Joe Cole knows a thing or two about playing on the biggest stages.
Premier League title deciders; UEFA Champions League nights; FIFA World Cups; the Academy of Football graduate has featured in them all.
In the early days of his storied career, the midfielder also played on the European stage with West Ham United, and Cole is loving every moment of watching his former side on their own European adventure this season.
The significance of Thursday’s UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg, against record six-time winners Sevilla, cannot be understated.
“It’s fair to say this is one of the biggest games in West Ham history,” Cole told whufc.com. “Certainly, recent history. This is a game that deserves the attention it gets. The boys have achieved a lot in terms of not just getting European football but getting the knock-out stages of European football back to West Ham.
“I think ‘resilient’ is the word I would use to describe the performance in the first leg. Sevilla is a very difficult place to go. It was arguably the hardest draw in the competition in the round of 16.
“West Ham have a squad that is not bathed in experience in the knock-out stages of European football, so to go there and put in that display, particularly during that part of the game where Sevilla started to get a foothold. The lads dug in, stayed in the game, and created chances. There is a lot to be positive about and, overall, that was a good performance.”
It was over 20 years ago that Cole and his West Ham teammates won the UEFA Intertoto Cup. The midfielder, then just a teenager, came on as a substitute in the second leg of the final in Metz, replacing Paolo Di Canio as the Irons overturned a 1-0 deficit to win 3-2 on aggregate.
While it was a proud moment for the youngster, Cole notes that Thursday’s match is an even bigger occasion.
“I was a young lad so I was just happy to be there, in the competition,” he recalled. “It was a great experience, winning the Intertoto Cup. I imagine it’s probably a similar competition to what the Europa Conference League is now.
“The expectation at West Ham has never been there, to get to this stage. So now we’ve had a taste of it, we want more, and the boys will want to make sure they’re doing everything they can to keep it alive. It’s uncharted territory.”
Having been impressed with the first-leg performance, Cole knows how important it will be for the Irons to get on the front foot against an experienced Sevilla side.
“The key word is bravery. The lads need to be brave and play. Big game players enjoy nights like these. You need coolness but you also need passion. It’s a hard level to get because you need so many aspects to it.
“The atmosphere is going to be unique. It’s going to be white hot. The crowd will be pushing the lads on. On the other side, the boys need to be cool, calm and collected. Getting that balance is what separates good players from great players and shows the players who belong at this level.
“The lads have achieved so much and they need to pat themselves on the back for that, but also be ready to go to battle to keep the dream alive.”
Speaking of the atmosphere, London Stadium is set to be packed full as a sell-out 60,000 crowd roar on David Moyes’ side against Sevilla on Thursday.
Cole believes the supporters will have a crucial job and could push the Irons to a famous result.
He added: “The fans know their job for this game. They need to turn up, get behind the lads and be as noisy as they can. They can push the lads on and make a real difference.
“When we moved to London Stadium, it was on the promise of big European nights like this one. So, most importantly, they need to enjoy it with their families and be proud of what the team has achieved so far. We’re all hoping the journey can continue.”
