Despite a disappointing World Cup, Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling is confident that the future is bright for England.
The World Cup could not have gone much worse for Roy Hodgson's side, whose terrible performance in Brazil was underlined by the fact they collected just a single point.
There has been little time to get over that disappointment, though, as nine weeks on the squad have reconvened ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Norway and opening Euro 2016 qualifier in Switzerland.
An inexperienced, new-look group has been selected for the matches, which Sterling is hopeful can mark the beginning of a positive new era.
"It was a disappointing time," Sterling said.
"This is the first time we've met up and we're looking forward to the exciting times ahead with the talent we have got in the squad.
"We were working hard in training today, the lads that have been recovering as well, so we've all been working hard to make sure there are exciting times ahead.
"Obviously today is the first day we've been together so it has been really good to know some of the new lads. It is a new chapter."
Talk of a new era is rife in the build-up to Wednesday's friendly at Wembley, although the players are not being allowed to just forget their World Cup failings.
Rather than sweep the episode under the carpet, Hodgson is analysing England's performance with his players to see how they can best move forward.
"The manager sat us down briefly (on Sunday) and tried to go through what he thought we did well, what we could have done better, tried to analyse where we can go from here," Sterling said.
"I think that is the best thing to do, really, to try and make we don't repeat that disappointment at our next major tournament.
"He has definitely started (analysing it) already and it is a good thing everyone gets it clear what we could have done better and what we did well, which was playing some good football at times."
Sterling will be key to maintaining that good, attacking philosophy shown in flashes during the tournament. So too will Wayne Rooney.
As well as being the star player, the Manchester United forward was last week handed the captain's armband following Steven Gerrard's international retirement - a decision which has Sterling's full backing.
"He is a player that has been playing at the top level for many, many years, from since he was a teenager until now," Sterling added.
"He is someone I am really looking forward to learning off and gaining experience off. I'll try to take some stuff that he has done throughout his career into my own game."
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