Ex-England defender omits the Three Lions from his top World Cup contenders.
Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool and England defender, recently expressed that England does not rank among the leading favourites for the upcoming World Cup. Instead, he placed the Three Lions alongside Portugal as teams with a more remote chance of lifting the trophy.
Having earned 38 caps for England and participated in the 2006 World Cup, Carragher feels that Thomas Tuchel‘s squad faces tougher odds compared to at least three other nations vying for the title next year.
Carragher’s Perspective
Speaking on CBS Sports, Carragher highlighted the defending champions Argentina, the back-to-back finalists France, and reigning European champions Spain as the primary contenders for the World Cup crown.
“Argentina, as the current holders, are a team to watch closely. This might be Messi’s final World Cup appearance, and with the tournament partly in Miami, his influence on MLS and Inter Miami could rally significant support,” Carragher remarked, as reported by the Independent.
“From Europe, Spain, led by young talent Lamine Yamal, and France, boasting stars like Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, stand out as formidable contenders. These players are arguably among the best globally right now.”
“It’s hard to envision a major tournament without considering France as a top threat. England and Portugal fall into the next tier of challengers, with the teams I mentioned being the clear favourites. England’s chances are more of an outside bet,” he added.
In alignment with Carragher’s views, England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged their underdog status heading into the tournament, reflecting on the nation’s long wait for major international success since the 1960s.