Troy Deeney doubts football’s coming home and says he has seen little at the World Cup to convince him England will end 60 years of hurt.
The Three Lions are preparing for a huge quarter-final against Norway after a heroic win over co-hosts Mexico.
Thomas Tuchel may have been fearing the worst when his side were reduced to ten men at the Azteca but England held on to beat Mexico 3-2 and advance to the quarter-finals.
England’s next World Cup opponents Norway beat Ivory Coast in their first knockout game before stunning five-time winners Brazil.
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Deeney believes Norway will be ‘tough’ opponents for the Three Lions and while he expects England to progress to the semi-finals, he cannot see them getting past likely semi-final opponents Argentina.
Argentina looked set for a shock last-16 exit as they trailed Egypt 2-0 with half an hour remaining, but the World Cup holders produced an incredible comeback to keep their defence alive.
Lionel Messi and his Argentine teammates will be confident of progressing from the quarter-finals against Switzerland, who required penalties to edge out Colombia in the round-of-16.
World Cup favourites France are on the other side of the draw alongside Belgium, Morocco and European champions Spain.
‘England haven’t dominated one period of any game,’ former Premier League striker Deeney told The Sun. ‘My wife said to me the other day, that every time I speak about England, I sound like I hate them.
‘I don’t, I just have an expectation. It’s about what I’m told and what I see. We were told by Thomas Tuchel, we were going to be front footed and we were going to see a real different England.
‘I haven’t seen that yet in this tournament. My comparison is what he’s told me, not what I’ve made up. It’s not like I have this unrealistic expectation.
‘Every single game I’ve watched, I’ve been left with more questions. I don’t subscribe to the theory that because England won, we’re going to win the World Cup.’
Looking ahead to England’s quarter-final against Norway, Deeney added: ‘It’s going to be tough because we’ve struggled to break down well-organised low block teams.
‘They’re a big team, so they’re not going to be afraid of set pieces. In fact, they’re going to try to impose themselves.
‘Theirs is a together team, a team that has no fear, because every time they’re just making history. And they’ve got that fella [Erling Haaland] up front.
‘I’m expecting us to win but at the moment I’d still fancy Argentina to beat us in the semi-final if we both get there. It’s time we put a performance together.’
England are fourth-favourites to win the World Cup with the bookmakers behind Argentina, Spain and the top contenders France.
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