Gary Cahill reckons England’s match against Switzerland provides them with the perfect opportunity to rebound from their World Cup heartbreak.
The Chelsea defender was part of Roy Hodgson’s Three Lions squad that went out of the Brazil showpiece in the group stage.
And Cahill, 28, insists Hodgson’s new crop of young players have what it takes to renew the country’s faith in the national side – starting with next week’s Euro 2016 Group E qualifier.
Switzerland v England
European Qualifier
7.45pm BST, Monday 8 September 2014
St Jakob Park, Basel
Watch live on ITV
He said: "We've got a huge game on Monday and we know it is going to be very, very tough but it's a chance for us to bounce back in a game which really matters.
"It's certainly one of the hardest games for us in the group. It's a great opportunity for us to go and bounce back from the summer."
The Blues centre-half warned England fans would have to have patience with a "very young squad" as they found their feet at international level.
He added: "It's tough to come into an England team – never mind where there is so called doom and gloom out there – but the quality is certainly here."
England got back into action with a slender 1-0 win over Norway at Wembley in midweek, thanks to Wayne Rooney’s second-half penalty.
Gary Cahill speaks to the press
But Cahill conceded his team-mates will have to perform better in Basel when they take on the Swiss on Monday night.
He added: “In the first half I thought we dominated possession, we dominated the game. In the second half they made it difficult. Of course we can do better."
England came in for some criticism for their showing against Norway – their first match after their World Cup disappointment.
But Cahill pointed to the form of Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling, 19, as well as Wayne Rooney’s appointment as England captain as reasons to be optimistic for the future.
He said: "Before Wayne got the role he was a key part of the national team. He's vastly experienced, he's been through everything in football. Everyone's behind him.
“Raheem has also started the season terrifically well. He's still learning the game, but he's a fantastic young player for England."
