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Marsh: England lack world-class players

ESPN staff
October 15, 2012
Wayne Rooney does not rank among the world's elite, according to Rodney Marsh © PA Photos
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Rodney Marsh has delivered a withering assessment of the England team, writing off the prospect of them having any chance in the next World Cup in Brazil.

The one-time England and Manchester City forward said England lack anyone of the calibre of Glenn Hoddle, Paul Gascoigne or the retired Paul Scholes and claims he is deeply concerned by the national team's lack of style.

He said he fails to see a single world-class player in the squad - and that includes Wayne Rooney.

"After watching this new crop of players over the past few years it is patently obvious to me that we do not have the players to compete any more at the highest level," Marsh wrote in his column on Voice of Sport.

"We don't have a Hoddle or a Gascoigne or even a Paul Scholes type of player that can beat a world-class team with a stroke of pure genius on a consistent basis. We have less quality in most other areas of our team too.

"Style will always triumph over method and substance when it comes to winning the biggest of football trophies.

"I don't see one single young world-class footballer around the England camp and, by extension, anywhere in the Premier League. And with most big teams signing more and more foreign players, I do not see that changing any time soon.

"So you England fans get used to, at best, finishing runners-up. It's all we have to look forward to."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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