For a club of Liverpool’s size, history and standing, we have a poor record when it comes to players who have done it on the biggest stage in the world of football, namely those who have won the World Cup. There are many reasons for that, the main one being our tendency to have had players from the home nations for the most successful years, and of course, the home nations’ inability to get over the line. And in the case of Kenny’s and Rushy’s respective Scotland and Wales sides, even manage to see the line.
It has the makings of a pub quiz question, the nine World Cup winners who have pulled on the red Jersey. For those who don’t know, the answer is Roger Hunt, Ian Callaghan and Gerry Byrne from 1966, Karl-Heinz Riedle from Italia ’90, Bernard Diomede from 1998 and the Spanish contingent of Fernando Torres, Pepe Reina, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa from 2010. Anyone who can trot out Diomede either needs to get out more or needs to be stopped from taking his phone into the quiz. Who in today’s squad, arguably the most exciting for many a tournament, could make an impression in Russia and have a chance of getting their name added to that list?
If we are discussing potential winners, it is perhaps always wise to start with Germany, who unsurprisingly are favorites to win the World Cup for what would be a record fifth time. Emre Can is in no way guaranteed a starting place, with Joachim Löw having an embarrassment of riches in the midfield, but he should be confident in getting some game time.
Moreno should be equally excited about his chances of at least getting on the plane to Russia after recently breaking into the Spanish team. Fingers crossed he can regain his fitness and resume where he left off before his ankle injury.
Mané’s Senegal will have a difficult task getting out of a tricky group, which is likely to curtail the winger’s impact in the competition. Hopefully, it won’t be the same for Egypt. Salah has the potential to be one of the real stars of the tournament but will need to play enough games to show it. They have been handed an easy group, with Uruguay favorites to top it, including the hosts and Saudi Arabia making up the rest.
If he can continue his form of recent weeks, Firmino also can make an impact, though like Can is not guaranteed a starting place. A lot of that depends on Jesus’ recovery, but he is a good outside bet to lift the Golden Boot. Lovren, however, will be hoping Croatia can qualify in second behind Argentina, ahead of Nigeria and Iceland while Mignolet could put a less than ideal season behind him if Martinez’s Belgium fulfills their obvious potential. Whether the Liverpool number 22 can oust Courtois is another matter.
Finally, that leaves us England. Though it appears unlikely, we do have more than an outside chance of at least making it to the final on July 15th. If his return from injury is trouble-free, Lallana could be a star player for Gareth Southgate’s team, with Henderson — very much a Southgate player — a possible captain for the tournament. Clyne will need to get and remain fit to stand a chance of getting on the plane, and Oxlade-Chamberlain — if he continues his impressive start and gets enough minutes on the pitch — could also find himself in Russia. It would be exciting if Solanke, Gomez and Alexander-Arnold were included in the squad, but you have to think they would represent an uncharacteristic gamble, and if they were to go, they would be unlikely to feature.
This summer’s tournament is the perfect platform for some of our world-class players to test themselves on the world stage. It would be awesome if three Reds can match the achievement of Hunt, Callaghan and Byrne from 52 years ago. Unfortunately, however, it is a whole lot more likely that it will be Emre Can who will be added to the list mentioned at the start.
