'He can't be': TalkSPORT pundit says 27-year-old Chelsea star simply should not be starting at the World Cup
TalkSPORT’s Jay Bothroyd has claimed that Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling has not done enough this season to start for England at the upcoming World Cup.
The tournament gets underway in just over two weeks’ time, and England kick their tournament off in the second game of the competition against Iran.
Sterling has been a key figure for England since Gareth Southgate took over. His impact on the Three Lions was most noticeable during last year’s European Championships.
He scored all of the county’s goals in the group stage of the competition, whilst also getting the knockout stage underway after breaking the deadlock against Germany in the round of 16.
However, his first season at Stamford Bridge has certainly not gone as well as he would’ve liked.
He had gone a long time without a goal since Graham Potter came in, although he broke that duck this week against Dinamo Zagreb.
Despite the return to goalscoring form, Bothroyd has claimed he still wouldn’t start him at the World Cup.
Bothroyd wouldn’t start Sterling
He said: “Based upon right now, I would say he’s not starting. We always have this conversation, it’s not all about goals. Your overall performance has to be on point especially at that level.
“In football, you have to update your resume. You cannot play games based on your past. Otherwise, Maguire would be starting in the World Cup.
“This year, he’s got three goals and an assist. He’s had 11 starts he’s been subbed off six times. That shows he’s not playing well for his club.
“I love Sterling as a player but right now based upon his form, he can’t be starting for England.”
Sterling is facing competition from the likes of Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden for a place in Southgate’s side.
However, Sterling’s ability to step up when nobody else was at the last tournament should be evidence enough that he is massively needed this winter.
