Joe Cole has included Chelsea star Cole Palmer within the England team he believes can ‘win the World Cup’.
The Three Lions underwhelmed in the ultimate international break before heading to the World Cup this summer, drawing 1-1 with Uruguay after which losing 1-0 to Japan.
Despite those poor results, Thomas Tuchel’s side are still one among the favourites going into the tournament, having reached back-to-back European Championship finals under previous boss Sir Gareth Southgate.
England also went deep in two World Cups under Southgate, losing within the semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in Qatar 4 years later.
Cole believes the Three Lions can end their 60-year wait for a World Cup trophy this summer but provided that Tuchel, who took charge last 12 months, picks the proper team.
Ex-Chelsea manager Tuchel has selection dilemmas in various positions, including at centre-back, central midfield and on each wings, with the preliminary squad needing to be submitted by May 11 and the ultimate 26-man squad by May 30.
Cole thinks he has the answer to one among England’s selection debates, nevertheless, insisting Palmer should start on the right-wing ahead of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
Saka has been England’s first-choice in that position for several years but has endured a poor season for Arsenal by his standards, although his form has picked up somewhat in recent weeks.
While Cole has backed Palmer to begin for England on the World Cup, he also wants Tuchel to place faith in Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon on the opposite flank.
Cole believes Tuchel should overlook Saka but says his Arsenal teammate Declan Rice might be crucial member of England’s squad.
‘Right, that is my England team for the World Cup,’ Cole, who earned 56 international caps, said on The Dressing Room podcast.
‘I’m going Jordan Pickford in goal. Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones – I might have liked him to have played more games of football this season but you wish experience on the World Cup and he’s massively experienced.
‘You mostly have that fear of him breaking down but perhaps it will work because he’s fresh, knows what he’s doing and brings experience.
‘At left-back I do like Lewis Hall but I’m going with Nico O’Reilly because he gives that penetration going forward.
‘Declan Rice starts in midfield and I’m going to go Elliot Anderson next to him. I might have Declan a bit deeper than where he plays for Arsenal – there’s a giant push for him to play further forward but we’ve got a lot already going forward.
‘I would tell Declan that he’s probably the most crucial player on the pitch and he must marshal that midfield. If England are going to win the World Cup we’re going to must be really good off the ball.
‘I might have Jude Bellingham because the No. 10 but when he isn’t performing, you possibly can quite easily make a change there.
‘I might have Cole Palmer coming in from the proper like he’s been doing at Chelsea, releasing him up, and almost playing two number tens. A midfield of Rice, Anderson, Bellingham, Palmer has power, ability and goals.
Who should start for England at right wing?
‘On the left I might start with Anthony Gordon over Marcus Rashford because he scores goals, he’s a warrior and he presses very well and has legs to run in behind and that may help Harry Kane if he’s dropping off sometimes.
‘I believe with that team we will control possession and win the World Cup.’
England were drawn in Group L for this summer’s World Cup and kick-start their campaign against Croatia on June 17.
Group games against Ghana and Panama follow as Tuchel’s side look to advance to the knockout stages and ultimately win the World Cup for the primary time since 1966.
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