England are well prepared to beat the Netherlands and lift the first Nations League title this week, but shouldn't get too excited about it, according to John Barnes.
Gareth Southgate's Three Lions take on the Netherlands in Guimaraes tonight as they look to join host Portugal in Sunday's final.
The Nations League was brought in by Uefa to revive international football, with friendlies having become exceedingly dull affairs in recent years.
The group stages proved a tremendous success with fans and players while, although the first half of last night's semi-final will have left many from Uefa concerned of an anti-climax, Cristiano Ronaldo dazzled with a sublime hat-trick on Wednesday.
He and the hosts await England should they get past the Dutch, something Barnes thinks they are capable of.
"Of course they have got a great chance, they have only got two games and of course they are a very good side," Barnes, ambassador for Bonus Code Bets, told Standard Sport.
"They can beat anybody on their day so of course they will have a good chance, Holland are also a very good team. They have come back to where they were after a couple of years in the doldrums."
After a World Cup semi-final last year, a first piece of serious silverware for England would mark a big step towards major honours, but Barnes does not think it would be too important.
"Is it a significant achievement? No," he said.
"Winning the Euros or the World Cup is a significant achievement, winning the Nations League isn’t."
Barnes, an ambassador for Bonus Code Bets, added: "But of course it gathers a bit of interest because you’re giving a trophy for what in my opinion is a glorified friendly, to create this Nations League when you’re still playing friendlies is just to gather a bit more interest.
"Maybe later on in life it will take on a different dynamic but as it is the first one I think everyone is a bit non-plussed."
