NOT since 2006 have England entered a World Cup with such heavy expectations on their shoulders. Back then, England had a so-called ‘golden generation,’ but fell well short of their objective. 16 years on, the Three Lions are once again seen as genuine contenders and once again the pressure might be becoming too much.

2021 saw England take another step forward under Gareth Southgate as they made the final of Euro 2020 where they lost only in a penalty shootout. This came after Southgate guided his team to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup when the Three Lions were expected to be at the start of a new generation.

Generally speaking, England are still a young team. The 2022 World Cup won’t be their only opportunity to end the country’s long wait for a major international title, but it could be the end of a cycle under Southgate. The 52-year-old’s reputation as England manager will be determined by what happens in Qatar.

Southgate is England’s most successful manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, but he has faced criticism over the course of his tenure. That criticism has reached a crescendo this year with England’s dismal showing in the Nations League adding to the fear that the team has regressed since making the Euro 2020 final a year ago.

England faced criticism at Euro 2020 too. Southgate’s conservative style of play was the subject of much discussion with many of the belief that it held back the Three Lions from being more dangerous in the attacking third. But with every match England won at the tournament Southgate found more vindication.

That vindication won’t be there if England flop at the 2022 World Cup. The problem for Southgate is that his team have achieved steady progress under his stewardship to the point that anything less than winning the whole tournament in Qatar might be considered a failure. After making a final last year, there is only one more step for England to take this year.

“How can we take the supporters on another journey, like the one they loved four years ago and loved last summer?” Southgate said when asked what he expects from his team in Qatar. “We want to talk to them about the fact that this, whatever happens over the next four weeks, has been the second best period for English football. We can make it the best. So that is the only thing in my mind. It’s the challenge mindset. There’s nothing else.”

Players like Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Mason Mount could be key to England imposing their own game on opponents at the 2022 World Cup. Iran and Wales will look to sit deep and dare England to break them down. Southgate’s team are most comfortable when they can play in quick transition, but they will have to play through opponents in Qatar.

If England are unable to do this, Southgate will be blamed because he has the players within his squad to forge a creative and exciting team. Foden is a key figure for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City while Maddison has made more Premier League goal contributions in 2022 than any other English player besides Harry Kane.

Only Brazil and France can feasibly claim to boast a deeper squad than England at this moment in time. Injuries have hit the Three Lions hard, but their attack will be full-strength for the 2022 World Cup. Southgate must harness his best players in the final third otherwise he will go down as a nearly-man in English World Cup history.

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