'He hasn't played well': TalkSPORT pundit claims 27-year-old Chelsea star should be dropped by his country
TalkSPORT’s Darren Bent has claimed that Raheem Sterling’s performances this season should see him dropped by England at the World Cup.
Gareth Southgate has just a couple of weeks until the Three Lions get their campaign underway with the challenge of Iran in their opening group game.
There has been plenty of discussion over who should start for the country when the tournament gets going.
One area there have been more than enough questions over is the attacking positions.
The forwards which started the final of last year’s European Championship were Harry Kane, Mason Mount and Sterling. However, there have been questions over the poor form of both of the Chelsea players who were involved.
With the likes of Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and even Marcus Rashford, there is certainly set to be high pressure on those handed the starts.
Bent says no Sterling
Bent believes that Sterling should not be part of the front three, although recognised how integral he was to England’s push for the European Championships last summer.
He said: “If it’s me, I’m going Saka, Foden and Kane. He [Sterling] hasn’t played well has he? I know he’s never let England down but he’s not been razor sharp. But to contradict myself, I said before the last euros that he’s not in the starting eleven, and he was England’s best player.”
When playing for England, a lot of the attackers mentioned have failed to perform to their best when it has mattered. However, Sterling showed last year he has the capability for this.
He scored every goal the nation notched up in the group stages of the competition, as well as getting them on the way to victory against Germany.
This proven capacity to perform should see him given the opportunity to return to form for England.
