Gary Lineker believes England could gain an unexpected edge at the World Cup through the freshness of key players after a season filled with injuries. Thomas Tuchel’s squad is set to begin their quest to end a 60-year wait for major international success on 17 June, when they kick off their summer tournament campaign against Croatia in Dallas, aiming to go all the way in the United States.
The former Three Lions forward, who will co-host a daily Netflix show titled The Rest Is Football alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards throughout the World Cup, suggested that the time spent on the sidelines by players like Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham over the past season might ultimately be a blessing in disguise.
“I quite like the way Saka has returned to form at the end of the season,” Lineker said at Netflix’s London office in the West End last month. “Saka’s had his injuries, but I also look at some of our players and I think, especially the ones with spells out, normally you look at our players – particularly from the Premier League – and they look a little bit knackered.”
“But a lot of our star players have had spells out whether it is Saka, Harry Kane has been rested quite a lot, the players playing abroad like Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford, both have been out quite a bit but also played in recent times and are looking fit and really strong. That could help us.”
Lineker also addressed the scrutiny surrounding Tuchel’s squad selections, particularly after the omission of playmakers Phil Foden and Cole Palmer from the 26-man squad. He expressed confidence in the England manager’s ability to handle the intense pressure that lies ahead before and during the tournament.
“It is always the same and even when we get to the first games it will be about who they leave out before the game. It is just the nature of football because everyone has got a different opinion,” Lineker stated, adding that the manager “knows he has got to be strong. That is the nature of it.”
Reflecting on England’s historical performance, Lineker, whose own goals helped the team reach the 1990 World Cup semi-finals – their joint-furthest progression since the triumphant 1966 campaign on home turf – shared his personal hope for a victory.
“When it’s your team you can be more critical, but the one thing we all want is to do the damn thing and win it,” he said. “It would be glorious, I think. I was five when we won it and have zero memory, so I would love it to happen in my lifetime. I think it will be tough this one, for lots of reasons, but I don’t think it is impossible. I think we’re with an outside shot.”
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