Can England Win The 2018 World Cup?

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It is official: England have qualified for the 2018 World Cup. As expected, Gareth Southgate's men booked their spot in next summer's competition fairly comfortably and plenty of Three Lions supporters will have started to plan their trip to Russia. Another disappointing effort at a major tournament could be on the cards though, although some would argue that things can only get better after England's defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016.

After a relatively slow start to qualifying, England finished eight points clear of Slovakia in Group F. The Three Lions conceded just three goals in 10 games; a convincing record to say the least. Defensively, Southgate is blessed with one of the strongest and most reliable units in world football and England should be fairly solid at the back. Barring a very difficult group, Southgate's men will be confident of advancing to the knockout stages.

The goalkeeper situation is a worry; will it be Joe Hart, Jack Butland or Fraser Forster? Southgate has a tough decision to make in the coming months. On current form, it would be hard to place too much faith in Hart. The England number one has conceded 13 goals so far this campaign, and only basement-dwelling Crystal Palace (17) have allowed more in seven Premier League games.

You'd like to think that Kyle Walker and Ryan Bertrand will both start at the back but those central slots are still up for grabs. Phil Jones, John Stones and Gary Cahill offer stability in the middle of defence and Stones could be set for a big year. He came under scrutiny during his first season at Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola has transformed the England man into an elite prospect in the position.

Of course, there is also the option of going with three at the back, as Southgate experimented with towards the back end of the qualifying campaign. This would allow Walker and Bertrand to venture forward safe in the knowledge that three central defenders can provide cover behind. Southgate went with a 3-5-2 system against Lithuania, and England were able to run out 1-0 winners. Yes, it was essentially a meaningless affair, but that result shows that the Three Lions can be versatile if required.

England are a 20/1 shot in international football betting markets to win the World Cup – something they haven't managed to do since 1966. On paper, Southgate's side have the quality and talent to emerge victorious, but England tend to collapse on the big stage. Failure next summer is almost expected given Southgate's relative struggles since arriving at the helm.

Cast your minds back to England's 2-2 draw with Spain in one of Southgate's first games as Three Lions boss. The hosts were two-nil up with 88 minutes on the clock in front of an expectant Wembley Stadium, but conceded twice in the dying stages to hand the visitors a lifeline. It was just a friendly but that set the tone for Southgate's tenure; promising to an extent, but with a genuine chance of failure.

It has been a case of substance over style for England since Southgate's appointment and you won't find many Three Lions fans who are excited ahead of the 2018 World Cup. Based on current form, England will struggle to match the likes of Brazil, Germany and Spain in terms of both style and substance. Argentina, who qualified by the skin of their teeth, would be confident of defeating Southgate's side.

Unlike Argentina, England have no genuinely world class players, and that could hinder the Three Lions next summer. Southgate doesn't have a Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to bail him out if the going gets tough and that is where England so often fall short. Reaching the latter stages of next summer's competition should be the number one priority for Southgate, and a quarter-final spot is a realistic objective.

At the present moment, a World Cup win looks extremely unlikely. England fans have been quietly confident going into the last two major tournaments, but for many fans, it is proving difficult to muster a modicum of excitement right now. Not only are England struggling to inspire confidence but the best teams on the planet are all performing admirably and Southgate's men are in danger of being embarrassed next summer. England will win another World Cup but it won't be in 2018.

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