Chile's Alexis Sanchez laughs off England's World Cup hopes due to 'pampered players'

13 Nov 2013 13:21

Chile's golden boy reportedly pulls no punches talking about England's World Cup chances and the 'soft' Three Lions

Fighting talk: "We are a tougher team than England"

Getty

Chile and Barcelona star Alexis Sanchez has laughed off any chance of Roy Hodgson's England making an impression at the World Cup, saying that "everything is too easy for them," according to reports. 
Sanchez, 24, is one of the star names on Jorge Sampaoli's teamsheet and already has 62 caps and 20 goals for his country, including six in his last nine matches.
The lightning-quick forward signed for Italian club Udinese in 2006 as a 17-year-old, joined Barcelona in 2011 and has this season netted seven times in nine La Liga matches for the reigning champions.
And with next summer's tournament heading to his native South America - where a European country has never triumphed - Sanchez has declared that the Three Lions cannot claim the crown.
"I don't think England can win the World Cup," Sanchez is quoted as saying in the Daily Express. "They have some very good players but are probably not at the level where they can beat the best."
Chile head to Wembley on Friday night on the back of a fantastic run of form which has seen them easily secure their place at next summer's World Cup.
Sampaoli's men are unbeaten in their last nine matches, including draws against Confederations Cup winners Brazil (in Brazil) and reigning world champions Spain (in Geneva) with their fast-paced, hard-running style earning plaudits.

Goalscorer: Sanchez has been in superb form for both club and country recently

David Ramos

And Sanchez, who like many of his teammates rose from playing street football, reckons that England are "too soft" and that young English players are handed far too much, too soon when they enter the academy system.
He added: "We are a tougher team than England, the problem for teams like England is that everything is so easy for them.
"I used to wash cars for such little money just so I had enough money to buy my football boots. When you are at academies like Manchester United and Arsenal then everything is just given to you.
"If I had failed I would be working 15-hour days on construction sites and still not be earning enough to live. Football saved me, and I don't think any England players could say that."

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I am tempted to agree with Sanchez cos apart from the pampering, i think there is too much sentiment in the team for instance, some old players are supposed to have been dropped from the team but what do you see...