By David Cosgrove
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of England vs Wales at the 2022 World Cup.
Both sides can still qualify from Group B but their chances of securing a place in the knockout stages are at opposing ends of the scale of likelihood.
After a win and a draw in their opening two games, The Three Lions will progress barring an absolute disaster. The equation for Gareth Southgate’s side is simple… avoid a four-goal defeat and they will be in the last 16.
It’s more complicated for Wales. Realistically, they need to win and hope the USA and Iran draw in the other 7pm kick-off – and that would be enough to sneak through.
(More optimistic Welsh fans may note a four-goal win for Rob Page’s side would render the other result moot and see them through regardless…)
Perhaps comfortable with his side’s chances of avoiding a thumping defeat, Southgate has opted to shuffle his pack.
Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Kyle Walker and Jordan Henderson will be drafted in, with Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Mason Mount and Kieran Trippier dropping out of the XI who started the forgettable goalless draw against the USA.
Welsh boss Page, meanwhile, has been urged by his players to let them off the leash in order to replicate the template the Americans used to stifle England so successfully on Friday night.
Wales are still searching for their first World Cup win since 1958 – and a first against their neighbours since 1984. In the run-up to the game, Southgate shared his respect for the Welsh squad led by talisman Gareth Bale.
He said: “They obviously have some world-class players who can produce moments of brilliance and have done for a long time with their clubs, with their country.
“They have a good spirit, they have a good organisation… and we know that they seem to have additional motivation to play against England from what they’re saying.”
We will have all the team news and build-up for you before kick-off and then live updates throughout the game – plus all the post-match fallout.
