England need to eradicate their inconsistency if they are to reach their potential at the World Cup, according to former Spain coach Javier Clemente.
Gareth Southgate s side cruised through qualification for Russia 2018, winning eight and drawing two of their 10 matches to finish eight points ahead of second-placed Slovakia.
But such a scenario is nothing new for England, who have often made light work of the preliminary phase before ultimately falling well short at major tournaments, with Euro 2016 – when they were eliminated by unfancied Iceland in the last 16 – the most recent example.
And Clemente, who coached Spain to the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, believes that inconsistency is England s biggest issue heading into this year s tournament, arguing they would be considered one of the favourites if they were not so unpredictable.
The best European teams are Germany, France and Spain, no doubt, he told Omnisport.
Netherlands
— England (@England)
After that there are other teams able to play good football but the three strongest are Germany, France, and Spain.
I expect England to be in this group, but I don t know because England is an up-and-down team.
They could play wonderfully, but they could also lose against any team. I don t know the reason, you need to be on the inside [of English football] to know.
There is something which English players miss within the key moments. However, I am a fan of English football.
I always want them to win because I like them, but that is just my personal opinion, it is not a tactical analysis of English football. I always talk highly of England as I like them.