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England's young troops are gunning for World Cup glory

England are fast finding that their young guns seem indispensable under Gareth Southgate, who has been the nation's most successful head coach since Sir Alf Ramsey.

England manager Gareth Southgate with Luke Shaw and Jude Bellingham on September 26, 2022© Reuters

England are fast finding that their young guns seem indispensable under Gareth Southgate, who has been the nation's most successful head coach since Sir Alf Ramsey.

Southgate is keen to improve on last year's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy at Wembley Stadium. However, to claim England's first major trophy since Ramsey masterminded their 1966 World Cup campaign is a tough task.

The Three Lions have been seriously lacklustre in recent displays. Yet Southgate does not fear that his troops will be firing on all cylinders at the sport's showpiece tournament at Qatar 2022.

With a plethora of talent at his disposal, Southgate has constantly favoured shot-stopper Jordan Pickford, defender John Stones as well as the attacking midfield pair of Jude Bellingham and Jack Grealish plus hot-shot striker Harry Kane.

With injury blows to midfielder Kalvin Phillips plus defensive duo Reece James and Kyle Walker, there's plenty of opportunities for the dynamic youngsters selected to emulate their club form at the FIFA World Cup finals.

None of them will be fazed by performing on the world's biggest stage, on the contrary they will raise their game to help make the Three Lions roar like they did at the Euros.

It's no surprise that thanks to the emphatic goal-scoring ability of Kane, who claimed the Golden Boot accolade for his six strikes at Russia 2018, that England are joint-second favourites to win the tournament in Qatar with LeoVegas, renowned sportsbook who also features some of the best new slots online.

Five-time champions Brazil are quoted at 6.00 to lift the coveted trophy for the first time since 2002, with reigning champions France and England priced at 7.50 to triumph in the Middle East.

On paper Southgate's troops could gun down any opposition they face, and this time they won't have to tackle their nemesis Italy. The Azzurri will be absent from the lucrative tournament, having failed to qualify for the second time on the bounce.

He boasts some dominant players, who have plenty of international experience, who can simply take games by the scruff of the neck to create goals and assists in the same vein as England icons David Beckham and Paul Gascoigne used to.

Admirable maturity from the electrifying attacking quartet of Bellingham, Phil Foden, Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka makes Southgate's side serious contenders. Especially as there are questions over form and fitness of rivals such as France, Germany and Spain.

England's standout young player is German-based Bellingham, who is often employed as an anchor man. He's a typical enthusiastic no8 with outstanding tactical awareness and technical prowess. His ability to effortlessly push forward with the ball could be the difference as to whether England succeeds in Qatar or not.

The bigger the game, the better the performance from Manchester City's Foden. He has grown into an invaluable multi-purpose attacking midfielder to become a tower of strength at both club and international level.
Mount is used to winning - having bagged the Club World Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup with Chelsea. He is often relied upon for his versatility and has hit a purple patch.

Saka, who was originally a left-back, tears teams apart when used as a right winger. As a wide player he finds space in dangerous areas with his sudden change of pace and variety of silky skills.

With enough firepower and flair, Southgate needs to ensure that he has a solid defence within a formidable squad otherwise the South American sides of Argentina and Brazil could rip the Three Lions to shreds.

Argentina, on a 35-game unbeaten run and aiming to surpass Italy's record of 37, are due to set up a meeting with Brazil if they see off England and both sides top their respective group.
With England's group games against Iran, USA and Wales perceived as a breeze then Southgate should not be complacent as they failed to beat the US in their two World Cup meetings in 1950 and 2010.

Assuming that England top their group, they are on a collision course to meet the Group A runner-up that could be either Ecuador, Qatar or Senegal.

A quarter-final success over potential opponents Argentina or out-of-form France could be rewarded with Belgium or Portugal and a final showdown with Brazil, who last won the World Cup in 2002.
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