A Sport Overshadowed? England Could Taste World Cup Success Next Month
With most of the spotlight on the upcoming football World Cup and hopes fading for the England team following a string of below-par performances, there is one sport that could see sporting success for the nation.
Very much in the shadow of football, rugby union and even cricket from a team sport perspective, rugby league is one that often drops under the radar, though this month’s World Cup could spark a surprise for English die-hard sports fans.
Encouragingly, England also has a respectable chance of, if not winning the tournament, then reaching the final. For the last couple of decades, this has been dominated by both Australia and New Zealand, while England has always at least reached the semi-final.
England’s Potential Route To Victory
With a group consisting of Samoa (whom they have already recorded a tournament win), a stubborn yet beatable France side, plus newcomers Greece, there is an overwhelming likelihood of progressing to the next stage.
Home nations sides, Wales and Scotland, will put up respectable resistance if they meet in the latter rounds, while the same can also be said for Ireland, plus Pacific Island teams, Papua New Guinea and Tonga.
The team to beat, however, without a doubt, is either Australia or New Zealand, a big bonus for England is that the permutations mean they will only have to face either of these teams, most likely in the final if they get that far. While the Kangaroos are considerable the favourites, it would be folly to rule out the Kiwis, who are formidable opposition, though perhaps the most beatable for England.
Their victory over Samoa means that they have put themselves in the best possible position to win the group, though their route thereon in could still be a foreboding one in the likeliest of scenarios.
This would then see them (probably) face Papua New Guinea and then Tonga before lining up what would be a box office tournament climax at Old Trafford. The fact that England is the host nation means that it can inspire the country to get behind a national sporting team that, on their day, with luck on their side, can finally win a world cup trophy.
Impressive performances in the early games would also be a great advert for a sport that is often, perhaps unfairly, discarded by the majority of the sporting public, who often opt for football and even rugby union. They cannot be blamed, however, with rugby league not getting as much media coverage.
Tournament Win To Put English Rugby League On Map?
It would be a sensational achievement should this England side, who on paper is not the best in the tournament but have a lot of heart and young prospects, lift the trophy, especially against an Australian side littered with world-class talent from one to 17.
Even losing in the final would be no shame, especially if against either the Aussies or the Kiwis, as long as it is hard-fought. The aim for the sport’s governing body will be to make sure that the tournament gets as much national coverage as it possibly can, and the further England can progress while also playing well will be a great advert for the game.
A sport known for its brutal side, fast and frenetic, with few stoppages over 80 minutes, just a quarter of a game can be enough to have you hooked – it is easy to understand why.
Considering the negative press surrounding the England football team currently, ahead of World Cup that everyone knows about, the country’s rugby league stars could well set an example for the likes of Harry Kane and co for in little over a month’s time.
