Alan Shearer and Micah Richards have not agreed on who should be England's chief playmaker, with one pundit adamant that Jude Bellingham has to start at the World Cup.
Richards Backs Bellingham
Micah Richards is in no doubt over who England's best player is. He is adamant that Jude Bellingham is England's "best player" and it "shouldn’t even be a debate" - but Alan Shearer would prefer to have a different face as the team's No 10.
The Three Lions have completed their warm-up games, beating New Zealand and then Costa Rica, but the debate over how the team should look has continued. Bellingham began Wednesday night's 3-0 win over Costa Rica as the team's playmaker.
That is a role he has been tipped to play, with the Real Madrid star coming up with big moments for England and proving himself on the grand stage. Despite public differences with Thomas Tuchel, he looks to be leading the race to start England's opening game against Croatia next week.
Shearer Prefers Rogers
Shearer, though, believes that Morgan Rogers, who heads to the World Cup off the back of his best and most influential season ever with Aston Villa, should be the man England deploy as their chief playmaker.
He said on The Rest is Football: "I would go with Morgan Rogers. We’re going into a World Cup and we’re all pretty optimistic about how it’s going to go. We’re pretty happy with how England have gone lately and Morgan Rogers has played a huge part in that. That’s why I think the manager will go with him and I’m more than happy if that is his decision."
Richards Responds
In response to Shearer’s comments Richards made it clear that Bellingham should still be the central point, but was open to them potentially teaming up: "In terms of big moments, Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid, Champions League winner – when England were down in other tournaments, he’s been the guy.
"He’s had the personality to step up in big moments. I understand the point about Morgan Rogers and I could potentially see both of them in the team at times. But as the main No. 10, there’s no doubt for me that it should be Jude Bellingham. You’ve got to put Jude in the team.
"This is what frustrates me, we’ve got a genuine superstar in Jude Bellingham…it shouldn’t even be a debate. He’s the best player and he has to start. He’s delivered, he’s delivered at the highest level so he has to start."
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