England World Cup Betting Preview: Latest odds, squad and tournament history

Gareth Southgate's side eased through qualification once more but the bookmakers are sceptical about the Three Lions' prospects at Russia 2018

Drawn alongside Belgium, Panama and Tunisia in Group G, the English public will expect progress to the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup to be a given.

However, the Three Lions have a habit of underwhelming when it comes to major international tournaments.

Once again England's qualification was relatively stress free. Unbeaten over the course of 10 matches, they topped Group F with 26 points (won eight, drawn two) but can Gareth Southgate's side turn those somewhat encouraging performances into tournament form?

That would certainly require the bucking of a trend that has become all too familiar when it comes to disappointing exploits following comfortable qualifying campaigns.

Harry Kane top scored with five goals during qualifying and the Tottenham striker - who narrowly missed out on a third straight Premier League top goalscorer award - will be tasked with leading the line in Russia.

The Three Lions have yet to replicate their success on home soil in 1966 and recent editions of the World Cup have been unwhelming affairs.

An embarassing group stage exit in Brazil 2014 under Roy Hodgson saw the side pick up just a single point courtesy of a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica and was the third straight tournament that England failed to make the quarter finals.