We will qualify for World Cup, insists Wilshere
ARSENAL midfielder Jack Wilshere expects England to win their final two World Cup qualifiers next month to achieve an automatic route to Brazil, despite their failure to beat any of their top rivals in Group H so far.
Roy Hodgson’s side drew 0-0 with Ukraine on Tuesday to move a point clear at the top of their group with home matches against Montenegro and Poland to come.
The stalemate in Kiev means England have only managed to beat minnows Moldova and San Marino so far in qualifying, making a target of six points from their final two games far from academic.
However, Wilshere is certain his team can progress.
“We have got two home games now. We expect to win our home games and if we do then we will be on the plane to Brazil,” he said. “So that was a good point in Ukraine.
“We wanted to win, but sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce for you. At half-time we said ‘it’s there to be one for us’ but, overall, we were happy as this is a difficult place to come.”
Wilshere was replaced by Ashley Young in Kiev, following a largely uninspiring 67 minutes, and his performance was criticised by former Liverpool stars Michael Owen and Dietmar Hamann.
However, the 21-year-old was earning just his 10th full international cap and felt playing alongside Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard – winners of 205 international caps between them – made his Ukraine learning experience worthwhile.
“It was my biggest international game, my first big one away,” he said. “It was good for me. It was a good experience.
“I had a lot of experience around me with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and they helped me.
“It always helps when you have that experience in your team. You can’t just give that to anyone. It comes over time. They have been there and done it.”