7 bold predictions ahead of the 2014 Brazil World Cup

1) England to not make it past the last 16

Wayne Rooney

Maybe this is just me being typical pessimistic about my beloved Three Lions? But our squad is weak, and as much as I disposed to like Hodgson as a West Bromwich Albion supporter, the slow evolving, almost negative style of football the England have been playing at times is certainly not the kind you produce to win tournaments. Our squad is decent, but is no better than that. Whilst the likes of Rooney, Gerrard et al have big tournament experience, the spread of world class players across England’s squad is too thin.

Players like Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Tom Cleverly are all very good players- just not good enough to win tournaments. Our record in qualifying looks decent of paper- but until the last two games of qualifying, the only teams we had actually beaten were Moldova and San Marino- hardly the kind of opponent England are likely to face in Brazil.

I never doubt England’s ability to get out of their group, even despite the tough seeding that they have been allocated this year. I think that we need to come to accept as England fans that we are a side on the wane and anything beyond the Round of 16 is frankly punching above our weight with our current crop of players.