World Cup 2022 Team Preview - England

England's odds to win the World Cup

17/2

Best World Cup

Winner 1966, Semi-final 1990, 2018 

2018 World Cup

Semi-final

England's World Cup Schedule

• Read a full Group B summary here

Road to Qatar

It's been many years since England struggled to qualify for the finals of a World Cup, and their progress was never in any serious doubt this time around either. England's 31 goals in six successes against Albania, Andorra and San Marino (whom they beat 10-0 away from home) were little more than was expected against such weak opposition, but it their 2-1 win against Poland that put their stamp of authority on a group that England were alway favourites to win. A 1-1 draw in Warsaw kept the Poles at arm's length, while another 1-1 home draw with Hungary was the only minor blemish on a comfortable qualifying campaign.

Recent form

Friendly successes against Switzerland and Ivory Coast gave England an encouraging start to 2022, but a woeful Nations League campaign saw them go six games without a win for the first time since the early '90's, and included an almost unfathomable 4-0 home defeat to Hungary. England's reputation as an exciting attacking force built on a platform of solid defence was in tatters, with the first five games producing no more than a Harry Kane penalty. The only crumb of comfort is that England’s last memory will be of the way they fought back from two goals down in their final game against Germany, scoring three goals in twelves minutes to earn an improbable but entertaining 3-3 draw.

England World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle Utd), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Eric Dier (Tottenham), John Stones (Man City), Kyle Walker (Man City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle Utd), Conor Coady (Everton), Ben White (Arsenal), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham Utd), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Kalvin Phillips (Man City)

Forwards: James Maddison (Leicester City), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Callum Wilson (Newcastle Utd), Marcus Rashford (Man United)

Team insights

Probable formation: 4-2-3-1  As long as Harry Kane is fit, Gareth Southgate will pick a team designed to play around him and supply him with the service he thrives upon. Although achieving past successes with a back three, recent defensive failings have forced Southgate's hand into fielding more of an orthodox back four protected by two holding midfield players. That sometimes limits England's options in the final third, meaning that the three attacking midfielders can be starved of quality possession between the lines, resulting in England's attacking threat being stifled in the middle third as Kane drops deeper in search of the ball. Despite pressure from Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale, Jordan Pickford looks set to start in goal, but who plays in front of him is more of a conundrum for the English boss. Declan Rice's defensive discipline and surging runs should make him a shoe-in as one of the holding midfielders, and the return of Kalvin Phillips, so effective in the 2020 Euros, could prove crucial in protecting a vulnerable back line. Kane remains the linchpin of England's attacking threat, and he will need his array of attacking talent to offer support, with Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Mason Mount all offering their own creative threat. Jack Grealish emerged as a fan favourite at last year's Euro's and he looks likely to start the tournament vying for cameo appearances with James Maddison, who is one of few players to be selected purely on current form (with maybe a little media pressure thrown in!).

World Cup prospects

The progress that saw England reach the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of the Euros appears to have stalled, but they will still travel to Qatar with expectations as high as their hopes. On current form, all three group games present a possible stumbling block, but England should still end up on top of the table, which could set up an equally tricky encounter against the likes of Senegal or the Netherlands in the last 16. From then on, England could just as easily beat any opponent as lose to them, but to reach the semi-final they might need Harry Kane to challenge for his second straight Golden Boot, while much will also depend on whether they can reseal their defensive holes. Best hope: Infinity and beyond!

Read more about each of England's Group B opponents:

USA, Wales, Iran