Tournament odds: 18/1 (Bet365)
Betting Tips and Recommended bets with odds
England are expected to qualify from Group G, but their key fixture is likely to be their final group game against Belgium in Kaliningrad – which should decide who will finish first.
Minnows Tunisia – who England beat at the 1998 World Cup in their most recent meeting – and Panama, surprise North American qualifiers who have never played England, are not expected to trouble either Gareth Southgate’s side or Belgium so it is little surprise England are just 1/8 to qualify from Group G with Bet365.
Finishing top of the group will be tougher, and with Belgium packed with Premier League stars they are expected to provide tough opposition for Gareth Southgate’s side. England have been defensively sound since Southgate took charge, but have lacked the attacking edge they are likely to need to break down a seriously strong, and seriously experienced Red Devils defence.
As a result, a group forecast of Belgium to finish first and England to finish second at 11/8 with Bet365 looks a good bet.
Regardless, however, England are likely to face either Poland or Colombia in the second round from Group H. England have lost just once in 19 games against Poland, and that was back in 1973, while they are unbeaten in five previous matches against Colombia.
Both sides have improved a great deal since they last played England but, nevertheless, if England can keep out star strikers Robert Lewandowski or Radamel Falcao respectively, they will have a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2006. They are 5/6 with Bet365 to reach the quarter-finals.
From there, however, England’s most likely quarter-final opponents will be Brazil if they win Group G and Germany if Belgium win Group G. Despite their goalless draws at Wembley against both nations, few will expect their World Cup journey to continue beyond that point regardless of how the earlier rounds play out. England are 11/5 to be eliminated at the quarter-final stage in Russia with Bet365.
Recommended bet
England to be eliminated in the World Cup quarter-finals at 11/5 with Bet365