England will play the United States, Iran and one of Wales, Scotland or Ukraine during the World Cup group stage in Qatar, but what is the Three Lions’ recent group stage record?
Qatar World Cup draw: England face familiar foes and new challenger
Fifa held the draw for the World Cup finals in Qatar on April 1, with England drawn to face familiar foes and a new challenger in Group B. The Three Lions faced the United States at the same point in the 2010 edition in South Africa, with the opening fixture ending 1-1.
England have never faced Iran, meanwhile, so will break new ground against the country ranked 21st in the world. The fifth-ranked Three Lions could face the 18th-ranked Wales, 27th-ranked Ukraine or 39th-ranked Scotland, as well, depending on their play-off results.
Scotland were to face Ukraine in the UEFA Path A semi-final in March, but Fifa postponed the fixture. Wales, meanwhile, await the winner after the Dragons eliminated Austria 2-1.
Russia 2018: England finish second in Group G
England faced a tough group stage draw for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with Belgium in Group G. They also faced Tunisia and Panama, with results against the pair ensuring the Three Lions reached the knockout stages after a 1-0 loss to the Red Devils in game three.
Harry Kane scored both goals to beat Tunisia 2-1 in England’s opening fixture. And he hit another three to help overcome Panama 6-1, with John Stones (twice) and Jesse Lingard also on the scoresheet. But Gareth Southgate resting key men saw Belgium beat England.
The Three Lions would rally to eliminate Colombia in the last 16 on penalties and Sweden in the quarter-finals. But eventual runners-up Croatia proved too much in the semi-finals.
Brazil 2014: Three Lions finish last in Group D
Brazil 2014 proved a sour tournament for the Three Lions as Roy Hodgson’s side crashed out in the group stage. England proved unable to take more than a single point from ties with eventual Group D winners Costa Rica, runners-up Uruguay and fellow strugglers Italy.
The Azzurri kicked off the tournament by beating Hodgson’s men 2-1, a scoreline which Uruguay would then repeat. England took their sole point with a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica.
South Africa 2010: Blunder vs USA to Group C runners-up
A man of the match performance from USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard at one end and a blunder from Rob Green at the other saw the United States respond to hold England to a 1-1 draw during their opening fixture of the 2010 World Cup group stage in South Africa.
Steven Gerrard had gifted Fabio Capello’s side the lead four minutes into the tournament to inspire hope among England fans. But butter fingers from Green saw the shot-stopper spill Clint Dempsey’s attempt nearing half-time. And neither side could find the winner.
England would then draw again in match two with a goalless stalemate against Algeria. But a 1-0 win over Slovenia saw the Three Lions sneak ahead and into second, behind the USA. Capello’s side finished runners-up by virtue of scoring fewer goals with a mere two struck.
Germany 2006: England top Group B
England have not topped their group stage at a World Cup since the 2006 tournament in Germany. The Three Lions edged Sweden by two points to win Group B, while Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago failed to progress. Both England and Sweden also went unbeaten.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s England opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Paraguay. They then edged Trinidad & Tobago 2-0, before ending the round with a 2-2 draw with Sweden to decide who finished top. A stoppage-time Henrik Larsson goal setting up a nervy finish.
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South Korea & Japan 2002: Group stage ends with England second
Germany 2006 saw England take revenge on Sweden to top Group B after ending the 2002 edition in South Korea and Japan second to the Scandinavian nation in the Group F table.
This time, the two sides met in the opening game, which ended 1-1 before meetings with Nigeria and Argentina. Both countries won in game two with Sweden beating Nigeria and England edging Argentina. Before stalemates galore with both drawing on matchday three.
Goals scored again determined England’s fate with Sweden netting four to the Three Lions’ two. Yet it was the Three Lions who went the furthest, losing in the quarter-finals to Brazil.
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