England need a miracle to win World Cup, says Kyle Walker
England defender Kyle Walker has poured cold water on the countrys World Cup hopes, saying it would take “a miracle” for Gareth Southgates men to lift the trophy this summer.
Walker, who is likely to start for the Three Lions in Russia, insists expectations should be tempered by a series of disappointing displays at recent major tournaments.
The Manchester City right-back insists England possess the required talent but not the experience and, initially at least, should make their focus navigating a first knockout match since 2006.
Read more: Shirt pull: How classic football kits have never been bigger business
“I hope we can go as far as we can go, but we need to be realistic,” the former Tottenham defender told talkSPORT.
“To win the World Cup is going to be a miracle, but we have got the players to do it. A lot of us play in probably the best league in the world. Weve got the players to do it, but have we got the experience going further along in competitions? No we havent. Not in recent years.”
England suffered humiliating defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016, failed to make it out of their group at the 2014 World Cup, and lost in the first knockout round of their previous two major tournaments.
They have won just one knockout match since 2002, a 1-0 victory over Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup.
“We need to be realistic. There are a lot of good teams out there and our record in tournaments has not been fantastic,” added Walker.
“Weve had a lot of conversations inside the camp – England havent won a knockout game for God knows how many years – so for us to go there and win a knockout game, that would be a step in the right direction.”
England team set to hit the road
England, meanwhile, are set to play a rare friendly away from Wembley later this year, when Switzerland visit on Tuesday 11 September.
The team has only played a home fixture away from the national stadium on two occasions since it reopened in 2007, both times in May 2016, at Citys Etihad Stadium and the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
One of Englands previously announced warm-up matches for this summers World Cup, against Costa Rica on Thursday 6 June, is due to be played at Elland Road in Leeds.
The Football Association have also confirmed a second friendly for September, against the United States, which will be staged at Wembley.
[contf]
[contfnew]
CityAM
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
