Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has made a prediction for the World Cup, having backed England to reach the final.<\/p>\n
The World Cup gets underway on Thursday night, and England<\/strong> <\/a>have their first group game against Croatia next Wednesday.<\/p>\n The Three Lions also face Ghana and Panama in the group stages, and they should have no problem getting to at least the knockout stages of the competition.<\/p>\n Thomas Tuchel<\/strong><\/a>\u2018s side will likely come unstuck if they face France, Spain, Portugal and\/or Argentina in the latter stages of the tournament, but Rooney suspects they will reach the final of the competition in a repeat of the 2024 European Championships.<\/p>\n \u201cEngland and Spain will make the final, and hopefully England will win it,\u201d Rooney told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n READ: Eight England stars are \u2018dead certs\u2019 for Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup \u2013 not Marcus Rashford<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n There were only a couple of other BBC pundits who have backed England, including Manchester City legend Joe Hart.<\/p>\n Hart said: \u201cEngland. But I am not actually that bothered whether I am right or wrong. I just like to back my people and I want England to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n Steph Houghton added: \u201cHopefully it\u2019s England but, looking at other teams, France have so much quality right through their team \u2013 especially in attacking areas.\u201d<\/p>\n Micah Richards reveals how England can win the World Cup<\/p>\n Man City legend Micah Richards, meanwhile, is backing two teams over England, but he has revelaed how The Three Lions can go all the way this summer.<\/p>\n \u201cHow teams deal with the humidity is going to play a big part at this tournament, so the South American teams will be strong,\u201d Richards said.<\/p>\n