England should write off their Cup hopes: Lineker

London, May 16: Former captain Gary Lineker says England should write off the World Cup and use it as a chance to blood youngsters, predicting the side can become a “serious force” in world football.

England head to Russia next month hoping to improve on a dismal 2014 campaign in Brazil and an embarrassing performance at Euro 2016.

The likes of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson have impressed this season, but former England striker Lineker feels Gareth Southgate’s side are short of top players.

Southgate named his 23man squad on Wednesday.

“If I was Gareth Southgate I would sell this on youngsters,” he said at BBC’s launch of their coverage of the tournament.

“I would say this is an experience, take total pressure off them, say, ‘It is all about experience, we are not going to do particularly well, we are not going to win this World Cup’.

“I think people will buy that because in four years’ time we are going to be a serious force in world football, there’s no doubt about that. We have got some great young players.

“Just write it off, we haven’t realistically got a chance, you never know what might happen in tournament football, but we haven’t currently enough world-class players.”

England fans warned

Police chiefs have urged England fans attending the World Cup not to display the flag of St George over fears it will be seen as antagonistic to their Russian hosts.

Mark Roberts of the National Police Chiefs’ Council is heading to Russia with a team of fellow officers to work with their Russian counterparts to protect up to 10,000 England fans. “I think people need to be really careful with flags. It can come across as almost imperialistic... And can cause antagonism,” Roberts said.