HERE we go at last with the greatest show on earth and fingers crossed England will finally go all the way.
I’ve no doubt they can but you do need a bit of magic to win a World Cup and I think Gareth Southgate has just the man for the job.
Now it’s just a case of picking him and I have to be honest and admit I have my doubts as to whether that will happen.
I’ve said before if Jack Grealish played for any other country, they’d build the whole team around him.
But when it comes to England he struggles to even get in, from the start at least.
Let’s be honest, England begin their tournament against Iran and, with all due respect, they shouldn’t give us any trouble.
So it is a chance to really get at them and show what fantastic attacking players we’ve got — which means Grealish MUST start for me.
It is not just me who is a big fan of the Manchester City star either.
I watched him against Chelsea in the League Cup this month and just wanted him to get the ball.
And I remember speaking to Harry Kane and him telling me he loves to play with Jack because of those little balls he plays into the pockets around the box.
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It’s those 15-yard passes when he backs in, turns and gets a shot off.
That works with Harry so much and Grealish is the perfect man to provide the service.
I always loved to work on that with every team I’ve had and Jack just loves making an angle and getting that ball into his feet.
It might not be the first England partnership that springs to mind but it’s one I could see causing problems for any side in the world.
And it should certainly cause plenty for Iran.
Jack would always be one of the first names on my teamsheet but for some reason Gareth never seems to fancy him.
I don’t want to see him coming on late in games to try and change them — I really want him on from the kick-off.
Look, it’s Iran, so we will dominate the ball and we need players who can make a difference against a side that will sit in.
We need matchwinners and players who can beat people and make things happen.
And for me that means we need obviously Grealish.
I feel with the likes of Harry, Jack, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka buzzing around — not to mention Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford — we have some fantastic attackers.
Everyone goes on about Brazil’s forwards but look at our stars and it’s amazing.
Spurs’ Richarlison is in Qatar and might even be in Brazil’s team but I honestly don’t think he’d get in the England squad.
He’s decent enough but I really don’t see him as any better than Callum Wilson, and certainly nowhere near Kane’s class. And there are a couple of others I’d probably have ahead of him as well.
Because he’s Brazilian, everyone raves about him but I’m telling you our options are just as good.
I only hope they prove it this time, because once we’re out of the group — and we will be, there’s not the slightest doubt about that — I would fancy England against any team in a one-off match.
Maybe we wouldn’t win nine times out of ten but there’s certainly no side we should be scared of.
It does come down to the luck of the draw and the path you get through the tournament — but why shouldn’t it be England?
I’d love to think this is our time again but if not I’ve a funny feeling it could be the Lionel Messi show.
I just have a hunch he could take the World Cup by storm and — if it is not England — I’d probably just about go for Argentina.
But that’s only if it isn’t England and hopefully this time it will be as we’ve waited long enough!
