Future looks bright but doubts remain

Standard Sport

- Dan Kilpatrick

ENGLAND are among the favourites for the World Cup, less fancied only than holders France and five-time winners Brazil, with most bookmakers following a memorable year.

Gareth Southgate’s side could have been forgiven for suffering a post-Euros hangover, but their upward trajectory has continued with a seven-game unbeaten run in qualifying.

Their only blips were 1-1 draws against Hungary, who showed their steel during the Euros, and Robert Lewandowski’s Poland, and they confirmed their place in Qatar with a record-breaking 10-0 rout of San Marino last night, with Harry Kane scoring four times to move within five goals of Wayne Rooney’s all-time record England tally of 53.

Southgate, who is expected to mark qualification by agreeing a two-year contract extension, has world-class players in almost every position and one of the deepest talent pools in international football, constantly being refreshed by a conveyor-belt of young stars.

Arsenal pair Aaron Ramsdale and Emile Smith Rowe, who was among the scorers last night, were the latest to make their full debuts here in Serravalle in a one-sided match which felt largely pointless and at odds with the spirit of the World Cup.