Gary Lineker on England

Gary Lineker believes England are unable to win the World Cup in 2014 and should be setting their sights on 2018 success instead.

With 48 goals to his name in 80 appearances in an England shirt, Lineker is his country's second highest goalscorer of all time.

But the former striker, now a successful TV presenter and personality, feels the current crop of players who would make up the bulk of the team in Brazil four years from now are not of the required quality.

“I hate to be the harbinger of doom but we should forget about winning the 2014 World Cup,” he wrote in his column for The News of the World.

“Anyone can compete in the tournament if you get it tactically right and play to your strengths, as Holland showed in South Africa.

“But to have a good chance, rather than an outside chance, I think 2014 is a long shot.

“We are making progress but we are still a long way behind other nations, so 2014 is unrealistic.

“We will probably have to wait until 2018, hopefully on home soil, before we have a team who could be considered among the favourites to win the World Cup.”

Lineker is pinning his hopes on the likes of Chelsea’s Josh McEachran and Arsenal starlet Jack Wilshere to carry the Three Lions in the long-term.

“Our bigger hope is the teenagers we have,” he added. “Jack Wilshere and Josh McEachran look like Spanish players.

“They are technically gifted, they see the right things, they beat players, they have a trick and, most of all, they keep the ball.

“Wilshere looks like a natural in the Arsenal team, which is not something that English football produces very often.

“He is going to be a Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas type player, which is very encouraging.

“But you worry about him off the field. For crying out loud, if you have this much ability give yourself the best chance to succeed. I hope he does that.”

According to Lineker, it is the lack of technique that is causing problems for those currently in the senior national set-up.

He continued: “Technically, we are not good enough at the moment. We do not keep the ball and we do not create enough.

“We cannot rely on a team full of youngsters. It just doesn't work like that.

“You still need experience. Of all the current players who will be in their mid-30s by the next World Cup, Ashley Cole seems the most likely to be in Brazil.

“The batch of players in their mid-20s, with the exception of Wayne Rooney, doesn't look as if it contains many world-class players, if any. To be frank, it may be a generation until we can think about challenging.

“We face being stuck with a mixture of those who are past their prime and those who are not yet in their prime - and filling it with players who are at their peak but may not be good enough for international football.

“At least we have Joe Hart, who looks as if he will be the England goalkeeper for a while. He has made mistakes, but seems to have that extra mental toughness which all great keepers need.

“Then there is Rooney. Barring something spectacular, he will still be around in 2014. The [last] World Cup, where he was totally off his game, showed how important he is, and I'm convinced he will get back to his best.”

Dan wrote:We don't aim to win 2014 then there's no point even being there.

BigPoppaSmurf wrote:

Dan wrote:We don't aim to win 2014 then there's no point even being there.

To be honest if this was the case only Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain, and Italy should be the only ones competing every WC.

Anyhow on the op, everyone and I mean everyone has been saying this for like the last 10 years.

The-Reporter wrote:I'd just play this and hope for the best...

------------------------Walcott---------------
-----------------Rooney----------------------
Young------------------------------Johnson
----------------------Wilshere---------------
----------------Rodwell-----------------------
Gibbs-----????--------Jagielka---Johnson
---------------------Hart-----------------------

JMB_94 wrote:To be honest, Gary Lineker has no idea what he's talking about. Anything can happen in football, if we can put together a good young squad for 2014 we still have a chance of winning it.

Surely they can't be anymore of an epic failure (sorry for using that phrase) then our 2010 WC squad.

Arsenal_nn wrote:

JMB_94 wrote:To be honest, Gary Lineker has no idea what he's talking about. Anything can happen in football, if we can put together a good young squad for 2014 we still have a chance of winning it.

Surely they can't be anymore of an epic failure (sorry for using that phrase) then our 2010 WC squad.

I agree with gary England are embarrassing to watch technically against world class teams. They just look so nervous on the ball. They start to play so one dimensional when they can't break their opposition, its either a through ball to walcott or a ugly long ball game to crouch.

BenSmith wrote:Are there any decent young RB's? All I can think of is Kelly from Liverpool

Dan wrote:

BigPoppaSmurf wrote:

Dan wrote:We don't aim to win 2014 then there's no point even being there.

To be honest if this was the case only Brazil, Argentina, France, Spain, and Italy should be the only ones competing every WC.

Anyhow on the op, everyone and I mean everyone has been saying this for like the last 10 years.

Anyone see Greece winning Euro 2004? Anything is possible.

JMB_94 wrote:Surely they can't be anymore of an epic failure (sorry for using that phrase) then our 2010 WC squad.

(polskaGOLA) wrote:
Actually that proves Linekar's statement of being able to play your strengths, dominate tactically and push out a win.

I generally agree with what he says.

(polskaGOLA) wrote:It's a way a number of teams played. Reason why we had such a boring defensive WC IMO.

And yes, contrary to popular belief, I have nothing against England, thus if I praise the country in anyway, don't get a heart attack.

Jay.Davies11 wrote:After Germany's squad was ageing in 2006, I don't think Gary Lineker expected them to do so well this summer, did he?

I'm not saying we will be as good as Germany, because we wont, but there is a chance of an upset if were lucky