Post by John Okiyi Kalu (@JOK)

England Might Wobble and Fumble Their Way to the 2026 World Cup Final

England’s squad at this World Cup is packed with individually gifted players capable of matching any team in the tournament. What appears to be missing, however, is a coherent team philosophy and a well-defined playing pattern that welds those talents into a functional, cohesive unit.

So far, England have largely survived on moments of individual brilliance or sheer determination from one player who ultimately finds the decisive goal. It is difficult to recall many genuinely well-worked team goals from England at this tournament. Yet they are still likely to overcome a Norway side that suffers from many of the same shortcomings and could even defeat an Argentina team that, while effective, has not looked truly exceptional.

The current England side under Thomas Tuchel reminds me of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles team coached by Fanny Amun at the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship, hosted in Nigeria. Coach Amun was famously quoted as saying his team would continue to “wobble and fumble until we get to the final.” The Flying Eagles progressed through the tournament in unconvincing fashion before eventually finishing with the bronze medal.

England may well go one step further than that Flying Eagles side. They have enough individual quality to reach the final—even if they have yet to convince as a truly exceptional team.

Football tournaments are not always won by the best teams. Sometimes they are won by the last talented team still standing—and England may yet prove to be exactly that.

-JOK
11/07/2026

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