England face Wales at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar this Tuesday with both nations able to secure a last 16 spot. So, who joined Bukayo Saka in the last Three Lions XI to beat Cymru?
The Group B affair on November 29 is the 104th meeting between the Home Nation rivals. England have won 68 and drawn 21 of their matches with Wales across all competitions to date. They have also beaten Cymru in each of their last six and eight of their last 10 games.
Wales have not had the better of the Three Lions since beating England 1-0 in May 1984. It was one of 12 wins Cymru took over England in the British Home Championship. They also won during a friendly in 1981 and 1982 but are yet to win in a World Cup tie or a qualifier.
A 3-0 win for Wales would see England top Group B at Qatar 2022 from Cymru
Qatar 2022 has thrown up the first match between England and Wales at a World Cup thus far. The Three Lions only need to avoid losing the game 4-0 to claim a spot in the Round of 16, as well. They sit first in Group B after beating Iran 6-2 and drawing 0-0 against the USA.
Wales came from behind to rescue a 1-1 draw against the USA in their opening match. But a 2-0 defeat to Iran put Robert Page’s team on the back foot before their clash with Gareth Southgate’s side. Now, they must win and hope the USA and Iran’s fixture ends as a draw.
Should Iran or the USA win on November 29, Wales cannot make the last 16 regardless of their result against England. A draw between Team Melli and the USMNT alongside losing by three or fewer goals to Cymru would still be enough for the Three Lions to top Group B.
The score was 3-0 the last time England met Wales but with Southgate winning in October 2020. The friendly at Wembley featured goals by Dominic Calvert-Lewin (26’), Conor Coady (53’) and Danny Ings (63’). But only six of those the Three Lions started are at Qatar 2022…
Nick Pope (GK): England started the Newcastle ace in their last match with Wales
Southgate started Nick Pope – then of Burnley and now Newcastle United – in goal the last time that England faced Wales. The goalkeeper would shut Cymru out for one of his seven clean sheets over 10 caps so far. But he is now Jordan Pickford’s understudy at Qatar 2022.
Michael Keane (CB): Southgate has not taken the Everton ace to Qatar 2022
Michael Keane made an England side for the first time in October 2016 and earned 12 caps from March 2017 to November 2020. But the Everton defender has not made any of their squads for the past two years. Their friendly with Wales also marked his 11th appearance.
Conor Coady (CB): The on-loan Everton ace is in Qatar but he is yet to feature
Coady scored England’s second goal the last time the Three Lions beat Wales during their friendly in 2020. It remains the only goal the 29-year-old has so far scored for his country after 10 caps. He is also yet to play at Qatar 2022 after making England’s World Cup team.
Joe Gomez (CB): The Liverpool star has not played for England since beating Wales
Joe Gomez has not played for England since the Liverpool star helped Southgate’s squad beat Wales in October 2020. The friendly at Wembley marked the defender’s ninth start over 11 caps so far. But the 25-year-old has not made a Three Lions squad since October 2020.
Kieran Trippier (RM): Captained England to a 3-0 win vs Wales in their last match
Newcastle full-back Kieran Trippier captained England to their 3-0 win over Wales in the two nations’ last match in October 2020. It remains the only game in which the 39-cap dynamo has worn the armband. He also laid on one of his five international assists against Cymru.
Kalvin Phillips (CM): Rooney wants England to start the midfielder vs Wales
Wayne Rooney has suggested in his column for The Times that he would ‘take out Mason Mount and bring in Kalvin Phillips’ to face Wales if the Manchester City midfielder is fit. He made England’s Qatar 2022 side despite playing just 53 minutes this term due to an injury.
Harry Winks (CM): England have overlooked the midfielder since November 2020
Harry Winks has endured a huge fall from grace since he started for England against Wales. The 26-year-old made their next side in November 2020 but Southgate has overlooked the 10-cap Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, now on loan to Serie A side Sampdoria, ever since.
Bukayo Sako (LM): Arsenal ace helped England get Qatar 2022 off to a strong start
Sake made his England debut against Wales in October 2020 and could now face Cymru at the World Cup. The Arsenal ace helped the Three Lions get off to a strong start in Group B with two goals against Iran. He now boasts six goals and five assists over 22 caps to date.
Jack Grealish (CAM): Southgate has only started the midfielder in 12 of his 26 caps
Jack Grealish earned his first start for England against Wales two years ago. But starting in games under Southgate has proven to be a rare occurrence for the 27-year-old since. The £100m Manchester City star has only started 12 of 26 caps with two goals and six assists.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (ST): Everton striker made his England debut vs Wales
Southgate handed Calvert-Lewin his England debut against Wales in October 2020 and saw the Everton striker score the opening goal. The 25-year-old has since taken his tally to four over 11 caps. But he is not at Qatar 2022 after another injury-plagued season for Everton.
Danny Ings (ST): The Aston Villa star scored his only England goal against Wales
Ings rounded out the scoring for England against Wales two years ago for his only goal for the Three Lions. The 30-year-old Aston Villa striker has also not featured under Southgate since hitting the Cymru net in his third cap. He got his debut under Roy Hodgson in 2015.
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