World Cup 2018: 5 World Cup teams which should get better by Qatar 2022

#2 England

The Three Lions

Before the World Cup, most expected the Three Lions would have a marginal impact on the World Cup as they came in with a young side, having no regular starter having more than 30 caps.

Instead, England embarked on a brilliant run that had their fans believing that 'the World Cup is coming home'. In the end it was not to be, as they were vanquished by a more experienced Croatia side in the semi-finals. Nonetheless, England has the potential to be even better in 2022.

By the time Qatar comes around, the likes of Harry Kane, Eric Dier, John Stones, Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli will be between 26 and 29 years old, right in the middle of their primes.

This core will be supported by several talented young players, as England’s prolonged investment in academies seems to have paid off.

After all, England are reigning World Champions in both the U-17 World Cup and the U-20 World Cup - having won both tournaments in 2017. Those players will be 22 and 25 respectively in 2022.

Young players like Phil Foden, Dominic Solanke, Ademola Lookman and Dominic Calvert-Lewin might also manage to make an impact in that tournament.

The below English lineup would indeed be a scary one, and would give England a good chance of bringing the World Cup home (in Gareth Southgate’s preferred 3-5-2 formation):

Potential lineup for England in 2022