oddschecker football expert George Gamble looks at the World Cup squad risers and fallers following England’s dismal Nations League performances this month.
England World Cup Squad Risers
Jarrod Bowen (Best Price 8/11)
It would be easy to say Jarrod Bowen didn’t give his chances of being on the plane to Qatar a boost after last night’s performance against Hungary. However, that is far too reactionary.
He’s been a bright spark and has always looked like a threat when he’s been involved. He’s also been utterly phenomenal for the ‘Hammers’ this season and like many others, probably isn’t as sharp as he would be in the middle of a competitive campaign.
The debate regarding starting him or Bukayo Saka on the right flank is as heated as ever but Gareth Southgate likes to have options and if Bowen can start the next campaign in good form once again, he should be in the final squad.
Fikayo Tomori (Best Price Evens)
What a season it’s been for Fikayo Tomori as he’s moved to Italy and played a key role in helping AC Milan clinch their first Scudetto for 11 years. His tenacity at the back and ability to play a leading role was a catalyst for their success and you can see he’s now desperate to translate that to the international stage.
He has made just one appearance throughout the four recent Nations League matches which came in the 0-0 draw with Italy. But he still performed as well as he could, successfully completing all his attempted tackles and having a higher pass completion rate than any other player in the back four.
With the modern-day attitude of trying to play out from the back and build attacks through progression, Tomori is a perfect example of a defender you want in your side. He’s currently Evens to make the final squad and I think we could see that price shorten.
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England World Cup Squad Fallers
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Best Price 1/6)
It seems bizarre to say but I think Trent Alexander-Arnold could be Southgate’s third or even fourth choice to occupy the right-back spot. The England boss has previously stated how much he admires Kyle Walker, stating “Kyle Walker isn’t the captain of his club but he’s such a man within the group, on the pitch, off the pitch”.
He’s also mentioned how he likes his aggressive attitude and the same rings true for Kieran Trippier who has often been a key component in this England side.
There is no denying that Alexander-Arnold is one of the best full-backs in world football but that also depends on the metrics you’re using. None of the previous names mentioned are better than the Liverpool man with the ball at their feet, but he occasionally lacks that controlled aggression in defensive situations that the manager favours.
With Walker, Trippier and Reece James all potentially more favoured, 1/6 on him travelling to Qatar (1/10 in places) offers no value and it wouldn’t be a shock if that price started to drift.
Marcus Rashford (Best Price 1/2)
When speaking about Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, Southgate has already come out and said “they've got a lot to do to get back in the squad”. New Manchester United assistant manager Steve McLaren also previously gave a damning review of Rashford back in January and questioned his attitude and body language, particularly in the bad moments.
Only Harry Maguire has represented Manchester United in this round of international fixtures, and it means that Rashford surely faces an uphill battle to work his way back into Southgate’s thinking. He’s currently priced up at 1/2 to be on the plane which is far too short given the current circumstances.
England World Cup Squad Outsider
Callum Wilson (Best Price 11/1)
Admittedly, the chances of Callum Wilson making the cut are slim. He’s currently at the best price of 11/1 to earn a spot on the plane to Qatar but it is possible that if he has a quick start to the season, he could work his way into a squad-player role.
One of the biggest concerns regarding Wilson is whether he can stay fit long enough to make enough of an impact. In the season just gone, he made just 18 appearances but netted on eight occasions.
Newcastle United are expected to splash the cash once more during this transfer window and many people will be wondering what kind of quality they can attract. The ‘Magpies’ were excellent after the January transfer window and looking at the 2022 table, Eddie Howe’s side occupied fourth place.
If Wilson can stay fit, he could score a hatful in the first half of the 2022/23 campaign. At 11/1, I’d say he’s a longshot with a chance, particularly as he’ll likely be battling Tammy Abraham for a spot on the bench with neither being ahead of captain Harry Kane.
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