Terry's call: "We're England, no need to panic"

England and Chelsea's legendary former captain John Terry painted a highly optimistic picture of the national team's progress at the 2026 World Cup. Following the tournament closely, Terry urged fans to stay calm, voicing his belief that England will both get out of the group and go a long way in the competition.

For Terry, England's first goal is clear: get out of the group and, if possible, finish top of it. Reminding everyone that what follows is knockout football, the former defender said that at that stage you need a little luck as well as quality. Stressing that England's squad strength surpasses that of many rival nations, Terry said this would be a big advantage for the team.

The former captain highlighted the team's solidity, especially in defence. Saying they are very good defensively under Thomas Tuchel, Terry noted that many players in the squad arrive at the tournament full of confidence after a successful club season. He added that some players having played few minutes could be a positive in terms of arriving fresher. Coming from a man regarded as one of the Premier League's greatest centre-backs, this analysis is a morale boost for England.

Even so, Terry pointed to another name as the tournament favourite. For the former player, France are the strongest contenders with their vast and deep attacking options; Spain are also among the teams standing out for their possession game. Terry also stressed that the hot weather would be decisive in the tournament and that teams who like to keep the ball would be at an advantage.

As the most crucial factor for England's success, he pointed to keeping Harry Kane fit and firing. Terry said Kane has become a player who not only scores goals but dictates matches, dropping deeper to build play; for that reason, the pacey wide players who run beyond Kane (such as Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka) will play a key role. Having completed qualifying with eight wins from eight games and without conceding a goal, England, in line with Terry's words, are expected to keep their challenge alive at the tournament.

Image: Goal