Wales vs England, FIFA World Cup 2022, Today Match Prediction

Wales vs England Match Prediction & Analysis

England will have been disappointed to only come away from their match against the United States with a draw, especially when a win would have secured qualification with a game to spare.

However, they remain in pole position thanks to a poor Wales, a USA team that struggles to score and an Iran team which they hammered in the first game.

Should they finish at the top of their group, they will likely face either Ecuador or Senegal in their Round of 16 match. That would be preferable to meeting the Netherlands should they finish 2nd.

Wales will be up for this one. Not only must they win this game, they must also hope for a draw between Iran and the USA. That would hand the Welsh a superior goal advantage than the Iranians on four points.

It’s a tall order of course, especially against their neighbours England. This is Wales’ first World Cup in 58 years, and they would hate to be eliminated by the English.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Wales Preview

FIFA Ranking: 19

Predicted Finish: Group Stage

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Will find extra motivation against neighbours England

     Their opponents may rotate one or two players

Reasons to be fearful:

     Even if they win, they need the other result to go their way

     Look leggy and short of ideas in attack

In some ways, it’s a straightforward task for Wales. Give everything for 90 minutes, unleash key players like Bale and Moore and hope they have a large slice of luck in the Iran vs. USA game to boot.

They don’t have to worry about complex scenarios or complicated tactics – they must simply go out and win the game.

That’s easier said than done, of course. They’ve lost each of their last six games against England, and 68 of their 104 meetings in total. It’s been rather one sided over the past few decades.

However, like games often are between neighbouring countries, they will fancy their chances of turning this one into a scrap. If they can keep things tight at the back, they will back themselves to create a chance or two.

Make no mistake about it, the odds of Wales progressing are highly unlikely and it’ll need a good deal of quality and no small amount of luck too.

Star Man – Gareth Bale

He was disappointing to say the least in Wales’ defeat to Iran. It’s hard to recall anything positive he did throughout the 90 minutes, but he’ll feel as though he has a point to prove against England.

England Preview

FIFA Ranking: 5

Predicted Finish: Semi Finals

Reasons to be cheerful

     Will back themselves to improve after USA draw

     Have the likes of Foden, Grealish and Rashford to come in

Reasons to be fearful

     Harry Kane is a concern over fitness and form

     Know they’ll be in a game against neighbours Wales

From an England perspective, Gareth Southgate will want his players to go out there and kill the game off in the same way they did against Iran.

There, they scored three first-half goals and had the game won quickly and efficiently. England’s manager won’t want this game to drift and allow their opponents to get a foothold in the tie.

He may be tempted to make one or two changes here. Fans expressed their disappointment that Phil Foden didn’t come on as a substitute, while many would like to see him play from the start.

Jack Grealish is another option who could add more creativity upfront, although Southgate seems reluctant to use him from the start. 

And what to do about Harry Kane? He’s England’s talisman and goalscorer-in-chief, but seems to be struggling with his fitness right now. Is it time to rest him here and give someone else a chance?

They’ve got to get this right, England, but they have the players to do so.

Star Man – Phil Foden

The Manchester City attacker is arguably England’s most talented player – they simply have to find a place for him in the line-up. His creativity can pick apart a stubborn Wales defence.