World Cup 2022 Odds: Prices for England's Stage of Elimination
Any World Cup-based conversation is impossible to be had without discussing how far England can progress in Qatar, or how far short they'll fall.
We've assessed this particular market and elaborated on the home nation's chances of elimination at each of the tournament's major stages.
Group Stages
Iran, USA and Wales are the three teams standing in England's way of the knockout stages. The Three Lions are expectedly the odds-on favourites for each of their group match outings, but pessimists might make a compelling case for them to fall at the first hurdle.
England have appeared at 15 World Cup Finals and exited during the group stages on four occasions; most recently as Brazil in 2014.
If you're downbeat about Gareth Southgate and co's chances in Qatar, then bet365's 10/1 may take appeal.
Round of 16
France 1998 and South Africa 2010 are the two Round of 16 departures marked on England's record.
If the Three Lions top their group as they are tipped to, a clash with the runners-up from Group A is in store. But should they slip up and finish second to a team from their own group then a last-16 tie with Group A's winner - predicted to be Netherlands - awaits.
Bet365 go best again with 3/1 for England to go home during the first phase of knockout fixtures.
Quarter Finals
For a good portion of England's experiences at the World Cup, the quarter-final stage has been their crux. This is typically the moment where the tournament separates the strong from the weak, or the wheat from the chaff.
Five exits have fallen when England have been one of eight remaining teams at the competition, including losses to Uruguay, Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Portugal.
The names listed above give you a good idea of the type of team Gareth Southgate's men could face if they progress to this stage. This year could see them pitted against France should the French successfully top their group and dispatch of their Round of 16 opposition.
BetVictor have priced them up at 5/2 to be waving goodbye to Qatar at an all too familiar stage.
Semi Finals
Heartbreak in Russia is a not-so distant memory. England frustratingly lost in extra-time to runners-up Croatia during an extremely tight Semi-Final affair in Moscow.
You don't need to be reminded that this was their first World Cup SF appearance since Italia '90, and only the country's third foray as one of the tournament's final four sides.
If you are tipping England and Gareth Southgate to repeat their 2018 performance then SBK's 28/5 may entice.
Runner-Up
Now we're at the real juicy stage. England World Cup finalists. It has a real ring to it. But is that purely fantasy or could we see it come to fruition for only the second time in our history?
Add the fact that England have never finished as runners up at the World Cup and perhaps punters will feel they will take a step further than their last outing in 2018.
Last year's Euros saw Gareth Southgate take his England side to the Final, finishing as runners-up to champions Italy. SBK are the best price for this selection and have the Three Lions at 43/5.
Winner
We can dream can't we? It's been almost 70 years since England tasted World Cup glory, doing so on home soil with a 4-2 victory over West Germany at Wembley.It wouldn't be unlike England to pull it out of the bag after all of the negativity they've suffered following their tumultuous Nations League campaign recently.
By topping their group England are likely to face Spain, Brazil or their old enemy Germany in the Final scheduled for seven days before Christmas.
Channeling their inner 1966 spirit would help restore some of the social and political divide rumbling in the country right now. Stranger things have happened. That's all we'll say.
