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The Three Lions go into this World Cup with seemingly less pressure than is usually associated with the English national team. However, that does not mean this team goes without expectation. This is a young team with players that a country expects big careers from, and the World Cup is always a career definer. England fans see players like Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford as potentially world class and the pressure would especially be on these players to perform despite their age. Harry Kane for one is more than just a young player playing in his very first World Cup. He is a two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner who has proved his doubters wrong time and time again. The World Cup is another opportunity for him to do just that. 

The influx of the world's best managers to England has seen the Premier League become competitive in Europe again, which can only bode well for the English players involved. Jordan Henderson has been solid in Liverpool's run all the way to Champion's League final and he will look to bring some of that form to the World Cup. Players like Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling have admittedly improved under the guidance of the legendary Pep Guardiola and should be two of the first names on Southgate's team sheet. Sterling, in particular, had an outstanding season, his 23 goals and 17 assists are clear evidence of his attacking threat. At just 23 years old and going into his second World Cup, Sterling can emerge as one of the future leaders for England by tournament's end. All in all the future is bright for this team, England is the current U17 and U20 World Champions and the players coming are unlike anything ever seen in English football. The team in Russia, however, is not quite there yet but with less pressure and some youthful zeal England may be a real dark horse. 

Head Coach: Gareth Southgate

Population: 55 million

Appearances: 15

Best: Winners 1966

How they Qualified: Ever since the disaster of not qualifying for Euro 2008, England have managed to top each their tournament qualification groups that followed. This campaign was no different as Harry Kane and co. eased passed a relatively easy group where Slovakia was their closest competition. The Three Lions finished unbeaten in 10 games and only conceded three times. The luck of the draw has again favoured the England team in Russia, as the first two games see them come up against a Tunisian team that has never made it out of the group and a Panamanian outfit making their tournament debut. 

Star Players: Harry Kane(Tottenham), Raheem Sterling(Manchester City), Kyle Walker(Manchester City), Jordan Henderson(Liverpool), Dele Alli(Tottenham)

Wildcard: Ruben Loftus-Cheek- After three years with the Chelsea first team the English youngster took the plunge and went on loan to Crystal Palace for the 2017-2018 Premier League season. His introduction to proper first team Premier League football was a rough one as he was part of a Crystal Palace team who lost its first seven games without scoring a single goal. However, a late surge into the Palace first team after recovering from injuries has seen him squeeze into the World Cup 23. A man of the match performance on his England debut against World champions Germany suggest that his selection can be much more than a 2006 Theo Walcott pick. 

Legend: Sir Bobby Charlton