England national team manager Roy Hodgson is a firm believer that you can win something with kids. If not the Euros themselves, then at the very least a new contract.
But why not the Euros? As refreshing as the youthful look to the 26 names on the initial list the England manager will run his eye over during the next 11 days before naming his final 23 is the fact that the man taking them into a major championships is not frightened to admit England can win it.
"When you go to tournaments you want to go with the desire and the hope you're going to win," Hodgson said. "It's happened in the past.
"Nobody expected Denmark to win it in 1992; nobody expected Greece to win the Euros as well; no one expected Leicester to win the league.
"Everyone's got to have that hope, everyone's got to have that dream, everyone's got to have that thought in their mind of 'who knows?'
"If we really play well, do our best and produce the type of football we can produce, which we've shown in quite a few games recently, who knows where that will lead us?
"Yes, I'd like to think it's a bit of a start in some respects."
When pushed on his belief that Euro 2016 could be the start of something, Hodgson, battle-wearied by thousands of press conferences, pointed out he was only responding to the question that had been put to him.
After all, he was given a free hit at the last European Championships when he was inheriting the political mess left by Fabio Capello's ill-timed departure with only a month or so to prepare.
Even in Brazil two years ago, all the talk was about building towards future tournaments with a young squad. And now, in the final weeks of Hodgson's contract, he knows it is time to deliver. But the youthfulness of his squad makes him keener than ever to do precisely that.
"Why would anyone, especially at this time when the England squad is on the brink of doing something good, why would anyone want to walk away?" he said.
"The fact is I'm available, I'm ready to carry on, I'm happy to carry on. It would depend on what the FA want, what the general public wants, although that's harder to judge of course. I shall wait to see. My focus at the moment is on this tournament and let's see what the tournament brings.
"But I've been involved in football a long time and I understand it's not always what you want, it's what other people want - and it's also about performances and results.
"The thing we can do, and will do, is work hard during this tournament to give those performances and get those results."
For as much as Hodgson wants to be seen to be an innovator by including Marcus Rashford in his early summer plans, the truth is the Manchester United striker is unlikely to get to France.
Instead, Hodgson plans to rely on those who have served him impeccably during the 100 per cent qualification programme that earned England their place in France.
Some, such as Eric Dier, Danny Drinkwater and Dele Alli, may have been late to the table, but the best seats have been reserved for those who have proved their worth more consistently - albeit not recently.
As a result, Hodgson was at the Emirates on Sunday to watch Jack Wilshere make his first start to the season and - after three 'man-of-the-match' performances in qualifying, he is determined to give the Arsenal midfielder every chance to prove his fitness.
"In the last game against Lithuania he was quite outstanding with two goals, but he broke his leg," Hodgson said. "These things do happen - I am not worried about him. He ticks all the boxes.
"Jack is there on merit. He is a special player. We don't have lots and lots of Jack Wilsheres available.
"The squad this time is obviously younger, with a lot of players who haven't got an awful lot of experience in terms of international football.
"But they've shown over the last games they are exciting, they're hungry, they're enthusiastic, they're energetic, there's a lot of running in the team.
"The one thing I'm sure of is they won't let anyone down for want of trying."
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