Whilst The World Cup Is On

As the World Cup gets underway today in Qatar, I will be cheering England on from home. After back-to-back semi-final appearances in recent tournaments, I live in the hope that Southgate’s England will go all the way this time round. Delivering the first trophy since for the Men’s international team since 1966 would provide me with just the tonic I need in these tough times. It would also cap off a brilliant year for English football and set us up for 3 international trophies in 12 months.

We have the squad to do it, but there are a couple of changes I would make. If I were England manager Ivan Toney would have waltzed his way into the squad in place of Marcus Rashford. I understand completely why off-field issues have kept him out of the squad, but on his form and with his brilliance from the penalty spot he would have made my squad regardless.

My other change would have seen Raheem Sterling dropped from the squad, on basis of his disastrous performances all season, to be replaced by James Ward-Prowse. Prowsey marshals the midfield excellently at Southampton and his dead ball deliveries are second to none in the English game. A well-placed free kick can be crucial to breaking the deadlock against tight defences in knockout football, so not only would he be in the squad I’d have him in my starting 11.

Those are the 2 changes I would make to the England squad. Removing Harry Maguire was also on my list of changes to make, but England’s back-line options are so wafer thin that I could not find a reasonable replacement for him. If I could have found someone else to go then my hat-trick of changes would have been complete.

England will win the group without breaking a sweat and can expect to saunter through to the quarters without issue. From there it will all come down to the luck of the draw, but a run to the final certainly isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

Whilst England are off in Qatar this blog will be going on a journey of its own, all the way to Wales for the FA Cup Second round next weekend. A 3rd round tie against a Premier League team is the prize that could await the team that wins the non-league showdown in Wrexham. Join me again next week to find out who wins it.

Good Luck England, Bring It Home