When England flew to Germany for the 2006 World Cup, they took with them one of the most recognisable squads in the country’s history and the kind of collective expectation that tends to curdle into disappointment before a ball has even been kicked. With a new generation preparing to do it all again in North America, Betdaq will be tracking England’s odds throughout the tournament as fans and pundits alike assess whether the talent on the team sheet will finally translate into something worth remembering.
The 2006 Squad and How it Performed
Sven-Goran Eriksson named a 23-man squad for Germany that included David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, and Ashley Cole, a core of players who were at or near the peak of their powers at their respective clubs.
England started 2006 ranked ninth in the FIFA World Rankings, dropped to tenth just before the tournament began, and climbed to fifth in the rankings after it concluded.
England were placed in Group B alongside Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and Sweden, finishing second in the group with two wins and a draw before beating Ecuador 1-0 in the last 16 courtesy of a Beckham free kick.
The quarter-final against Portugal ended goalless after 120 minutes, with Rooney sent off on 62 minutes and England losing the subsequent penalty shootout three goals to one, with Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Jamie Carragher all failing to convert. It was Eriksson’s third consecutive quarter-final exit in a major tournament, and he left the role immediately after.
The 2026 Squad Heading Into North America
Thomas Tuchel’s squad is built around a similar volume of established Premier League and European club talent, with Harry Kane captaining the side, having become England’s all-time leading scorer with 71 international goals.
The defensive unit looks largely settled, with Nico O’Reilly, Ezri Konsa, and Marc Guehi all but certain to start, while Jordan Pickford remains first choice in goal. The midfield and attacking positions present Tuchel with a far more difficult task, with Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, and Bukayo Saka all competing for starting positions alongside Kane.
England qualified for the 2026 World Cup as the first European nation to do so, winning their qualification group without losing a game or conceding a single goal, and were drawn into Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, heading into the tournament ranked fourth in the FIFA World Rankings.
Where Things Stand 20 Years On
In the two decades between these two squads, England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley, a quarter-final at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and a second consecutive European Championship final at Euro 2024, losing all four of those knockout ties.
Tuchel replaced Gareth Southgate in October 2024 and signed a contract extension through to 2028 earlier this year, bringing a record that includes winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021.
England head into the 2026 tournament ranked among the top sides in most betting markets, and the squad will be based in Dallas for the group stage when the tournament kicks off on June 11.
