Tim Sherwood says Leeds United’s Tyler Adams and Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic wouldn’t even get into England’s 26-man World Cup squad, if they were eligible for selection, as he told Stadium Astro.
The United States duo started for their country at the 2022 World Cup, as England were held to a goalless draw against the Americans on Friday night in Qatar.
That’s three games the USA have played against England at World Cups – and they remain unbeaten – after a very strong showing in Doha, which saw them, no doubt, produce the best football against Gareth Southgate’s side.
With the captain’s armband strapped to him, Adams produced a possible Man of the Match display and ensured England’s attacking talent made as much noise as you would hear in a library.
Adams wasn’t the only one shining on such a big stage because Chelsea’s previously-struggling star, Christian Pulisic, also stood tall and was a threat all night.
Despite their positive displays, former Premier League winner Tim Sherwood was adamant, and he meant ‘no disrespect’, that they wouldn’t get into England’s 26-man World Cup squad.
“We got dominated by a team of American players, who I don’t want to be too disrespectful to them, but I bet none of them would have been selected in an England squad,” said Sherwood.
“Even Tyler Adams and (Antonee) Robinson, who we saw were outstanding and Pulisic, they wouldn’t be selected in an England squad.
“So, Gareth (Southgate) has to look at it, on the cold light of day, when he dusts himself down, with no pressure and think ‘it’s not a great result that and it wasn’t a fantastic performance’.”
TYLER ADAMS AHEAD OF KALVIN PHILLIPS
Well, a certain former Leeds United player Kalvin Phillips is sitting on England’s bench and Tyler Adams could argue that he gets ahead of him.
Leeds fans have taken to the USA captain like he is one of their own, with suggestions that he is an upgrade on Phillips, who since moving to Manchester City, has only played 53 minutes of football.
Adams might not start ahead of a Jude Bellingham, for instance, but he would have been part of that 26-man squad if he was English and pushing ahead of Phillips, who in truth, shouldn’t have been selected given his lack of minutes.
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