Qatar 2022 FIFA World- Gary Neville reveals team England wanted to avoid in World Cup group stage
Gary Neville believes the scenario of facing either Scotland or Wales in the Qatar World Cup group stage is one that England and Gareth Southgate would have wanted to avoid.
The Three Lions were drawn with the United States, Iran and one of Scotland, Wales or Ukraine in Friday’s draw, with Southgate’s men benefiting from being top seeds, earned by being ranked as one of the top seven international sides in the world.
Speaking from Qatar, Neville believes the November 25 clash with the USA – England’s second of the group – is the most difficult game in the opening round of matches for the Three Lions, but says the presence of Scottish or Welsh fans could make life difficult for the Euro 2020 finalists in the Gulf state.
“England would have wanted to avoid a home nation,” Neville told Sky Sports News after the draw. “I’m not sure Scotland and Wales would have wanted to avoid it but certainly England. It just brings that complication you don’t need. They’ve always been difficult opponents.
“We know what it means to the Welsh and the Scottish to play against England. That’s not being arrogant, it’s just that we know it’s a huge fixture. It is for England as well but it doesn’t seem to carry that sort of dislike that comes with the Welsh or the Scottish fever towards England.
“And then relations at Government level between Iran, England and USA over the last 20 to 30 years have not always been great. So there will be a lot of interest around that game.
“Of course, the way in which USA will look at England will provide great difficulty. If you’re playing the USA, that’s going to be a really tough game. Each game will be tough, but that will be the toughest in the group.
“I’m looking forward to the group, they’ve all got a meaning to them but they are difficult games from an emotional perspective more than a football perspective. That does carry something of a problem for England.”
Despite the difficult challenges in the group, Neville has backed the Three Lions to go all the way this winter, claiming the November to December structure of this year’s competition will suit Southgate’s squad.
“This is the best England team since 1966,” the Sky Sports pundit added. “They’ve achieved far more than any other team since.
“They’re the best group of players, they’re playing consistently well in tournaments, the level of football is good and they’re still maturing. They’re getting better, they’ve got great technical players, you can’t not like them and the manager is fantastic.
“This is now a perfect tournament for England, whose teams over the last 30 or 40 years have always talked about being tired at the end of the season. We’re coming over to Qatar in the November, December period – perfect conditions.
“England and Premier League players should be fresher than they have been in the past. And with this team, if they’re growing like that, you hope they can go that step further [than Euro 2020].”
