Pundit claims foreign 24-year-old Spurs star could start for England 

Danny Murphy has argued that Cristian Romero is one of just two or three Argentinian players who could get into England’s starting eleven.

Argentina’s World Cup campaign got off to a woeful start as Saudi Arabia came from a goal down at half-time to win 2-1 on Tuesday.

Romero, who had missed Tottenham’s last five games with a hamstring problem, started for the Albiceleste alongside Nicolas Otamendi at centre-back, but the 24-year-old had an evening to forget, being at fault for the Saudis’ equaliser.

The Spurs star was withdrawn just before the hour mark by Lionel Scaloni and La Voz revealed that he actually signalled to the bench asking to be taken off after Saudi Arabia’s first goal, which suggests that he might have played through an injury.

Murphy believes that when fully fit, Romero is one of just two or three Argentinean players, along with Lionel Messi, who would get into Gareth Southgate’s side.

The former Spurs midfielder told talkSPORT: “I was looking at the Argentina team, and sometimes it’s easy to get drawn on the narrative of the press.

“They’re unbeaten in 35, they’ve got Messi, they must be one of the favourites. When I actually looked at the game, and I was going through the players, how many of those players get in our [England’s] team?

“Two? No more than three. You’d fit Messi in obviously. Maybe Romero would get in at centre-half when he’s at it, I know he’s been injured for Tottenham.”

Spurs Web Opinion

England’s one big weakness is at centre-half and so, there is no doubt that Romero would start for the Three Lions if he is fully fit. One can make the case that the Argentine would be England’s best defender over John Stones.

However, I agree with Murphy’s general assessment that some English fans tend to underrate their own players and put South American stars on a pedestal.

The midfield duo of Rice and Bellingham is as good as any in the World Cup and barring Brazil, no team has the kind of attacking options that England do. To be able to bring on the likes of Grealish, Foden, and Rashford from the bench is a massive luxury.

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