England have confirmed their World Cup squad numbers for Qatar 2022. So, HITC Football has looked at which players Chelsea ace Mason Mount will follow by wearing the #19 shirt.
Gareth Southgate is taking Mount to his first World Cup this winter as the Three Lions look to build on their fourth-place finish four years ago. England achieved their joint-best finish since winning their only title in 1966 in Russia, having also finished fourth during Italia 90.
Mount made his senior international debut in September 2019 as England looked ahead to Euro 2020. The 23-year-old went on to earn five of his 32 caps to date during the European Championship. He also started each of his appearances as the Three Lions lost in the final.
England confirm their World Cup squad numbers with Mount to wear the #19 shirt
Southgate entrusted Mount with playing at least 90 minutes in each of his appearances at Euro 2020, as well. Yet he only offered one assist and no goals having frequently struggled to influence the proceedings. The Chelsea product cut a peripheral figure all too regularly.
Mount and Southgate will now hope for more at his first World Cup after making England’s squad for Qatar 2022. The Portsmouth-born technician flies to the Middle East amid a two-goal and six-assist season with Chelsea so far from 21 appearances over all competitions.
He has offered four of his assists so far this season in the Champions League, as well. While each of his goals came as Chelsea beat Aston Villa 2-0 in the Premier League after laying on two assists in a 3-0 win over Wolves. Mount has hit five goals and assists for England so far.
Southgate will rely on Mount to offer a spark in England’s midfield wearing the #19 shirt at the World Cup. The Three Lions have confirmed their squad numbers for Qatar 2022, with Mount becoming the 14th player to wear the shirt number at a FIFA tournament for them.
So with Mount taking the #19 England shirt, HITC Football has looked at the last six players to wear the number at a World Cup since the Three Lions failed to qualify for USA 1994…
Rashford wore the #19 shirt as England made the World Cup semi-finals in 2018
Marcus Rashford wore the #19 shirt as England made the World Cup semi-finals at Russia 2018. But the 46-cap winger only started one of his six appearances and failed to score or create a goal. He earned his only opening call in their final Group G match against Belgium.
Southgate was reluctant to award the 25-year-old – who will wear the #11 in Qatar – a key role in Russia. Rashford played 30 minutes against Tunisia (22), Colombia (7) in the last 16 and Sweden (1) in the quarters outside his start before 46 in the semi-final loss to Croatia.
Rashford has since gone on to record 12 goals and five assists across his appearances with England. He also flies to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup amid an eight-goal and three-assist campaign for Manchester United. The winger has played 19 games across all competitions.
Hodgson gave Sterling the #19 shirt as England flew to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil
Roy Hodgson gave Raheem Sterling the #19 shirt as England headed to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup. The former Three Lions coach starting the forward against Italy at 19 years, six months and seven days also made him the seventh youngest to feature at the tournament.
Sterling also opened the action against Uruguay but would not help England avoid losing a second game. Nor could the 79-cap attacker influence the scoring as the Three Lions’ path came to an end in Group D with a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica. He played the last 28 minutes.
Southgate later took Sterling to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and afforded the 27-year-old six starts across six appearances. But the forward – who has 19 goals and 25 assists during his senior international career – only offered one assist and failed to score in 455 minutes.
The Kingston, Jamaica native – who joined Mount at Chelsea this July in a £47.5m transfer from Manchester City – will now go to the Qatar World Cup and wear England’s #10 shirt.
Defoe was a late bloomer in South Africa under Capello at the 2010 tournament
Jermain Defoe was a late bloomer for England in 2010 as Fabio Capello took the striker to his only World Cup. Yet the Italian did not utilise the 57-cap star against the USA during the Three Lions’ opening Group C 1-1 draw. He also only played for 16 minutes against Algeria.
Needing a win to reach the last 16, Capello then turned to his #19 and started Defoe in the final group stage tie against Slovenia. It proved to be a wise decision as the forward scored the only goal at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It was only England’s second goal so far.
Yet Defoe would not repeat his success in the Round of 16 as the Three Lions fell to a 4-1 defeat to Germany. The 40-year-old never returned to a World Cup afterwards as Hodgson overlooked the London native in 2014. Defoe later made his last England cap in June 2017.
Eriksen gave a 19-year-old Lennon the Three Lions’ #19 shirt at Germany 2006
Sven-Goran Eriksson handed a 19-year-old Aaron Lennon England’s #19 shirt at the World Cup in 2006. He also afforded the Chapeltown native three appearances in Germany, with all – totalling 102 minutes – coming from the bench. But the winger did not score or assist.
Lennon returned to the World Cup in 2010 under Capello for two appearances but did not feature after England’s second fixture. The 21-cap forward also failed to record any of his six career international assists in South Africa. The 35-year-old never scored for his nation.
Cole went to Japan and South Korea in 2002 one year after his England debut
Joe Cole made his England debut in May 2001 and his World Cup debut in June 2002 after six caps. He would feature in the #19 jersey during the Three Lions’ opening Group F draw with Sweden for the final 16 minutes. Yet he then watched four fixtures from their bench.
The 56-cap midfielder enjoyed a greater role in Eriksson’s plans at Germany 2006 with five starts in five games. Cole also scored one of his 10 goals and one of his 14 assists during a 2-2 draw with Sweden. Capello later afforded him two substitute outings in South Africa.
Ferdinand failed to get England’s #19 shirt onto the pitch during France 1998
Les Ferdinand travelled to the 1998 World Cup in France with England’s #19 shirt. Yet the London-born centre-forward failed to get the jersey onto the pitch at any stage across the Three Lions’ four fixtures. He was an unused substitute under Glenn Hoddle in each game.
The 1998 tournament was also the 17-cap attacker’s only time in one of England’s World Cup squads. Graham Taylor had awarded Ferdinand his debut in February 1993 but would not secure a spot at USA 1994. Even with Ferdinand scoring three and assisting two goals.
Ferdinand would end his international career in June 1998 after watching England lose on penalties to Argentina in the Round of 16 at the World Cup in France. He bowed out after hitting and creating five goals over his 17 caps. He had not scored since November 1996.
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