Number of past World Cup appearances: 16
Best Picture: Winner (1966)
First appearance: 1950 (Brazil)
Top scorer: Gary Lineker (10)
Most appearances: Peter Shilton (18)
Player to watch: Harry Kane
FIFA World Ranking: 4th place
Match card: Croatia (June 17th, Dallas), Ghana (June 23rd, Boston), Panama (June 27th, New York)
This was England’s first loss in 60 years, having won their only World Cup in 1966. However, although the Three Lions are certainly genuine favorites to win this time, they will face a rather uneasy atmosphere in the 2026 tournament.
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The Three Lions roamed through their group and qualified with two games to spare, becoming the first European team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
But it’s fair to say they weren’t the toughest group, and their performances in recent friendlies, including defeats to Senegal and Japan in particular, had drawn boos from a less enthusiastic Wembley crowd.
Could England get some melody from players like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane? Can the Three Lions find a way to play interesting football and does manager Thomas Tuchel actually know his best team?
Tuchel bets on ‘chemistry’
The German coach’s team selection raised a few eyebrows, with some key names left out while some surprise players were included.
England’s most creative players, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Man City’s Phil Foden, are out after disappointing seasons, while Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Man United’s Harry Maguire also miss out.
Meanwhile, striker Ivan Toney, who plays for Saudi Arabia with Al Ahly and has barely featured for Tuchel’s England squad, was named in the squad alongside controversial choices such as Tottenham’s Jed Spence, 35-year-old Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson and Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarrell Quansah.
Nine members of the 26-person team have no previous tournament experience.
Tuchel defended his choice, stressing the importance of unity.
“It was clear from day one that we were trying to select and build the best team possible, not necessarily the 26 most talented players,” Tuchel told reporters.
“Teams win championships. It’s that simple. Everything I know and hear about international soccer is that it’s about teams and chemistry.”
unimpressed fans
Former England manager Gareth Southgate was criticized by some for his decisions during matches and for leading a risk-averse style of football that was at times very clumsy. However, he led England to two European Championship finals and reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2018.
In addition to contesting this record, former Chelsea and PSG manager Tuchel also faces criticism for failing to improve England’s style of play, which is still often marred by slow lateral passing.
And while it’s logical to experiment, it’s also not clear whether he really knows his best team, and attempts to play a fake No. 9 or two No. 10s have been unsuccessful.
Despite this, there is no doubt that Tuchel is an elite manager and his solid, well-organized England team won their group with a 100 per cent record (8 wins from 8 games), including tough away wins in Serbia and Albania, conceding zero goals in the process.
While the tabloids are a little perturbed by the appointment of a German in the role, Tuchel will be happy to confuse the naysayers by leading England’s men’s team to their first major trophy since 1966.
Kane’s conundrum
Despite winning the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup, England have often failed to make the most of their captain and record scorer in major competitions.
By the end of the long season, Kane was frequently struggling with fitness, battling knocks, and often entering major tournaments off the pace.
But if England can use Kane, who is relatively fresh in North America, the 33-year-old should be able to boost his confidence after his best-ever season in front of goal.
Kane played 51 games in all competitions for Bayern Munich, averaging more than one goal per game, and although they won the Bundesliga title in April, they lost to PSG in the Champions League semi-finals.
The England captain is just two goals away from equaling Gary Lineker’s tournament record of 10 goals and has his sights set on becoming his country’s World Cup scoring record.
Battle for 10th place
Bellingham is perhaps the most talented of England’s talented number 10s, but the 22-year-old has had a frustrating club season, plagued by injuries and poor team form, which has meant his appearances for England have been sporadic in recent years.
Aston Villa’s Morgan Rodgers may have made a strong case to start ahead of him, based on his appearances under Tuchel and his stellar performances for the club.
Bellingham can also play further back in midfield, but given that Declan Rice and Elliott Anderson are pretty much set as holding midfielders, there may not be space for him there either. Therefore, the Real Madrid player may have to aim to make an impact from the bench initially.
Have England finally solved their long-standing weakness at left-back?
England probably haven’t had a truly world-class left-back since Ashley Cole. But that may be about to change with the rapid rise of Nico O’Reilly.
The 21-year-old Manchester City player also provides an attacking threat, with seven goals and three assists in the Premier League this season, as well as two goals in City’s win in the League Cup final.
Some of these goals have come from midfield, but O’Reilly appears to have the defensive skills and positioning to be a world-class full-back, although he is still developing.
What does their group look like?
Group L contains some tough opponents, with England facing 11th-placed Croatia, who beat England in the 2018 semi-finals, in a particularly tough first match.
Panama is ranked a perhaps surprisingly high 33rd place, defeating the United States en route to last year’s CONCACAF Nations League runner-up spot.
Also, Ghana, ranked 74th in the rankings, are the underdogs as a 4th seed, but they have Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus, so it could be a tough test.
England group stage fixtures and kick-off times:
⚽ June 17: England vs. Croatia (Arlington, Texas, USA), 4pm (20:00 GMT)
⚽ June 23: England vs. Ghana (Foxboro, MA, USA), 4pm (20:00 GMT)
⚽ June 27: Panama vs. England (East Rutherford, NJ, USA), 5pm (21:00 GMT)
Al Jazeera predictions
Quarterfinals.
Are you coming to my house? Probably not, but England are still hopeful.
full team
Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Man City)
Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Jarrell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), John Stones (Man City), Marc Guehi (Man City), Dan Byrne (Newcastle), Nico O’Reilly (Man City), Jed Spence (Tottenham), Tino Libramento (Newcastle)
Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Koby Mainu (Man United), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Morgan Rodgers (Aston Villa), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Ebelesi Eze (Arsenal).
Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al Ahly), Olly Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Noni Madueke (Arsenal)
