World Cup 2022: England's route to the final | OneFootball

England go into the 2022 World Cup looking to end 56 years of hurt and win their first tournament since 1966, but what exactly is their route to the final?

The Three Lions will have to name their squad for the tournament by November 14th, ahead of the first game six days later, when Qatar play Ecuador.

Gareth Southgate has yet to name his full squad, but he has the option of adding 55 players to his provisional squad before it is cut down to 26 for the World Cup.

England are in Group B, meaning that they will kick off their tournament on the second day, or November 21st.

But can the Three Lions actually win the tournament? Let’s take a look at their route to the final.

Who is in England’s group?

Southgate’s side have been given a tricky group filled with potential banana skins.

They will play Iran, the USA, and Wales in Group B.

While there isn’t an international heavyweight in the group, one has to think that all three of their opponents will be desperate to claim a huge scalp by beating Harry Kane and co.

Amazingly, they have never actually played Wales at a World Cup, although they did clash at Euro 2016. England won that game 2-1.

Who do England play if they win their group?

England will play the runners-up of Group A if they win Group B.

Group A is made up of Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, and the Netherlands.

The Netherlands are 10th in the FIFA World Rankings, while Senegal are 18th, Ecuador are 44th and Qatar are 52nd.

Judging by that, England are very likely to play African Cup of Nations winners Senegal if they win the group, with the fixture slated for December 4th.

Who do England play if they finish second in their group?

The Group A winners.

That is likely to be the Netherlands, which would be a hugely difficult knockout game in the tournament.

The fixture would take place on December 3rd.

It gets a bit more complicated here.

If England win their group and win their Round of 16 clash, they will play the winner of the last-16 game between the Group D winner and the Group C runner-up.

Group D is made up of France, Denmark, Tunisia and Australia; Group C is made up of Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland.

That would mean England likely play 2018 World Cup winners France in the quarter-finals.

That game would take place on December 10th.

If they finish second in the group and reach the quarter-finals, the most likely outcome is a game against Argentina, as England would be playing the winner of a clash between the Group C winners and the Group D runners-up.

Denmark did reach the Euro 2020 semi-finals, but one has to think Lionel Messi and co reach the last eight.

Who would England play in the semi-finals?

There are multiple potential opponents here.

The following teams could play England in the last four: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan, Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia, Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon, Ghana, Portugal, South Korea or Uruguay.

It really does depend on where they finish but as group winners, the game would likely be against either Belgium or Portugal – if they manage to win Group F and Group H respectively.

That would take place on December 14th.

As runners-up, it’s likely to be either Spain, Germany or Brazil on December 13th.

If England beat Portugal or Belgium, it’s likely to be one of Spain, Germany or Brazil. Or, if they beat one of the three latter sides, it’ll likely be Portugal or Belgium.

It isn’t easy to win this tournament.

Can England win the World Cup?

Anything can happen in football but the answer is probably not.

Not only are they likely to play France in the quarter-finals, they are also likely to have to beat two more major world football heavyweights to get to the final.

The only major team England have beaten at a tournament in recent years is Germany and that was at Wembley.

There will be no home comforts in Qatar; we’re predicting another last-eight exit for Southgate’s men.