England starting eleven at the 2018 World Cup – according to the odds

England starting line up according to the odds

Kane (England)
Harry Kane (England) © GEPA pictures

After the busy international break period, England boss Gareth Southgate should have a clearer picture of just who he is sticking on the plane to head to Russia in the summer. Across the two friendly matches against the Netherlands and Itay, Southgate had a good look at some of the options available to him.

England beat the Dutch in Amsterdam thanks to a strike from Jesse Lingard, and they were looking well set to beat Italy back at Wembley a few days later until the VAR disrupted everything and gave the Azzurri a late penalty which they converted for a 1-1 draw. That was a bit of a sour finish to an otherwise positive couple of matches.

It looks as if Southgate is going to be sticking with Jordan Pickford between the sticks in Russia after heaping praise on his ability to play the ball out from the back. Pickford actually started the move which led to Lingard’s goal against the Dutch. Lingard, himself looks as if he could be a key man for the Three Lions in the summer after looking a good fit with the way that Southgate wants England to play.

However, despite impressing in both games, Lingard, according to odds at bookmaker Ladbrokes, may not make it on to the starting eleven for England’s first World Cup game which is against Tunisia. Looking at the shortest priced players to start England’s first World Cup, the line up would be:

GK – Jordan Pickford – 8/11
CB – John Stones – 1/5
CB – Harry Maguire – 2/1
CB – Kyle Walker – 1/12
RWB – Kieran Trippier – EVS
LWB – Danny Rose – 10/11
CM – Eric Dier – 5/6
CM – Jordan Henderson – 5/6
CAM – Raheem Sterling – 1/10
CAM – Dele Alli – 1/4
ST – Harry Kane – 1/10

Finding some creativity in midfield is Southgate’s biggest issue. He is not going to get it from Dier and Henderson, and with Jack Wilshere’s injury problems, the Arsenal man isn’t likely to be in the picture for a start. The other thing about the odds is that Dele Alli was benched for both of the recent friendly games, so would Lingard get in ahead of him?

Barring injury, Kane, Sterling, Stones and Walker all look absolute locks to be in that first eleven. Filling out the back three is another area that Southgate will have so thinking to do. Will he put trust in young Harry Maguire to perform alongside John Stones who is liable to make the odd mistake or three? Or will someone with more experience like Chelsea’s Gary Cahill or Phil Jones be able to work their way back in?

England’s opening game is against Tunisia on June 18th.