England Have a Genuine Shout at World Cup Glory – Here's Why

The doom-mongering has been relentless in the build-up to this World Cup. Heat will kill us. Bellingham's got problems. Foreign sides are just better. The usual suspects trotting out their well-worn complaints.

But here's the thing: England actually have legitimate reasons to believe this could be their tournament.

A manager who's actually won things

Gone are the days of tactical waistcoats. Gareth Southgate has silverware on his CV and knows how to operate at this level. That matters more than people give it credit for.

Players in their proper positions

Revolutionary concept, isn't it? We'll finally see a squad deployed where they're meant to be – assuming the pressure doesn't scramble everyone's thinking when it counts.

The talent is genuinely there

Start with the goalkeeper – could be worse. The defence is solid enough, barring injuries. The midfield has real bite if Arteta hasn't completely worn out Rice, and whether it's Rogers or Bellingham pulling strings, there's quality on show. Up front, Kane remains Kane, Saka's got something to prove despite the knocks, and Barcelona's shiny new signing adds another dimension.

World-class credentials

Kane and Bellingham are the genuine article – two players you'd build a team around anywhere. Behind them sits another tier: James, Rice, Saka. All capable of performing at the highest level. In terms of squad value, England have amassed something genuinely special.

The team essentially picks itself

And when you stack them up one-on-one against the other contenders, you don't need to squint particularly hard to see England as competitive.

How do the rivals stack up?

France? Mediocre manager, the Mbappé curse hanging over them, and they're not significantly better than England anyway.

Spain? Yamal's injury concerns, some dodgy defending and attacking, though Rodri's a monster. Portugal? Ronaldo's circus act, a genuinely poor manager, and a mixed bag of talent – though their midfield's worth watching. Argentina? Feels increasingly like a Messi tribute act. Germany? Havertz at nine and Neuer in goal – who knows what they'll produce. Brazil? Neymar's comeback, a completely unbalanced squad, egos everywhere, and Don Tite in charge.

The point is simple: England have as good a chance as anyone. The squad has proved it can win moments when it matters – Pickford, Kane, Bellingham have all shown they deliver when the stakes are highest. You don't need to play perfectly for 90 minutes. You need to win the decisive moments, and this England group has the players capable of doing exactly that.

This is a shot at the title.