Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app.The World Cup is here!I’m not really someone who does big predictions, but I thought I’d run through some of my perspectives — on England, Germany and the USMNT — before they play their first matches.Let’s start with England and their strengths and weaknesses.I rank them among the best teams, almost as strong as France and Spain. All of the players are at top clubs and have proven themselves in the Premier League. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham both star for major teams, and Marcus Rashford has just returned from a season with Barcelona, where Anthony Gordon is heading shortly.Having only a few of your players based abroad can actually be an advantage. It increases familiarity and cohesion, and it’s something that we in Germany have benefited from in the past: in 2014, 16 of our 23 players played in the Bundesliga and that felt valuable at the time.The set-piece focus in England is going to be important, I think.Jude Bellingham is a key player for England (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Of course, Thomas Tuchel can call on a small contingent of Arsenal players — Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka — but practically the whole squad understand the value of the dead ball. “Simple” goals are going to matter in the heat of North America over the next six weeks, and England have great delivery from Rice, whose development into a leader for club and country I did not foresee.Some other thoughts about the English national team…I don’t know how much of a strength Jordan Pickford is; he’s not exceptional by international standards, despite his experience, and I think there are superior goalkeepers at the tournament.The defence in front of him is good; the back four are well-organised. I particularly like the midfield, though. Rice I’ve mentioned already, but Elliot Anderson is a very bold player in the best sense of the word. I absolutely understand why Manchester City want to sign him; I see England’s future in Anderson.