England clash with local rivals Wales at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday in their final game of Group B, with passage through to the knockout stages of the World Cup almost secured.

The Three Lions sit top of Group B after collecting four points from their opening two matches, with Gareth Southgate's men needing to avoid defeat by a four-goal margin against the Dragons in order to confirm their last-16 spot in Qatar.

Although a top-two position seems wrapped up for England, the 1-1 draw with USA that put them in control of the group was accompanied by a disappointing performance, one that Southgate and his players will want to quickly put behind them by producing an impressive display against the Welsh on Tuesday.

With Netherlands set to top Group A should they beat a pointless Qatar in their final group match, England will be keen on earning a victory against Wales that should give them a favourable last-16 tie against either Senegal or Ecuador on Sunday evening.

Here, Sports Mole look at some reasons for England to be confident of picking up a positive result against Wales and topping Group B.

Points to prove

With qualification from the group almost secured, Southgate is set to rotate his side slightly in order to give some players an opportunity to impress and stake their claims for places in the XI for the upcoming knockout matches.

Although the majority of national sides would struggle if they departed from their usual starting lineups, England have an embarrassment of riches in attacking areas, with Jack Grealish and Phil Foden possessing the ability to run proceedings against Wales if they are brought into the team.

Manchester City's Foden is yet to play for the Three Lions at this World Cup - to the annoyance of most England supporters - but could be given a start here in place of Mason Mount or alternatively instead of Bukayo Saka in a wider role.

James Maddison could also be included from the start for his first appearance in a major tournament after taking part in full training in the build-up to the clash with Page's side, and even Callum Wilson could get a starting brief if Southgate opts to rest Harry Kane.

Whatever the combination of players the England boss deploys, those in offensive positions especially will have a point to prove and will not go easy on the Wales defence even though the Three Lions do not need to win to book their spot in the knockout stages.

Poor Welsh form

Despite the old adage that form goes out of the window when derby day arrives, England will take confidence from the fact Wales are currently enduring their longest winless run in nearly two decades.

A 2-0 loss against Iran on Friday made it seven games without a win in all competitions for the Dragons, a period which includes a Nations League campaign that finished with relegation and a tricky start to this World Cup.

Wales have only managed to win twice in this calendar year, with both victories coming in World Cup qualification matches - first against Austria in March and then a historic 1-0 win over Ukraine at the Cardiff City Stadium in June to book their place in Qatar.

The likes of Marcus Rashford and Foden will be excited by Wales' defensive record during 2022, with Page's side keeping a clean sheet in just one of their 11 matches this year.

Record against Wales

To say that England have had the better of their Welsh counterparts in recent times is an understatement, with the Three Lions winning the previous six encounters ahead of Tuesday, conceding just once in the process.

That one goal was a special one however - England fans would love to forget when Gareth Bale's swerving free-kick squirmed past Joe Hart at Euro 2016 which until a late comeback had Roy Hodgson's side at risk of bowing out at the group stages.

Those of a Welsh persuasion have to go back to May 1984 for the last time their side got the better of England, with Mark Hughes scoring the only goal in front of 14,000 fans at Wrexham's Racecourse Stadium in the British Home Championship.

England have lost 14 times in 68 matches against Wales, but interestingly for Group B's permutations the Three Lions have never lost by more than three goals against their local rivals, with only a defeat by a four-goal margin at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium enough to knock Southgate's side out of the World Cup.

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