Rio Ferdinand: Youth can help England succeed at Euro 2016

The former England centre-back, who won 81 caps for his country, says he can "sense a little bit that there is something coming'' from Roy Hodgson’s young squad.

The ex-Manchester United defender said: "When you have a group of young guys - it happened when I went to Leeds, I went into a dressing room full of young guys - [there were the] same interests and the same ways about you and that is a strong bond.

"The environment has to be created, a winning mentality has to be created by the manager - that is his job - the tactics are standard but the environment he creates really does set the tone and the platform for if you can be successful.

"A tournament can help create that as well, when you are confined to a space the bonding can really start. You travel and it starts snowballing into a momentum you can't stop, I hope that can happen with England.''

Ferdinand also lamented the loss of former team-mate Danny Welbeck, who will miss the tournament with a knee injury.

He said: "He is not underrated in the squad.

"People say he doesn't have the flashy moments and fans don't automatically think of him but in a team you appreciate Welbeck because there is more to him than any other striker with the work-rate.

"I think that is detrimental to his goalscoring attributes - sometimes he does too much outside the 18-yard box.”

Welbeck has an excellent record for England with 14 goals from 35 caps, though he has mustered just eight goals in 36 Premier League appearances since moving to Arsenal.

Ferdinand believes that once Welbeck recovers from his injury, he can blossom into a first class goalscorer with a few tweaks to his game.

"As a specimen he is frightening, but as a striker you get rated on your goals and assists and if he alters a few things he can become a top, top goalscorer.

"He will be missed.''