Gary Lineker has identified the two primary favorites to win the upcoming World Cup this summer, placing England just behind them in the pecking order. The former England striker, who was the top goalscorer in the 1986 World Cup, shared his insights on The Rest is Football podcast, sparking discussions among football enthusiasts.
England's World Cup Ambitions Under Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel is set to guide England in their quest for only a second World Cup trophy, aiming to end a 60-year drought since their last triumph. The Three Lions will travel to the United States with high hopes, bolstered by a squad featuring record goalscorer Harry Kane and Premier League Player of the Year contender Declan Rice.
Under previous manager Sir Gareth Southgate, England came close to silverware on multiple occasions, reaching two European Championship finals and advancing deep into two World Cups, though ultimately falling short. With Tuchel's Champions League-winning experience, confidence is surging that England can mount a serious challenge once again.
Lineker's Assessment of the Top Contenders
Lineker views England as "one of the frontrunners" but insists they trail behind Spain and France. He pointed out that Spain enter the tournament as European champions, having defeated England in the Euro 2024 final, while France are the 2018 World Cup winners and were runners-up four years later.
"The World Cup is getting very close now," Lineker remarked. "I know Spain are actually the bookies' favorites, closely followed by England, France, Argentina, and Brazil. I think they're the big five."
He elaborated, "France have got a hell of a squad, haven't they? They have an amazing squad, but I'm going to go with Spain. I think they could do a repeat of what they did a decade or so ago and win consecutive tournaments. I mean, they've got some players, Spain."
Additional Outside Bets and Concerns
Lineker also highlighted Portugal as a potential dark horse, noting the need to manage Cristiano Ronaldo's role effectively. "They will have to control the narrative around Ronaldo and manage his minutes and see if he accepts that. That will be important for them," he said. "But they have got some cracking players. I think it's a good outside bet, Portugal."
He added that Argentina and Brazil should not be ruled out, but reaffirmed his top picks: "I'm going with Spain. England are definitely one of the frontrunners but I think Spain have to be favorites ahead of us, personally I think France too."
Reflecting on England's recent progress, Lineker noted, "I think in recent tournaments, the English team has progressed sufficiently to have a chance of winning it. But I can't remember any of us actually predicting England to win a tournament for a while."
Micah Richards Weighs In on Climate Factors
Former England defender Micah Richards echoed support for England but raised concerns about the playing conditions. "I would always back England, especially with the players they have available," Richards stated. "The only slight concern for me is the climate. The climate, guys, you know what it's like playing in that heat."
He suggested that teams from Spain, Italy, and France might be better adapted to the heat, giving them an edge. "If I had to pick one, I would go with you and choose Spain," Richards concluded, aligning with Lineker's assessment.
England's Preparations and Upcoming Matches
England will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 17 against Croatia, with Ghana and Panama also in Group L. In their final international break before the tournament, a reshuffled England side drew 1-1 with Uruguay on Friday. Tuchel's team is scheduled to face Japan in another friendly on Tuesday, fine-tuning their strategy ahead of the global showdown.
As the World Cup approaches, debates over favorites and underdogs continue to intensify, with Lineker's comments adding fuel to the conversation about England's chances against European powerhouses.
