The England National team go into the 2022 FIFA World Cup as one of the favorites to win the competition. Based off of their performances and final positions in the last World Cup and the Euros, the Three Lions look like a team that has figured out how to go deep in major tournaments and the World Cup in Qatar looks to be the competition where it all comes together for them and finally, football comes home.
On the 21st of November, England take on Iran in a match they are heavy favorites to win. According to official rankings, England are placed as the fifth best country in the world while Iran ranks as the 20th best per fifa.com. Wales and the United States of America make up the rest of group B.
Over the past few months we have seen England play with different formations and systems and move away from the more ‘rigid’ 3-5-2 they used at the Euros in order to have more attacking players. This strategy has worked in some games and has failed in others. As a result of this, England are going into the World Cup in shaky form with fans unsure of how they will set up formation or maybe even personnel wise.
From a betting perspective, this uncertainty isn’t ideal as it may affect your judgement when making your England Iran betting prediction.
When it comes to personnel, England are a team blessed with talented players in and around the squad who are in great form. Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Ivan Toney, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish to name a few are English players who are in a rich vein of form for their clubs and it could easily translate to international success come November in Qatar.
Which forwards are sure starters?
Gareth Southgate has come under scrutiny for having players he trusts and picking them over players outside the squad in good form in other positions but when it comes to the attacking side of things, it is hard to argue against his favored attackers which are Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling.
Raheem Sterling has proven himself to be one of England’s most important players and his three goals as well as his performances at the Euros last year is proof of that. Sterling has been a crucial player at club level for Chelsea and has arguably been their best player this season. He is in strong form going into the World Cup and you will expect him to play every minute either on the left flank or as a second striker alongside Harry Kane, another unstoppable player.
The England captain Harry Kane will always be nailed on to start for his country. The 29 year old has scored 51 goals in total for his country, two goals away from the all-time goalscoring record held by Wayne Rooney who scored 53 goals for the country as their captain. No matter what system is played, Harry Kane is sure to spearhead his team’s attack as their main goal threat and leader when fit.
Having these two players as sure starters when fit means that players who play in similar positions such as Tammy Abraham, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford for example may have to wait their turn on the bench. This also means there is fiercer competition for places in the vacant attacking positions with players that fit best in that role knowing that a starting berth is totally up for grabs.
What could be their favored formation
In their 8 international (friendly and competitive) games played this year, they have deployed a 3-4-3 on three occasions, a 4-3-3 once and a 4-2-3-1 four times. These formation changes mean that the shape of their attack and the positions some attackers play in may will change. In this piece, the most probable lineup for their opener against Iran will be determined and the players who will fill the spots.
A 4-2-3-1 formation sees four players playing attacking roles with two wide players, a striker and a number 10 behind him. It is a formation which offers Gareth Southgate the most options when it comes to the number of attackers he wants on the pitch but leaves them a man light at the back. If this formation is used, there will be two attacking formations up for grabs for a player that can play as a number 10 and one that can play on the right wing.
Manchester City’s Phil Foden (can play on the right side of as a number 10), Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (can play on the right flank), West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (plays on the right) and Chelsea’s Mason mount (who is predominantly a 10 but can play on the right side if needed) will be in contention for the two available starting spots.
A 4-3-3 formation also sees them have a man light at the back but in return they get three players in midfield (a holding midfielder it a number six and two central midfielders or number eight) and three forwards in attack. This lineup change means there is only one position in a front three available. Saka, Foden, Bowen and Mount will all be in contention but in a front three the two players that will be strongly considered will be Foden and Saka.
The 3-4-3 formation allows England to have a more pragmatic approach to games and this approach has been the most effective way to go deep in tournaments for England under Gareth Southgate. The security of three defender and two wing backs that drop deep to become a back five coupled with the offensive potential of a front three with wing backs pushing forward to make a front five will potentially give England more balance on both ends of the pitch.
Though Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden are the two main options to contend for a spot on the flank, the recent form of Mason Mount may see him get in the mix and become a strong option. He was a key player at the Euros last year and has the potential to become a key player in Qatar.
How will England’s attack look against Iran?
England will expect to have more of the ball against Iran and will most likely go for a 4-2-3-1 to open their World Cup campaign. In the event that such happens, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka should be starters with the former playing as the number 10 behind the striker and the latter playing on the right wing along with Raheem Sterling on the Left and captain Harry Kane through the middle.
This gives England direct running through the flanks either in one one situations or behind the defense and a player playing as the most advanced creative player who can roam to either flank and help with combinations wide combinations, act as the link between midfield and attack with his range of passing and even provide a box presence for the defense to think about.
Depending on what the opposition offers as a threat or lack thereof, England’s system and personnel my change but against a team their strongly favored to beat like Iran, expect Gareth Southgate to totally put his foot on the gas and go for the jugular from start to finish.