England will probably be hoping to lastly finish greater than half a century of World Cup heartache by bringing dwelling soccer’s most sought-after trophy from Qatar.
But the Three Lions face a tricky path to the ultimate on the Lusail Stadium in Doha in December.
Gareth Southgate’s aspect have already taken their first step on the highway to worldwide soccer’s largest sport, having gained Group B to land a spot within the spherical of 16.
But, relying on the way in which outcomes fall, difficult ties towards the likes of France, Portugal and Brazil probably await them.
Here Sky News maps out the route that England might face on the highway to the World Cup remaining.
Round of 16
One factor we do know for positive is England’s spherical of 16 opponents.
As winners of Group B, England now face the runners-up of Group A, Senegal, on the Al Bayt stadium at 7pm this Sunday.
The two sides have by no means met on the soccer discipline of their historical past.
But it guarantees to be an thrilling encounter with the African aspect, who’re ranked 18th within the FIFA World Rankings and have a bunch of star names together with Chelsea stars Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy and Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye.
Senegal will, nonetheless, be with out star ahead Sadio Mane.
The Bayern Munich and ex-Liverpool star was dominated out of the World Cup earlier this month after present process surgical procedure on a knee damage.
Quarter-finals
If England beat Senegal they may go into the quarter-finals in what will probably be sport 59 of the event.
Just just like the spherical of 16, the sport will probably be performed on the Al Bayt stadium, at 7pm on Saturday 10 December.
This is the place it will get a bit trickier, however England’s probably opponents at this stage will probably be France.
Les Bleus look set to high Group D after profitable each their opening video games forward of their remaining group sport towards Tunisia on Wednesday.
Their spherical of 16 opponents would be the runners-up of Group C – which continues to be very a lot up within the air at this second.
Poland at present high the group with 4 factors, with Argentina in second on purpose distinction forward of Saudi Arabia – who beat the South American aspect of their opening match.
Argentina face Poland of their remaining sport and though La Albiceleste would be the favourites, they’re in for a troublesome match.
And even a draw won’t be sufficient for Argentina if both Mexico or Saudi Arabia declare victory of their final sport.
While Argentina will probably be France’s hardest opponents in the event that they end second within the group, Didier Deschamps’s aspect will probably be favourites to win and clinch a quarter-final tie towards England.
A sport between England and France would be the first World Cup match between the 2 sides in 40 years.
The final sport, on the 1982 World Cup, ended 3-1 to England.
Before that was England’s 2-0 victory in 1966 on the highway to the Three Lions’ solely World Cup win.
Semi-finals
Again, one other difficult prediction given a lot continues to be within the stability within the group phases, and England should beat one of many event’s favourites to get to this stage.
One factor is for sure, if England could make it to the semi-final, they may return to the Al Bayt stadium for a 3rd time for sport 62, which will probably be performed at 7pm on Wednesday 14 December.
At the second, England’s possible semi-final opponents will probably be Portugal.
Against the chances, Morocco appears to be like prone to clinch the highest spot in Group F. They sit second behind Croatia on purpose distinction with backside aspect Canada left to play.
Croatia faces a stuttering Belgium aspect, with the winner of that sport clinching the opposite spot.
Presuming it’s Morocco, they face a possible conflict with Germany within the spherical of 16, who, whereas at present backside of Group E, face a remaining group sport towards Costa Rica needing a win and for in-form Spain to beat Japan.
Despite Germany’s less-than-impressive begin to the event, Hansi Flick’s aspect will probably be favourites to beat Morocco.
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Meanwhile, Portugal look set to storm Group H and arrange a spherical of 16 tie with the runner-up of Group G – which appears to be like prone to be Switzerland.
Presuming Portugal wins that quarter-final tie, they might arrange a semi-final towards England.
Such a tie could be an opportunity for redemption for England, who suffered two dramatic penalty shoot-out defeats to Portugal within the 2000s.
The Three Lions had been crushed 6-5 on penalties within the Euro 2004 quarter-finals after a 2-2 draw.
Portugal then dumped England out of the World Cup on the similar stage in 2006, profitable 3-1 on penalties after a tense 0-0 draw.
Final
There’s a protracted path to the ultimate, with loads of twists and turns nonetheless to come back.
But if England can overcome Senegal, France and Portugal, they might face event favourites Brazil within the remaining on the Lusail Stadium in Doha.
The sport is about to happen on Sunday 18 December at 3pm.
While it’s in no way sure that they may face the five-time World Cup winners within the remaining, Tite’s aspect appears to be like like sturdy favourites to be within the combine.
At is it at present stands, Brazil will possible face Ghana within the spherical of 16, adopted by a robust Spain aspect within the quarter-finals.
The semi-finals are, once more, a bit trickier to foretell, however the Netherlands look the largely prone to be there with them, however provided that they’ll beat their possible opponents of USA and Denmark within the spherical of 16 and quarter-finals.
Should Brazil’s spectacular firepower, with an attacking line-up containing the likes of Neymar, Vinicius, Raphinha and Richarlison, see them by, a possible remaining conflict with England awaits.
England followers will little question keep in mind the heartbreak of the 2002 quarter-final defeat in Japan.
The Three Lions took an early lead by Michael Owen however had been pegged again by Rivaldo, earlier than Ronaldinho scored a spectacular long-range free-kick to beat David Seaman and dump England out.
That match was one which noticed two golden generations go head-to-head.
And whereas Brazil will probably be favourites with their squad of superstars, England’s rising skills will probably be little question hopeful of pulling off an upset ought to they face the South American aspect within the semi-final.
Source: information.sky.com”