Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Chelsea and France defender Frank Leboeuf has turned his attention to England 's World Cup prospects and the key decisions Thomas Tuchel has made in assembling his squad.
Leboeuf has backed Frank Lampard as a future England manager, drawn comparisons between Tuchel 's selection thinking and Aimé Jacquet 's famous 1998 approach, and picked Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe as his Golden Boot favourites.
The World Cup winner has also explained why he believes Cristiano Ronaldo could crown his career with the ultimate prize, why Croatia must not be underestimated, and who he would love to see win the Golden Ball .
England's World Cup
Did Tuchel Set Himself Up to Fail Leaving Out Palmer and Foden?
I keep going back to 1998. Think about Eric Cantona and David Ginola . They were the two best players in England at the time, playing for massive clubs, and Aimé Jacquet didn't select them. It proves it's not necessarily about picking the best individual players; it's about the chemistry you find within the squad. The hardest job for a manager is to assemble a group where everyone, the first eleven and the substitutes, fits together like a puzzle.
When I played for France , I was a substitute, but I played in the final. Jacquet was clear about his decisions. He spoke to me two months before the tournament to set expectations; I was going to be behind Laurent Blanc and Marcel Desailly . He asked if I was okay with that role. If you accept it, you come, and you don't complain to the press.
If you don't accept it, you don't come. I believe he offered a similar choice to Cantona , but from what I heard, Eric refused. You don't just pick the best 26 players; you pick a team where no one is going to complain psychologically. Two choices: Laurent Blanc , Marcel Desailly , and you're gonna be the third. Are you happy with that? If you're happy, you come, or you shut up. You don't come, you don't complain with the press that you don't play.
If you're not happy, you don't come. I think he did the same for Eric Cantona . He took Ivan Toney because he knows that if Toney doesn't play, he won't cause problems in the dressing room, but if he gets his chance, he'll be ready. He knows the hierarchy: Harry Kane , Ollie Watkins , and then Toney . It's a smart way to build a squad. I want to believe Thomas Tuchel was thorough in his selection and that he'll take responsibility if it doesn't work out. It's the first time in a while that someone has really thought through the squad dynamics.
I wasn't initially happy to see a German coach taking over the England team, but he knows the job. Some people say a national team coach who announces they are leaving after the World Cup never wins it, but that's untrue. Franz Beckenbauer and Aimé Jacquet did it in '98. Jacquet didn't tell the press, but he told us. As for me, I believe a national team coach should be from that country. It would have been controversial to have a German or Spanish coach for France because you have to understand the culture, and to do that, you need to be born there. That's my opinion, but regardless, Tuchel is a great coach, so we'll see.
Should Lampard Be the Next England Manager?
Frank Lampard has shown throughout his career that he is a true role model who is universally respected. Yes, he did have average results early on, but his work with Coventry has been exceptional.
He is an educated, professional individual who understands exactly what is required for the role. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him manage the national team one day, and it would be great to see him given the opportunity. However, I think he needs a bit more experience, perhaps a spell in the Premier League , to continue his development and fully prove his potential.
Awards Predictions
Golden Boot Prediction?
The increased number of teams changes things. I don't want to be overly harsh on nations like Curacao , Haiti , or Cape Verde , but the Golden Boot could easily be decided by someone scoring six or seven goals against those teams. While I appreciate the inclusion of teams we haven't seen before, this is an elite tournament, not a charity. FIFA 's expansion seems driven more by revenue and the increased volume of matches rather than sporting reasons. The competition will really pick up after the group stages.
In a perfect world, matches would be tight, but realistically, we will see some lopsided scores. For the Golden Boot , the favourites have to be Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe . If England and France both go deep in the tournament, I think it will be a contest between the two of them.
Golden Ball Prediction?
I'm not a big fan of individual awards like the Ballon d'Or because I believe football is a collective sport, so such awards can feel like an insult to the team. But, living in the world we do, if I had to pick, I'd like to see a midfielder win it, someone who works hard for the team, like Rodri or N'Golo Kante . I'd love to see someone in that position get recognised.
I don't have a firm prediction right now, but of course, I support France and want them to win. However, if Portugal were to win the competition, that would be a fantastic way for Cristiano Ronaldo to end his career. The main question for Portugal is how Ronaldo will react if he's on the bench, as I mentioned before; chemistry is everything. If they win, it would be a perfect conclusion to his and Lionel Messi 's fantastic rivalry. Aside from that, I think a midfielder, or even William Saliba , would be a great choice for the award.
Dembele or Kane for the Ballon d'Or?
Consistency is on Harry Kane 's side, as is his goal-scoring record, so I believe Kane is the favourite. However, having won the Champions League again, Dembele has also achieved something fantastic, along with winning Ligue 1 .
Dembele has dealt with injuries and missed many games, whereas Kane has maintained his form. I give the advantage to Kane . Also, considering Kane is now 32, I think the voters might take that into account. If England does well and Kane scores goals at the World Cup , I think he will win the Ballon d'Or . But if France wins the World Cup , then it's a different conversation. If France wins, it's a given: a World Cup title, plus a great individual performance, and a strong mentality, I'd give it to Dembele for sure.
Group Stage Prediction
England vs Croatia Prediction?
On paper, England should be better, but we are talking about Croatian pride. I played against Croatia with some fantastic players throughout the years, especially in 1998 and 2000.
They showed how good they were in 2018, playing in the World Cup final. Frankly, I don't think France deserved to win that one; the referee was very kind to us. They were better than France overall during that tournament, so you have to respect Croatia . If you think you're going to win easily against that small country, you are mistaken. You're going to be smashed because they are tricky, talented, and they fight for each other. If England is too easy-going, they're going to get smashed. But I'll go with 3-2 for England .
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