Chelsea star Willian has backed England to be title contenders for the 2018 World Cup.

An experimental and youthful England team managed to gain creditable draws against defending World Champions Germany as well as a Brazilian team featuring the likes of Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Willian during the international break.

This will certainly be impressive for Gareth Southgate's men especially considering that they had to make do without key players such as Harry Kane and Dele Alli.

Willian said: "England are a very strong team with young players, quality players," he said. "It was difficult for us to find spaces because they had a lot of players behind the ball.

"We created four or five chances to score but we didn't. England always have good and strong players. They can improve a lot.

"This was one of our hardest games. They stayed behind the line of the ball. We did not create much."