Palace’s Joachim Andersen: I’m sure Marc Guehi will make England’s World Cup squad
Joachim Andersen is convinced that his Crystal Palace team-mate Marc Guehi will be in the England squad for the upcoming 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Guehi, 22, has been involved in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad on the previous three occasions. He made his debut in the 2-1 win over Switzerland in March and followed it up by earning caps against Italy and Hungary in the Nations League.
Former Palace captain Southgate is expected to announce his provisional squad for the World Cup tomorrow [Thursday], with the final submission required on November 13. England have been drawn in Group B alongside Iran, USA and Wales.
Andersen, who is set to be included in Denmark’s squad for the tournament, has played the full 90 minutes alongside Guehi in every Premier League game he has started this season.
“I don’t doubt Marc – I’m sure he is in the squad,” said Andersen following the 2-1 win against Wolves on Tuesday evening.
“Why shouldn’t he? He has been in the squad many times already. I’m sure he is there.”
The duo both arrived last summer – Andersen from Lyon and Guehi from Chelsea – and instantly became the clear first-choice central defensive duo in Patrick Vieira’s side.
“We listen a lot to each other – we talk and communicate really well,” explained Andersen of his partnership with Guehi.
“It’s just about understanding the game, and we do that really well together.”
Vieira’s side went a goal down at Selhurst Park against Wolves, with Adama Traore giving the visitors the first-half lead. But second-half goals from Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha handed the Eagles their third Premier League win of the season.
Zaha scored the winner and his fifth of the campaign in the 70th minute with a cooly-taken finish to send Jose Sa the wrong way.
“He’s a pain in the arse in training sometimes,” admitted the 26-year-old Andersen.
“Like today, you that he is fighting – that is what you want from Wilf. He’s creating, scoring, and fighting – that’s what you get from him. You always get a 100 per cent performance. We’re really lucky to have him.”
The Eagles have four games before the league breaks in November for the World Cup against sides currently below them in the table. Their first seven games of the season saw them up against Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.
“Of course,” said Andersen of the upcoming run of games presenting an opportunity to pick up a string of results.
“Now we have some easier teams to play against because we played against the big, big teams in the beginning. We need to win these games at home against the likes of Wolves and Leeds.
“It’s just about focusing on ourselves, but we also showed against the big teams that we can create something.”
Cheick Doucoure, 22, has started every game since arriving from Lens in the summer. The Eagles shelled out more than £20million to secure the midfielder on a five-year contract.
“He helps the back four a lot,” explained Andersen when asked how impressed he had been with Doucoure’s influence on the side.
“I saw him in there with a lot of ice packs on his legs, but that is what you get from him, a 100 per cent performance.
“He’s been really good for us.”