Everton manager Frank Lampard feels England are 'one of the favourites' for World Cup glory and has praised the job Gareth Southgate has done.
England stepped up their acclimatisation programme in Qatar on Thursday by training during the hottest part of the day. Gareth Southgate’s players took to the field at their Al-Wakrah Sports Club base at 12.30pm local time with the temperature at 33C.
Southgate’s side kick off their campaign on Monday afternoon when they face Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium. Games against the USA and Wales follow.
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Much is expected of Southgate's young, dynamic attacking options such as Phil Foden, James Maddison, Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish in Qatar. While in the shape of Harry Kane, the England boss has one of the best forwards in world football at his disposal.
England's bid to end their long wait for a major trophy ended in the familiar agony of defeat in a penalty shootout as Italy claimed the Euro 2020 crown at Wembley last year, while Southgate’s side were beaten by Croatia at the semi-final stage in the 2018 World Cup.
"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,” Lampard said.
“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. Other than that, I think there are challenges everywhere.”
But despite naming England as 'one of the favourites', the Everton boss believes the likes of Brazil, Argentina and Spain are also in with a chance of winning the competition.
He said: “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.
“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 [done] 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.”
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