England have confirmed the shirt numbers for their 2022 Qatar World Cup squad. So, HITC Football has looked at who Jack Grealish follows in the #7 jersey alongside David Beckham.
The Three Lions fly to Qatar under Gareth Southgate to compete in Group B with Iran, the United States of America and Wales. It is the seventh successive quadrennial tournament that England have qualified for, having last failed to feature at the FIFA event at USA 1994.
Southgate guided England to their joint-best finish since winning their only title to date in 1966 last time out. The Three Lions finished fourth, matching their result from Italia 90, at Russia 2018. The tournaments are England’s only semi-final appearances other than 1966.
England squad numbers for the Qatar World Cup with Grealish taking the #7
Grealish did not feature in England’s squad for the 2018 Russia World Cup. The 27-year-old only made his debut for the Three Lions under Southgate in September 2020. He has gone on to amass 24 caps, whilst providing one goal and six assists – including two at Euro 2020.
Now, the Manchester City maestro will head to the 2022 Qatar World Cup not only in the squad but with England’s #7 shirt. The Three Lions announced on Monday that Grealish is the latest to take to the FIFA stage with the number despite a quiet term at the club level.
Across 16 appearances in all competitions with the Citizens, Grealish has only scored once and has not assisted a goal. He hit the back of the net for his only England goal in October 2021 against Andorra, too. Grealish has also only created two goals over his last 14 caps.
So, with Grealish off to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in Southgate’s squad, HITC Football looked at the players who wore the #7 shirt during the Three Lions’ last six appearances…
Grealish follows Lingard for England with the #7 squad number at a World Cup
Jesse Lingard was the last player to wear the #7 shirt in an England squad at a World Cup. Southgate afforded the midfielder the number at Russia 2018 during his first – and so far only – FIFA tournament appearance. Lingard also held a key role in the Three Lions team.
The 29-year-old, then of Manchester United and now with Nottingham Forest, featured six times in Russia. He also started five of his outings, only coming off the bench in their third-place play-off loss to Belgium. The 32-cap maestro also scored one and assisted two goals.
Wilshere wore the #7 England shirt at Brazil 2014 after making Hodgson’s squad
Roy Hodgson handed Jack Wilshere the #7 shirt alongside a call-up for England’s squad for the 2014 Brazil World Cup. Yet the 34-cap midfielder only played twice for a combined 90 minutes. The now-Arsenal U18 head coach at 30 years old only started against Costa Rica.
Wilshere enjoyed a six-year England career after making his bow in August 2010 following the South Africa World Cup. But a string of serious injuries curtailed his playing days at the elite level. His final major tournament with the Three Lions was three games at Euro 2016.
Lennon looked to shine at South Africa 2010 with #7 on the winger’s back
Aaron Lennon looked to shine at South Africa 2010 after arriving at the World Cup with #7 on his shirt. It was the winger’s second time taking to the FIFA stage after making his debut at Germany 2006. But much like four years earlier, he failed to score or provide any assists.
Fabio Capello also elected against fielding Lennon beyond England’s second game in South Africa. After drawing with the USA and Algeria, the Italian ditched Lennon for James Milner as the Three Lions snuck a 1-0 win over Slovenia. They then lost to Germany in the last 16.
Beckham captained England at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups with the #7 jersey
Beckham made his final appearance for England at the World Cup in 2006 as he captained Sven-Goren Eriksson’s squad in Germany. He also skippered the Three Lions’ ship in Japan and South Korea in 2002. A major Achilles tendon injury kept him on the sidelines in 2010.
In both World Cups, 2002 and 2006, Beckham captained the England squad in the #7 shirt. The 115-cap legend took over the armband from 2000 to 2006 and led by example on the FIFA stage. He offered one goal and three assists in five outings in 2002 and again in 2006.
Beckham also made his World Cup debut at France 1998 wearing the #7 jersey
Beckham also made his World Cup debut at France 1998 wearing the #7 England shirt. The midfielder featured in three of the Three Lions’ four fixtures at the tournament and struck one goal and an assist. He did not take a penalty in the last 16 shoot-out loss to Argentina.
Now, Qatar is paying Beckham £150m to work as an ambassador for the 2022 World Cup, per The Sun. He is their poster boy for the tournament and will be the face of the country until 2031. He has had links with the Qataris since playing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.
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