Former England international Phil Neville has claimed that staging the 2022 World Cup at the end of the calendar year may be the "best thing that's ever happened" to the Three Lions.
A FIFA task force has recommended switching the event to the winter because of hot summer temperatures in Qatar, a proposition met with substantial criticism.
However, Neville has welcomed the prospect, telling BBC Sport: "We normally go into a World Cup at the end of a long, hard, nine-month season when our players are absolutely dead on their feet.
"For an England team, this might be the best thing that's ever happened. We've cried out for a long time for a mid-winter break. Maybe this will give us a great chance of winning a World Cup."
England finished bottom of their group at the 2014 World Cup.
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
