World Cup: Can England go all the way in Qatar?
England’s recent goalless draw with the USA was less than inspiring. Gareth Southgate’s side managed just three shots on target in Al Khor’s Al Bayt Stadium and came very close to losing, with Christian Pulisic smashing the woodwork and Weston McKennie blasting the ball over when it looked easier to score than miss. Oddschecker, which compares World Cup odds and offers, has made the Three Lions favourites for their final group game against Wales, a fixture which they head into knowing that anything better than a four-goal defeat will see them progress to the last 16.
The performance against the Americans was a far cry from barely a week prior when Southgate’s young lions ripped apart Iran. While other heavyweights such as Argentina and Germany were faltering against the likes of Saudi Arabia and Japan, England were at their brilliant best. A brace from Bukayo Saka, as well as goals from Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish, sent the English on their way to a 6-2 victory.
No doubt the performance sent a message to the rest of the competition. However, the world will now be breathing a sigh of relief following England’s toothless draw in game two.
Eerie resemblance to Euro 2020
The result brought memories of last summer’s disappointing goalless draw against Scotland at Wembley in the second game of the European Championship. Following that result, the media and fans got on manager Gareth Southgate’s back, claiming his side was far too negative against opposition that they should be beating. We all remember how England responded. They would defeat the Czech Republic in their final game, which would secure the top spot in the group.
From there, England’s first victory over Germany in a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup final would follow. Goals from the brilliant Sterling and captain Harry Kane were enough for a 2-0 win, before a resounding 4-0 rout of Ukraine in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico in the quarterfinals. England would make hard work of Denmark in the semifinals, sneaking a 2-1 victory in extra time before falling in the final against Italy, with penalty shootout heartbreak rearing its ugly head once again.
Southgate will be hoping his team can bounce back from their most recent setback in similar fashion. Wales will be highly motivated in their final group game. First and foremost, they know that a win, will see them qualify for the second round as runners-up to England, as long as the USA and Iran finish with a draw. Wales also know that winning by a four-goal margin will see them jump ahead of their British rivals regardless of the result in the other match.
England’s potential route to the final
In truth, it’s hard to envision an England defeat against the Welsh. The Red Dragons are appearing at the World Cup for the first time since 1958 when they reached the quarter-finals, but have been extremely disappointing thus far. They laboured to a draw against the USA in their opening game, with a late Gareth Bale penalty rescuing a point. In their second match they were truly dreadful, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat against Iran in a fixture which – on paper at least – they should be winning.
In turn, we expect England to perform well and top the group.
If they do that, they will face either Senegal or Ecuador in the last 16, depending on the outcome of the upcoming game when the duo will face off in Group A. The champions of Africa will have to win in order to secure progression following the South Americans’ important point against the Dutch.
If England can safely navigate the round of 16, then a quarterfinal date against reigning champions France would await. Les Bleus have safely conquered the champions curse, becoming just the second reigning champions in 20 years to reach the knockout rounds. And they have looked imperious in doing so, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe showing why he’s one of the world’s best.
Should Southgate somehow find a way past the French, then a semifinal with either Portugal or Belgium for a place in the World Cup final would be next. Then in the final? Just the small matter of tournament favourites Brazil.
