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Basheer, World Cup analyst Craig Foster and host Niav Owens' preview of Groups A-D saw some surprising picks of the top two teams to make it out, an in depth explanation from Foster on how the Socceroos can progress beyond Group D, and a certain projection of England's chances at the tournament.
Despite being ranked fifth in the world, finishing fourth at Russia 2018 after an agonising semi-final defeat to Croatia, and losing a dreaded penalty shootout to Italy in the final of the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, Basheer was less optimistic about England's chances heading into the World Cup.
"I think England – it really does depend on their start; it depends on the mentality of the players," Basheer said on the SBS World Cup preview show.
"They fatigued badly in the Nations Cup [UEFA Nations League]. They lost to Hungary, they drew with Germany and lost to Italy in Milan, that was a bad loss, and just the manner of their defeats as well really signalled that there were issues with the team."
Despite flirting with two different formations during the Nations League earlier this year, Gareth Southgate failed to contain the run of goals that his defence were leaking en route to his side's unprecedented relegation from Nations League A.
Going winless at the tournament with three draws and three losses, the Three Lions conceded 10 times during their disastrous run as the defence of Southgate's 4-3-3 set-up crumbled in a 4-0 defeat to shock group winners Hungary.
Their defensive woes were on show once again in their final match of the tournament against Germany, where the backline of Southgate's 3-4-3 formation, consisting of John Stones, Eric Dier and Harry Maguire, saw three goals conceded in the eventual draw, with errors from the much-maligned Maguire directly leading to two of them.
The in-game defensive troubles of the European side have also been hampered by an increasingly concerning injury list, with Southgate currently sweating on the fitness of Chelsea full-back Reece James, as well as Manchester City duo Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker.
Arsenal playmaker and 2021 national team debutante Emile Smith Rowe will also miss the tournament with a groin injury, while Southgate will also be sweating on the fitness of Dier, Stones and Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka ahead of his squad finalisation on Thursday, as all have only recently returned to their respective starting elevens.
“I don’t think there’s an issue with Southgate and the respect the players have for him, but they’re just not finding an attacking rhythm at the moment and defensive solidarity," Basheer continued.
"So, all the aspects that carried them to success in Russia, and also a heartbeat away from the European Championship on home soil, they really haven’t recaptured in this period leading up to the World Cup."
England's attacking concerns have not only been limited to their poor showing at the Nations League, where they scored only once more in addition to their three-goal outing against Germany, but Basheer may have also been pointing to the international form of captain and talisman Harry Kane in his perceived lack of 'attacking rhythm' in the England side.
Despite netting 11 times in 14 matches for Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the current Premier League season, Kane was unable to repeat his 12-goal tally from England's World Cup qualifiers at the Nations League, scoring just twice and only once more in international football this year.
Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling has also struggled to find the back of the net for his country, scoring only once in seven internationals played in 2022.
With a match against the stubborn defensive set-up of Iran in their opening match of the tournament, and challenging encounters against the USA and Wales in their other group matches, Southgate will be relying on Kane and Sterling to better their respective international form and to trust his young talents to shine through in Qatar.
“Whether they can get there or not, I’m not so sure. I think they’ll get out of the group, Niav [Owens], but I’m not sure they’re going to go really deep into this tournament, England," Basheer said.
