Football very nearly came home during Euro 2020. England’s men’s side was just a few missed penalty kicks away from hoisting its first major international trophy in 55 years. Italy ultimately prevailed, and the Three Lions left London’s Wembley Stadium empty-handed once again.
While the end result was disappointing, Gareth Southgate’s side really rounded into form in that tournament. The soccer wasn’t always stylish, but the squad went 480 minutes without allowing a goal. Yet the heartbreak in the final won’t be soon forgotten. This English squad was so close to glory it could taste it.
Crushing defeat isn’t new to this team either. The 2018 World Cup provided a heavy dose in the semifinal against Croatia, when Mario Mandžukić’s 109th-minute winner sent England to the third-place game (one it would ultimately lose).
The English women, meanwhile, ended the country’s major trophy drought with a win of the European Championship earlier this year. The men showed more promise in qualifying, going unbeaten in 10 matches and outscoring opponents 39–2. But failure in the UEFA Nations League—relegation to League B after going 0-3-3 with just four goals scored—drew more groans from fans who have seen this story all too many times. Can the English men follow the women’s lead, or will it be another tournament of anguish for a team whose sum of its parts hasn’t added up to trophy success?
Group B Schedule (all times Eastern)
- Iran, Nov. 21, 8 a.m.
- U.S., Nov. 25, 2 p.m.
- Wales, Nov. 29, 2 p.m.
Coach
Gareth Southgate, hired in November 2016
John Walton/PA Images/Imago Images
Players to Watch
Harry Kane, striker
Kane is as prolific as they come in front of goal, and he trails Wayne Rooney by two goals for England’s all-time scoring record (53). He can strike the ball from any angle, play pinpoint passes in the buildup and finish ruthlessly from inside the box. The Tottenham man will also want to put away the lingering whispers from World Cup 2018, where he probably could have squared it to Raheem Sterling for what would’ve been a key goal in the semifinal.
Raheem Sterling, winger
Now at Chelsea, his third stop in his tour of the Premier League’s “Big Six,” Sterling will be making his third World Cup appearance at just 27 years old. While he’s always been a contributor for the Three Lions (19 goals and 21 assists in 76 matches), he has yet to score in nine World Cup games. The four-time Premier League winner is still capable of producing electrifying performances, and will be a tough ask for every defense in Group B.
Declan Rice, midfielder
Rice is part of the engine that makes this England team go, emerging as a fixture of Southgate’s side over the last two years. The 23-year-old does all the necessary defensive dirty work that has helped this team keep 19 clean sheets in 27 matches across last year’s Euros and World Cup qualifiers.
Breakout Candidate
Phil Foden, attacking midfielder/forward
Foden didn’t feature much in the team’s Euro 2020 run, but he played a much bigger role in World Cup qualifying, leading the way with four assists. He can play on either side of the pitch and typically features in Southgate’s squad as a wide midfielder or winger.
The 22-year-old starred at Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City last season and has benefited greatly from playing alongside Erling Haaland during this campaign. Prior to Haaland’s arrival, he most often played as a wide forward in a system without a true striker, taking advantage of his talismanic manager’s structured style by living in the half-spaces between the opposition center backs and wide defenders. Foden will look to provide a breath of creative fresh air, either for a midfield that usually features defensive-minded players or on the front line led by Kane.
Dubbed “Stockport Messi” by overzealous City fans, he is incredibly technically gifted working in the tight areas in the midfield and in the attacking third. His primary role could be off the bench, as Southgate favored Chelsea counterpart Mason Mount heavily during the Euros. But look for Foden to bring an extra creative spark if the goalscoring well runs dry.
World Cup History
- 16th appearance
- Last appearance: 2018 (Fourth place)
- Best finish: Champion in 1966
Outlook and Expectations
England’s World Cup results have always pitted the individual vs. the collective, cohorts of players vs. cohesive teams. One of the greatest producers of soccer talent in the world has always struggled to meet its lofty expectations. Perhaps one of the most talented national teams of all time, led by Frank Lampard, David Beckham, Rooney and more legends, failed to even reach a semifinal in their two World Cup runs. Then, the 2018 run coupled with last year’s Euro provided both a glimmer of hope—and a familiar sour ending.
England should have few problems with Group B. But the last time it was paired in a group with the U.S., things went awry when the Americans nicked a 1–1 draw. The Three Lions then got crushed 4–1 by Germany in the round of 16.
This team is not without its flaws. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, a prominent player in the Euro 2020 run, hasn’t been in form at the club level in some time, nor have center backs Harry Maguire and John Stones. Right back Reece James is out injured, while Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips were hurt in the build-up and lack match fitness. Southgate’s style sorely lacked creativity in the recent UEFA Nations League failure. Sure, the lineups used in that competition will differ greatly from those used in Qatar, and those matches came were largely played begrudgingly by players on the heels of one long season and in the midst of a new one. But no team wants to stumble going into its most important competition.
Anything less than a run to the semifinal and would spell disappointment. Anything less than a dominant group-stage performance would spell catastrophe. England fans are tired of waiting for their men’s team to take that final leap.
World Cup Squad
GOALKEEPERS: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
DEFENDERS: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Coady (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ben White (Arsenal)
MIDFIELDERS: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham)
