The former Three Lions manager feels that the West Ham striker would have been a better bet to unsettle defences at the World Cup but hopes that the Liverpool man will step up

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle believes the Three Lions could regret calling up Rickie Lambert ahead of Andy Carroll for the World Cup.
The 32-year-old made Roy Hodgson’s 23-man party after a fine season with Southampton that earned him a summer move to Liverpool, while an injury-disrupted campaign saw the West Ham star pick up only two goals in 15 games.

Carroll had an impact at Euro 2012, however, and Hoddle feels that he would have terrorised defences in Brazil – unlike Lambert, whom he has so far found “disappointing” at international level.

“Andy Carroll would have been in my England squad – he would have scared the life out of any defence,” wrote Hoddle for hill.com.

“He would have terrorised the Italians coming off the bench because they simply wouldn’t know how to handle him.

“Rickie Lambert was chosen ahead of Carroll, who is on standby, but he didn’t impress me, the way he led the line in Roy Hodgson’s shadow team against Ecuador. I thought he was disappointing.

“This World Cup more than any other, managers such as Roy Hodgson will want impact players – potential match-winners coming off the bench.

“I am not being critical of Roy’s selection. I am merely stating an opinion. He may prove me wrong and I hope that he does.

“As an England manager myself I know everyone wants to pick the England team, select the squad, everyone has an opinion and, the majority of the time, it’s a different one from the actual England manager.

“Roy is entitled to go with what he sees and that includes form inside the camp, which we don’t see, so his opinion is the one that counts the most and his decisions should be respected the most.”

Glenn Hoddle is Hill.com’s official World Cup blogger in Rio de Janeiro.