Three England stars disagree on the one player from another nation who England need

A trio of ex England stars named three different players when asked which player they would take from another nation to slot into the Three Lions side.

England kick off their World Cup campaign in Group L against Croatia at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Wednesday.

All eyes are on Thomas Tuchel's first starting XI for the tournament, with the German expected to give Ezri Konsa the nod alongside John Stones as well as picking Jude Bellingham ahead of Morgan Rogers.

England have also been forced into a late change, calling up Trevoh Chalobah after Tino Livramento suffered a hamstring injury that keeps him out of the tournament.

The 26-man squad is still full of quality and led by arguably the best striker in the world in Harry Kane.

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But is there a profile of player England are lacking for the World Cup across the pond? SPORTbible posed that question to former England defender Rio Ferdinand, who stated a commanding centre-back like Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk is exactly the type of player England are missing.

The Liverpool captain scored in the Netherlands' 2-2 draw with Japan and Ferdinand believes he is the complete defender who England would benefit from the most.

He explained: "I'd probably say Van Dijk. I'd say a big commanding centre-back to play a lot. Just with the experience, I think that's the key, the big commanding centre-back who has pace and is mobile enough,

“I would say probably Van Dijk, because all the other areas, like No.10s we’re suited.

“The wingers I'm quite okay with. If you don't get that area [defence] in the pitch right, you don't win.

“You look at all the good teams, the teams that win things, the centre-back pairing is normally a good solid pairing that play consistently well together and understand each other.”

England pair disagree with Rio Ferdinand's pick for player Three Lions need

Alan Shearer, the Premier League's record goalscorer, came up with a different answer and opted for a player who is not even participating in the World Cup.

Shearer waxed lyrical over Paris Saint-Germain and Georgia star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, one of the most exciting players to watch in all of world football.

The two-time Champions League winner scored 19 goals for PSG as they won the double but after lighting up Euro 2024 with Georgia, his country did not qualify for the World Cup.

That greatly disappointed Shearer, who loves watching Kvaratskhelia strut his stuff.

"There's one player that won't be at the tournament and that's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, unfortunately," he stated.

"If he wants to come, we'll definitely take him. He's amazing."

Shearer's fellow BBC and Rest is Football broadcaster Richards was the third ex England international to be asked the burning question and he went for one of the world's crown jewels.

Though he has come in for huge criticism and even a petition calling for him sold by Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappe began the 2026 World Cup with a brilliance brace in France's 3-1 win over Senegal.

It moved him to 14 World Cup goals - two away from the record jointly held by Miroslav Klose and his former PSG teammate Lionel Messi after his historic hat-trick against Algeria.

Despite the noise about him, Richards picked Mbappe for his sheer individual quality.

Richards commented: "Kylian Mbappe. In terms of creating his own goals, Kylian Mbappe. He's my favourite player. I think he's unbelievable. I know he's not won anything for Real Madrid this season but individual brilliance, he's the best for me."