England Just Wants a World Cup Title.

LONDON: England midfielder Raheem Sterling insists the World Cup champions will be their target next month despite the three-legged Three Lions squad's record of failing to go a long way ahead.

Gareth Southgate's squad gathered at their base in Repino, southern Saint Petersburg next week in an effort to end the 52-year drought without a championship in the major championships since raising the World Cup in 1966.

Sterling was part of the England squad that had been eliminated at the group stage four years ago and humiliated by Iceland in the last 16 rounds of Euro 2016.

However, he does not agree with the assumption that England should be satisfied if they reach the quarter-finals.

"No, it's not a good achievement because we want to win it," he said at a pre-tournament media conference in England.

"I did not come here for four, five or six weeks in my life to say 'we see what's happening later and hope to qualify for the last 16 rounds'."

England captain Harry Kane also called on teammates to ignore negative impressions about their bad record at the major championships.

And Sterling believes they have a young and talented squad to hunt for that big dream.

"We have 23 players here, 23 very good players and you know we have a mentality to win the game," added the Manchester City star.

"Every player wants to win the World Cup, every country wants to win the World Cup, so other than that, it's not a bonus. You can certainly take it as positive but you will not be happy if you do not win it." - AFP