The Daily Mail's Whistleblowers podcast hosts have shared their bold predictions for the upcoming World Cup, with potential winners, players to watch, and verdicts on how England will cope with the brutal heat and intense travel of a unique tournament.
The Daily Mail's Whistleblowers podcast hosts, Ian Ladyman, Mark Clattenburg and Gordon Smart, have shared their bold predictions for the upcoming World Cup . The tournament, which begins on Thursday, will see 16 more nations competing than at the 2022 Qatar World Cup .
This summer's competition is also notable for being the largest the World Cup has ever seen, with matches split across three host nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The hosts discussed potential winners, picked out players to watch, and gave their verdicts on how England will cope with the brutal heat and intense travel of a unique tournament.
According to Ladyman, England will bow out in the round of 16, potentially against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, unable to cope with the conditions of playing a host nation on home soil. Ladyman also tipped German playmaker Florian Wirtz as a player to watch, believing that the slower pace of play will give him more time on the ball.
He also has high hopes for Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal, but the winger is battling to be fit for Spain's opening game against Cape Verde. Mark Clattenburg, a former referee turned pundit, was slightly more bullish on England's chances, believing that Tuchel will thrive on the low expectations surrounding his squad. He named Turkey as his 'dark horses', with 21-year-old attacking midfielder Arda Guler as his player to watch.
Gordon Smart tipped both Switzerland and Ghana to have good tournaments, with Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo expected to have a standout World Cup, potentially guiding the African nation to the knockouts. Smart was unimpressed with Tuchel's squad, saying it was unlikely the German would guide the country to the semis.
'I just don't see it', he said. 'Something about this England team, I don't see it.
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