World Cup 2022: England Ready to Devour the San Marino Minnows

England vs San Marino

Gareth Southgate’s England welcome San Marino to London on Thursday night in their Group I qualification campaign for World Cup 2022, and the hosts will be expecting to open up their campaign with a big win.

Let’s face it folks; World Cup: England vs San Marino couldn’t really be a more one-sided prospect and, while we cant really expect a nail-biter, there should be plenty of penalty area action.

We love to see goals here at SBOTOP and we’re expecting a hatful at Wembley on Thursday when the Three Lions meet the meekest side in world football. There is a job to be done though and Gareth Southgate’s men will surely do the business early in the game.

Talking Points

England aiming for three from three

In a group also containing Poland, Hungary, Albania and Andorra, England will want to impose themselves as quickly as possible. They follow this opener up with a trip to Albania and then the crunch match at home to Poland next Wednesday. Three wins from three is the target.

San Marino are the weakest team in Group I and Southgate has a chance to play an attacking side while checking out one or two of his squad players. Skipper Harry Kane might make an appearance but I think Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the more likely starter. Both have both been in terrific form for their clubs this season, Kane spearheading the Spurs’ attack while the 24-year-old Everton striker has scored 14 goals in the Premier League. His strength in the air could cause San Marino serious problems and he should add to the two goals he has scored from five internationals this season.

There may also be a role for new recruit Ollie Watkins after the Aston Villa striker was handed his first squad place for England. Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford was unlucky to miss out but Southgate will have plenty of striking options over the next three games, with Raheem Sterling always ready for action and Jesse Lingard, who has been so impressive at West Ham scoring four goals in six games, back in the fold.

World Cup 2022: Jesse Lingard returns to England squad — Jesse Lingard has been in fine form for West Ham United

The England boss likes to look to the future and he’s included Borussia Dortmund’s 17-year-old midfielder Jude Bellingham in his squad, having made his debut in November against Northern Ireland.

The last line of defence Nick Pope has a chance to stake his claim to be England’s Number One after an injury to Jordan Pickford has sidelined the Everton stopper. Pope is yet to concede as an international, from four internationals and has been in outstanding form again for Burnley.

The only way is up for San Marino

England’s opponents are 206 places below the Three Lions in the World FIFA rankings, in fact, they are rock bottom, officially the worst football nation on the planet. Since their first international in 1986, they have won only once, a friendly against Liechtenstein in 2004, though they have managed two draws in their last three matches, against Liechtenstein again and then Gibraltar.

This run of one defeat in three followed 40 consecutive losses for Franco Varrella’s team including a 9-0 whacking at the hands of Belgium in 2019, and that is a decent benchmark for Southgate’s England.

The realistic England vs San Marino betting odds will have to offer three figures on a San Marino win but I can’t see many takers whatever the price!

History

San Marino have had one incredible moment of success in a previous encounter with England, in a World Cup qualifier in November 1993. With the Three Lions fully expected to sweep the minnows away David Gualtieri shocked the football world when he scored for San Marino with just 8.3 seconds on the clock. The attacking midfielder latched on to a woeful back pass from England’s Stuart Pearce and slotted the ball home.

That was, and will probably be, the biggest England vs San Marino news ever to be seen.

We really can’t expect a repeat of that, though England’s Nations League campaign ended in disappointment with losses to Belgium and Denmark. Defeat to the Danes was England’s only loss at Wembley in 12 games, as they won the other 11.