Predicting England's route to winning the World Cup

England are aiming to end a 60-year wait to win the World Cup in North America this summer.

Fans of the Three Lions have been subject to severe heartbreak in recent major tournaments; crashing out against Croatia in the last four of the 2018 World Cup, failing to convert a 1-0 lead against Italy at 2020 Euros, losing out to France in the quarter-final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, all before a late defeat to Spain at the 2024 Euros ended Gareth Southgate's brilliant spell as manager.

But, with German tactician Thomas Tuchel at the helm, maybe, just maybe, England can get over the line?

After all, they still possess a squad littered with supreme quality. Harry Kane is arguably the best striker in the world, Declan Rice arrives off the back of a Premier League-winning season with Arsenal and Jude Bellingham offers that superstar edge.

World Cup qualifying couldn't have gone any better; eight wins from eight, conceding zero goals.

At 7/1, England are right amongst the fancied runners, but what does their route to glory look like?

Group Stage

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

On paper at least, there really shouldn't be any barrier to success lurking in the group.

• Group L Preivew: Teams, fixtures, key players & odds

Croatia will be tough; not least having to overcome any scars left from the devastating semi-final loss in Russia. However, both sides have faced off against each other on two occasions since, with England winning both.

There are no easy games at a World Cup -- especially one where the conditions are going to be brutal -- but prices of 1/3 and 2/7 to beat Ghana and Panama respectively should tell you everything you need to know regarding the mismatch in quality.

Three games in and Harry Kane should have helped himself to plenty of goals as he looks to add a second World Cup Golden Boot to his trophy cabinet.

Round of 32 - DR Congo

So, working off the proviso that Tuchel's side have safely topped Group L, he will his lead men into a round of 32 clash against the third-place team from groups E/H/I/J/K.

Obviously, there are a wide range of outcomes here but if we assume that Germany, Spain, France, Argentina and Portugal all finish either first or second in their groups, then England will be favourites to beat any remaining opposition.

Likely opponents here are Ecuador, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Norway, Algeria, Austria, Colombia or DR Congo.

Round of 16 - Mexico

Should England come through their round of 32 test, then the winner of Group A potentially awaits; a position that Mexico are 8/11 to take.

The possibility of facing Mexico, in Mexico City, is a daunting proposition for any nation.

Searing temperatures and a hostile Azteca atmosphere will not be for the faint of heart, which is maybe England are 9/4 -- shortest of any of their Stage of Elimination prices -- to bid farewell to their World Cup dreams.

Still, on paper at least, Tuchel's men should be winning this.

England fans, this 01:00 BST kick-off, albeit late, is absolutely unmissable.

Quarter-final - Brazil

Victory in the backyard of a host nation will provide the squad with so much confidence...

Confidence that they will need should Brazil stand in between them and a place in the last four of the World Cup.

This game will take place in the extreme heat of Miami, with UK viewers having to wait until 22:00 BST for kick-off. Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout, Vinicius Junior & Raphinha on the wings, the test that Brazil will pose promises to be the toughest of the run so far.

However, victory in Miami will be fairly cathartic viewing for any England fan who remembers Ronaldinho's lob that condemned the Three Lions to a World Cup exit at this very point in 2002.

Semi-final - Portugal

Speaking of cathartic exercises, England might be presented with a chance to exact revenge on Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, two decades on from their controversial penalty-shootout elimination at the 2006 World Cup.

For so long the cheeky wink that Ronaldo provided to the cameras following his role in Wayne Rooney's sending off has been used as an emblem of England's fractious relationship with major tournament football, however, victory here will change that all.

Of course, Portugal could lose to Argentina in the prior round, meaning that England will face the reigning champions in Kansas City for a place in the final.

Final - Spain

July 19th, New Jersey - England have made just their second-ever World Cup final.

Should the tournament pan out as expected (this is almost never the case) then France or Spain will stand in the way of 26 Englishmen and footballing immortality.

At present both are locked in a battle for favouritism at 9/2, so either outcome would see England be sent off as underdogs. But, as the saying goes: it's not about the size of the dog in the fight, it's about the size of the fight in the dog.

It's that simple; England are World Cup winners.

Odds displayed in the above article were correct at time of publishing and are subject to change or withdrawal at any time.