Unbelievably, by the time the World Cup comes around, it will be 30 years since Baddiel, Skinner, and the Lightning Seeds sang about “30 years of hurt”, in reference to the English national team’s last major tournament victory. Hopes were high for Euro ’96, but the team was unable to replicate the famous 1966 World Cup victory, and has failed to do so ever since.
Whether a rerelease of Three Lions with the lyrics changed to “60 years of hurt” is launched before the coming World Cup remains to be seen, but as ever, a nation’s hopes are high. Qualification seems like a formality at this point, with England’s 0-5 away win at Serbia completing the fifth win from five games and sitting 7 points ahead of second-place Albania.
While it is more than likely England will be competing at the 2026 World Cup, winning it will be a different matter.
What the Experts Are Saying
Listening to pundits can be a great way to learn more about a team’s chances, with many having played the game at the top level. But one of the best ways to determine a team’s chances is by looking through a list of UK bookies to check their odds.
Bookmakers have a lot more at stake than pundits who are paid to give opinions. Because of this, sportsbooks will look at all the data available to them in terms of team and player histories and form. With so many factors affecting football results, bookmakers will take everything into consideration before pricing up a major tournament.
While early prices will be available, these are likely to change closer to the tournament as we discover the final squads that have been decided, and whether any key players are missing through injury or suspension.
What We Learned from England’s Demolition of Serbia
Thomas Tuchel’s England reign has been relatively understated as he has experimented with his squad and put his own stamp on the team’s style. Four World Cup qualifier wins out of four before heading to Serbia put England in a great position, but this game was widely regarded as his toughest test since taking over.
A dominant performance saw England enjoy 70% of the possession, and Captain and leading scorer Harry Kane capitalised with the opener on 33 minutes. A goal from Noni Madueke two minutes later saw England go 2 goals ahead at halftime. An Ezri Konsa goal on 52 minutes put the tie to bed, before Serbia’s Nikola Milenkovic saw red on 72.
Marc Guehi put England four goals ahead in 75 minutes before a last-minute penalty from Marcus Rashford sealed the victory. England’s display saw them enjoy 24 shots on goal and complete 588 passes to Serbia’s 253.
England’s dominance in possession and ability to convert chances will fill fans with hope moving forward, and Tuchel’s experience in high-pressure jobs and matches should be a benefit.
The Remaining Qualifiers
England’s World Cup qualifiers take a small break with a friendly against Wales at Wembley on October 9th, before the next game. This will give Tuchel another opportunity to run the rule over players on the fringes of the international setup before returning to competitive action, 5 days later away to Latvia.
A home match against Serbia on the 13th of November and a trip to Albania wrap up the action on the 16th. England is in a comfortable position going into these matches, but will still be expected to win. The sooner they qualify, the more time Tuchel will have to prepare for the tournament.
World Cup 2026
World Cup 2026 will be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the US, and will feature an expansion that increases the number of teams competing by 16 to a total of 48. There will now be 12 groups of 4 that see the top teams, and 8 of the best third-placed finishers progress to the knockout stages.
France is seen as the current favourite with England, Brazil, Spain, and Argentina all in contention. While Portugal and Germany are narrowly behind the leading quintet. Italy’s continued struggles have them priced at around 33/1, with it looking likely that they will have to go through the playoffs to qualify.
Conclusion
Under Gareth Southgate, England have been close to bringing a major tournament home. Thomas Tuchel is now in charge and has enjoyed a relatively comfortable qualifying campaign, which should put the team in a good position when the World Cup comes around.
With more English players playing abroad, like Bellingham and Rashford, this should help the team get a better grip of international tournaments. Continued involvement in the top European club competitions will also help, but there will also be some players who don’t have as heavy a club schedule, leaving them fresher for the World Cup.
