Former England defender Jamie Carragher fears that the Three Lions will find it ‘tough’ during the World Cup this summer.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have one final warm-up game against Costa Rica to navigate on Wednesday night before they face Croatia in their tournament opener next week.
And with anticipation growing ahead of this summer’s showpiece in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, Carragher has shared his thoughts on England’s chances.
‘I do have a little fear,’ Carragher said on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet. ‘I think England will find it tough in this tournament, if I’m being totally honest.
‘You look at the squad that’s been picked and there’s a lot of good players in there, but I class a lot of them as good Premier League players.
‘I don’t look at all of them and think, that’s an international player there, and maybe that’s just where we are with the squad at the moment. So, I wouldn’t say I’m the most optimistic right now.’
Jamie Carragher has said that he is not ‘optimistic’ about England’s chances in the World Cup
One of Carragher’s biggest fears is over the squad that Thomas Tuchel has selected
One of Tuchel’s biggest calls this World Cup will be who starts in the No.10 position behind Harry Kane.
Morgan Rogers started there in England’s slender 1-0 win over New Zealand on Saturday, with Jude Bellingham playing the second half, and Carragher thinks Tuchel will make the same decision for the Croatia clash.
Carragher added: ‘I think Tuchel’s strong enough and has shown already how he’s dealt with Jude Bellingham – he’s left him out of a couple of squads. There’s been things said.
‘There’s obviously a relationship to be worked on from both parties there, but I don’t see a situation, unless Morgan Rogers gets injured in the warm-up games, where Jude Bellingham starts the first game.’
Tuchel’s squad selection has come under serious scrutiny ahead of the tournament, with the likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all being left at home.
And Carragher believes that Tuchel has opted for 26 players who work well together, rather than for individual talents, because he wants harmony.
‘I think when you look at the squad, Thomas Tuchel put energy, athleticism, and harmony over talent,’ Carragher explained.
‘I think most people would probably say Harry Maguire is a better player than Dan Burn, but I know he loves Dan Burn in and around the squad.
The former england defender doesn’t believe that Tuchel will start Jude Bellingham against Croatia
‘I know Anthony Barry a little and they put a great story in this togetherness and how we’re going to be as a group for, hopefully, six weeks.
‘But this is bigger than just having talent to play. We can’t have anybody who brings the group down in any way or a negativity that they’re not playing or they’re throwing their arms about.
‘This is about how we’re going to be a team, and he’s not daft, Tuchel; he obviously knows in Foden, Palmer, Trent that they’re probably three of the most technical players we’ve got right now. But they’re not in the squad.’
