Emile Heskey, who represented England at two World Cups, knows well what it takes to handle the immense pressure of football’s biggest stage.

The former England striker emphasises that the Three Lions need to maintain a positive mindset and ignore outside distractions if they aim to end their six-decade-long wait for World Cup glory this summer.

The ex-Liverpool and Leicester City forward earned 62 caps for England over an 11-year international career, featuring in both the 2002 and 2010 World Cups.

Throughout his career, Heskey became familiar with the intense scrutiny that comes with wearing the England shirt—a pressure that has only grown stronger in the age of social media.

To thrive in tournament football, Heskey believes confidence and freedom within the squad are absolutely essential.

“They need to stay upbeat,” Heskey, who played in nine World Cup matches and scored once, told FourFourTwo. “You can’t take negativity into the first game – you have to play with freedom.”

The 2010 campaign in South Africa started poorly with a draw against the USA, setting the tone for a disappointing tournament that drew sharp criticism from fans and the media alike.

However, Heskey insists that players can shut out the outside noise while staying together in the team hotel.

“It’s actually easy to stay away from social media,” he explains. “Many players choose to log out and concentrate completely on what they’re doing on the pitch.

“You can create your own bubble, which helps. You don’t really pay attention to what others are saying.

“The only time you might hear things is when family or friends mention them.”

Heskey also noted how different managers deal with external pressure in their own ways, recalling Kevin Keegan’s unique approach during his first major tournament in charge.

“When I went to Euro 2000, Kevin Keegan used to lay out all the newspapers in front of us, showing what was being written. But not everyone handles that the same way – some players use it for motivation, while most would rather not see it.”

“These days, the smartest move is to log out, block out the noise, and stay focused on the mission ahead.”

— Joe Donnohue, Senior Digital Writer