Home of football statistics and historyEngland’s emphatic 5-0 midweek victory over Latvia secured their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America with two games to spare.
Online bookmakers rate them as 13/2 shots to lift the trophy next summer, but savvy punters are unlikely to be too enamoured by those odds.
The best games on no minimum deposit casino platforms are more likely to deliver a winning return given England’s previous record in major tournaments.
However, fans of blackjack, roulette and other casino games could be tempted to wager on the Three Lions if manager Thomas Tuchel addresses some key issues.
Resolve the Bellingham conundrum
Some journalists claim that England lack a ‘high‑grade midfielder’, which suggests they may have forgotten about Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham.
Tuchel raised plenty of eyebrows when he omitted him from his recent squad. He claimed that wanted to show faith in the players who defeated Andorra and Serbia in September.
After annoying Bellingham with some ill-advised comments in June, there is a suspicion that Tuchel’s penchant for falling out with big names is manifesting itself again.
The Madrid playmaker has displayed a questionable attitude at times. However, he is England’s best player and they will not win the World Cup without him.
Rice should not be a guaranteed starter
Declan Rice was one of the first names on the team sheet under previous manager Gareth Southgate, and has retained that status since Tuchel took charge.
Tuchel has adjusted his position for the national team and Rice claims he now views himself as ‘a box-to-box number eight’. The statistics do not back him up.
The Arsenal midfielder has bagged one goal and four assists in eight appearances under Tuchel. When you consider the standard of the opposition, that is a poor return.
Bellingham and Cole Palmer are among the players who offer far more attacking threat. If their area of the pitch is where Rice operates now, he should no longer be a guaranteed starter.
Wharton must be in the World Cup squad
England have had a long history of preferring functional midfielders. However, favouring workhorses over craftsmen has not delivered the desired results.
Tuchel seems to be heading down the same route with Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton. Talk about his lack of physicality dominated the conversation when he was omitted from the latest squad.
However, rather than worrying about what Wharton cannot do, Tuchel should be more concerned with what he can do. His main talent is unlocking defences.
If Wharton had been born in Spain or France, they would have built their midfield around him. He sees things that other players don’t and should be a regular starter for England.
England cannot afford to carry passengers next summer
Wharton’s omission from the squad has been compounded by Tuchel’s thoroughly baffling decision to bring Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson back into the fold.
Although the 35-year-old is reportedly ‘good in the dressing room’, that should not be enough to take one of the coveted places in the squad next summer.
It is worth noting that for all his so-called leadership and influence on the England set-up, Henderson has never been part of a team which has won international silverware.
If Tuchels wants to utilise Henderson’s experience, he should add him to the coaching staff. However, wasting a playing slot on a cheerleader is not the way to win a major tournament.
0 Comments