Carl Jenkinson: "No reason" why England can't win World Cup

Arsenal right-back Carl Jenkinson has insisted that England can win the World Cup in Brazil this summer.

Roy Hodgson's men go into the tournament with a low level of expectation on them that has not been prevalent on English shores for some time.

However, despite having acknowledged the quality of player that many other nations possess, 22-year-old Jenkinson believes that if the Three Lions play to their capabilities, "there is no reason" why they cannot be celebrating in Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium in July.

"If you go to a World Cup, you go to win it. You don't go to a World Cup to get to a certain stage. Being totally honest, it's going to be difficult, but there is no reason why we can't win it," the defender told Sports Mole.

"We've got a fantastic group of players that play in the best league in the world. When you look at some of the other countries and the strength of their squads it's going to be very hard, but if we play to our potential, why not? It's possible."

In addition, Jenkinson, who has been capped at senior level once and is a current England Under-21 international, believes that Hodgson's men can use the absence of major pressure on their shoulders to their advantage.

"The less pressure, the more possibility it gives the team to play with freedom. It's never nice playing when you know that there is an awful lot of pressure on the game because sometimes you don't play as well as you can do," he said.

"There is a lot more pressure on other teams this time around, which could work in our favour. England can use the lack of expectation as a positive."

Carl Jenkinson, the England Under-21 defender, was speaking from Drive Vauxhall, Bury St Edmunds, where he presented local football teams with their kit on behalf of the Vauxhall Youth Programme.