World Cup Countdown: The ones to watch for England

Ahead looking to Belgium on Tuesday, we now turn our attention to Group G counterparts England, who are looking to ease their way to the last-16. 

The Three Lions head into the competition on a nine-match unbeaten run, winning six, including a 2-1 win over Nigeria last Saturday. The victory may not have been as comprehensive as many had hoped, but a solid first half performance against the Super Eagles will have buoyed fans ahead of the summer. 

England have a young, vibrant squad and are operating under a manager familiar with Gareth Southgate’s managerial demands, with a number of those in the team previously working with Southgate during their respective times in the U21 squad. Jesse Lingard, Harry Kane and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, among others, are well versed in what the England boss ask of his players, yet it’s another who could prove to be a key man in Russia. 

Raheem Sterling has come under an unfair amount of criticism off the pitch in recent weeks, yet he approaches the World Cup on the back of his best season to date. He was one of 14 players in Europe’s top five leagues to register double figures for both goals (18) and assists (11) last term with his fine form returning a WhoScored.com rating of 7.55; only Kane (7.60) scored higher of English players in the Premier League last season. 

Indeed, it’s no surprise to see Southgate deploy a system that allows both Sterling and Kane to lead the attack, with the former expected to be the furthest man forward as was the case on Saturday. While the Manchester City star missed a fair few opportunities at Wembley, he is more than capable of getting into the positions to improve his chances of hitting the back of the net. 

His finishing ability has improved immensely under Pep Guardiola and if he can transfer that form to the international stage, then England’s chance of success increases significantly. With the likes of Kane, Lingard and Dele Alli in support, and Jamie Vardy, Danny Welbeck and Marcus Rashford in reserve, Southgate has ample attacking options to stretch opponents in Russia. 

Further back in the midfield, it could prove that Loftus-Cheek has a key role to play. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would have landed a spot in the squad had he not sustained a knee injury in Liverpool’s 5-2 Champions League win over Roma and his absence meant a player to drive possession forward from deep was crucial, which largely explains Loftus-Cheek’s inclusion. 

He returned a dribble success rate of 65.8% in the Premier League last season, while 3.5 successful dribbles per 90 was better than any other central midfielder to make 20 or more appearances in England’s top tier. The 22-year-old’s ability to bring the ball forward will set the Three Lions on the front forward and while Southgate may play it safe and use Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier, Loftus-Cheek offers an offensive threat none in the squad offer and despite his lack of experience on the international stage, he may prove a vital squad member this summer. 

England come into the World Cup as one of the underdogs, with few expecting them to succeed in Russia. However, this likeable group of players have the backing of the nation and with the pressure off, we could see Southgate’s side impress this month.