Sam Allardyce: I’d rest Harry Kane v Wales and Foden has to start

Former England manager Sam Allardyce has told William Hill and Footy Accumulators’ new show, No Tippy Tappy Football, that he would rest Harry Kane against Wales in the World Cup on Tuesday evening and bring in Callum Wilson, while he believes Phil Foden has to start. 

Speaking to William Hill and Footy Accumulators’ No Tippy Tappy Football, a new series in which Sam Allardyce and host Natalie Pike are joined by a special guest each week to discuss the big stories surrounding the 2022 World Cup, Allardyce said: “I would rest Harry Kane against Wales. My opinion is if you’ve got a squad where the individuals are equally as good as each other, and Callum Wilson at the moment is playing out of his skin at Newcastle and scoring goals, then you can play him.

“Phil Foden, arguably, who’s better than him that’s playing now? Raheem Sterling? No. Marcus Rashford? He’s playing well but not as good as Foden. Foden scored a hat-trick for Man City against Man United earlier this season and he’s still not playing for England. What more can he do to start? I’d play him on the right or the left, coming in off the side. Or you can play him in centre-midfield if you want in a three.

“I’d start Foden and Callum Wilson against Wales. But Harry Kane will play, there’s no doubt. I’m convinced Gareth will pick him.”

Allardyce added: “I’d bring in Trent Alexander-Arnold for Luke Shaw at right-back, with Kieran Trippier playing left-back. I’d bring in Foden for Mason Mount, and then Jack Grealish for Raheem Sterling and Callum Wilson for Harry Kane. So Jordan Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Trippier, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Foden, Bukayo Saka, Grealish and Wilson. And Harry Maguire as captain.”

Allardyce believes Southgate has to utilise his squad against Wales and further in the tournament, if England get there, as it’s good enough to go all the way.

“I’d make those changes if I was in charge because I’d think we could beat Wales comfortably and go on and win the tournament,” he said. “Because I’d have the squad to win it, and I’d have to play the players in the squad to get there. I can’t keep on playing the same XI all the way through. You’ve got to be brave. You’ve got to be brave on the touchline as well as be brave with the players, and if you have to disappoint them then they should come back fighting and thinking ‘I’ll show you for leaving me out, and don’t you dare do that again.’

“It’s the best squad we’ve ever had, there’s never been a better time for them to win it with the experience they’ve had from the World Cup and Euros. If they don’t win it now I don’t think they ever will. But they’ve got to use the squad.”

Allardyce and Savage predict comfortable England wins

As for Allardyce’s prediction for the Wales match, he is expecting a routine 3-1 win for the Three Lions.

He said: “Can Wales beat England? The way the World Cup is going, Japan beating Germany and then Japan losing to Costa Rica… So anything can happen in these one-off games, like Saudi Arabia beating Argentina. But a Wales win is unlikely and I think England will be sharp and on it after having a kick up the backside from the USA game, so they will be too strong. I’m going 3-1 to England, and Harry Kane will score.”

Allardyce was joined on No Tippy Tappy Football by former Wales international Robbie Savage, who also feels England are set for a comfortable evening.

“I can’t see Wales getting anything against England,” he said. “If Wales get anything out of England it will be one of the biggest shocks, like Saudi Arabia beating Argentina. I really believe that. Because if you look at the Wales bench, the squad they’ve got, they players they’re bringing on – they’ve brought a player on from Portsmouth! It will be like Morocco beating Belgium. Wales fans won’t like to hear that but it will be.

“Rob Page has done amazing to get there and Wales have some amazing players but unfortunately the squad isn’t good enough. I can’t see us getting anything out of England and it will be a big shock if they do. I think it will be 2-0 England with Harry Kane to score.”