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Marcus Rashford believes England can win the World Cup in Russia

England's striker Marcus Rashford attends a press conference at St George's Park in Burton-on-Trent on October 2, 2017
Image: Marcus Rashford has won 11 international caps for England to date, scoring twice

Marcus Rashford believes England are capable of winning the World Cup next summer.

England are currently five points clear at the top of Group F and need just a point from their remaining two games against Slovenia and Lithuania to secure automatic qualification for the tournament.

Currently ranked 15th in the world by FIFA, they have struggled at major tournaments for a number of years, but Rashford believes Gareth Southgate is building a squad that can compete for the top honours in Russia.

England's Marcus Rashford during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Group F match v Slovakia at Wembley Stadium, London
Image: England face Slovenia and Lithuania in qualifiers later this month

"We are doing our best to go there with a real plan and intensity to try and win the tournament," he said. "We are realistic, even with how we are playing against these teams in the qualifiers.

"But then we have to build our own plan once we get to the World Cup to try and win it."

Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane will be hoping to boost England at the 2018 World Cup
Image: England are five points clear at the top of Group F

England face Slovenia at Wembley on Thursday night before closing their qualifying campaign away in Vilnius on October 8.

Rashford believes the squad can take inspiration from World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton, who met with the current crop of international players at St George's Park on Monday.

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"[Bobby Charlton is] someone who has won it before. Well, that's the biggest inspiration we can have as players," said Rashford.

The FA have renamed England's training pitch at St George's Park after Sir Bobby Charlton
Image: Sir Bobby Charlton met with the England squad at St George's Park

"What he says to us and the information he gives us and the memories, these are things no-one else can give to us.

"We've had him at United for years, but just having little conversations with him and seeing him around the place, it can give us all a big boost."

WCQ

Watch highlights of England's World Cup Qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley from 10pm on Thursday on Sky Sports Football.

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