Opta’s World Cup supercomputer has named England as the second favourites to lift the trophy on July 19 after the Three Lions’ barnstorming 4-2 victory against Croatia on Wednesday.
Harry Kane bagged a brace but Croatia wrestled to keep pace in the first-half, before a stirring team talk from Thomas Tuchel sparked a commanding second-half performance featuring goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford off the substitute’s bench.
Sitting atop their Group L on goal difference after Ghana’s late winner against Panama on Wednesday evening, England laid down the gauntlet for their international rivals, and have since leapfrogged contenders including Spain and Portugal – who both endured draws in their openers – to join the heavy favourites.
The analysts at Opta believe that England now has a 12.26 per cent chance to record their second ever World Cup win and end the 60 years of hurt, just behind the 2018 champions France.
The supercomputer has given Kylian Mbappe and Co a slender 15.40 per cent chance of lifting the trophy in New Jersey, their place as the standout favourites unchanged after their own statement 3-1 win against Senegal.
Current holders Argentina are the third-favourites with a 12.18 per cent chance, with Lionel Messi proving he continues to have the magic required to lead his country to victory with his hat-trick against Algeria on matchday one.
After a romping win against Croatia England are now second-favourites to win the World Cup
With the conclusion of all of the opening matches in North America, England are also thought to have a clearer picture of their route to the final, with the supercomputer giving them a strong chance of finishing the group stage on top.
This would put them on course for a meeting with DR Congo, who are predicted to finish third in Group K after they stunned Portugal by holding them to a 1-1 draw in Wednesday’s first match.
England are then predicted to meet Mexico, should they bypass potential opponents Senegal in their meeting, ahead of a mouth-watering potential quarter-final against Brazil.
But with the Selecao someway off their legendary best following a clunky opening 1-1 draw against Morocco, it could yet be Erling Haaland’s Norway that Tuchel and Co come face-to-face with, after the Scandinavians’ early 4-1 rout of Iraq sent shivers through the draw.
England would then have to bypass Messi’s Argentina in a semi-final, before a potential World Cup showdown with France in late July.
The national team’s win against Croatia certainly put the fear of God in their rivals, with the Spanish, German, and even Argentine media all suggesting that the team’s credentials had been firmly on show.
BILD described England’s win over Croatia as ‘the best match of the World Cup’.
It was a sentiment echoed even in Argentina, where Ole declared: ‘England are showing glimpses of being contenders.’
Both teams put on a ‘total show’ and ‘fantastic’ match in which ‘Harry Kane shone brightest’.
L’Equipe in France went even further in praising Tuchel’s side, calling the performance a ‘masterclass’, ‘pure entertainment’ and ‘a hell of a show’.
In the Netherlands, De Telegraaf simply described the win as ‘dazzling’, while Clarin in Argentina called it a ‘thrashing’.
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