THIS IS HOW YOU WIN A WORLD CUP

Here’s our six-point plan to win the World Cup...

1. KEEP CLEAN SHEETS

You get nowhere at World Cups trying to win every game 4-3.

The last seven winners have kept clean sheets in at least half of their games.

2. FOUR AT THE BACK

Southgate is flirting with playing a back three but that doesn’t win you World Cups. Six of the last seven winners — all except Brazil in 2002 — started with a back four in all of their games.

3. A SETTLED SIDE

Know your best team. Since 1966, 12 of the 13 winners have had between eight and 10 of the same players start six or more matches.

Nine Spain players in 2010 started all seven matches.

4. DON’T BE WORLD No 1

Only one winner since 1950 has been ranked No1 — Brazil in 1962. Brazil are currently No1.

Seven winners since then have been ranked second, currently held by Belgium, while four were ranked fourth, currently France.

5. PLAYERS IN PRIME

The average age of World Cupwinning squads since 1950 is 26.4 years old. The average age of England’s squad in Qatar is...26.4 years old.

6. HAVE A REAL MADRID PLAYER

Five of the last six winners (and 10 of the last 12 finalists) have had a Real Madrid player in their ranks — Italy deprived Real’s Zinedine Zidane in 2006.