West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has given his backing to Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane and Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic
Bilic, who has been one of the stars of the Euros himself sparking in his TV punditry role, has been discussing England’s hopes in the tournament.
Despite Roy Hodgson ignoring West Ham’s core of English players who led the club to their best ever Premier League points tally, Bilic was in philosophical mood when discussing the Three Lions’ chances.
And the former Croatia boss told the club’s official website that Spurs star Kane, who was poor in the 1-1 draw with Russia, and Foxes hero Vardy can lead England far.
Harry Kane celebrates with Jamie Vardy after scoring the first goal for England
‘For me they can be a big surprise’
The Three Lions face a crunch match against Home Nation rivals Wales on Thursday knowing they need to win.
“They are the only team in Europe that had 10 wins in the qualification,” Bilic told whufc.com.
“For me they can be a big surprise.
“They have players who are high on confidence like Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane and I feel they can do something really great.”
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic with Dimitri Payet as he is substituted
French fancy
However Bilic, who led the Hammers into the Europa League this season as they prepare for the big move to the 60,000 seater Olympic Stadium, makes his star player Dimitri Payet’s France the favourites.
He said it was not just because they had his main man Payet pulling the strings or because they are the hosts, but more down to the atmosphere created in their squad by Didier Deschamps.
England manager Roy Hodgson during the press conference
Hodgson must be more adventurous
If Bilic’s prediction is to come true, Hodgson will have to be more adventurous than he was against a dour Russian side.
WInning 1-0 and with Kane struggling, the former Fulham boss elected to replace Raheem Sterling with James Milner rather than introduce Vardy.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
