With the 2022 World Cup group stage full, the paths to the finals for all groups – together with England – are actually as clear as they’ve ever been.
The final 16 groups have realized which aspect of the draw they’re on and who they’ll face within the subsequent spherical, with some sides naturally incomes extra favorable attracts than others.
A lot was manufactured from England’s favorable path to the 2018 last they by no means made it to and the Euro 2020 last, but it surely most likely will not be as straightforward this time round.
Sportsmail have checked out England’s potential and the seemingly path to the World Cup finals they might want to conquer if they’re to raise the Jules Rimet trophy for less than the second time ever and the primary time in 60 years.
Gareth Southgate’s England aspect have realized their potential path to the World Cup last
England are unbeaten thus far within the World Cup and are aiming to raise the trophy this month
Final 16 – Senegal
England’s final 16 berth was confirmed on Tuesday as Teams A and B have been accomplished, with a first-ever draw in opposition to Senegal on the playing cards.
Senegal completed second in Group A earlier within the day, confirmed with a slim 2-1 win over Ecuador, and it was the African aspect ready to see who they’d tackle.
A Marcus Rashford brace and a Phil Foden strike in opposition to Wales confirmed England topped Group B and arrange the sport, scheduled for 7pm on Sunday on the Al Bayt Stadium.
Southgate’s aspect will face Senegal within the final 16 of the match on Sunday night
The Three Lions have been coaching to arrange for the sport since beating Wales this week
Quarter-final – France or Poland
England will attain the quarter-finals of a World Cup once more in the event that they beat Senegal, the place they’ll face France or Poland.
Many believed that Gareth Southgate’s aspect would face France earlier than the match began and it appears seemingly that issues will finish that method.
It might have been France v Argentina within the spherical of 16, however it’s Poland who can be tasked with knocking out the defending champions, who’re wanting good.
Defending champions France have been probably the most spectacular groups thus far in Qatar
They misplaced to Tunisia of their last group recreation however prime spot was secured and supervisor Didier Deschamps made the modifications.
It is price noting that they weren’t in nice kind within the build-up to the match, narrowly avoiding relegation within the Nations League and struggling defeats to Croatia and Denmark in latest months.
However they appear to be a well-oiled machine and it will likely be an enormous activity for England to beat them away in Qatar.
A lot has been manufactured from the power of Kylian Mbappe, who’s joint prime scorer thus far
Semi-final – Spain or Portugal
Ought to England defeat each Senegal and France within the quarter-finals of the match, they’d seemingly face Spain or Portugal within the semis, which might be their third semi-final at a significant match in a row.
Each are favorites to win their final 16 matches, in opposition to Morocco and Switzerland respectively, and they’d then meet in one thing of a derby within the final eight.
Either side would show a troublesome activity for the Three Lions, however if you wish to be the perfect, you must beat the perfect.
A match in opposition to Portugal would as soon as once more put Cristiano Ronaldo within the highlight. He is within the information for varied causes as of late, however the 2006 wink will not be forgotten.
After that, it is the large one.
Luis Enrique’s Spanish aspect are match and would supply a difficult take a look at for England
A match in opposition to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal is feasible within the semi-finals later this month
Remaining – Brazil or Argentina
Brazil and Argentina, arguably the 2 favorites going into the competitors, have discovered themselves on the identical aspect of the draw after each profitable their teams.
Argentina needed to work for it and haven’t been at their finest thus far in Qatar, however they’ve Lionel Messi, and which means something is feasible.
They are going to tackle inspirational Australia within the final 16 earlier than a conflict with the Netherlands or USA, however they’ll really feel assured of reaching the final 4 with out an excessive amount of hassle – though a quarter-final wouldn’t be straightforward.
Lionel Messi, seemingly taking part in in his final World Cup, can have his sights set on lifting the trophy
Brazil, the world’s primary ranked crew, can be extraordinarily assured of reaching the final 4. They need to beat South Korea comfortably within the final sixteen and should pay attention to Croatia and harmful Japan in a possible final eight tie, however they’ll have already got an eye fixed on their South American rivals.
Brazil have arguably been the perfect crew within the competitors thus far and their squad depth is incredible. It virtually seems like a shoe-in they are going to be within the last.
If England maintain the trophy on December 18, nobody can argue that they have not earned it this time.
Brazil have arguably been the perfect crew thus far in Qatar and are world primary
It’s at present unclear whether or not Brazil’s star man Neymar can be match to play once more within the match
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