World Cup preview: England
A deep and talented squad enters the tournament with lofty expectations
Previous World Cup appearances: 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018
Best finish: Champions (1966)
Group stage schedule: vs. Iran (Nov. 21), vs. USA (Nov. 25), vs. Wales (Nov. 29)
Note: All stats accurate as of the end of the 2021-22 European season.
The breakdown
How they qualified: England topped a qualification group featuring Poland, Albania, Hungary, Andorra and San Marino. They won eight of their 10 games, drew the other two and posted the best goal difference (+36) of any team in UEFA qualifying.
Names to know:
Harry Kane (Tottenham) — Less than a month away from his 29th birthday, Kane is the fifth-leading goal scorer in Premier League history1 and needs just four more goals to pass Wayne Rooney for the most in English men’s national team history2. He scored four times at last summer’s Euros and won the Golden Boot with six goals at the 2018 World Cup. Kane is still in search of his first trophy at the club or international level.
Jordan Pickford (Everton) — Pickford became England’s No. 1 goalkeeper at the 2018 World Cup and is the only player to start in net for the team at a major tournament since. He was also the lone goalie used during the first two editions of the UEFA Nations League. The 28-year-old’s made 211 starts in the Premier League, 180 of which have come in his five seasons at Everton. He is the safest bet outside of Kane to be in Gareth Southgate’s starting eleven for England’s opening game against Iran.
Declan Rice (West Ham) — Eligible to play for both Ireland and England, Rice represented Ireland three times before making a one-time switch to the Three Lions in 20193. The 23-year-old started every game at Euro 2020 (played in 2021) and has 167 Premier League appearances to his name. He ranked in the 96th percentile or higher among Premier League players in progressive carrying distance, interceptions and pass completion percentage in the 2021/22 campaign4.
Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) — Chelsea’s new signing is quietly one of the top 30 goal scorers in England men’s national team5 and Premier League history6 at only 27 years old. The former Liverpool and Manchester City player averages 0.65 goal involvements per 90 minutes for his club career7 and was the only player besides Kane to tally multiple goals in England’s run to the Euro final. No English player has logged more minutes at major tournaments dating back to the 2014 World Cup than Sterling.
John Stones (Manchester City) — Only Stones and Pickford have started every game for England at the last two major tournaments. The four-time Premier League champion also led the team in appearances (9), starts (8) and minutes (662) during World Cup qualifying. A combination of injuries and Manchester City’s center back depth have limited Stones to 105 starts in the Premier League since moving to City from Everton in 2016.
Potential breakout star: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
He’s the youngest Englishman ever to play in a major tournament8 and had 61 Bundesliga appearances before turning 19 in late June, so calling Bellingham a breakout candidate is, admittedly, somewhat disrespectful. He’s the closest thing England’s got though. Bellingham only received 58 minutes of playing time at the Euros and 224 minutes of action during qualifying, which is a commentary on the incredible amount of talent he’s competing against in the midfield rather than his ability to handle a larger role at such a young age. Transfermarkt lists him as the 11th most valuable player in the world.
The bottom line
Reason for optimism: The depth is ridiculous
Jack Grealish is the most expensive transfer in Premier League history and can’t get in the starting lineup. The options at right back alone have a combined five Premier League titles and six Champions League final appearances. Phil Foden, Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka combined for 31 goals and 22 assists in the Premier League last season. It’s hard to see all of them starting too. A strong case can be made that no country in the world has a better combination of depth and world-class talent.
Biggest question: Will Gareth Southgate’s conservatism hurt them again?
A horrific showing in their four Nations League games in June was a powerful reminder just how anemic they can be in attack at times, which is inexcusable for a team of this quality. Manager Gareth Southgate’s gotten plenty of criticism for his cautious approach, and it probably cost them the Euros. The pragmatism that’s been vital to their success is also what’s kept them from winning the past two major tournaments.
Here’s the deal:
They followed up a trip to the World Cup semifinals with a shootout loss in the final of the Euros and this will be the best group of players yet. There are plenty of reasons to believe it might actually be coming home.