Harry Redknapp believes Richarlison - if he were English - would struggle to displace Callum Wilson from Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad. The Newcastle United number nine achieved his career-long dream by making the Three Lions squad for the World Cup.
Captain Harry Kane is expected to start all of England’s games but, as the only other out-and-out striker in the squad, Wilson could feature from the bench. Brazil go into the tournament as bookmakers’ favourites, with Toon midfielder Bruno Guimaraes representing the five-time world champions.
Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison leads the line for Brazil, bolstered by Neymar and Vinícius Júnior out wide. However, former manager Redknapp is not buying the hype and has claimed Wilson is better than the Spurs striker.
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“I feel with the likes of Harry (Kane), Jack (Grealish), Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka buzzing around - not to mention Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford - we have some fantastic attackers,” he told The Sun. “Everyone goes on about Brazil’s forwards but look at our stars and it’s amazing. Richarlison is in Qatar and might even be in Brazil’s team but I honestly don’t think he’d get in the England squad.
“He’s decent enough but I really don’t see him as any better than Callum Wilson, and certainly nowhere near Kane’s class. And there are a couple of others I’d probably have ahead of him as well. Because he’s Brazilian, everyone raves about him but I’m telling you our options are just as good.”
Despite backing England to beat any team in the tournament on their day, Redknapp tipped Argentina to win the World Cup. He added: “I would fancy England against any team in a one-off match. Maybe we wouldn’t win nine times out of ten but there’s certainly no side we should be scared of.
“It does come down to the luck of the draw and the path you get through the tournament - but why shouldn’t it be England? I’d love to think this is our time again but if not I have a funny feeling it could be the Lionel Messi show. I just have a hunch he could take the World Cup by storm and - if it is not England - I’d probably just about go for Argentina.”
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