'It's coming home': England's (possible) dream path to World Cup glory
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 25/06/2018 at 11:52 GMT
England's low-key approach to these World Cup finals has been blown apart by their record 6-1 win over minnows Panama to reach the last 16 on Sunday. England not only expects, it believes.
Gareth Southgate, Manager of England and John Stones of England celebrate following their sides victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group G match between England and Panama at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on June 24, 2018 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
Image credit: Eurosport
Roy Hodgson's underwhelming team managed a meagre one point and two goals in their shambolic sojourn to Brazil four years ago, but England are rampant in Russia.
They have breezed through to the last 16 with two wins out of two, eight goals and boast the tournament's top scorer in Harry Kane. Forget the goals coming against 55th-ranked Panama, this was a day for England fans to believe the impossible might happen.
Gareth Southgate's team are suddenly being viewed as genuine outsiders to claim their first World Cup since 1966, but who lies between them and the chance of ending 52 years of hurt? We take a look at the hurdles facing the Three Lions in Russia.
Thursday, June 28: Belgium, Group G - Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad 7pm
After scoring eight goals in their opening two World Cup matches, it could be argued the tournament starts here for Southgate's brave boys.
Belgium are the first true test England have faced at this tournament, and are loaded with attacking flair in Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel and Romelu Lukaku. Both teams have the same goal difference heading into the match, and if the game is drawn, top place could be settled by which team has less bookings or even lots. Which could be a poisoned chalice.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/06/23/2360089-49100550-2560-1440.jpg)
Belgium players celebrate another goal against Tunisia
Image credit: Reuters
If England manage another three points, they could be faced with the prospect of a meeting with Colombia in the last 16 providing the South Americans overcome Senegal, and Japan polish off Poland, who are already bound for home. England will know who they can potentially face by the time they meet Belgium with Group H being settled earlier on Thursday.
But James Rodriguez, Radamel Falcao and Juanfer Quintero are the sort of Colombian trend setters better left to someone else to deal with.
If Japan beat Poland, losing to Belgium would provide the ideal last-16 draw, but can you play not to win? Meanwhile, Senegal need a draw against Colombia to ensure their progress.
England have never lost to Japan or Colombia, and have never played Senegal, but Japan in the last 16 in Moscow would be the dream outcome.
Tuesday, July 3: Japan, last 16 - Spartak Stadium, Moscow, 7pm
Assuming the Belgium result works out favourably for England, Southgate's side will play in the Spartak Stadium in Moscow in the final last-16 match against Japan a week on Tuesday.
It could be this or off to Rosov-on-Don on Monday to meet Colombia, a test that is probably best avoided in terms of advancing at the finals with Brazil or Germany perhaps entering the equation in the quarter-finals. Japan beat a Colombia side reduced to 10 men in their opening Group H match, and scored a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Senegal on Sunday.
Japan's shock opening win over Colombia sparked expectations among supporters that the team - who had failed to win a match at the tournament four years ago - were ready to make an impact.
The 61st-ranked Samurai Blue had been given little chance of advancing from a tough group after a poor run of form and the firing of head coach Vahid Halilhodzic just two months before the World Cup.
But England would expect to have more than enough to see off a side ranked outside the top 50 in the world. Let's forget to mention Iceland at Euro 2016.
Saturday, July 7: Mexico or Switzerland, quarter-finals - Samara Arena, Samara 3pm
The bars up and down the country will report record profits if England wash up in Samara for the last of the quarter-finals. There is every chance they could meet Mexico or the Switzerland with a World Cup semi-final place on the line.
If Mexico beat Sweden in their final Group F match, they are likely to face the Swiss as runners-up behind Brazil in Group E paving the way for a showdown with England in the last eight. It would represent England's best chance of reaching the last four since they overcame Cameroon 3-2 in the last eight of Italia '90.
This would already be a real success story for England, but the nation would be dreaming of much more if Mexico or Switzerland were the roadblock to the last four.
Wednesday, July 11: Spain, semi-finals - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, 7pm
Starting to enter the realms of fantasy football here, but by this time England would have more momentum than Prince Harry on his wedding day. Coming off victories against Japan and Mexico, a heavyweight contest would be unavoidable with 2010 World Cup winners Spain prospective opponents in the last four.
By this stage, Fernando Hierro's side would be in a bullish mood having enjoyed wins over Russia and Croatia to close in a second World Cup in eight years. But England would be buoyant, and would hope to invoke the spirit of their penalty shoot-out win over the Spanish in the Euro '96 quarter-finals to move one win from football's greatest glittering prize.
Sunday, July 15: Brazil, final - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, 4pm
All reads lead to Moscow on July 15. A decade after Chelsea and Manchester United contested an all-English Champions League final, an all-English team battle for World Cup gold. Going by the form book, tournament favourites Brazil would stand in their way having avenged their 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany four years ago in the last 16 before completing their set of European scalps with victories over Belgium and France.
It would attract the biggest TV audience in Blighty since...the 1966 World Cup final. And we know how that one ended.
England would stand resolute in the final with Harry Maguire, John Stones and Kyle Walker refusing to buckle against Neymar, Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Jesus. And Harry Kane would cap a wonderful tournament with double figures in Russia and the Golden Boot ahead of his £250m summer switch to Real Madrid.
A national holiday would be declared for July 16 if the Three Lions cavorted around Moscow with the World Cup. People would be on the streets in celebration in scene reminiscent of VE Day. Gareth Southgate and the key Three Lions would be knighted in Brexit Britain. Arise, Sir Jamie Vardy?
Or you can wake up and smell the Brazilian coffee. But as long as England are alive in this tournament, we say it just might be coming home. No pressure lads.
World Cup odds
- 9/2 Brazil
- 9/2 Spain
- 13/2 Germany
- 15/2 Belgium
- 8/1 France
- 10/1 England
Scan me
Share this article