WORLD CUP ODDS
FRANCE 9/2
SPAIN 9/2
ENGLAND 6/1
BRAZIL 7/1
ARGENTINA 8/1
PORTUGAL 8/1
NETHERLANDS 12/1
GERMANY 14/1
view odds
Seeing Sky Sports News’ reporter on the ground at Miami Airport, discussing the landing of their Virgin Atlantic flight from Birmingham, was a pretty good insight into the microscope that will be on this England team over the next couple of months.
That was Tuesday 2nd June, more than two weeks before their first game. The influence of social media and rolling news channels has changed the lead up to global tournaments.
For us as cricketers, the closest we ever came to that level of coverage was ahead of an Ashes Series. Both here in England, but also when we visited Australia, a camera would never be too far away watching our every move. The build up seemed to start that bit earlier for those series.
I was always pretty understanding of it – Ashes summers in the UK saw cricket hit the back pages, and if we wanted to enjoy that extra exposure to help get the country behind us, the media frenzy was a necessary accompaniment.
Twenty years ago, England went to Baden Baden, with a bigger media entourage than ever seen before. Whilst we had some of the most talented footballers in the world, we were never truly one of the strong favourites to lift the trophy.
They are all playing in some of the biggest domestic and European club games, and in my view, better prepared as a result.
For Harry Kane and Thomas Tuchel, it’s different though. Fitzdares has England at 6/1, third favourites, behind Spain & France. Genuine contenders. But so much has changed since 2006. Our players almost exclusively played in England.
But if you look at our squad now, Kane has won multiple titles in Germany with Bayern Munich, Jarrel Quansah is at Leverkusen, Jude Bellingham is one of the leading names at Real Madrid, and Anthony Gordon is now on Barcelona’s books. The experience they’re bringing from different footballing cultures is only a good thing in my mind.
They are all playing in some of the biggest domestic and European club games, and in my view, better prepared as a result for the biggest stage of all.
You can find comparisons in cricket. If you speak to my great mate Jos Buttler, he will attribute so much of his professional development to playing in leading franchise tournaments around the world. Whether it’s been the IPL, the SA20, Big Bash or The Hundred.
It’s given him the chance to play with and against the best in the game. He talks openly about learning from the likes of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli, both in terms of technique but also match situations, strategies and the pressures that come from expectations of winning the biggest tournaments.
I can see England going over there with real confidence. They seem to be a really good, tight-knit group of players. A squad of 23, rather than a collection of 23 individuals.
There is a strong continuity of players from previous tournaments, and there is some real depth. In Harry Kane, we have one of the very best finishers in football.
As a Forest fan, I was sad for Morgan Gibbs-White who has been exceptional for us this season in big moments. But I’m so excited to see Elliot Anderson play his part. He’s an unbelievable talent and I think could have a big impact on the tournament.
Best of luck to the guys – the nation is behind you! Is it coming home? I think there’s every chance…
The guys at Fitzdares have given me a £500 free bet pot to use on a selection of the major sporting events of my choice.
This month, I’m putting the full balance on England to win it all!
£500 England @ 13/2
World Cup 2026, 11th June – 20th July
