Paul Merson tells Gareth Southgate how England can win the World Cup

England must play on the ‘front foot’ and with more ‘flamboyance’ at times if they want to win the World Cup later this year, according to Paul Merson.

Gareth Southgate has led the Three Lions to the brink of glory – reaching the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and European Championship final in 2020.

But his side have faltered in the crunch moments, with the Qatar World Cup providing the opportunity to go that one step further.

Before then, England have Nations League matches against Hungary, Germany and Italy to contest.

Those games will provide Southgate the opportunity to assess his squad and who will make the trip to Qatar in November.

If his side harbour ambitions of winning the tournament, former Arsenal and England winger believes Southgate must ditch his defensive-minded approach.

‘There are plenty who will feel they have points to prove for England over these Nations League games starting on Saturday night – and Gareth Southgate should be top of the list,’ Merson told the Daily Star.

‘It is not the World Cup for all that we are in a decent group and there are no Mickey Mouse games. You cannot replicate the pressure that is going to be on Gareth and his side when we get to Qatar. But what these four games against Hungary, Germany, Italy and Hungary again offer is a golden chance to show that we have moved on from the European Championships.

‘And for me it is the boss who has to show he has learned lessons. Gareth had a great opportunity in the Euros. If they were a boxer they had Italy on the ropes 1-0 up in the final and they were all over them. Instead of going for the killer blow they put their arms up and tried to defend it.

‘That was Gareth’s big mistake and he has to show he has changed. Gareth played