Qatar 2022: Wales v England – what the stats say
England have won each of their last six games against Wales, scoring 11 goals in that run and conceding only one, a Gareth Bale free-kick at EURO 2016. Wales’ last victory dates back to May 1984, courtesy of a Mark Hughes goal (1-0).
This is England’s first ever Fifa World Cup match against a fellow British side. The Three Lions are unbeaten in all three games against other British teams at the Uefa European Championship (W1 D1 v Scotland, W1 v Wales).
England have lost their third and final group stage game in just two of their 14 participations at the Fifa World Cup (W7 D5), doing so against Spain in 1950 and Belgium in 2018.
Wales (D2 L5) are on a run of seven games without a victory in all competitions for the first time since May 2003 – November 2003 (D2 L5), last enduring a longer winless streak in between March 2000 and September 2001 (12).
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England drew 0-0 with USA in their last World Cup match, taking their tally of goalless draws at the World Cup to 12, more than any other nation in World Cup history.
Wales have failed to win either of their two matches at the 2022 World Cup, drawing with the USA and losing to Iran. They’ve never previously gone through a major tournament without winning at least once; they won once at the 1958 World Cup, four games at EURO 2016 and one game at EURO 2020.
England have won just one of their last eight games in all competitions (D4 L3), their fewest across an eight-game span since a run between October 2001 and June 2002 (also one win).
Wales faced 21 shots in their 2-0 defeat against Iran, the third time in their last eight games they’ve faced 20+ shots, as many as in their previous 62 games combined. The last time they faced England at a major tournament, the Three Lions had exactly 20 shots in a 2-1 win at EURO 2016.
After scoring an England calendar year record 16 goals in 2021, Harry Kane has only scored three times in 10 games in 2022, all from the penalty spot. Kane hasn’t scored with any of his 20 non-penalty shots in 2022 so far.
Among the Wales players to complete 90 minutes in their two games against USA and Iran, Gareth Bale has had the fewest touches in both games (34 v USA, 36 v Iran), managing just two shots across the two matches, one of which was his penalty goal against the USA.