England World Cup 2022 fixtures: Kick-off times and latest team news

Bukayo Saka celebrates/England World Cup 2022 fixtures: Kick-off times and latest team news - GETTY IMAGES
Bukayo Saka celebrates/England World Cup 2022 fixtures: Kick-off times and latest team news - GETTY IMAGES
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England will have to lift a 20-year curse of the best group-stage teams to win the World Cup.

Gareth Southgate’s team progressed to the last 16 with the best record from the group stage. They secured seven points from their three group games with a goal difference of plus-seven, which was better than any other nation in Qatar.

But recent history suggests the team that performs best in the group stage rarely goes on to win the World Cup, with Brazil the last side to do so in 2002.

Brazil topped their group with nine points and a goal difference of plus-eight at the World Cup in Korea and Japan before going on to lift the trophy.

But since then Spain, Argentina, Holland and Colombia, in 2014, and Belgium have all performed best in the group stage before failing to win the World Cup.

Belgium, who won all three of their group games, got to the semi-finals at the last World Cup in 2018 before losing to eventual champions France, who had secured seven points in their group.

Four years earlier, Holland and Colombia progressed to the last-16 with the same record of nine points and a goal difference of plus-seven. But Colombia lost to Brazil in the quarter-finals and Holland were knocked out in the last four by Argentina. Germany became world champions, having collected seven points in the group stage.

Spain won the World Cup in 2010 after losing their first group game and progressing with six points, while Argentina, who won all three of their group games with a plus-six goal difference, lost to Germany in the quarter-finals.

Four years earlier in 2006, Spain qualified for the knockout stage as the best performing team in the groups with nine points and a plus-seven goal difference, but lost to France in the last-16. Eventual winners Italy had got through the group stage with seven points.

England's World Cup schedule

Last 16

England 3 Senegal 0

Quarter-finals

England's quarter-final is at 7pm on Saturday, December 10. They play France, who beat Poland in the second round.

There are two quarter-finals on the day before, at 3pm and 7pm, and another at 3pm on the Saturday.

Semi-finals

If England reach the semi-finals, they could meet either Spain or Portugal. The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday, December 13 and Wednesday, December 14. England would be playing on the latter date.

Final

The World Cup final will take place on Sunday, December 18 at 3pm at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. If England are in the final, they could be pitted against Argentina or Brazil.

Group B results

England 6 Iran 2: November 21
USA 1 Wales 1: November 21
Wales 0 Iran 2: November 25
England 0 USA 0: November 25
Iran 0 USA 1: November 29
Wales 0 England 3: November 29

Who is in the England squad?

Southgate named a 26-man squad for the tournament, including call-ups for James Maddison and Conor Gallagher. 

Could an England player win the Golden Boot?

Very possibly. Marcus Rashford looks the most likely candidate.

Latest news

Ben White has left England's squad for personal reasons and is set to miss the rest of the World Cup.

The Arsenal centre-back missed the Group B win over Wales through illness after being an unused substitute against Iran and USA.

"Ben White has left England’s training base in Al Wakrah and returned home for personal reasons," read a statement from the Football Association.

"The Arsenal defender is not expected to return to the squad for the remainder of the tournament.  We ask that the player’s privacy is respected at this moment in time."

White was rewarded for his form with the Premier League leaders this season with a place in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for Qatar, with his versatility at being playing right-back and centre-back making him a useful addition to the squad.

It was in March when he played against Ivory Coast and was shifted to right-back during the match, which was his last cap for England.

After arriving in Doha he spoke about how he was relishing taking the next step up after loans in the lower leagues during his time at Brighton, then playing regularly in the top-flight and earning a move to Arsenal.

“I think it is something which has continued in my career. I believe in myself. I have worked hard to get here. I don’t think I have done it an easy way. I think it is just being consistent, believing in what I do,” he said at the time.