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After half a month in Russia, the road to the final of the World Cup is shaping up seamlessly, as the boys have finally been separated from the men.
Well, for many football fanatics and pundits, England would have been named as part of the 'boys' prior to the commencement of the tournament, however - The Three Lions have defied all odds to make it to the semi-finals.
It’s a story that may have come as a surprise to many, considering the fact that the English national team has almost always flattered to deceive when on the big stage. But this time it has turned out to be different, as Gareth Southgate and his charges aim to rewrite the history books.
Perhaps the team’s journey may have been aided by a series of circumstances that have ensured their path to the semis has been less daunting, but that does not change the fact that England has earned their place in the last four.
In fact, The Three Lions look good for value at the moment and can even go as far as lifting the gold on July 15.
Below are four reasons why England could win the World Cup.
#4 Less hype, less pressure
One of the main reasons why England seem to flop at tournaments is the apparent over-hyping of their chances even before they kick a ball. Most often The Three Lions are not even favourites, but the media exaggerate their chances, leaving the players with heavy pressure to deal with.
However this time in Russia, there appears to have been moderate expectations as the team went into the tournament. This may have been as a result of the young squad that manager Gareth Southgate picked, coupled with the lack of experience on the side of many of the players.
In previous tournaments, the likes of Kieran Trippier, Jesse Lingard and John Stones would have been nowhere near the English national team. But here they are, playing with finesse and exuding so much confidence due to less pressure on their shoulders.
One big factor that prevented England’s golden generation – consisting of the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, etc from truly shinning at tournaments was the burden of pressure they shouldered. This time though, that is no longer the case and it is an advantage that could see this crop go all the way to lift the World Cup.
#3 A squad hungry for success
Can anyone remember the last time the English national team played with this much energy, passion, and hunger? Maybe we would have to go all the way back to the 1960s to get something that close.
However, despite their lack of luxurious talent this time around, they have been able to make it this far due to their fighting spirit. This is a team that cannot boast of being the most talented in the tournament, yet their hunger for success is what has taken them this far.
From goalkeeper to attackers, each person works hard for the team. Once upon a time, England would have collapsed when Colombia snatched that late equalizer in the dying embers of their round of 16 game.
Their players would have broken down mentally due to the nature and timing of that equalizer. However, Southgate’s charges showed great determination and character to see out the game to penalties before eventually winning the ensuing shootout.
This is a trait of champions and it has been evidenced by all previous winners of the World Cup till date. The English players may not be the most talented, but their collective hunger for success is commendable and it may just be what wins the country its second World Cup.
#2 Traditional favourites already eliminated, hence less competition
Hands up if you ever predicted England would reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. How many hands – one, two, three…? It’s obvious that many people, fans and pundits alike, ruled out the chances of The Three Lions even before a ball was kicked in Russia.
However, Harry Kane and co have shocked everyone including themselves to get to this point. Their success may have been aided by the qualification route they had, but more importantly they managed to avoid almost all the traditional favourites till this point.
Defending champions Germany were kicked out of the group stages even before they could settle, whiles perennial favourites like Brazil, Argentina and Spain have all been kicked out too by so-called minnow nations.
With so many of the powerhouses now eliminated, it increases England’s chances of winning the World Cup. Of course there are still some tough teams to overcome, like Belgium and France who could stand in the way of The Three Lions.
However, these are teams on a par with England in terms of quality, and Southgate’s charges should be able to find their way when they clash.
#1 The ruthlessness of Harry Kane
Not since Michael Owen’s explosive appearance at the 1998 World Cup has England had a striker shine at a major tournament.
Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey and Joe Cole, among others, have all tried in the succeeding years, but none really managed to pull the nation along in major tournaments.
In Harry Kane, the Three Lions finally have that forward who can bang in goals – important goals – on the big stage. The Tottenham Hotspur attacker has so far netted six goals in just four games in the World Cup, and it appears he is not ready to slow down anytime soon.
The 24-year-old has often been accused of scoring the easy goals, but irrespective of how easy a goal may look, there have been numerous other players who have contrived to miss those same chances, which eventually cost their nations.
Three of Kane’s goals have been from penalties, and if you consider the composure with which he took the penalty that put England ahead against Colombia in the round of 16 game, then you would know that this is a striker that can be relied upon.
Kane has scored from all his 6 shots on target so far, and if this ruthlessness in front of goal can be replicated in the next two games, then there is no reason why the Three Lions should not be celebrating a second World Cup title.
