JACK WILSHERE lights up when he talks about England.
There is excitement, envy that he is not part of this team and belief that this could be the group of players who end our wait for a trophy.
And the former Three Lions midfielder — who could even have been in the squad but for career-ending injuries — thinks it is the pain of the “oh so nears” for this young group that can drive success this time.
Wilshere, still only 32, said: “I watched Man City’s documentary and at the end of it Pep said, ‘You know, we had to lose those finals for us to win this’.
“Sometimes, you have to go through those experiences, you have to feel that pain and it just gives you something extra.
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“Unfortunately, I never got to an international semi-final or quarter-final even.
“But when you hear Pep talk about that, I can relate that to England.
“They’ve been through the pain of Croatia, of Wembley in the last Euros, of France at the last World Cup.
“You have to use that disappointment and take it forward. With the highs we’ve had, now is like the next step. It feels like we have to win something.”
Wilshere, now imparting his vast knowledge and tactical nous on to Arsenal’s youth players as Under-18s boss, says the pressure of playing for your country is “just different”.
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But given the number of players in this current squad to have played huge Premier League-defining games as well as Champions League semi-finals and finals, he believes they now have the big-game mentality to get over those barriers.
SunSport columnist Wilshere added: “I remember coming off the pitch after a game in Ukraine and feeling like we’d done OK to get a point.
“Then people are saying it’s possibly the worst ever England performance — that certainly doesn’t help!
“But now, with the efforts in previous tournaments, there’s more pressure and it does take a certain type of player, a certain type of mentality.
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“I felt that when I played the pressure felt different playing for England but now it seems everyone is sort of pushing in the same direction and everyone’s positive.
“When I first got into the squad, it was just after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, it smashed us. And I went into the squad and I could definitely feel the mood was a little bit flat.
“But there’s a lot of big personalities and leaders now.
“Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, you know, the big games they’ve played. With Declan Rice, the way he leads.
“John Stones as well, how brave he is on the ball as a centre-back, you’ve got players that have that mentality.
“They’ve experienced that feeling. Now they’re a little bit older, wiser.
“We should be so excited as a nation to have these players, a lovely blend of tournament experience and youthful attack.”
Wilshere speaks with the authority of a coach, he is currently completing his Uefa licences and he discusses tactics and patterns of play with ease.
Hardly surprising, possibly, given that he grew up in an Arsene Wenger dressing room at Arsenal.
And he has seen up close the ability of Rice, first alongside him as a player at West Ham and now from the touchlines at Arsenal training and matches this season.
Wilshere is quick to correct me when I say he won 32 caps — it is 34 — adding: “I haven’t got the physical capabilities that Dec has. He just gets better week on week.
“He’s more than good enough on the ball and what he brings off the ball physically, he’s right at the top.
“I used to call him a freak physically but not just physically but technically as well. The way he trains, he’s a monster.
“This is a big tournament for him, he was great in the last one but this is a step on. He’ll show those leadership qualities and when Harry isn’t playing any more, for me, he’s the next England captain.
“His game intelligence has improved so much but he’s still young, there’s so much more to come.
“As a midfielder you scan, you take a touch, look and think you’re in space, then bang, Dec is there taking the ball off you.”
Wilshere showed during his Soccer Aid performance on Sunday that he has still got a trick or two up his sleeve.
He was the game-changer with a drag-back and assist, leaving legendary Chelsea keeper Petr Cech on his backside, for Ellen White.
And he thinks another Arsenal player he has seen up close, Bukayo Saka, could be the difference-maker this time around.
The focus has mainly been on Phil Foden, Bellingham and Cole Palmer.
Perhaps Saka’s quieter end to the season and groin injury has played a part but with him fit and firing, Wilshere believes England will take some stopping.
He added: “Bukayo is one of the nicest people I’ve met in the game. He’s so humble, always got time for the academy.
“But he’s a hard worker, he’s there first, he leaves last. He understands what it takes and you’re seeing the rewards of that work.
“The big thing for me with Saka is his decision making. He almost always makes the right decision!
“In big games everything gets heightened. You can feel a little bit more tense, a little bit more anxious but he still makes the right decisions.
“Whether it’s a one-two, a simple pass, a dribble and shoot, you rarely see him make a wrong decision. And as he works so hard, he’s executing everything so well.”
Wilshere accepts Kane’s role could change in this England team, with more ball players and more attacking players.
He added: “Kane is our most intelligent player. I’ve heard people say before, ‘He’s dropping too deep’.
“But he understands what the game needs, so he’ll work that out for himself.
“We’re going to have more players that can link now, we need someone in the box and who better than Harry Kane?”
So are we getting carried away?
Wilshere smiled and added: “Gareth’s a top manager, it is his job to manage those players and the expectations.
“He’s got the fans and the media — and obviously the players — on board.
“He and Steve Holland, a top-class coach, have done that so well and hopefully we’ll see all their hard work come together.”
