Kyle Walker says only one team can stop England winning the World Cup

Former England international Kyle Walker (Picture: The Sun)

Former

England

international

Kyle Walker

believes there is only one team who can stop the Three Lions from winning a historic second

World Cup

.

England booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals after a

remarkable 3-2 win over co-hosts Mexico

at the Azteca Stadium.

Thomas Tuchel

’s side had to deal with a hostile atmosphere, unfavourable conditions and a red card for Jarell Quansah but clung on for one of England’s

most impressive victories in tournament history

England’s reward for that gutsy performance in Mexico City is a last-eight clash against Norway after they shocked five-time winners Brazil in New Jersey.

Wow (Picture: Getty)

And Walker believes that Norway could also prove a ‘real problem’ for England when the two sides meet on Saturday evening in Miami.

‘I’ve no disrespect to Brazil, because Brazil are a fantastic team, but I think I would probably prefer to play Brazil as England,’ Walker said on The Sun’s

YouTube channel

‘I feel that there are spaces where you can get around them, especially,

Casemiro

and the legs in the midfield. I look at, we could probably run over them.

England are into the quarter-finals (Picture: Getty)

‘But Norway are a well-organised team.

‘They’re not really that bothered about the ball. But when they do get the ball, you can see that they can play. They’ve got powerhouses up front.

‘And with

Erling Haaland

and Odegaard at the form that they’re in, I think it could be a real problem. But fingers crossed England put in the same performance as they did against Mexico.’

The quarter-finals are set 🤝

#FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup)

July 7, 2026

Should England get past Norway, they would face a semi-final against either Argentina or Switzerland.

And on the other side of the draw, France take on Morocco as Spain face Belgium for places in the final four.

Last time out in 2022, it was the quarter-finals which saw England come unstuck as they lost 2-1 to France after Harry Kane’s late penalty miss.

France are favourites to win the World Cup (Picture: Getty)

But Walker is confident that England can go further this time, saying: ‘I think that England should be a little bit disappointed if they don’t get to the final now.

‘That’s no pressure from me. I’ve been on the other side of it when everyone’s saying that you should do this and shouldn’t do that.

‘But I feel it’s a great chance and a great opportunity to go and make history and you need to take it with both hands.’

Despite that, Walker is not ready to label England as favourites to win the tournament and still believes France might deny the Three Lions once again.

‘It’s not ours to lose, I don’t feel,’ he added. ‘I still feel that France are probably the favourites to win it.’

That sentiment is

shared by fellow former England defender Micah Richards

, who said after England’s win on Sunday: ‘I think the only team that really worry me is France. They’re so dynamic.’

Didier Deschamps’ side have won all five matches so far this tournament, and are looking to become only the third nation after West Germany and Brazil to reach three consecutive World Cup finals.

Home

divider

Sport

Football

Related topics

England men's football team

France football team

Arsene Wenger says only one team can stop France winning the World Cup

Channel: Football

6 hours ago

By

Louis Sealey

Patrice Evra urges Arsenal to sign £43m World Cup star ahead of Bruno Guimaraes

2 hours ago

Ben Fleming