Mirror

How Jurgen Klopp's England may have looked, the biggest winner and World Cup chances

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How Jurgen Klopp's England may have looked, the biggest winner and World Cup chances

The article speculates on a fascinating "what if" scenario: what if Jürgen Klopp, the charismatic former Liverpool manager, had taken the England job instead of current boss Gareth Southgate. Drawing from Klopp's high-pressing, gegenpressing style and his proven success at Anfield, the piece imagines how he might have reshaped the Three Lions for the 2022 World Cup and beyond.



Klopp's Dream England XI

Picture a 4-3-3 formation brimming with intensity. In goal, Jordan Pickford's shot-stopping paired with Alisson Becker-inspired distribution. The backline features Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, unleashing pinpoint crosses; John Stones and Virgil van Dijk (yes, the Dutch star hypothetically naturalized or loaned) anchoring centrally for aerial dominance; and Andy Robertson bombing forward from left-back.

Midfield would be a high-energy engine: Declan Rice as the pivot, with Jude Bellingham and Dominik Szoboszlai (another Liverpool import) providing dynamism and goals. Up top, Mohamed Salah cuts in from the right, Harry Kane leads the line with his hold-up play, and Luis Díaz terrorizes the left flank. This squad blends Premier League stars Klopp knows intimately with tactical tweaks to maximize England's talent pool.

The Biggest Winner: Trent Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold emerges as the ultimate beneficiary. Sidelined under Southgate, Klopp's trust in full-backs as playmakers would see Trent thriving, potentially becoming the best right-back in the world and key to World Cup glory.

World Cup Prospects

With Klopp's mentality monsters, England could have gone all the way in Qatar 2022, overcoming France in the final via extra-time heroics from Bellingham. Long-term, qualification for 2026 looks assured, with Klopp instilling a winning culture to end decades of heartbreak. However, challenges like player burnout and Foden's bench role persist. Ultimately, Klopp's passion might just deliver England's first World Cup triumph.

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