England are one of many favourites to win FIFA World Cup 2022: Frank Lampard

FIFA World Cup 2022: Frank Lampard stated that England are one of many strongest contenders to carry the title. He additionally heaped reward on head coach Gareth Southgate.

New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 17, 2022 20:01 IST

England are one of many favourites to win FIFA WC 2022: Frank Lampard. Courtesy: Reuters

By India Today Web Desk: Legendary midfielder Frank Lampard has backed England as one of many favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. The 44-year-old reckoned that head coach Gareth Southgate has achieved a superb job in constructing the English squad for the mega occasion, which begins on November 20.

“I think the important thing is that he’s (Gareth Southgate) got a squad they’ve been building for a few years now, a couple of tournaments where they’ve had relative success and they’re getting stronger in my opinion. So I think we can certainly put England as one of the favourites in the tournament with the talent that they have in the squad,” Lampard was quoted as saying.

Lampard, however, reckoned that one shouldn’t undermine the likes of Brazil, Argentina and Spain by any stretch of the imagination. The veteran, who is also the manager of football club Chelsea, said that gaining momentum will hold a lot of importance.

“Other than that, I think there are challenges everywhere. I think Brazil and Argentina have got two really strong squads, and that certain style of football that they play, the talent within that, they’ve got really strong squads,” he stated.

Brazil happens to be the most successful team in the history of the championship, having won five titles, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002 respectively.

“I think that’ll be big challenges and then you can never really come up against some of the top European teams who have been there and that France in recent years, Spain are technically a really good team. So I think there are a lot of challenges. It’ll be a bit of momentum within the tournament itself, who gets through their group, who builds that confidence and momentum and then that can take us all the way,” Lampard added.

England’s opening match within the World Cup is in opposition to Iran on Monday, November 21 on the Khalifa International Stadium. The United States of America (USA) and Wales are the opposite two groups in Group B.

Since beating West Germany within the ultimate again in 1966 at Wembley Stadium in London, England are but to get their fingers on the World Cup trophy.

Edited By:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published On:

Nov 17, 2022