As England fans’ dreams of ‘football coming home’ ended with defeat to France in the World Cup quarter-finals, the dreams of Liverpool supporters are only just beginning.
The Three Lions had been one of the more impressive sides in Qatar, and were the better team for the majority of their clash with the reigning world champions. But alas, as good as they were on the night, overall France are just that teensy bit better.
It is a frustration Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool know only too well, having repeatedly fallen just short behind Pep Guardiola’s Man City in recent seasons while still winning every major honour on offer to them.
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France’s strength in depth as superb, is demonstrated by the fact that they are still looking well-placed to defend the World Cup despite losing Presnel Kimpembe, Christopher Nkunku, Karim Benzema and Lucas Hernandez along the way, with N'Golo Kante, Paul Pogba and Mike Maignan already ruled out before they could even name their squad in the first place.
Given many supporters predicted a quarter-final exit to Les Bleus as soon as the tournament draw was made, England’s latest loss is hardly a surprise. Yet it will still prompt mixed emotions from supporters depending on whether your glass is half-empty or half-full.
Either way, football is not coming home in 2022, with the Three Lions’ attention now turning to Euro 2024 in Germany instead. But in the meantime, elite club football is very nearly back as we near the end of the World Cup break.
The majority of Liverpool are predominantly indifferent to the England national team for a variety of reasons. But that hasn’t stopped Kopites from watching and enjoying the World Cup in recent weeks.
And certainly individual performances in Qatar have whetted their appetites. After all, as the World Cup was ongoing, it emerged Reds owners FSG were searching for new investors in the club and could be open to a full takeover.
As a result of such news, supporters dared to dream of their side led by Klopp and backed by owners wealthy enough to give them a level playing field alongside Man City. In other words, one willing to invest enough funds into the playing squad to make that teensy bit better than Guardiola’s men.
Such a prospect is easier said than done and despite plenty of speculation in recent weeks, any change of ownership at Anfield will be a long, drawn-out process. But that didn’t stop Liverpool fans from tuning into the World Cup and eyeing up potential superstar signings in the hope that their dreams could soon become reality.
And England’s quarter-final clash with France pitted arguably the two most sought-after targets up against each other - Jude Bellingham vs Kylian Mbappe.
The Reds have been linked with both players countless times in recent years, yet there is a fear they don’t have the financial clout to attract either player to Anfield. Under the current owners, that is. But FSG might no longer be club custodians in 2023…
Admittedly, Mbappe has always felt like a wishful pipe dream. For all of the playful hashtags and reports of previous transfer talks, he never seemed a player within Liverpool’s grasp. If ever he was to leave Paris Saint-German then Real Madrid seemed the most likely destination.
But then he spurned the La Liga giants’ advances last summer in favour of signing a new favour in Paris. Considering Madrid thought he was as good as theirs, such a snub did not go down and reports in Spain suggest Mbappe has burnt all bridges regarding a future transfer.
With Liverpool perhaps the side linked with the Frenchman more than any other behind Real Madrid, you do wonder what such a stance could mean for his future and the Reds’ interest the next time he looks to leave Paris. Yet any pursuit of the striker remains a pipe dream under FSG’s hand at least.
It seems to be a different story with Bellingham, however, with new reports emerging suggesting Liverpool are leading the chase to sign Klopp’s first-choice midfield target almost daily. There have been countless exchanges during the World Cup that have enhanced such views, with the middle as thick as thieves with Reds pair Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Yet it’s the hope that kills you. While Kopites dream of a Bellingham deal changing everything in their midfield in 2023, no-one is willing to get too carried away at such a prospect against the potential risk of crushing disappointment. Liverpool are definitely in the race though, with recent speculation sounding promising.
Either way both Mbappe and Bellingham have been standout stars in Qatar, with the Frenchman leading the way in the race for the Golden Boot as he chases down a second World Cup winners’ medal, while the Englishman, who is remarkably still only 19, burst onto the scene to cement his reputation as a best midfielder in the world in waiting.
In truth, neither put in their best performance as their two nations locked horns at the Al Bayt Stadium. Mbappe was kept mostly quiet by Kyle Walker as his team-mates instead delivered the limited damage. Bellingham certainly made more of an impact, twice going close from distance and winning possession back more times than any other player with five successful tackles.
But his efforts were in vain as Olivier Giroud, a player who has repeatedly haunted Liverpool over the years, scored a late winner before England were left to rue a Harry Kane penalty miss.
Meanwhile, as Liverpool observed Bellingham vs Mbappe with intrigue, the identity of France’s first goalscorer was perhaps rather fitting - Aurelien Tchouameni. The Reds had held talks to sign the midfielder from Monaco in the summer, only to be told he only had eyes for Real Madrid.
If/when they move for a Bellingham or an Mbappe, they will be hoping history doesn’t repeat itself. But as Three Lions’ own dreams died, it was a reminder of a previous Liverpool transfer pipe dream that ended in tears.
Kopite imaginations are currently free to run wild, pondering the riches of potential new owners and the side Klopp could soon have the funds to build. They will continue to pine for a Bellingham or an Mbappe as a result.
But while these fanciful transfer dreams could soon become reality, such days aren’t here yet. As France dealt England an unwanted reality check, reaching the World Cup semi-finals at their expense, so too did Tchouameni to Liverpool.
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