History can provide the clues we need in the search for World Cup winners

World Cup sniffles will break out into a full-blown fever when England get their Qatar campaign underway with a clash against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.

When it comes to international matches, there is usually plenty of form and history between the nations and that can help point you in the direction of a winner. Argentina first played Mexico in 1930, and since that 6-3 victory, La Albiceleste have lost just one of their 15 matches against El Tri.

History tells us that Argentina will avoid defeat when they face Mexico later in the tournament, but in terms of previous meetings, we don't have anything to go on when England play Iran for the first time on Monday.

Don’t panic. There may be another avenue for clues by investigating the Three Lions’ record against nations they have faced only once.

England have a perfect one-from-one record against Canada, China, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kuwait, Malaysia and Panama, as well as against the Fifa World Select 11, and the Three Lions have avoided defeat in their single contests against Algeria, Ghana, Honduras and South Korea.

Iran are bidding to become one-hit wonders against Gareth Southgate’s team but history isn't on their side and it’s unlikely that Team Melli will be topping the goalscoring charts when they take on the Three Lions in Doha.

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