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Cape Town - Everton defender John Stones reveals the England squad is quietly confident in their chances of winning the upcoming European Championship in France.
The Three Lions have not impressed at major competitions in recent years, but this will be Stones' first foray into international tournament football and he is brimming with confidence after being named in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad on Tuesday.
"It's tough because you don't want to put pressure on it, but I'd like to think we're among the contenders," he told Everton's official website: "I've been saying we're quietly confident to people, but obviously all the big teams will feel the same."
England have put in some good performances in the lead up to the Euros, which has given the confidence of the squad and the country's fans a big lift.
"We've beaten France and Germany since we qualified, which is a big boost and something that will hopefully stand us in good stead if we come up against them at any point," Stones added.
"If you're going to a Euros, you're going there to win it, because what's the point in not? We're proud as players and we want to make the nation proud too."
The Three Lions play an international friendly against Portugal at Wembley on Thursday before heading to France. Their first match of Group B will be against Russia on June 11.
