England were thoroughly efficient in the qualifying phase, winning their group with ease while remaining unbeaten and conceding just three times.
They did however fail to produce free-scoring displays even against minnows Lithuania and Malta, generating only lukewarm optimism from the majority of the Three Lions support ahead of the tournament in Russia.
The country that invented the beautiful game are still waiting for their first major honour since winning the World Cup in 1966. Promising generations have come and gone since, serving only to raise expectations and then frustratingly fall well short of them.
A group stage exit in the 2014 World Cup, and a humiliating second-round elimination at the hands of Iceland at Euro 2016, were in keeping with the team’s habitual mortification. As a result, despite the global following of the Premier League raising the profile of their squad, expectations have slumped to an all-time low – but that may just be the break they need.
Wayne Rooney was the last of the latest batch of England superstars to step off the international stage last year and the new set-up is atypically understated. Gareth Southgate’s appointment at the end of 2016 was somewhat anti-climactic but he’s gone about his business quietly, putting together a side bustling with pacy, enterprising talents.
England have a severe dearth of quality central midfielders but have managed to fashion a work-around by utilising a 3-1-4-2 formation that plays to their strengths and almost bypasses the middle of the park.
Southgate has embraced the three-man defence prevalent in England’s top flight in recent years that Tottenham and Chelsea live by and Arsenal and Manchester City indulge in as well.
The two-pronged attack accommodates Harry Kane and one of Raheem Sterling, Jamie Vardy or Marcus Rashford up front while allowing space in behind for midfield runners like Dele Alli or Jesse Lingard to exploit. While players have the freedom to drift into wide areas, the genuine width is provided by the wing-backs with Eric Dier protecting against the counter.
Individual brilliance plays a part in every great side and while there’s enough of that in this England team, they aren’t wholly reliant on it like some of the teams of yesteryear – which is why a mercurial talent in Jack Wilshere has been sidelined with minimal fuss.
Instead, it’s the system and collective efforts of the players as a unit that takes precedence. At the very least, they’re difficult to put away as they followed their unbeaten qualifying campaign by avoiding defeat in friendlies against Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands and Italy.
Perhaps without the expectation back home, or even the hope, England can be a pleasant surprise rather than the habitual massive disappointment.
KEY PLAYER
Raheem Sterling
In the absence of a genuine playmaker, his clever runs, pace and dribbling in tight areas will play a big part in creating openings for England. He’s come of age under Pep Guardiola this season and it’s time to replicate that form for the national team.
COACH
Gareth Southgate
Having been promoted from the England Under-21s following Sam Allardyce’s short stint, Southgate has shaped a unit capable of competing against the best. He’s already shown his tactical nous but must prove it on the big stage.
CAPTAIN
Harry Kane
If England are to go far in the competition, Kane must lead by example. He is their standout star at the moment, scoring 38 goals for Spurs this season, and if he’s at his clinical best, they stand a real chance of producing the goods.
YOUNG STAR
Marcus Rashford
He has had a stop-start season at Manchester United but there’s no denying the 20-year-old’s quality. His versatility to play through the middle or out wide and searing pace makes him a force, particularly when bringing energy off the bench.
KEY FACTS AND STATS
– Gary Lineker is England’s top scorer at World Cups with 10 goals. Geoff Hurst is second with five.
– Since winning the competition in 1966, England have only once reached the semi finals – losing to West Germany in 1990.
– Geoff Hurst scored a hat-trick in the 1966 final – he is still the only man to score three in the showpiece match.
– 89.4 minutes per goal contribution for Sterling in the 17/18 Premier League.
FIFA Rating
80 DEF 81 MID 84 ATT
World Cups competed at
14 (First in 1950)
World Cup record
P62, W26, D20, L16
Best finish
1966 (Champions)
Qualification record
P10, W8, D2
World ranking
13
SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Jack Butland (Stoke), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley).
Defenders
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Danny Rose (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Manchester United).
Midfielders
Dele Alli, Eric Dier (both Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea).
Forwards
Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jamie Vardy (Leicester), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).
VERDICT
Finally, England look primed for a tournament with a clear game plan. With the pressure off, they may just be dark horses this time, perhaps even destined for the final four.
