A father and his two children who have already spent £30,000 on their World Cup tournament journey said they felt like “something special” was happening with the current team.
Glenn Hawkins, 61, from Cholsey in Oxfordshire, his son, Howard, 31, and 28-year-old daughter Eve were dressed as three lions in Boston ahead of England’s second group stage game against Ghana.
Speaking about the Three Lions’ chances on Tuesday, Mr Hawkins said: “They’ll win by two.”
“At least,” Eve added.
Howard said: “Three for me – Harry Kane double, Rashford another one.”
Asked if it was the most optimistic he felt during a major tournament, Glenn Hawkins said: “I would say so, yeah. They’re under a good manager – good players, good system, good manager.”
Howard added: “The first game really got it going – it went back home, big. There’s something special happening for sure.”
The Oxfordshire family were quick to sing the praises of the current England squad.
Commenting on what felt different at this World Cup, Glenn Hawkins said: “I think we’ve got a really positive intent, there’s an energy about the team.
“I think the manager’s got a clear idea about what he wants to do and the support has been incredible, so much better than Qatar.”
Howard added: “It’s much better football.
“I think everyone says the same thing – we’re forward, we’re quick, we’re aggressive, we’ve got wingers that are quick, everything’s direct.
“When you find Kane it’s in the back of the net, isn’t it? Come on England.”
The family, who have been to every major tournament with England since the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, have already spent £30,000 on their latest tournament journey.
Mr Hawkins said: “We started off in Mexico City for the opening match, then we went to Monterrey for Tunisia against Sweden, then to Dallas for the England game, then to Philadelphia for Haiti against Brazil, then we’ve come here.”
Eve added: “And hopefully a lot more to go.”
“We’re following until they go out, which is the final when they win it,” Howard said.
Asked how much the tournament had cost so far, Mr Hawkins said: “Don’t, because the wife’s watching. I paid for three, and I’m already £30,000 deep.”
Speaking outside a bar in Patriot Place, which is a short walk from the Gillette Stadium, Eve added: “Ninety-seven dollars (£73) it just cost me for six cans of Stella.”
“It is what it is and we love it,” Howard said.
Another family of England fans said they believed the Three Lions would beat Ghana “pretty heavily”.
Andy Chard, who is in his 60s, and originally from Stevenage in Hertfordshire, said: “We’ve got a good chance, I think 4- or 5-1, something like that.
“I think they’ll score, but I think we’ll beat them pretty heavily. It’s English weather.”
Andy had the St George’s cross painted across his face, alongside 39-year-old Tim Chard.
Tim, who was born in Sheffield, said: “We’ve already bet money on it. Forty to 50 dollars, we’re not that die-hard.”
The pair said they paid 600 dollars (£453) for tickets to the game at the Gillette Stadium.
Andy said: “We bought them on the Fifa site, we didn’t want to take a chance.”
Speaking on England’s chances for the tournament, Andy said: “I think they have a good team, I like the manager.
“I’m not so sure about the defence, though. I think they’re a bit dodgy every now and then – but we’ve got enough firepower to overcome that.
“They’re just more purposeful and want to go forward rather than just passing the ball around and more focused.”
The Three Lions secured a statement 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas in their tournament opener, leaving many fans confident of the team’s chances in the tournament.
More than 14,000 supporters are expected to have travelled to the Massachusetts city for the game – enduring high ticket costs, transport prices and parking charges.