Bookies have tipped Jordan Pickford to start England’s opening game at the 2022 World Cup, while Aaron Ramsdale edges Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope in the odds.
Everton goalkeeper Pickford is odds-on at 1/3 with Betfair to play between the sticks when England kick-off their World Cup campaign against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium on November 21.
Pickford played every game at the 2018 World Cup and 2020 European Championships as the Three Lions reached the semi-final and final respectively. The 28-year-old has missed six internationals since England’s defeat on penalties against Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
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Ramsdale started three of those games, including the last two internationals against Italy and Hungary respectively. Sam Johnstone also featured between the sticks home and away in victories over Andorra in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Pope’s most recent cap for England came in a 3-0 win over Ivory Coast in March, which was his first appearance for the Three Lions in just under a year. Nonetheless, his impressive start to life at Newcastle has boosted his chances of staking a claim for a starting place in Gareth Southgate’s side.
Betfair are offering odds of 5/2 for Ramsdale to start with Pope trailing the Arsenal goalkeeper at 5/1. Elsewhere, Kieran Trippier is behind Ben Chilwell (4/7), Reece James (5/6), Kyle Walker (10/11) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (11/10) with odds of 6/4.
Newcastle duo Dan Burn and Matt Targett also feature on the odds list at 25/1 and 50/1 respectively. Joe Willock is the only Newcastle midfielder on the list and is available at 50/1.
England captain Harry Kane is the clear favourite to start at 1/14, while Callum Wilson (33/1) is the 12th favourite at centre-forward and is behind Tammy Abraham (10/1), Ivan Toney (14/1) and Ollie Watkins (20/1).
Betfair: To start England's first World Cup match vs Iran - Goalkeepers
Jordan Pickford: 1/3
Aaron Ramsdale: 5/2
Nick Pope: 5/1
Dean Henderson: 9/1
Sam Johnstone: 20/1
Betfair: To start England's first World Cup match vs Iran - Defenders
John Stones: 1/25
Harry Maguire: 4/9
Ben Chilwell: 4/7
Reece James: 5/6
Kyle Walker: 10/11
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 11/10
Kieran Trippier: 6/4
Eric Dier: 5/2
Joe Gomez: 4/1
Luke Shaw: 4/1
Ben White: 9/2
Fikayo Tomori: 5/1
Marc Guehi: 11/2
Conor Coady: 13/2
Tyrone Mings: 16/1
Tyrick Mitchell: 20/1
James Justin: 20/1
Dan Burn: 25/1
Max Aarons: 33/1
Ben Godfrey: 50/1
Adam Webster: 50/1
Aaron Cresswell: 50/1
Tino Livramento: 50/1
Aaron Wan-Bissaka: 50/1
Tariq Lamptey: 50/1
Matt Targett: 50/1
Ezri Konsa: 50/1
Craig Dawson: 50/1
James Tarkowski: 50/1
Rob Holding: 66/1
Michael Keane: 66/1
Betfair: To start England's first World Cup match vs Iran - Midfielders
Declan Rice: 2/9
Mason Mount: 2/9
Kalvin Phillips: 8/15
Jude Bellingham: 6/4
Jordan Henderson: 13/2
James Ward-Prowse: 9/1
Conor Gallagher: 9/1
Emile Smith Rowe: 20/1
Harvey Elliott: 20/1
Curtis Jones: 25/1
Jesse Lingard: 33/1
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 33/1
Oliver Skipp: 33/1
James Maddison: 50/1
Dele Alli: 50/1
Joe Willock: 50/1
Dwight McNeil: 66/1
Harry Winks: 66/1
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: 66/1
Nathaniel Chalobah: 66/1
Betfair: To start England's first World Cup match vs Iran - Forwards
Harry Kane: 1/14
Raheem Sterling: 4/9
Phil Foden: 5/6
Bukayo Saka: 21/10
Jack Grealish: 9/4
Jarrod Bowen: 7/1
Marcus Rashford: 13/2 13
Jadon Sancho: 13/2
Tammy Abraham: 10/1
Ivan Toney: 14/1
Ollie Watkins: 20/1
Callum Wilson: 33/1
Callum Hudson-Odoi: 50/1
Dominic Calvert-Lewin: 50/1
Harvey Barnes: 50/1
Danny Ings: 50/1
Patrick Bamford: 66/1
Betfair: England most-likely XI in the first match (via shortest odds)
Jordan Pickford: 1/3
Reece James: 5/6
John Stones: 1/25
Harry Maguire: 4/9
Ben Chilwell: 4/7
Declan Rice: 2/9
Mason Mount: 2/9
Kalvin Phillips: 8/15
Harry Kane: 1/14
Raheem Sterling: 4/9
Phil Foden: 5/6
Betfair: World Cup 2022 winner
Brazil: 5/1
France: 11/2
England: 13/2
Argentina: 13/2
Spain: 15/2
Germany: 9/1
Belgium: 11/1
Portugal: 12/1
Netherlands: 12/1
Denmark: 30/1
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