World Cup 2022 Preview - England
A young team on the rise, can they take the next step and win a Final?
World Soccer Team Profile - England
This is a team on an upward trend. Semi Finalists at the World Cup four years ago, England made the finals at the Euros only to lose on penalties, a goalpost away from the title. Now they are off to World Cup 2022 determined to take it one step further and win their first World Cup since 1966. This is an England team featuring star players from the Premier League’s top teams, Liverpool and Manchester City, who feature an aggressive high press and a fluid interchange of positions and quick passing. The management styles of Josip Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have shaped the nucleus of this exciting young team, accelerating the careers of their best players. Captain Jordan Henderson of Liverpool combines with clubmate Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right and provide England’s best avenue of possession in midfield, while Manchester City’s attacking trio of Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, the Light Blue Brigade (™) provide the pace and creative flair further forward. John Stones and Kyle Walker are mates at City and also make up two thirds of the first choice England back line.
Tottenham target man Harry Kane is a reliable finisher and holds his position as the number 9, and a good bet to repeat the Golden Boot he won four years ago, however his namesake Harry Maguire may no longer be the first choice center back after a miserable season at Manchester United. England manager Gareth Southgate has decisions to make regarding who makes up the defensive line and whether he persists with a back 3 and two holding midfielders
In recent tournaments this formation has shown to be resolute defensively but unable to maintain possession. In both the World Cup Semifinal loss to Croatia in 2018 and the Euro Final loss to Italy, this English side looked majestic for the first 30 minutes, scoring early and playing on the front foot, but were undone in the second half and by extra time were barely hanging on. Critics suggest inserting a more attacking midfield player, either Grealish or Mason Mount of Chelsea, would enable England to hang on to the ball and play their way out of trouble. Southgate has been experimenting with more attacking lineups, but the reality is that he has an abundance of holding midfielders who are truly excellent and, especially with Maguire’s struggles, may be required to play a pair of them to shield a fragile backline.
Starting keeper Jordan Pickford is battle ready, having backstopped a woeful Everton side through a relegation battle, and is fighting to keep the starter’s jersey with the excellent Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal pushing hard for his place.
Starting XI in a 3-4-3 with two holding midfielders
GK-Jordan Pickford - Saved the penalties he needed to in the shootout but was let down by his younger teammates in the recent Euro final. He has been making sensational saves all year to try and keep Everton from the drop and is in his prime physically. Brave to the point of reckless, he sometimes goes over the line with challenges and can be caught out with his questionable distribution and poor decision making.
LCB - Harry Maguire A giant from Sheffield with an enormous forehead, he applies his size and strength to set pieces to great effect and is now the highest scoring center back in England history, not including the penalty he smashed into the top corner in the Euro Final. The offset of his goals scored is his increasing inability to prevent goals at club level, becoming an object of scorn from fans at Old Trafford who mock him regularly. Southgate has a decision to make as to whether “Big ‘Ead “Arry” can regain his confidence and stature and that decision will ultimately sway whether he continues playing three center backs or switch to a back four.
CB - John Stones Unlike his colleague across Manchester, Stones has gone from strength to strength playing for City and under the management of Josip Guardiola has become a center back who is comfortable on the ball and confident in possession. His size and turn of pace make an effective combination and he is first choice on Southgate’s team sheet.
RCB - Kyle Walker Has developed a strong partnership with Stones at City and continues to excel as a pacy center back on the right side of a back three. Was named to the Team of the Tournament at the recent Euros, demonstrating increasing reliability and effectiveness. Has had trouble with ankle injuries and has recently shown he can be beat for pace wide at times.
LWB - Luke Shaw Brings pace and dynamism to the left wingback role he has made his own. Scored the fastest goal ever in a Euro final when he broke in and blasted home with barely two minutes played. Hasn’t been as negatively affected as his Manchester United teammates by their dreadful season, remains a dynamic playmaker with pace and excellent crosses.
CM - Declan Rice A former youth international for the Republic of Ireland, Rice has become a must play option in midfield for England. A leader at West Ham who scores rare but spectacular and vital goals, he was promised a captain’s armband by the Eire management team before making his official switch to England. He played the entirety of the recent Euros and continues to make himself indispensable to Southgate, who may trust him to be a lone holder at times.
CM - Jordan Henderson The Captain of Liverpool is the underpinning of the Reds success, especially having moved back to the Number 8 role as a box to box midfielder after the club signed Fabinho. Has been used as a destroyer and even filled in as a center back, utilizing his size and strength, but he has a capacity for the defense splitting pass that would be wasted in other roles. Gets forward to score at club level, but Southgate has kept him more restrained.
RWB - Trent Alexander-Arnold The best right back in the world hasn’t always been first choice under Southgate, who is doubtful about TAA’s defensive solidity. With Liverpool he plays as a rampaging fullback, overlapping far up the field and whipping in exquisite curling crosses, but somehow always gets back in time to make the tackle. An avid chess player, he thinks the game of football strategically and has an astute tactical awareness. Has only 16 caps to his name after being injured for the Euros campaign but must be a key provider this time around.
LF-Raheem Sterling.The mercurial winger with the quick feet has stabilized under Guardiola into a reliable source of goals and assists without the regular bookings and histrionics of his younger years. He has played centrally at times, linking the play from deeper positions and driving forward from deep. His pace remains a weapon and he rarely misses a chance anymore, scoring three goals at the Euros, including the winner against the Germans in the knockout stages and drawing the penalty, somewhat dubiously, against Denmark in the Semi Final.
CF- Harry Kane The gangly awkward looking striker has become one of the world’s most efficient goal scorers who now also spreads the play well and links the attack. He won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup, albeit with 5 goals against Panama and Tunisia in the group stages, three of those penalties, and is a good bet to do it again now that he is better supported by the Manchester City trio of stellar attacking talents. Kane was rumoured to want away from Tottenham and join the City juggernaut but he stayed at Tottenham and formed one of the Premier League’s most deadly partnerships with the speedy and assertive Son Ming-Hyeun. Within the England camp there are similarities to his clubmate, perhaps with Phil Foden best able to demonstrate similar link up play and decisiveness with pace.
RF- Phil Foden. The Boy Wonder has come of age and is ready to star with the Grown Ups, having won the U-17 World Cup with England as well as all the available “Young Player” awards. He has been used as a “False Nine” most recently under Guardiola and has become more influential as a playmaker and link up man as well as a scorer. He is primarily left footed and loves to cut in on the right and let fly, finding the net on an increasingly regular basis. Has thankfully grown out his blond dye job he wore as a tribute to “Gazza” but the comparisons to the England icon who burst into stardom at a similar stage.
Substitutes:
GK- Aaron Ramsdale The England keeper of the future is now established as the Arsenal first choice. Has made spectacular saves all season, showing amazing reflexes and a commanding, vocal presence that belies his youth.
LB Ben Chilwell Was having a great first season at Chelsea until he ruptured a knee and is now in a race to be fit. Has pace and cleverness on the ball to challenge Shaw.
CB Fikayo Tomori Having a fantastic season in Serie A with AC Milan having made his loan move from Chelsea permanent. Has pace and strength and attacks the ball aggressively. Seems an ideal replacement for Maguire in a back four but for some reason Southgate doesn’t select him. Has only 2 caps to his name despite being one of the best defenders in Italy.
RB Kieran Trippier Moved back to England with Newcastle after a three year stint at Atletico Madrid. He scored an iconic free kick, similar to the one he landed in the Semi Final against Croatia, then broke a foot and is now in a race to be back in contention.
CM - Kalvin Phillips Made his England debut before making a Premier League appearance, capped when Leeds were still chasing promotion under Marcelo Bielsa. Was an ever present in the Euro squad, winning praise for his solidity in a box to box role.
CM- Mason Mount Has become an ever present in Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea, operating as a link man in behind the strikers. He was named the club’s Player of the Year and it was his through ball that allowed Kai Havertz to win the Champions League Final. Has yet to become ever present for Southgate, a situation not helped when he was forced to isolate during the Euros. Childhood friends with Declan Rice, the pair are ready to realize their ambitions but which of the Light Blue Brigade (™) makes room for this playmaker of the Dark Blue..
CM -Jude Bellingham The future is now for this teenager who has been an ever present with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga for the last two seasons. He has a silky touch and tackles with some steel, qualities that make him the ideal central midfielder. Played in a holding role at club level but regularly breaks forward with blistering pace. His rapid rise gives Southgate a selection headache, with a covey of high quality midfielders to choose from.
RM - Reece James Another pacy and direct wingback on the right giving Southgate too many options to choose from, James is in top form for Chelsea and ready to reform his partnership with clubmate and friend Ben Chilwell. He is behind Trent and Trippier for now, but his form is such that he must be included in the squad. Maybe he is decent on his left?
LF - Jack Grealish “Super Jack” is mainly used as an impact sub for England and Man City, bringing a left footed perspective to games when a goal is needed. His high profile transfer to City made him an instant celebrity and his GQ photo shoots have added to the hype, however the on field displays are still limited in duration. He can glide through defenses but his lack of commitment to the press have kept him as a luxury item for the moment.
RF - Bukayo Saka Has recovered from being “the kid who missed the penalty” to have another great season for Arsenal. Only prodigy Nicolas Anelka has scored more goals for The Gunners at a younger age. Brings power and pace to the England attack, strong on either foot and links up cleverly. Southgate is a fan and will likely bring him in when more energy is needed upfront.
F - Tammy Abraham Has scored 15 goals this season for Roma, leading the line for Jose Mourinho’s side in Serie A. Offers pace and a powerful shot, less likely to lead the line as a target man he is best suited to run at defenders. May be the best option for a second striker, especially given the poor form of Marcus Rashford at the moment.