Michael Owen names stars who would strengthen England's 2026 squad

Former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Michael Owen spoke in an exclusive interview with GOAL about which members of England's 'Golden Generation' could help the team at the 2026 World Cup. He believes stars of the past would be invaluable in solving the defensive issues of the current squad. This is reported by Goal.com .

Owen specifically highlighted Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard in his selection. 'My biggest concern is our defensive vulnerability. We are very strong in attack, but if you have a player as talented as Steven Gerrard, you must find a place for him. To strengthen the team, I would choose Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard,' says the former forward.

Michael Owen also touched upon the rivalry between Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane. According to him, although Wayne Rooney is one of the greatest players in history, the current England national team has enough talented performers in the attacking line. Therefore, he emphasized that the focus should be on strengthening the defense and the center of the midfield.

During the conversation, Owen cautiously answered the question of who from the current squad could have made it into the legendary team of 2002-2006. He noted that football has changed significantly in recent years and it is difficult to compare players from different eras. The England national team is preparing for the 2026 World Cup in North America with the goal of ending a 60-year trophy drought.