Harry Redknapp exclusive: 'England have no real stability defensively - but we have a chance at World Cup'

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Evening Standard

·3 juin 2026

Harry Redknapp exclusive: 'England have no real stability defensively - but we have a chance at World Cup'

Exclusive: Former Tottenham manager has revealed his one worry for England before the World Cup

Harry Redknapp worries England’s defence may hold them back as they chase World Cup glory for the first time since 1966.

Vidéos OneFootball

The Three Lions kick off their World Cup campaign in less than two weeks, facing Croatia in Texas, but build-up to the tournament has not been without controversy.

Much has been made of Thomas Tuchel’s team selection, which is missing some big names. Among them was Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, whose place in central defence will be filled by the likes of Dan Burn, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa.

Redknapp maintains England rank highly among the tournament favourites, but is concerned the back four does not measure up to that which featured at previous major tournaments.

“The back four back in the day, when we had Ashley Cole, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell, Gary Neville, we haven’t got that quality of player now,” he told Standard Sport.

“We have good forward players, we’ve got good midfield players, I just worry whether we’re strong enough as a defence.”

England at the 2006 World Cup

2006 AFP

Redknapp was on West Ham’s books in 1966, playing alongside England’s World Cup heroes Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters.

He went on, adding that this England squad lacks the formidable defence of 1966: “I couldn’t pick the team at the moment, I couldn’t pick the back four.

“The team that won it, the back four picked itself before the tournament. Now I look at it and I don’t know who’s gonna play right back, who would play left back.

“It hasn’t got a real stability about it defensively, I’m not sure. I think we have as good a chance as anyone, but we just hope. Every year we hope, every tournament we hope.”

Another name conspicuous by its absence in the England squad is Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, whose form dipped this season as he struggled with a niggling groin injury.

Despite his subpar campaign, Redknapp is adamant he should have made the plane to the United States, saying his Paolo Di Canio-like qualities would suit a World Cup.

“I’d have Cole Palmer, all day,” he continued. “OK, people say he hasn’t had a great season, but he can change a game. He can do something when a game’s tight and you need a goal, or you need someone to do something special.

He can do something when a game’s tight and you need a goal, or you need someone to do something special

Harry Redknapp on Cole Palmer

“In my teams I always wanted somebody like that, a (Paolo) Di Canio for me at West Ham, who could change a game in a flash.

“You might say, ‘just go and do something special’. That’s what people want to see. That’s what we need.”

Redknapp was speaking at the launch of ‘Pride in the Quarter’, a central London art trail designed to drum up a bout of World Cup fever in the nation’s capital and raise awareness for Westminster-based homelessness charity The Passage.

The installation consists of 17 painted lion statues throughout central London, including in Trafalgar Square which Redknapp hopes will be packed with celebrating England supporters the night of the World Cup final.

He went on: “World Cup fever! That’s what we want. That’s the England colours on the lion, get behind the team.