Cole's Blueprint: Palmer Over Saka as England Eyes World Cup Glory

Joe Cole reckons he's cracked it. With England's World Cup ambitions firmly in view, the Chelsea legend has sketched out his dream starting XI – and it involves some notable tweaks to Thomas Tuchel's current thinking.

The March international window has wrapped up with little to celebrate. The Three Lions drew 1-1 with Uruguay before stumbling to a 1-0 defeat against Japan, with Tuchel's experimental approach – including a false nine system and fringe players – failing to inspire confidence. Harry Kane's absence was keenly felt, and questions linger about whether the squad's depth can truly deliver when it matters.

Yet Cole remains bullish about England's World Cup credentials, believing the right personnel choices can elevate them to champions. Speaking on The Dressing Room podcast, he's laid out his vision.

In goal, Jordan Pickford gets the nod. The back four would feature Reece James, Marc Guehi, John Stones, and Nico O'Reilly at left-back – the Manchester City man preferred over Newcastle's Lewis Hall, with Cole emphasizing the attacking penetration O'Reilly offers.

The midfield is where Cole's blueprint becomes interesting. Declan Rice anchors the base, paired with Elliot Anderson, with Cole suggesting Rice should operate deeper than his current Arsenal role – a crucial point for marshalling possession and winning the battle off the ball.

Further forward, Jude Bellingham operates as the number ten, with Cole Palmer deployed from the right flank in the manner he's been used at Stamford Bridge. This creates a midfield quartet – Rice, Anderson, Bellingham, Palmer – that Cole believes combines "power, ability and goals."

On the left, Anthony Gordon gets the nod over Marcus Rashford. Cole rates Gordon's goal-scoring threat, work rate, and pressing intensity, factors he believes will complement Kane's movement when the captain drops deeper.

Cole's central argument is straightforward: Palmer's inclusion over Saka, combined with this particular balance, gives England genuine control and the platform to win football's biggest prize. Whether Tuchel sees it the same way remains to be seen.