Jamie Carragher reacts to Trevoh Chalobah World Cup call up and names his England XI to face Croatia

OK, but first to that setback for England, then, on the eve of their World Cup opener against Croatia, with Tino Livramento ruled out of the tournament.Trevor Chalaba has been called up as his replacement.For more on this, we can speak to former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher, who joins us live now.Thank you so much for joining us, Jamie.Let's just get into it, then.Livramento ruled out.

How much of a blow is that going to be for him, given how long he's waited for a moment like this?

Massive blow for the lad.I mean, it probably happens to every country, I think, where one player just misses out just before the tournament.I think Scotland had one, didn't they, a few weeks ago, as well, in Billy Gilmore.So, listen, it's devastating.World Cup comes round every four years.It's a dream of every young kid, isn't it?

you know when you aspire to be a professional footballer could you one day get to the World Cup so devastating news for the lad but you know he's had it really tough hasn't he the last few years with injuries, liver and mental so maybe it's not too much of a shock unfortunately for him as I said he does pick up a few injuries.

Yeah it's interesting though isn't it that it's Trent Alexander -Arnold that hasn't been called up to replace him you know is that a decision that raises eyebrows given the options available?

I don't think so, just because we know Thomas Tuchel's stance now regarding Trent.When you look at some of the players in the squad, it almost looks like he's picking centre -backs who can do a job at right -back rather than an out -and -out right -back.Now, we know there's special qualities Trent Alexander -Arnold has.That's the reason why Roma did have him.That's why the reason Liverpool supporters were so upset to lose him.but the qualities Trent has, and maybe the deficiencies as well, we should add that, that's the reason why Thomas Tuchel is not picked, and he's looking at maybe the negatives more than the positives with Trent, and the way he wants to set his team up means that, as I said, maybe the strengths don't get amplified in a Thomas Tuchel team as much as maybe a Jürgen Klopp team, or whether he's at Real Madrid.

but I wouldn't say I'm overly surprised that he hasn't gone for Trent.I said a few weeks ago on this show that he's picking team harmony to get in his spirit, I think probably over quality and talent, and I think this is another decision that proves that.

Yeah, I mean, we talk about his replacement, and that's Schalaber, of course.You know, in the 2010 World Cup, you came out of retirement after key injuries to key defenders in that one.What was that experience like for you, coming back into a squad later on?

Yeah, it was great.I mean, it was an opportunity for me to play in a World Cup, probably slightly different to Trevor Chalbot coming in now.I'm not sure if he's...I might have this wrong, I'm not sure if he was in the last squad or he's been to a tournament before.I was coming towards the end of my career, I think he's still got a lot of years ahead of him as well, so it might have been a little bit like maybe bringing Harry Maguire back, if he'd have taken that decision when it was myself.But, listen, I'm not sure.

For Xhalaba or anybody in the squad, it all depends how the tournament goes.The tournament in South Africa in 2010 didn't go particularly well, so it's not something I look back on with too much fondness, really, and hopefully this is different for Xhalaba.

All right, we won't dwell on that too much then for you, Jamie.Look, you mentioned him, Harry Maguire.He's not involved this time around.And he spoke about the tough phone call that he had with Thomas Tukul when he said he thought he did enough to be in the squad, and he thought he could have helped the lads out there.What did you make of those comments?And are you surprised that he wasn't called up to replace Livermento then?

No, because a right -back's gone out, so I don't think he was going to pick an out -and -out centre -back.That's what Harry Maguire is. I'm not saying he's a right -back, but if there was an emergency, could he do a job there more than say,typical centre half like Harry Maguire, I'd say yes.But yeah, I haven't seen Harry Maguire's comments, I think, in the last couple of days.That's understandable.Every player feels they could have made a difference.

And I'm sure the argument that he put to Thomas Tuchel over the FaceTime was the same argument every other player put in there as well.We always back ourselves and feel we could have brought something to it.And when Harry speaks about England's squads and tournaments and doing well, I mean, in these last sort of 10 or 12 years, there's not many who knows that better.than what he's done involved with, obviously, Gareth Southgate going really far, a big part of the England squad.I always felt it was a bit of a long shot for Harry, he came into the squad late, but as I said, when it's yourself, you always feel like you should have got the nods.Again, I'm not massively surprised, and maybe his comments or his family's comments right when the squad was picked is maybe something that the staff have looked at.

I looked at that and I understand disappointment to get that, and we all get a little bit like that, but those...Bits and bobs from Harry and his family, probably better staying indoors, and they probably look back at that now, and I always felt, and I said this at the time, there was still another Premier League game to play.Now, someone could have got injured then, someone's got injured now in training, that can happen, so it probably didn't give them the best opportunity to come back into the squad, what happened, as I said, when the squad was first named.

Yeah, I hear you.Let's look ahead to tomorrow, then, against Croatia.How tough a test do you think that is for England's opener?

It's a tough test when you look at some of the teams that have played.You look at Spain yesterday, you'd think that'd be a gimme really to get three points, get a few goals, and we have seen that in this tournament, no doubt, but Croatia is a proper nation, it's a proper team, football and country, as we know so well, going back to, I think, that semi -final a good few years ago now, we got a Southgate.I don't think it's the Croatia of all, namely because, you know, Luka Modric is definitely not in his prime, so this England team,is not playing a vintage Croatia team.But I still think this England team's got a lot to prove in terms of getting close to where the teams that Gareth had in terms of getting to sort of semifinals and finals.So I think England should have the edge and probably just come out by the odd goal.

We've asked you to come up with your starting 11 for this game, which we were going to see now.How did you settle that Bellingham versus Rodgers and Gordon against Rashford debate then?

Listen, I don't think there's many people in the country who would say Morgan Rodgers is a better player than Jude Bellingham.You know, Morgan Rodgers being fantastic for Aston Villa, but Jude Bellingham is a superstar.Now, I actually said a few weeks ago, I thought Rodgers would start.I just felt Thomas Tuchel, the way he's been quite strong and picking players who maybe Other people look at and think, you know, I wouldn't pick him or I'd maybe pick Jude Bellingham or I'd take Cole Palmer or I'd take Phil Ford.He's not scared to make big decisions, Thomas Tuchel.So I actually felt Morgan Rodgers would start.

Listen, we'll see when the team gets picked because Morgan Rodgers has done fantastic for Thomas Tuchel.Jude Bellingham still hasn't really got going for Thomas Tuchel in terms of whether he's put him in the squad or whether he's just coming back from injury.I think if Bellingham's there at a World Cup and he's fit, he'd play in that number 10 position behind Harry Kane.I think with Rashford and Anthony Gordon, both in competition for a place at Barcelona, not just England, and Anthony Gordon got the nod with Barcelona, and I just think in the last warm -up game, I think he played really well, and I think that might just edge it for him.

Yeah, it's interesting isn't it, that debate going on at the moment.I just also want to pick you up on that as well because you've gone for Esri Konza ahead of Jon Stones.Yes, because many people are thinking Stones might get the nod.

Well, people are thinking, I think people are thinking that's what the manager will pick.I know this is the team I'd pick.I do think Jon Stones will play tomorrow.I think that's what Tom has to come up with.And I think if you're going to put John Stones in the squad, you know, the amount of fee hasn't paid much football.If you bring in... he's getting brought to play.

So I understand that, but I just think it's a big ask for any player to play at the highest level at international football with the stakes so high when you haven't played a lot of football this season.And I just think Conzert and Gueye have played really well, being two of the best centre -backs in the Premier League this season.And there's no doubt John Stones give you something different to get that.And if John Stones was fully fit and would have maybe played another 15, 20 games this season, I'd have John Stones in there as first pick.But I just think we're asking a lot for a lad to come in who hasn't had a lot of football not just this season really over the last few seasons.

Right you have seen quite a lot of teams play at this World Cup now so who's impressed you so far?

I think it's been a brilliant World Cup so far.I think there was a lot of people looking at it, and going back to the Club World Cup, you think of games getting abandoned at one stage, or stopping for 30 minutes.I know people are frustrated with the hydration breaks, I understand that, I get that.But I think the fear going into this tournament was there'd be a lot, because of the temperatures, there'd be a lot of games that were 0 -0, 1 -0, 1 -1.And to be fair, we've had a couple of them, that's normal.I think there's been a lot of goals in this tournament, and that's really sort of lifted me.

And also the supporters, you know, you see them all dancing in Times Square.I think the Scotland fans have been absolutely amazing as well.So I think it's been a lot better the more people were there envisaging, really, because obviously there was a few problems beforehand with Infantino and obviously Trump.I'm sure there's still problems at the tournament, but I think the tournament's made a really, really good start.I've been quite impressed with a few teams.Glad to see a few of the Liverpool players doing well as well.

which is nice, I think Werder's got an assist, Isak's got a goal, Van Dijk's got a goal, Gravenberch got an assist.Mo Salah's got an assist as well.We're still claiming him because I don't think he's got a new club just yet.So he's still one of ours.But no, I've been really impressed with the tournament so far.I've really enjoyed it.

Yeah, the Liverpool players are doing well, aren't they?A lot has been said about the expanded tournament as well.You know, 48 teams all going down to one in 39 days.Everyone was talking about that ahead of the tournament.But now, when we saw the likes of Kate Verdi holding Spain, does that look justified?

I don't think you can judge it off just one result, because you can look at it, you know, one of the sides got beat 7 -1, didn't he?So that's not ideal either.It's not so much how many teams are here, for me, it's more what it does to the group stage, where it just feels like there could be a lot of nothing games.And when you're talking about teams can actually qualify by, I think, getting two or three points, something about that just doesn't feel right.So it's more about the actual games that are getting played, not the amount for me.And yeah, I just think once we get to game three, It'd be really interesting to see where the groups are, how they fare, and how that will affect the quality of the football.

Do teams need to play full -strength teams?Do teams need to win?Are they interested in the last game?I don't think any game at a tournament like the World Cup... should almost feel like a free hit, and it just feels like it will feel like that for a lot of teams.It's normal that the best teams win the first two games and they change players in the last game, but if we get into a stage where there's at least two teams in the group not too fussed about the last game, I don't think that's great for the World Cup.

Yeah, I hear you.We've yet to see the likes of Argentina and France, of course, but obviously we did see Spain.Do you think England are still among the teams that are capable of going all the way, or are there still question marks for you?

No, there's still question marks.I think the England team, what they did under Gareth South, getting really close, and you feel like it's just the next step to go and win something.But I just think the last couple of years, the team has changed quite a bit.And I think Thomas Tuchel is still sort of building.really.There's a lot of talk going back to a game I think Liverpool England played a few months ago in Serbia where they won 5 -0.

There's a lot of looking back at that game it almost feels like that was the game for Thomas Tuchel but there hasn't been too many other games really or performances maybe Wales as a whole.that sort of lifted you off your seat and thought, oh, we're watching a top side who could go really close to winning the World Cup.I think there's four teams, I think most people would say, have got a great chance.And I don't think England are one of them.I think England are outside that group.I think that would be France, Spain, Portugal, and Argentina.

I think they would be the four teams.And then England would sit outside of that group.

OK, all right.Just finally then, because you did mention it, so I just want to bring it up.A lot of people have been talking about the drinks breaks, the hydration breaks, shall we call them.What's your take on it and their usage and potential for breaking up the game into quarters?

Well, I think initially, on the back of what happened last summer in the Club World Cup and the temperatures there, I think the reason for it was to help the players.I don't think it's necessarily there so people can have breaks and make more money.I don't believe that.So it's there to help the players.But the problem is, when do you stop?And there's times in games when the momentum or someone's getting put under pressure, and it just doesn't feel right when a game stops.

And I always felt that would be the case.It's very difficult for a game to feel neutral, for the game to stop in the middle of a half.So I think one team always loses, or more often than not, loses something when the break comes.And I don't think it's something anybody likes.It's there to try and help the players in extreme temperatures.But if we haven't got extreme temperatures, I think they've got to look at something maybe as as the group stage finishes because you can't have it halfway through the group stage and then take it away but I think as soon as the group stage

finishes, if that's something that FIFA or the country's managers and captains can get involved in and say, actually, we're OK.We can crack on till half time.

Sounds like a good plan to me.Always good to get your thoughts.Thanks, Jamie.