AI predicts England route in the World Cup

It's closer than you think!

On Tuesday, the shirt numbers of Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions were leaked, with the elusive 1-11 named.

The likes of previously major starters Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire and Phil Foden have all been omitted from the final squad, with debutants such as Djed Spence travelling to North America instead.

So with the new squad, how far should England get? AI finds out, as per research from FanDuel.

England are drawn in Group L, facing Croatia, before Ghana and Panama.

In a 2018 semifinal rematch, The Three Lions open against their former foes Croatia, who sunk the nation courtesy of goals from Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic to come from behind, the last time the nations faced each other at the WC.

Going into this clash though, England are heavy favourites. AI anticipates Tuchel's boys not only to win their opener, but the full three fixtures.

Group L is anticipated to finish as follows:

• 1) England 9
• 2) Croatia 4
• 3) Ghana 2
• 4) Panama 1

So then, England go into the RO32, where they are anticipated to play Third Place in Group E/H/I/J/K.

The potential oppositions from this are understood to be most likely: Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Algeria or DR Congo.

England are then anticipated to go through and face one of the host nations: Mexico.

Playing the Round of 16 at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Tuchel's boys are seen to overcome the hosts, before facing a tough prospect in the quarter-final.

Then, The Three Lions would meet their match, as per FanDuel.

In a repeat of the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal, it's anticipated that the Qatar quarterfinalists would lose again - to France - again.

It's anticipated that France would defeat England 2-1, before going on to win the whole tournament.

Les Blues were terrifically unlucky in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, only losing a penalties to Leo Messi's victorious Argentina.