Colin Lloyd would be 'disappointed and surprised' if Luke Littler skipped 2025 World Cup of Darts because of German crowds

England seemed to have everything in their favour ahead of the 2025 World Cup of Darts. With an expected pairing of world number one Luke Humphries and world champion Luke Littler, there was little that many saw opposing nations being able to do. Recently however, there has been growing doubt around the participation of Littler as he grows increasingly frustrated by the reception he's given from German crowds.

Littler posted after a recent European Tour in Munich that he won't be returning to Germany until Dortmund, which would signal the 2025 European Championship. If that is the case, it would mean he would not make his World Cup of Darts debut next month.

Reacting to Littler's post for TalkSport, former world number one Colin Lloyd admitted: "It was a strange comment. I can’t see him not wearing an England shirt. I’ll be disappointed and surprised if he didn’t, because those opportunities don’t come along very often, the number one and number two player in the world (pairing up). Them sort of days were like Eric Bristow and John Lowe, so you’re going back to the 80s, and that was a formidable partnership. They won umpteen World Cup events."

Because of this, Lloyd feels the likelihood of Littler playing in the World Cup of Darts this year, remains high. "I can’t see that Luke will not take the opportunity to partner up with Luke Humphries for the World Cup of Darts, I can’t see it," 'Jaws' insists. "Listen, he might do. MVG pulled out of it."

"It would be a great opportunity for him, pull on an England shirt, partner himself up with the world number one and my god what a formidable pairing that would be," continues Lloyd. "That’s not to say if he didn’t want to go, that the back-up player wouldn’t be any slouch but you would love to see the two Lukes battling up there against everybody else in the World Cup of Darts, but only time will tell."

If Littler were to withdraw, it's likely to be Stephen Bunting who joins Humphries in the England team. Speaking on the prospect recently, 'The Bullet' said the following: "Luke has put a few posts up on social media about not going back to Germany. Well if he doesn't go back to Germany that means I'll be in the World Cup of Darts doesn't it."

So clearly, Bunting is ready to make his mark if given a shot.