Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker believes England will not get past the group stage at the World Cup this summer.
Germany, amongst others, have been tipped as favourites for next month’s major tournament and the 29-year-old is keen to show his class on the biggest of stages.
But with England drawn in a tough looking group which includes Uruguay and Italy, Mertesacker has taken a swipe at the English - claiming they will definitely not go past the group stage.
"The English are just as sceptical and still hark back to their past -- 'We can't do penalties' or 'We always lose against Germany.' Stuff like that," Per told ESPN
"We told the English players they are going to be eliminated by Italy and Uruguay [in the group phase]," Mertesacker said. "But nobody, no matter from which country, has enough confidence to say: We'll knock you all out in Brazil."
Asked why that was the case, he replied: "At clubs we all play a very fast, hard-running style of football now and no one really knows to what extent that can be implemented in those tropical conditions.
"I've never been to Brazil, but the trip to Florida last summer gave us a clue - that feeling of not being able to get enough air into our lungs, feeling exhausted after five minutes. More than ever, team spirit and total fitness will be decisive at this World Cup."
Nonetheless, Mertesacker is viewing this as his last chance to be crowned a world champion.
Asked whether Brazil might be his last World Cup, he replied: "It could very well be. I have told the Bundestrainer [Loew] that should he think there are new lads for my position then I will be the last person to make a fuss.
"I have been a national team player for 10 years, and have won absolutely nothing -- runners up, all the time," he joked.