Since qualifying for the 2010 World Cup England’s fans have had their hopes of success once again rekindled. Chelsea and national team defender Ashley Cole says he too has high hopes that England will put on a good show and believes the national selection has the abilities to lift English football to a higher level by reaching the World Cup finals.

Following England’s guaranteed place in South Africa 2010 Cole maintains his opinion that people’s perception of the England team will be changed for the better. He believes that after their successful win against Croatia the smile was firmly put back on the faces of the English fans following England’s absence from Euro 2008.

England coach Fabio Capello has had dramatic results since he arrived at the English training camp. His campaign to renew the spirit of belief has worked its magic so far and proved to be a success as far as qualifying for the World Cup goes.

Cole who joined Premier League Club Chelsea in 2006 after leaving Arsenal has enjoyed a good run of form so far playing for the country. Despite being booed after giving a goal away against Kazakhstan the defender has more than proved his quality on the field.

When asked if the new positive outlook would alter his miserable looking image during play Cole replied,

“When I play, that’s how I play, I’m afraid. I’m not miserable I am always laughing and joking along with my team-mates but its right that people want you to treat it like a job when you play. I don’t think other people laugh and joke all the time at work and I am not going to either.”

Ashley Cole joined Chelsea FC in 2006 after transferring from Arsenal for £5million. His move came about the same time Chelsea lost world class defender William Gallas to Arsenal. After three seasons at Chelsea Cole was not only voted Player’s Player of the Year but also experienced his best campaign playing for The Blue during 2008/9.

Despite a series of injuries, the 28 year old has produced a record number of club appearances, some 49 in total and entered into the book of records as the only man in the modern football era to win five FA Cups. Two of these are with his current club Chelsea in both 2007 and 2008 and the three remaining with his former London club Arsenal.

Cole began his career at Arsenal in the youth team and made his debut for the Gunners during the Worthington Cup at the age of just 18. During his time at Arsenal he spent 3 months on loan to Crystal palace at the end of the 1999/2000 season. He was soon made first choice as a left back for Arsenal’s premiership team the following season and Arsenal went on to not only win the Premiership title but also that of the FA Cup. Cole was to enjoy a further two FA Cup titles before being plagued with a series of injuries. He transferred to Chelsea in September 2006.

On the international front Ashley Cole secured a place in Sven Goran Eriksson’s first squad making his debut against Albania in 2001. The 2002 World Cup saw Cole in all five England matches and in the Euro 2004 he was credited as one of the nation’s star performers.