David Beckham has warned England that they face stiff competition from three giants of international football to win this year's World Cup in Qatar.
The ex-Three Lions captain reckons that holders France, five-time winners Brazil and Lionel Messi 's Argentina will challenge Gareth Southgate and co, while also tipping Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark to be a dark horse. Beckham, who played and scored at three World Cups across his glittering career, is an ambassador for the controversial tournament - a role which will earn him a reported £150million - and has issued his early predictions ahead of Friday's draw.
Speaking to FIFA's official website during the final round of qualifiers this week, the former Manchester United star was asked who could rival England and replied: "When you think about the World Cup you automatically talk about Brazil, Argentina and France. They are all great nations who have won many tournaments.
"Another country I am excited to see play is Denmark. I think they could be the surprise package. They've had a good lead-up and always do pretty well in major tournaments. I'm also looking forward to seeing the host nation, Qatar. They have a young team who have been together a long time. They know each other well and I think they'll be boosted by the atmosphere in the stadiums."
As far as the Three Lions' chances are concerned, Beckham is confident, with the ex- Real Madrid 'Galactico' declaring: "My expectations for England are always high. Ours fans will have high expectations – and rightly so. I feel Gareth has done an incredible job. We've got a team that's been together for quite a few years.
"You can't really call them a young team anymore – but many of the players are pretty young, while they also have experience in there with the likes of Harry Kane. I feel this is a real opportunity for us. We're coming into the tournament in good form. We just have to keep that up."
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With the draw set to take place in Doha on Friday at around 5pm BST, Beckham will be one of the faces of the competition and has talked up Qatar as a host nation, despite controversy surrounding the country's human rights record and the casualties involved in building the stadiums used.
"It's a massive moment for everyone in Qatar and very inspiring," the former LA Galaxy, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder went on to explain. "I've always talked about the legacy of the World Cup for Qatar – but also the legacy of the World Cup everywhere.
"That's what the World Cup brings to a nation – it's an inspiring moment. For Qatar, it's a chance to show off the country and its love of football, its history and culture. Having some of the biggest players in the sport descend on Qatar is a huge moment for the country and region."
One notable difference with this year's tournament is that it will take place in November and December, which comes at odds with the regular European calendar. Unsurprisingly, Beckham is seeing the plus sides, noting: "As an England player, we went into every World Cup after a gruelling season in the Premier League, which is one of the toughest leagues in the world.
"When you come to the end of the season, you're exhausted and it takes a while to recover – more than a few weeks. This time, it will be mid-season, so this is perfect for English players – and other teams – who can go into the tournament with a real opportunity."
The 46-year-old added: "You always expect a high standard during the World Cup – but coming in mid-season, the standards are going to be even higher. The weather is going to be perfect, the stadiums are amazing, the facilities are amazing, the fans are going to have a great time. It's set up perfectly."
