World Cup Group B Preview: When is best to pick England for WhoScored.com Survivor?
From noisy neighbours to famous foes, how much do you know about England’s World Cup opponents?
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions are looking to end 56 years of hurt by finally bringing football home once again, but the biggest question is… when will you pick them in Tournament Survivor?
That’s right, our famous last player standing format is here for the Qatar showpiece, and it’s all about choosing winners – one every day to be precise!
With £30,000+ up for grabs, we’ve put together all you need to know about England’s Group B opposition to help you play it right!
Make sure you get your first pick in the hat before 12:45pm on Monday, November 21…
Match 1 (vs Iran) – Monday 21st November, 1pm
World ranking: 20
How did they qualify: Topped Asia Group A
Star player: Mehdi Taremi
With a historic record of 6 wins from 15 opening World Cup games, England fans would have breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Iran were first up. An easy start to proceedings which ends in World Cup glory? Not so fast!
No team got more qualifying points in Asia than Iran – that includes Heung-min Son’s South Korea and Japan – while Porto forward Mehdi Taremi and Feyenoord winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh topped the goalscoring charts (4).
Managed by former Fergie sidekick, Carlos Queiroz, Iran have only lost two matches since the start of 2020 and have kept 13 clean sheets in that time, but we don’t think the strike forces of Cambodia or Lebanon had quite the same quality of Harry Kane!
Don’t get us wrong – England should win this match comfortably and despite some potential early jitters, this could be the best place to pick them in Tournament Survivor.
Prediction: England 3-0 Iran
Match 2 (vs USA) – Friday 25th November, 7pm
World ranking: 16
How did they qualify: Finished 3rd in North & Central America
One to watch: Kellyn Acosta
Ted Lasso, Donald Trump, Clint Dempsey – your boys are going to take one hell of a beating (Gareth & Co hope)!
This match-up hasn’t been kind to England at the World Cup – sorry to remind you of Rob Green’s howler in South Africa – but the Americans also got the better of them in the English’s first ever appearance in 1950 as they crashed out in the Group Stage… surely not again?
To be fair to the USA, they’ve developed an impressive ‘soccer’ team with an array of young stars plying their trade in Europe’s top leagues and this could be their platform to shine.
With pace to burn in attack against the likes of Harry Maguire who isn’t known for his blistering speed, this one might be closer than we think!
Prediction: England 2-0 USA
Match 3 (vs Wales) – Tuesday 29th November, 7pm
World ranking: 19
How did they qualify: Beat Ukraine in a play-off
Star player: Gareth Bale
One question will help define how this match might go… is Gareth Bale fit?
Fresh off his MLS Cup heroics with LAFC, the Welsh wizard is full of confidence, but has struggled with injuries in recent years. If he isn’t 100%, Wales are going to lack the firepower to hurt England.
They haven’t won a match since that famous victory over Ukraine in June, losing four of five Nations League games against the likes of Belgium, Netherlands and Poland, but then again England’s form isn’t too hot either!
This is the first time the home nations have met on the biggest stage, however they do have previous in major tournaments – England won 2-1 at Euro 2016 thanks to a 92nd minute winner from Daniel Sturridge which was assisted by Dele Alli… remember them?!
Prediction: Wales 1-2 England
With Tournament Survivor, you can have your say on World Cup matches AND win big cash prizes!
There’s £30,000+ in the pot and 50% of it goes to entrants that make it out of the Group Stage – lets hope England will be joining you.
Grab your entries before 12:45pm on Monday, 21st November – you can enter up to 3 times here!
Competition rules and terms & conditions apply. Read more here.
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