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(Video) World Cup - A Look at England’s World Cup Hopes in Group G

by Valeria Di Meglio |

image (Video) World Cup - A Look at England’s World Cup Hopes in Group G
As the 2018 World Cup gets closer and closer, we take a look at Group G and the hopes of England as they try to avoid being knocked out at the group stages as happened in 2014.

Video World Cup - A Look at Group G

England go into the 2018 World Cup with only the most optimistic of fans believing they can win the tournament for the first time since 1966. Manager Gareth Southgate has named a young, experienced but highly talented squad and it will be a major embarrassment for them if they fail to make it through to the knock-out stages in Russia.

As we have written in our page dedicated to our World Cup Tips this is a group that is almost certain to be dominated by Belgium and England who only have to get past Tunisia and Panama to reach the last sixteen. England will have been delighted with that draw and play the two lesser sides before the likely group decider against the Belgians. The odds of 1.12 at William Hill proposed on the Best Bookmakers page of this site is one that should definitely be a winner.

England lack experience and tend to struggle in big tournaments but are unbeaten in their last ten internationals with their last defeat being a 3-2 loss away to France. They have the scoring talents of Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Marcus Rashford and that will always make them dangerous and even more so if Raheem Sterling can improve his scoring rate for his national side. Their defence has improved under Southgate and they have been keeping plenty of clean sheets with six in the last eight games with only one goal conceded from open play and neither Brazil or Germany could score against them. That’s despite worries over their goalkeeper but it looks as if Jordan Pickford has won that battle, though like many in this squad, he lacks experience.

The main concern for England is in midfield. Gone are the days when they had such talent as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard and in games against top nations, England cold find getting possession difficult. That won’t be the case against Tunisia and Panama though where England should get the six points that take them into the knock-out stages. They have plenty of players who can score goals and the chances of them repeating being eliminated at the group stage as happened in 2014 are slim and they should reach at least the quarter-finals.

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