Wales vs. England prediction, team news and preview – Fifa World Cup group B

Wales captain Gareth Bale and England skipper Harry Kane

(Image credit: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

last updated 29 November 2022

It all comes down to this for Wales’s hopes at the Fifa World Cup – the “big one” against England. If Robert Page’s team are to progress to the round of 16, then they must start by beating their British rivals at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday night.

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Wales have “overcome the odds” before in major tournaments, said Dafydd Pritchard of BBC Sport Wales. “Most notably” by beating Belgium in their “momentous” Euro 2016 quarter-final. They have “nothing to lose” against England, but Page must “learn lessons” from the first two matches, be “ready to change tactically” and finally give Wales fans “a performance to match their pride” at seeing their country finally play at a World Cup.

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Following their draw against the USA and loss against Iran, Wales boss Page admits that the team are “getting a bit of criticism” right now, and “rightly so” because results haven’t gone their way. But he said the squad are “big enough to take it” and it’s not a problem. “We’ll put our big-boy pants on and get on with it,” he added. “We’ll have a team that’s ready for England.”

Even though a draw will see them qualify, England head coach Southgate said the aim is to “win football matches”, but he has to “balance freshness with stability” and that’s “always the decision you’re making” when picking the team. “We have a chance to win the group with a positive result,” he added. On the local derby feel to the game, Southgate believes it’s “a great sporting rivalry”, but “no more than that”. It’s going to be a “fantastic atmosphere” and “we are really looking forward to the game”. England “have to match the spirit” of Wales, but “I’d be disappointed if we didn’t do that [anyway]”.

Around four million football supporters will “pile into pubs, bars and restaurants” to down 12m pints during tonight’s Wales vs. England match, said the Daily Star. Despite the cost-of-living crisis, £270m is predicted to be spent, with up to £43m splashed in pubs and restaurants. Another 12.9m fans will watch from home, forking out £141m on booze and food, and spending £50m upgrading TVs and other electrics ahead of the group B finale. Meanwhile, £27m has been spent on sportswear and £7.6m on other items including souvenirs.

Defender Kyle Walker is in line to start his first England game at this World Cup, said Matt Law in The Telegraph. But it “remains to be seen” whether it will be in “a back three or a back four”. Jordan Henderson could also come into the midfield, “potentially at the expense of Jude Bellingham”. Defender Ben White missed training yesterday because of illness, but James Maddison is back with the group.

Wales have no choice but to “go all out in order to win this game”, said Henry Burt on 90min.com. In all honesty, this should be “a straightforward win for the Three Lions”. The gaps in the Welsh midfield have been “incredibly noticeable” in their first two games, and as they “throw men forward in search of goals” there should be “plenty of space for England to exploit”. Prediction: Wales 0 England 2.

Facing their “most important game in recent memory” against a British rival, a “galvanised” Wales side “should not be counted out on the mentality side of things”, said Ben Knapton on SportsMole. But we are still expecting Southgate’s team to “find their shooting boots and confirm a last-16 place”, inflicting “World Cup heartbreak on their neighbours in the process”. Prediction: Wales 0 England 1.

When you consider both sides’ results against Iran in this tournament, “it shouldn’t be too difficult to understand why we’re backing England to record a comprehensive victory here”, said Nathan Evans on Sporting News. After England’s draw against the USA, a “more conservative set-up” won’t be needed against Wales, plus the “additional option to hit their opposition on the counter-attack” will likely see them “get on the scoresheet multiple times”. Prediction: Wales 0 England 3.

England will qualify with a win or draw. Depending on goal difference, the Three Lions could also make it through in defeat.
Wales must win to have any chance of progressing .
Iran are guaranteed to progress if they beat USA.
A draw will also take the Iranians through provided Wales do not beat England (in which case goal difference will come into play).
For USA, it’s simple: win and they are through. Lose or draw and they will be heading home.

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Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.