knowing they have beaten Brasil and Spain at Wembley, knowing they play against the best every week and knowing the whole country is behind them. There is nothing to fear from any other team of eleven professional footballers, they just need to believe a bit more and have a bit of luck.

England may not have the greatest individual players but they have enough across the team. Our players play at the highest level every week. Our players are all lions from the greatest clubs in England. They are fine young men from the most popular sport played in our green and pleasant land. Yes, this year they can do it.

England will win the World Cup in Brasil.