Marcus Rashford is one of three players markedly shortening in the England World Cup squad odds market, but which three are making the move in the wrong direction?
As Gareth Southgate prepares to name his squad for England’s Nations League matches against Italy and Germany, how is his squad shaping up for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar? We look at three players back in favour and three now facing a battle to make the final 26.
England World Cup Squad Odds - Market Movers
Marcus Rashford
On 21st August, Marcus Rashford drifted to a high of 6/4 to make the England World Cup squad as Manchester United prepared for what was meant to be a hammering by Liverpool at Old Trafford. Rashford, like so many of his team mates, had desperately underperformed in the opening two Premier League matches against Brighton and Brentford.
However, his goal in the win over Liverpool, followed by a brace in a 3-1 win over Arsenal, means the 24-year-old is now back to a best price 1/2 to make Gareth Southgate's 26-man squad for Qatar.
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In the aftermath of England’s dismal Nations League performances in June, Spurs centre back Eric Dier was as long as 4/1 to make the squad. Fast forward a few months, and the part he continues to play in Spurs’ resurgence under Antonio Conte has seen him shorten into 4/9 (8/11 best).
The 28-year-old, who scored the decisive penalty in England’s shoot-out win over Colombia at the last World Cup, has the added benefit of playing regularly in a back three – a preferred system for Southgate at major tournaments.
Ivan Toney
Despite an impressive first Premier League campaign with Brentford, in which he scored 12 times for the Bees, Ivan Toney was still a 12/1 long shot to make Southgate’s squad at the end of May. Five goals in the first six matches of this season have flipped the script, however, as the 26-year-old is now a best price 7/4 to make the final 26.
Surely counting in his favour is his flawless record from the penalty spot. Since joining the Bees in 2020, Toney has been successful with each of his 18 penalties, including the first in his hat-trick against Leeds last time out. Now that coaches are able to select 26 players rather than 23, finding a place for a spot kick specialist might be a good idea.
England World Cup Squad Odds - Market Drifters
Jarrod Bowen
If Rashford and Toney are the forwards to have made the biggest move in the right way across recent weeks, Jarrod Bowen is the man who might pay the price. The 25-year-old sparkled for West Ham in the Premier League last season, scoring 12 times and registering 17 assists, but he has failed to register a single goal or assist in the six games this time around.
He had emerged with some credit from England’s matches in June, at which point he was priced at 8/11 to make Southgate’s World Cup squad. He is now available at a best price 6/4.
Luke Shaw
It has been widely reported that Luke Shaw, the scorer of England’s goal in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, will be among the highest profile omissions from Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Nations League matches against Italy and Germany.
The 27-year-old left back has been left out of Erik ten Hag’s starting XI in each of the last four games after being hauled off at half time in the 4-0 hammering by Brentford. Despite being kept out of the Manchester United team by new signing Tyrell Malacia, Shaw was still 1/8 to make the World Cup squad at the end of August – a price that has now drifted out to 5/6.
Conor Gallagher
Conor Gallagher started England’s most recent game (4-0 defeat to Hungary at Molineux) but is now facing a battle to make the final squad after a stop-start to the season with Chelsea, which included a red card against Leicester in one of his three starts.
The 22-year-old was 2/1 to make the World Cup squad after that ill-fated evening in Wolverhampton and 6/4 as recently as the 20th of August but is now available at a best price of 3/1. Crucial to his hopes will be how he fits in under new manager Graham Potter at Stamford Bridge.
