England’s Quest For Glory
By Ian Katan
The 2022 World Cup is underway, and England has big expectations to live up to. They’ve been heartbreakingly close to success in recent major tournaments, finishing second at last year’s Euros and being eliminated in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup. Throughout history too, they have been a story of never quite living up to expectations. While the Three Lions are always predicted to do well, this year looks like their moment to move beyond those failures and shine.
Back in 2018, the England team was a strange mix of players. It saw young stars like Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander-Arnold, experienced leaders like Jordan Henderson and Harry Kane, and now long-out-of-favor selections like Phil Jones and Dele Alli. Despite these unusual combinations, Gareth Southgate led them to a fourth-place finish. Given this year’s stronger squad they are expected to do at least as well, if not challenge for the trophy.
Placed in a difficult Group B with Iran, Wales and the United States, England certainly faced a challenge to advance from their group. With two wins and a tie, they accomplished their goal and topped their group with seven points, moving on to play Senegal in the Round of 16 on Dec. 4.
Game 1: England 6-2 Iran
England’s opener could not have gone better. Six goals and almost 80% possession saw them sweep aside the Iranians. Under Southgate, they have been criticized for playing too defensively at times and not utilizing their highly dangerous range of attacking options. This game, a more progressive formation allowed them to turn on the heat.
Three first half goals including a clinical volley from Bukayo Saka and a swift team move finished by Raheem Sterling effectively ended the game before the break. Scoring twice in a three minute span proved that England are not settling for small results or sitting back, exactly the mentality they need for making a deep run in Qatar.
Despite their prolific attack, there will still be frustration over conceding twice (the only goals against them in all three group games). Iran was able to score through a quality finish by Mehdi Taremi and an extremely soft and inconsistent penalty call, but overall the English backline looked comfortable and in control. This is another positive sign for a defense that has struggled to hang on to leads in the past.
In the three major tournaments that followed their embarrassing group stage exit in 2014, England’s elimination came after scoring first but being unable to hold out for the win. It is an encouraging sign to see them open the scoring and pile on more pressure rather than losing their grip on the game. An opener as strong as this certainly gave them a much-appreciated boost of confidence and confirmed them as a legitimate contender.
Game 2: England 0-0 USA
After the commanding performance against Iran, the Three Lions likely were expecting to confirm their qualification for the Round of 16 with another win over the United States. However, the American “Baby Eagles” had a different plan and showed the world they can go toe-to-toe with one the best teams around.
The U.S. deserves serious recognition for their good work, holding a highly talented side scoreless. Gregg Berhalter rotated personnel and formation to great effect, switching to a 4-4-2 that added an extra man in midfield and gave them the needed bodies to weather England’s attack. Tyler Adams especially has been extremely impressive through the United States’ group stage campaign, and this performance was one of his best. Strong tackles, intelligent interceptions and purposeful running off the ball showed why Adams, alongside his partners Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah, will be the backbone of any American success.
Neither country had many chances in fairness, and England did not look to be at the very height of their ability. They took eight shots total, only one better than they managed to get on target in each of their other games. Striker Harry Kane has not yet found his usual form, something he will be hoping to change as he sits only three goals away from being England’s all-time top goal scorer.
Even with their lackluster draw, England should not be too worried. The United States put up a strong fight and there were still signs of the individual brilliance that England certainly possesses. The tie gave them a valuable reality check to not take any opponents for granted as they move further in the competition.
Game 3: Wales 0-3 England
Needing only a draw to confirm their place in the Round of 16, England showed again why they are a serious threat to anyone who stands in their way.
Just like in the Iran game, Southgate’s side did not settle after scoring. Phil Foden snuck in at the back post for his first major tournament senior goal just over a minute after Rashford made it 1-0. The pair quickly shut down any hope Wales had of fighting back into the game after an uninspiring first half.
Rashford is an electrifying player to watch when he’s at his best, and he’s finding his form at the perfect time. His free kick in the 50th minute arrowed past Wales’ keeper Danny Ward to open the scoring, and Rashford got another 18 minutes later as his thunderous shot was too strong to keep out. He’s had a relatively tame year with Manchester United and only notched four goals in 14 appearances this season. However, with three goals in as many games in Qatar, keep an eye out for Rashford becoming England’s star player this World Cup.
The manager also made two notable changes to his starting lineup against Wales. Mason Mount dropped to the bench in favor of Jordan Henderson’s experience, and Phil Foden featured in the front line to give Bukayo Saka a rest. Both players performed well, and England’s slightly more defensive formation gave them the strength needed to resist the admittedly underwhelming Welsh attack. This adaptability and squad depth will be a critical component of any challenge for the trophy.
Finishing atop their group gives England a good path through the tournament. Determined AFCON Champions Senegal will be a real test in the Round of 16, but the Three Lions should be able to handle them. Their road does get tougher afterwards, as a potential meeting in the quarterfinals with defending champions France awaits, before a dangerous Portugal squad may look to spoil the party in the semifinals.
However, their +7 goal differential, two clean sheets from three games, a number of important players finding sparkling form, and the ability to change their play style to match their opponents all hint at the fact that real success could be just around the corner. While significant hurdles stand between them and the celebrations that fans have been holding in for decades, cautious hope remains that maybe this year, actually, for real this time, finally might be England’s moment to triumph on the world’s greatest stage.