Jesse Lingard has revealed the England squad are in a confident mood ahead of Sunday's Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley.
The Manchester United midfielder has exchanged messages with Marcus Rashford and Declan Rice in the past 24 hours and said the squad sounded like they were ready for the biggest match the country has seen in 55 years.
Lingard was part of England's provisional 33-man squad before the tournament began but failed to make the cut despite featuring in pre-tournament friendlies against Austria and Romania.
But he's kept in touch with United teammate Rashford and Rice, who he played alongside for West Ham in the second half of last season, and he can sense confidence in the camp despite the scale of the occasion.
"I spoke to Marcus a little bit and Dec a little bit, they’re confident, that’s the only word I can use, everyone is thriving off the challenge and they’re more than ready to go," Lingard told Lions' Den.
"That’s the thing with late kick-offs, you have to wait for the game. Preparation is key, you have to fuel your body up, it will be a tough game, there will be a lot of running involved so diet and nutrition is key today."
Lingard might not have made the 26-man squad but he's continued to back the Three Lions during the summer and is expecting them to finish the job at Wembley tonight.
"It’s been really good. The boys have stuck together throughout the tournament, they’ve got their own principles of play, they’ve stuck by that and believed in it and that’s what’s got them to the final," he said.
"It’s difficult because I know the players inside and out, I know the qualities they bring, when they play like they’ve been playing, full of confidence and winning games, I well and truly believe they will win the final.
"Everyone has played a part, England is like family, we all stick together, whether you’re playing or not, for us as players who got left out we still support the boys, we’re fans, throughout the tournament I’ve been supporting them."
