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Laura Woods left baffled by Jamie O'Hara's preferred England attack for the World Cup in Qatar

Home> Football

Published 11:01 1 Nov 2022 GMT

Laura Woods left baffled by Jamie O'Hara's preferred England attack for the World Cup in Qatar

Gareth Southgate has some tough decisions to make.

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan

Laura Woods struggled to hide her shock after Jamie O'Hara named his preferred England attack for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

England take on Iran in their opening match of the tournament on November 21 before further group games against the United States (November 25) and Wales (November 29).

While captain Harry Kane will almost certainly start up front for the Three Lions if fit, the other spots in England's attack are potentially up for grabs.

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The likes of Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford are all jostling for a place in the starting line-up, giving England boss Gareth Southgate some difficult decisions to make ahead of the tournament.

Sterling and Saka have been preferred by Southgate alongside Kane in recent games but O'Hara wants to see a resurgent Rashford start for England in Qatar.

"What about Marcus Rashford? I guess he's in there anyway but he's been really good this season. I would actually start him," O'Hara said on talkSPORT.

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Co-presenter Ally McCoist replied: "Before Sterling?"

To which O'Hara replies: "No, I'd play Sterling as well. I wouldn't play Foden or Grealish."

England face Iran in their opening match of the World Cup on November 21 (Image: Alamy)
England face Iran in their opening match of the World Cup on November 21 (Image: Alamy)

Arsenal fan Woods reacts in disbelief that O'Hara would leave out Saka.

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"You wouldn't play Saka? What!?" said Woods.

O'Hara then goes on to explain why he would leave the Arsenal man out to bring in Rashford.

"When I've watched in England in the past, when I really enjoyed watching England – which was a while ago. It has not been great recently. We play this 3-4-3 that he likes to play. When I really enjoyed us was when Rashford, Kane and Sterling played as a front three – and Rashford was brilliant. He was in great form," said O'Hara.

"He completely went off the ball, got an injury and didn't really come back as the same player. But now he's coming back and he's the same player again, I think he's a massive problem for us.

"The issue I have when England play is that everything is in front. Kane drops deep, Grealish comes to feet, Foden comes to feet. That's why we get amazed at Saka and Sterling because he gets the ball and goes past people.

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"That's what Rashford was doing. And I think pace scares teams, especially at a World Cup. They're too defensive, they're too organised. If you play in front of teams, you're not going to break them down.

"If you play Rashford, who can get behind, and Sterling, who can get behind, I think it's a serious threat. That for me is why I would play him."

Do you agree with O'Hara? Who should England play in attack at the World Cup? Let us know your thoughts.

Featured Image Credit: talkSPORT

Topics: Laura Woods, England, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Football World Cup, Football

Rory O'Callaghan
Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

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@rory_ocallaghan

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