We broke down some of the data to ensure you find the best stats bets for England this winter. England have a wealth of attacking options. So it’s interesting to see who can contribute the most in Qatar.
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World Cup 2022 begins Sunday 20th November
England
England were second favourites for the tournament at the start of the year. A series of disappointing results in the UEFA Nations League have dampened spirits. England have performed well in the last two tournaments. Reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup. Then narrowly losing the final of the European Championships.
England have the quality to win in Qatar. But questions remain about Southgate’s ability to get them over the line. He has been criticised for his defensive approach. Many also feel the team has benefitted from favourable draws in recent tournaments. However, there is hope for England. They have top players all over the field. Southgate could well succumb to the pressure and opt to attack this winter.
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England begin their World Cup 2022 on Monday 21st November
Goal Contributions
Top 3 – Goal Contributions In Qualifying
1️
Harry Kane – Goals: 12 Assists: 2
2️
Harry Maguire – Goals: 4 Assists: 0
3️
Bukayo Saka – Goals: 3 Assists: 1
Harry Kane
Harry Kane is out on his own at the top of England’s goal contributions in qualifying. The Spurs man found the net 12 times and assisted his teammates 2 times. 4 of his goals came from the penalty spot (a 100% conversion rate). Kane is well on his way to becoming England’s all time top goalscorer. He is just 2 behind Wayne Rooney, and a good tournament here will surely see him take the crown.
Kane has had 11 goals and 1 assist in his 14 Premier League games so far this season. The striker is just as vital for his club as his country, and is a focal point for Spurs. He is also chasing the record for the most goals in Premier League history. He is currently on 192 goals, 68 behind the record holder Alan Shearer.
Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire is the biggest surprise on this list. There are other players with 4 goal contributions, but none with 4 goals. Maguire is an aerial threat from set pieces. This is where he has had the most joy for England. The Three Lions have been heavily criticised for their reliance on set pieces. But having an aerial threat such as Maguire is a useful weapon to have.
Maguire’s form for Manchester United has been less impressive. He has lost his place in the team this season with the introduction of Lisandro Martinez. The centre back seldom scores for Man United. He has failed to find the net in 4 starts and 4 appearances off the bench this season.
Bukayo Saka
Both Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling had 4 goal contributions in qualifying. I’ve selected Saka because he made 2 less appearances than the Chelsea man; scoring 1 more goal. Saka suffered the disappointment of missing a penalty in the European Championship final. However, he has still consistently delivered for England. He had 3 goals and an assist in qualifying, despite only featuring in 5 matches.
Saka and Arsenal have started the season in fine form. The Gunners look to be surprise title contenders, and Saka has been a major contributor. The attacker had 4 goals and 6 assists in 13 Premier League matches this season. It looks as though he may have played his way into a starting berth in Qatar.
Shooting
Southgate’s side are averaging 14.3 shots per game in their last 10 internationals. This is almost double their opponents; who are averaging 7.6 shots per game over that period.
Top 3 – Shots In Qualifying (Per 90 Minutes)
1️
Harry Kane – Qualifying: 5.69, Club Football This Season: 3.45
2️
Raheem Sterling – Qualifying: 2.26, Club Football This Season: 1.33
3️
Mason Mount – Qualifying: 2.2, Club Football This Season: 3.9
Harry Kane
It won’t surprise you to learn that Harry Kane led the shooting charts during qualifying. He had 37 shots including those from the penalty spot. An average of 5.69 shots per 90 minutes. Kane is England’s main goal threat. He has a selfish streak that all ruthless strikers require. This makes him the ideal candidate when backing England shots in Qatar.
Kane has developed the creative side of his game in recent years. Forming a deadly partnership with Heung-Min Son. The number 9 still gets a great deal of shots for Spurs. He is averaging 3.45 shots per 90 minutes across the Premier League and Champions League. This is less than he averaged throughout qualifying. But the quality of opposition no doubt has an impact.
Raheem Sterling
Jesse Lingard actually had the second most shots during qualifying, but he is unlikely to be a part of the squad. He was closely followed by Raheem Sterling, who had 14 shots during the campaign. Sterling averaged 2.26 shots for England in qualifying, featuring as part of a front 3.
Sterling made the switch to Chelsea from Man City in the summer. He has played under two different managers and in numerous different positions so far. He has been deployed in various areas from striker to wing back. Sterling is averaging 1.33 shots per game for the Blues this season.
Mason Mount
Finally, we have another Chelsea man. Mason Mount played in 8 matches during qualifying, having 13 shots in the process. He had an average of 2.2 shots per 90 minutes played. The midfielder has fallen out of favour in recent Nations League matches. He didn’t start any of England’s last 3 matches where they used a back 3. Southgate prefers to use Mount as a number 10. England could revert to a formation that accommodates this after the recent disappointing results.
Mount averages 2.32 shots per 90 minutes played for Chelsea this season. Like Sterling, he has featured in a number of different positions thanks to the change of managers at Stamford Bridge. Graham Potter is also known for being flexible with his formations. Southgate could make use of this new-found versatility in Qatar,
Shots on Target
England have been in poor form of late. They have also recently played Germany and Italy on 2 occasions in their last 10 matches. They are still averaging 5.9 shots on target per game over this period.
Top 3 – Shots On Target In Qualifying (Per 90 Minutes)
1️
Harry Kane – Qualifying: 3.54, Club Football This Season: 1.56
2️
Bukayo Saka – Qualifying: 1.18, Club Football This Season: 0.87
3️
Raheem Sterling – Qualifying: 0.83, Club Football This Season: 0.57
Harry Kane
Including his 4 penalty kicks. Kane averaged 3.54 shots on target per 90 minutes during qualifying. The man who top scored the last World Cup is clinical in front of goal. So it’s not surprising to see that 62% of his shots found the target in qualifying.
Kane is just as effective in terms of scoring goals for Spurs. But his shots on target do drop off. He is averaging 1.56 shots on target per 90 minutes for his club this season. The quality of the teams he faces with Tottenham are in line with the teams in the knockout stages of the World Cup. So be careful of the drop off should England make it deep into the tournament.
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka had 4 shots on target during qualifying. This is 1 fewer than Sterling. However, his average of 1.18 shots on target per 90 minutes was far superior. Saka is part of a stacked England attack and he will have to fight hard for his place once the tournament starts. If he plays in an advanced role, he is definitely one to look out for in terms of shots.
Saka has taken on the role of creator for Arteta’s side this season, but he is still finding the net himself. He is averaging 0.87 shots on target per 90 minutes in the Premier League and Europa League this season
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling averaged 0.83 shots on target per game in qualifying. He was in great form for his club and country early on in the campaign. Southgate will be hoping he rediscovers that from while the team are in Qatar.
As previously mentioned, Sterling had played in several positions for Chelsea this season. This has impacted his overall shots on target average. He is averaging 0.57 shots on target per 90 minutes for the London side. This jumps to 0.9 in the games he played as a striker.
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