Sunday 7 September 2014 11:33, UK
Danny Welbeck feels the disappointment of the World Cup this summer will drive England to do much better in the European Qualifiers.
Their first serious test since going out in the group stage in Brazil comes on Monday in Basel when they face a tough Switzerland side which made it to the last-16 before losing 1-0 to eventual losing finalists Argentina.
Welbeck says the bitter taste of defeat, especially the key reverse against Uruguay, will live with him for a long time, but he feels it can also act as an inspiration for future success.
"After the Uruguay game in the dressing-room, the players felt the disappointment of the nation," said Welbeck, who recently left Manchester United for Arsenal.
"It's one of those moments you will remember forever and you keep it with you.
"But I have had plenty of those moments in my career, it has only driven me on to do better things.
"I remember when we lost the Premier League on the last day of the season (in 2012) with Manchester United and the manager told us to never forget that moment.
"The next season we won the league (by 11 points) and it's something that is always in you that you know what that feeling is like and you don't want to feel it again.
"I don't think we got bullied or obliterated at the World Cup. The two results didn't go our way.
"We have got a lot of talent in the squad, all over the pitch, but we have got to get off to a good start."
England captain Wayne Rooney hopes Welbeck's move to Arsenal can be of help to England, especially if he gets more chance to play as an out-and-out striker, as seems likely at least until Olivier Giroud returns from a serious ankle injury.
Although Rooney would love Welbeck to have stayed at Old Trafford, he feels playing up front could prove to be vital to the international side, where he might start in Basel in the absence of the injured Daniel Sturridge.
"Danny is a lively player, an impact player. He is quick, he can score goals and I am sure with him getting the move to Arsenal now, hopefully he can play up front for Arsenal, that will really help him with England," Rooney said.
"He is a Manchester lad and I spoke to him a few times, it was a really tough decision for him to move, but for his professional career, he felt he had to.
"Hopefully he can get a few games up front which would benefit him for England."
Rooney is also keen England make a quick start to the qualifying campaign, adding: "It is going to be a tough game we know that, but we have to focus and work on things which we feel we can expose them.
"We have to play better than against Norway obviously to get a good result, and I am sure we will learn from that game.
"It was important we came back after the World Cup to get that victory - but now the real business starts on Monday."
