As Fabio Capello continues his scouting mission at Euro 2008, the England Manager remains focused on how his team must perform to ensure they are part of the next major tournament.
Having seen Croatia overcome one of the pre-tournament favourites in the form of Germany, Capello says that England must unite as a group to be successful.
When asked what would allow England to meet the hope and expectations of a nation, Capello said: "I think my experience and the experience of some players. You have to get up all as one group, for me the group is very important, and play like a club.
"The expectation for me is normal, we are a very big, important football national, we have to play to win."
Capello also anticipates facing the Croatia that impressed against Germany, as opposed to that which narrowly squeezed past Austria in their opening game.
"I think we will play the same Croatia that played like they did against Germany, we will face this Croatia.
"The spirit of the Croatians, not only the Croatians, but all the teams, means that when they play against a big team, a famous team, they play better.
"Croatia is a new nation, a new country, the spirit of the nation is very high. We must try and have this spirit."
In addition to spirit and playing as a group, Capello believes that leaders within the team are a vital part of a functioning football side.
"Some players are very important as
leaders, in every team and every club," Capello explained. "I think after one game more I see the players who are the leaders.
"I have been lucky because I have had a lot of leaders. In Milan three or four, Baresi, Maldini, Van Basten, Rijkaard, Ancelotti was a leader.
"At Roma, there was Aldair, Batistuta and Emerson. In Madrid, Hierro, Raul, who was very good, very important."
When relating the importance of leaders, and the much-debated question of the captaincy, Capello appreciates that it has an added significance in England.
"It is very important because in the other countries it is normal that they give it to the player with the most caps, in England it is different," Capello admitted.
"I have always said that, here in England, it's not only for exchanging the pennants at the start of the game. You have to be a leaders on the pitch. And off the pitch, everyone is nice and all the players must know their responsibilities to the children (who follow the game)."
Finally, Capello spoke about the rich experience of taking charge of a nation's footballing hopes and dreams for the first time, and admitted it was very different to club football.
"I've been manager at clubs, but for the first time I understand what national football means.
"The culture is not only two million, three million fans, it's one nation. The passion is very, very different. The people, the flag; the Chelsea fans, the Manchester fans, but it is England's flag."