England have booked a place in their first World Cup semi-final since 1990, and third since 1966, after beating Sweden in Samara. The belief that it is in fact coming home increases with every game England win, and the odds of the Three Lions lifting the trophy are falling.
Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored as England avoided defeat against Sweden in the semi-final and the Three Lions have scored as many goals as the team did in 1966, and we all know what happened then.
England were 14/1 to win the tournament before a ball had been kicked in Russia, but since then Germany, Brazil, Spain and Argentina have all gone out meaning that the Three Lions’ odds of winning the World Cup have been slashed.
Gareth Southgate’s side are now 4/1 to win the final, third favourites behind France (2/1) and Belgium (11/4).
England will take on Russia or Croatia on Wednesday 11 July at 19:00 at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, the winner face either France or Belgium in the final on Sunday 15 July.
Harry Kane had a relatively quiet game against Sweden and it was the first World Cup match he has started in and not scored. He remains on course to be the tournament’s leading scorer if he can hold on to his two goal advantage over Romelu Lukaku, who is likely to be his closest competitor.
Kane has six goals, Lukaku four, Artem Dzyuba, Antoine Griezmann, Denis Cheryshev and Kylian Mbappe all have three.
The race for the Golden Ball is much tighter, and Mbappe leads the betting to become the player of the tournament. He is priced at 7/2, Kane 4/1, Neymar 6/1, Philippe Coutinho 15/2, Luka Modric 10/1, Eden Hazard 14/1 and Romelu Lukaku 25/1.
