Time for Lions to beat the elite

Berlin in March 2016. But with the country having reconnected with the national team, England can expect a rousing reception from the 80,000 crowd as they aim to put that right against Spain.

Pickford’s family and friends have told him how the country was gripped by World Cup fever as England enjoyed their best campaign since 1990.

But the Everton keeper had a taste of it in the build-up to the tournament and expects an electric atmosphere tomorrow night and in Tuesday’s friendly with Switzerland at Leicester.

He added: “Hopefully our performances in Russia will lift the mood at Wembley. I was on the bench for the game against Costa Rica at Leeds and that was incredible.

“Then we’re on the road again at Leicester, which is a great way of showing the fans what we can do.”

The 24-year-old has already had a taste of his new-found national popularity after being applauded by Wolves fans at Molineux on the opening day of the season.

“I got a massive round of applause, which was really nice,” he said.

“That’s a difference. Sometimes, I’m looking behind thinking, ‘Is that for me?’. So I give the fans a clap.

“It’s about interacting. I think we won the fans back and the nation back. As a group of lads, we only want to get better.

“It’s just as important to do as much as we can off the field to give the nation a feel-good factor.”

Pickford welcomes the new Nations League, which could see the Three Lions competing for a major trophy next summer when the top four teams face-off in a mini-tournament.

He said: “It is going to give it a competitive edge, which is good because, as a group of lads, we’re competitive.

“We can only get better as a team by playing a competitive match rather than a friendly.”