WORLD Cup legend Sir Geoff Hurst told Three Lions skipper Harry Kane: You can win it too.
Sir Geoff, hat-trick hero of 1966, said: “We can go all the way — no question.”
Victory against Croatia on Wednesday for Harry and Sweden goal heroes Dele Alli and Harry Maguire would set up a France or Belgium final.
Sir Geoff, 76, said: “We’re capable of beating all three.”
Sir Geoff believes the team can overcome unprecedented pressure to lift the trophy.
And he called on Gareth Southgate’s young team to use the dreams of a nation to spur them to victory.
Sir Geoff said: “Because of the media and social media, the coverage is a thousand times bigger now than it was back then.
“The players in Russia will be aware of what’s going on in the country.
“They will have seen the photos and footage of fans celebrating back home.
“They will know the nation is right behind them and the importance of it.
“They will be aware of how much responsibility they have to try to continue being successful and keep the country cheering.
“And that’s a good thing.”
He went on: “If you’d asked me before the tournament, I’d have been happy with this young team getting to the quarter-finals.
“But now, where we are sitting and with the way the draw has panned out, I believe we can go all the way, without question.”
The winners of Wednesday’s semi-final against Croatia will face Belgium or France in the final.
Sir Geoff, who hit a hat-trick when England beat West Germany 4-2 in the Wembley final, insisted: “We are capable of beating all three teams.
“The only team I would have feared playing against is Brazil.
That would have been a more difficult game, possibly the hardest one. So I feel we can win it.”
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Comparing ’66 with this campaign, he said: “We weren’t aware of everything going on in the country as we were kept in a bubble.
“We were not aware of the magnitude of the occasion.
“We were locked away. The only time we went out was after the first game against Uruguay when we drew 0-0 which wasn’t a good start.
“To give us a bit of a fillip we were taken to Pinewood Studios for the day.
“We watched one of the James Bond films getting shot and Kirk Douglas was there doing a film. We even saw Norman Wisdom.”
Sir Geoff, 76, also compared Gareth Southgate to ’66 boss Sir Alf Ramsey.
He said: “Sir Alf rightly gets the majority of the credit for the way we played, the players he picked and the tremendous team spirit he generated.
“Our camaraderie was excellent.
“Gareth is doing exactly the same.
“Just like Sir Alf he has also stuck by his players and has a very clear way of playing.
“Probably one big difference is that we had four genuine world-class players in Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves.
“This squad doesn’t have those type of players, they are all of a similar level.
“Maybe that’s because they are quite young and have their careers still in front of them.
“But if they win this tournament they’ll be regarded incredibly highly in this country for the rest of their lives.
“And believe me, I know what that’s like!”
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Former West Ham striker Sir Geoff also believes a second World Cup win for England would mean Southgate soon emulating Sir Alf in another way.
He said: “If we do win it, there is no doubt he will be knighted — and it will be Sir Gareth Southgate quicker than it was Sir Alf Ramsey.
“You get recognised more quickly these days.”
- SIR Geoff was speaking at the McDonald’s & FA Community Football Day in Swindon. These football days are taking place across the UK, giving thousands of children the chance to enjoy the beautiful game. Go to www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ communityfootballdays