Phil Jagielka hopes Roy Hodgson can provide "the missing ingredient" England need to cause a surprise at Euro 2012.
Jagielka accepts England head for Poland and Ukraine with expectations lower than at previous finals.
But the Everton defender is confident manager Hodgson can use his experience to inspire England next month.
"Hopefully he can find the missing ingredient to put us through to the latter stages," said Jagielka.
England's group games
11 June: France 1700 BST15 June: Sweden 1945 BST
19 June: Ukraine 1945 BST
Everton defender Jagielka was promoted to
Hodgson's final 23 man squad
after Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry was ruled out because of a torn muscle in his lower abdomen.
England are seventh in Fifa's rankings but the absence of
suspended striker Wayne Rooney
for the first two games of the tournament has dampened expectations.
In addition, Hodgson is only one match into his England reign after Fabio Capello's departure in February.
But Jagielka, 29, believes England, who face France, Ukraine and Sweden in the group stage , have the quality - as well as Hodgson's wealth of managerial expertise - to surprise.
Hodgson, 64, has managed clubs all over the world as well as the national teams of Finland, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates.
"I'm sure if we win a game, we will be favourites and, if we lose, we will be regarded as a waste of space," added the former Sheffield United player.
"I think he (Hodgson) can impose his ideas, the tactical knowledge and how he wants the team to shape up and how he wants us to play.
"We've all been playing for a number of years. It's not like it is a new game for us but he can put his thoughts across on the training ground.
"He and Ray Lewington will be out on the training ground getting us to play the way they want us to play.
Phil Jagielka and England
Caps: 11Starts: 8
Full games: 7
Debut: Trinidad & Tobago, 1 June, 2008
"It would be better for the squad if there was a little bit less expectation on us.
"Hopefully we can go under the radar until the latter stages of the tournament and get further than we have done before.
"If we are being realistic, we haven't won anything for a number of years now and maybe that is because we don't deserve to.
"Hopefully this time around we can perform a little bit better and see where it takes us."
Jagielka was not in the original squad for this summer, but impressed in his 90 minutes in the 1-0 friendly win away to Norway last Saturday .
"It was frustrating and disappointing not to be in the 23," he said.
"But the manager was honest and straight. He asked if I would be on stand-by and play a part against Norway."
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