England’s World Cup Success?

The sounds of whistles. A ball rolling across the grass.  Players yelling.

Who will win?

Who will be shocked?

Who will go out early?

After 4 years of waiting on November 20th, 2022, the World Cup began.

The FIFA World Cup was first held in 1930, when FIFA decided to stage an international men’s soccer tournament. The inaugural edition, held in 1930, was contested as a final tournament of only thirteen teams invited by the organization. Since then, the World Cup has experienced expansions and format remodeling, with its current 32-team final tournament preceded by a two-year qualifying process, involving over 200 teams from around the world. The FIFA World Cup, done every four years, is hosted in a different country each time the tournament takes place. This tournament is a chance to unite the world in every respective. Fans come together under one cause, cheering on your team.

The England National Team led by former player Gareth Southgate has yet another promising lineup this year, with England fans hoping to bring home a world cup trophy for the first time since 1966. Southgate, who made 57 appearances for the England team between 1995 and 2004, played every game of England’s campaign in the 1996 European Championships, but his penalty miss sent England out in the semi-final. He also featured in both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2000 European Championships. His playing career ended in May 2006 at the age of 35, after more than 500 league appearances. At UEFA Euro 2020, he became the first England manager to reach the final of a European Championship and to reach any major tournament final since 1966; England eventually lost to Italy in a penalty shootout. As reported by the BBC Southgate won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach award for his appearance as England’s coach in the 2018 World Cup.

England’s squad this year is looking like a promising one with a good mix of young and hungry and old and experienced. With the likes of Harry Kane up top who is expected to lead the Lion’s in goals just as he did at the last World Cup. Harry Kane, who has scored 53 goals in 120 appearances is a trusted and experienced striker, who can put the ball in the back of the net on any goalkeeper. Other standouts like young Jude Bellingham, Raheem Sterling,

Harry Maguire, Jack Grealish, and Manchester United’s star man Marcus Rashford are expected to perform well for England this tournament with Marcus Rashford already having 3 goals in 3 games this tournament for England. Jack Grealish, Jude Bellingham, and Raheem Sterling also bagging goals for England this year to put them in a good spot finishing top of Group B. England who is well protected in the back also has one of the best goalkeepers in international soccer, Jordan Pickford. Pickford who has been a standout for Everton over the years continues to be The Lion’s number 1 for the past 5 years.

The World Cup means a lot to England every tournament. England, which is widely considered the birthplace of soccer, has had disappointing showings most years the tournament has taken places. Always seeming to fall short the English have a different feeling this year, saying that “it’s coming home” this time. England who last won in 1966 against West Germany are now preparing for another win to end their 55-year drought.

Unfortunately, their dream of bringing it home ended on December 10th when they lost to current reigning world champions, France. England plans to prepare for their next international performance. They plan on going again next World cup in 2026 and bringing it home with many young English talents being able to develop before then.