England 2022 World Cup squad predictions and odds: Tomori rates a solid chance

The domestic football season is over but England’s campaign continues with four Nations League ties against Hungary, Germany and Italy.

While Gareth Southgate will be keen to keep stacking the wins, he may use the matches as an opportunity to get a look at some of the players outside his preferred starters with plenty hoping to stake their claim to secure a place on the plane for the World Cup in November.

The Three Lions are 13-2 to win their first World Cup since 1966 in Qatar this winter and these games provide an opportunity to examine where the value may lie in who Southgate picks for his tournament squad.

Best bet

Fikayo Tomori to make England's World Cup squad
2pts 5-4 Coral, Ladbrokes

Callum Wilson to make England's World Cup squad
1pt 16-1 Ladbrokes

Goalkeepers

Jordan Pickford has been England and Southgate’s number one choice in goal for the majority of the ex-Middlesbrough manager’s reign in charge, and that looks unlikely to change before Qatar.

Aaron Ramsdale missed out on an opportunity to showcase his talent in March as he pulled out of the squad due to injury and his form has taken a slight downturn since.

Pickford, on the other hand, was instrumental in Everton’s survival and barring an injury of his own looks likely to put on the gloves for the World Cup opener against Iran.

Nick Pope had another good season at Burnley despite their relegation, registering a 73.6 save percentage, putting him amongst the top five Premier League keepers.

Pope’s distribution isn’t quite as good as the two ahead of him in the pecking order but there is not an outstanding candidate to take his place as third keeper, with Dean Henderson having harmed his chances by warming the bench at Manchester United for the season.

Defenders

Given the proliferation of right-backs at Gareth Southgate’s disposal, it’s no surprise to see five selected for this Nations League squad.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Kyle Walker are all long odds-on to make the squad. On the opposite flank, Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell are similarly priced.

More interesting is the race to be named at centre-back. After John Stones, Ben White and Harry Maguire, every other centre half is odds-against with Coral and Ladbrokes.

Marc Geuhi, Conor Coady and Fikayo Tomori are all either 5-4 or 6-4 and look to be fighting it out for a single spot.

Coady and Tyrone Mings went to Euro 2020 and the likelihood is that Southgate would again opt for four centre halves. However Mings’ indifferent club form leaves him vulnerable.

Tomori has just won the Scudetto with Milan and has clearly played his way into Southgate's thoughts, who has included him in the squad for these internationals.

The central defender has made just two appearances for England before this international break but looks a prime candidate to take advantage of the side’s weakness at the position and land himself a ticket to Qatar.

Midfielders

Strength in depth in midfield is arguably England’s strong point and it’s no surprise to see Mason Mount, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham well fancied to make the squad.

Their youth in midfield is particularly impressive, with four of the six midfielders declared for this Nations League campaign 23 or younger.

As a result, it seems likely that Jordan Henderson will retain his position from Euro 2020 to provide leadership and experience.

James Ward-Prowse and Conor Gallagher will have earmarked these internationals as an opportunity to strengthen their case to make the World Cup - they are 8-11 and 3-1 to do so.

Forwards

The forward areas are another where England are strong, and Harry Kane is the captain and talisman of this side.

The Tottenham striker is likely to pass Wayne Rooney’s England goal record at some point in the next 12 months, barring injury. Kane’s place on the plane seems assured, as is that of standout performer at the Euros Raheem Sterling.

Bukayo Saka also played a large role at that tournament and is 1-10 to make it to November's showpiece.

The two fellow forwards who missed penalties against Italy in the final, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, are 1-2 to be on the plane but that might be short enough given their struggles for Manchester United in the last year.

Jarrod Bowen on the other hand has been in red-hot form for West Ham and was rewarded with his first call-up for the Three Lions. Bowen is a 4-6 chance to make the finals.

As a central striker back-up to Kane, Tammy Abraham appears to have usurped Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the pecking order given their contrasting seasons for their clubs.

Abraham netted 27 times in all competitions for Roma and is now priced up at 4-5 to reach the World Cup.

Calvert-Lewin missed much of the season through injury and scored just five times for Everton as they narrowly escaped relegation.

At a much bigger price, Callum Wilson may be one to keep an eye on after netting 20 goals in 46 appearances for Newcastle. With their fortunes likely to rapidly improve, he could be overpriced at 16-1 to add some experience to the backup striker role.

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