After years of preparation, the 2022 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off this weekend, with England hoping to top their group in a smooth and easy fashion as the Three Lions look to win their second-ever world championship.
The 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020 have seen Gareth Southgate’s side take enormous steps on the international stage as semi-final and runner-up finishes respectively have seen England named one of the favourites to win the whole thing in Qatar. However, nothing is ever guaranteed in football.
And nothing sums that up better than a World Cup group, with England paired with home-nation rivals Wales, the USA and Iran in a contest that is expected to be filled with fireworks, drama and plenty of narrative, not to mention some quality football.
Indeed, England might be favourites to win Group B, but their opposing sides will be no pushovers, and here are five players the Three Lions must watch out for if they’re to progress to the round of 16 in a favourable position.
Gareth Bale
Let’s start by just getting the most obvious player England have to watch out for out of the way. Gareth Bale might be past his prime, but there’s no denying that the Los Angeles FC superstar has the ability to turn up the quality when on the international stage with Wales.
The former Real Madrid man has already punished England at a major tournament with a thunderous free-kick against the Three Lions at Euro 2016. And with Wales competing in their first World Cup since 1958, Bale is surely going to bring his A-game this November, and especially against Southgate’s side.
Giovanni Reyna
The USA are most pundit’s pick to finish second in the group behind England, and for good reason. Gregg Berhalter’s squad is the youngest at the World Cup this year, and whilst Christian Pulisic is the poster boy for the team, supporters will say that Giovanni Reyna is the real star of the show.
A key player for Borussia Dortmund who this season has finally managed to shake off his injury problems, the 20-year-old Sunderland-born attacking midfielder will want to introduce himself to the world with a bang
Mehdi Taremi
If you were to ask which player in Group B has the most goal contributions at club-level this season, very few would have guessed Mehdi Taremi from Iran, yet there’s no sugarcoating the fact that the 29-year-old FC Porto forward heads to Qatar as one of the most in-form players in the entire competition.
With 13 goals and eight assists this season, Taremi is enjoying a better year than the likes of Bale and even Harry Kane. And whilst Iran might be an unknown quantity going into the World Cup, their leading striker will no doubt cause some damage against England if they’re not careful with who they’re facing up against.
Brenden Aaronson
Just like with Reyna, Brenden Aaronson is one of the many young players representing the US at Qatar who will be expected to play a key role for the North American nation, with England fans already quite familiar with how the Leeds United superstar operates based on his performances this season.
Signed by Jesse Marsch this summer from RB Salzburg, the playmaker dubbed ‘The Medford Messi‘ by America supporters has the potential to create problems for England’s defence if they’re not fully concentrating, and Aaronson, just like Reyna, will thrive off the pressure of making a name for himself out in Qatar.
Brennan Johnson
Brennan Johnson might not be enjoying the best of seasons with Nottingham Forest in their comeback year in the Premier League. However, the Wales international is another special breed of player who knows how to crank up the quality on the world stage, and this could make the youngster quite the threat for England.
One of the best players in the Championship last season and a key reason behind Wales’ run to qualifying for the World Cup, Johnson has all the quality to become one of the breakout players of the competition, and alongside the likes of Bale, the Forest star will want to punish England in the group stages.
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