THESE LIONS HAVE MORE TALENT THAN THE GOLDEN GENERATION

KYLE WALKER believes the current Three Lions squad has more natural talent than England’s Golden Generation.

England never got past a quarter-final in the days of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Joe Cole during the 2000s when they were supposed to deliver a major trophy.

But Walker, 32, reckons his current England team-mates are more technically gifted and less about having a bulldog spirit.

Walker, the veteran of a World Cup semi-final and Euros final, said: “I think you see the likes of Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish, Declan Rice (above, with Mount).

“These players are not what we’ve seen growing up from the England team, where it was about wearing your heart on your sleeve and you go out and your hard work gets you through the games.

“Obviously that’s no disrespect to any of the players – Wayne Rooney, Joe Cole, David Beckham. These players had an array of talent but probably not as much talent as what these have got. It’s a joy that the English game is actually developing in that way.”

Walker believes the current squad now have a knack of going deep into tournaments which he puts down to three qualities.

He added: “I think the players is one, I think the manager has to take a lot of credit is two and I think luck is three. You need a little bit of luck in tournaments. You need certain things.

“Even when we were in the Euros and Harry Kane misses that penalty and then gets the rebound. If (Denmark keeper) Kasper Schmeichel saves that and he parries it away, is it a different way? Who knows?

“But in certain moments and certain games you need your big players to step up and to have that little bit of luck.”