England supporters are bracing themselves for World Cup heartbreak, with more than eight in ten fans doubting the team can go all the way this summer. A new survey commissioned by BOYLE Sports reveals that the majority of England fans believe the Three Lions have little hope of matching their performance in the European Championships two years ago, when they reached the final only to lose to Spain.
Bleak Predictions for the Three Lions
The study, which polled 1,965 football fans from England, Scotland, and Ireland, found that 30% of England supporters expect the team to bow out at the quarter-final stage. Just 27% think they will make it to the final, and only 16% are confident they can lift the trophy. For 36% of England fans, nothing short of victory would be deemed a success, yet one in twenty would be satisfied simply with progressing beyond the group stages.
France is the top choice among England fans to take home the trophy, followed by Spain and then Brazil. England fans believe the two most recent European Championships in 2020 and 2024 were the Three Lions' best opportunities to land a major title, with the strength of other teams (38%) and player form (29%) the biggest concerns this summer.
Loyalty Tested
Brian O'Keeffe, spokesperson for BOYLE Sports, said: "Fans' loyalty runs deep, but this World Cup we're seeing just how much that loyalty is being tested by a more practical view of the tournament. Most supporters will always want their country to go all the way, but when it comes to making a prediction or placing a bet many appear to be thinking with their heads rather than their hearts."
A quarter of supporters admit they would get behind an opposing team if they believed their own side stood a strong chance of losing. Yet only 37% of those would own up to it in front of their friends.
Backup Teams
Should England be eliminated from the World Cup, the largest proportion (16%) of fans would switch their allegiance to home rivals Scotland. Similarly, 21% of Scotland supporters claimed they would back the Three Lions if their own side was knocked out first. When it comes to choosing which backup team to support, 26% of England fans would simply opt for the one with the players they like the most, while 21% would go for the underdog with a good story.
Brian O'Keeffe added: "For England fans, years of near misses seem to have created a more realistic mood this time around, with plenty questioning whether this squad has enough to go one step further. That tension between hope and expectation is what makes major tournaments so compelling - fans want to believe, but they also know how quickly the picture can change."
Top 10 Teams England Fans Would Support If England Are Knocked Out
- Scotland
- Brazil
- Spain
- France
- Portugal
- Argentina
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Australia
- Canada
