Can England beat low hopes?
Qualifying from the group is all they need to do
“I want to win everything I do, it’s my mind-set, and so do the players. That’s what we’re going to try and do. There are some really good teams in the World Cup, but it’s worth fighting for.” Harry Kane | England captain
■ Appearances: 14
■ Best finish: Champions (1966)
■ Manager: Gareth Southgate
■ Star Player: Harry Kane
After a group stage exit at the last World Cup followed by a Last 16 defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016, expectations of England are at an all-time low.
This might just help Gareth Southgate’s young and transitional squad build back up without the usual pressure that surrounds the Three Lions ahead of every major tournament.
An easier start in Group G playing against Panama and Tunisia before Belgium will also ease them in slowly.
Qualifying from the group is all they need to do to prove progress and if they could achieve that, they would then play first or second from Group H, which involves Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan; a prospect that makes reaching the quarter-finals a feasibility.
It is in the Last-Eight where England usually come unstuck however. In 14 World Cup appearances, they have won once in 1966 but since then they have only reached one semi-final in 1990 with six quarter-final exits, two of which came amid the golden generation’s era in 2002 and 2006.
Even in nine European Championship appearances, they have twice reached the semis in 1968 and 1996 and endured two quarter-final finishes in 2004 and 2012.
This is most definitely not a golden generation but they did top their qualifying group unbeaten (as they do every campaign) ahead of Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta, and they have shown sprouts of promise in recent friendlies beating Holland and drawing with Italy.
Harry Kane was England’s top scorer in qualifying with five but the striker has yet to replicate his Tottenham form with the national team despite the similar England link up with Spurs teammate Dele Alli in midfield.
An ankle injury in March has also left Kane battling to regain match form heading into the World Cup. Besides Kane and Alli, and Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling, the squad lacks dependable and noninjury-prone talent with Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade Chamberlain out injured, Adam Lallana a doubt and flair players Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley lacking match-time through injuries. Behind that brittle midfield and doubtful front line lie an even bigger headache however.