Why THIS team should start at the EUROS
Yes the display against Brazil was underwhelming but when all these players are fit and firing, England will be THE team to fear this summer
GOALKEEPER
JORDAN PICKFORD has been a mainstay of Gareth Southgate’s reign. From Russia to Qatar, Pickford’s influence is key. He’s a bundle of nervous energy in the dressing room, but is working on being more of a calming authority on the pitch.
While the identity of England’s No 1 isn’t an issue, the role of understudy is a problem. At the start of the season, Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale was almost certainly going as No2. There were many who believed Ramsdale was threatening to overtake Pickford. But having lost his place at Arsenal to David Raya, Ramsdale is clinging to his place in the squad.
Sam Johnstone will fancy his chances of being the No 2. He’s been a regular for Crystal Palace this season and that sharpness should give him the edge. The imminent return to fitness of Nick Pope at Newcastle could put Ramsdale under more pressure, while Jack Butland, now at Rangers, is back on the radar.
VERDICT: PICKFORD BACK-UP: JOHNSTONE & RAMSDALE RIGHT BACK
KYLE WALKER is one of only a handful of genuinely world-class players in Southgate’s squad. The Manchester City defender, who limped off against Brazil, will start England’s first Euros game against Serbia on June 16. His recovery pace offers the obvious benefit of defending higher up the pitch. Walker has also developed into one of the leaders of Southgate’s dressing room and his influence behind the scenes shouldn’t be underestimated.
Who steps in for Walker is less certain. The prospect of Ben White returning to the fold is virtually non-existent. Add to that Reece James’ race against time to recover from hamstring surgery and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s emergence as a central midfielder, and the role of Walker’s understudy isn’t obvious. Kieran Trippier, another who is injured, is likely to provide cover. The versatility of Joe Gomez also provides Southgate with options.
VERDICT: WALKER BACK-UP: TRIPPIER LEFT BACK
ALL being well, Luke Shaw will start. But, right now, there is significant doubt whether the Manchester United man will be fit enough to even be in the squad. Shaw has a hamstring injury and isn’t expected to return until the final weeks of the season. There is hope he can play in United’s last handful of fixtures, but even so it will take time for him to get up to speed. If he does, Southgate will take a chance on the 28-year-old given his importance.
Behind Shaw, Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell’s international career has been blighted by injury and he looked rusty against Brazil. Beyond them, Manchester City youngster Rico Lewis, who made his senior debut against North Macedonia in November, has an outside chance of making the final 23. Levi Colwill, a centre back by trade, could also fill in at left back. Colwill was omitted from the latest squad due to injury while Trippier has often played at left back for England.
VERDICT: SHAW BACK-UP: CHILWELL CENTRE BACK
IT WOULD be one of the biggest shocks of Southgate’s reign if John Stones and Harry Maguire weren’t partnered together for the tournament. They’ve been the foundation of England’s emergence as a genuine force in world football.
Maguire’s inactivity led to serious questions over the Manchester United star’s claims for a place in the squad, let alone the starting XI. But Maguire is the biggest beneficiary of Southgate’s loyalty to players. The fact he is now back in United’s team means he should partner the outstanding Stones, who remains the undisputed first choice.
Marc Guehi will go to the Euros as third choice, although the Crystal Palace defender is another who missed this squad through injury. Southgate is understood to have reassured the 23-year-old of his place in the squad. Elsewhere, there is an intriguing battle emerging between Colwill and Jarrad Branthwaite for a spot as a left-sided alternative to Maguire. Lewis Dunk and Ezri Konsa are also options. Eric Dier and Fikayo Tomori are outside bets, while Gomez is a natural centre back.
VERDICT: STONES AND MAGUIRE BACK-UPS: GUEHI AND GOMEZ No 6
THIS is where it starts to get problematic. Earlier this month, when asked which area of the field was hardest to balance, Southgate replied: ‘Midfield. It’s the area where we don’t have an organiser with the ball, like Jorginho, (Sergio) Busquets, (Toni) Kroos or (Luka) Modric.
‘In my lifetime we’ve rarely produced that player in England, so we’ve got different profiles of a No 6. So is it a 6 and 8, or a double 6 and a 10?’
We know Declan Rice will head to Germany as England’s lead 6 — but the identity of his partner is unclear. In an ideal world, Kalvin Phillips will rediscover his best form at West Ham and slot in alongside Rice. But there are no guarantees, given his alarming loss of form and fitness. Conor Gallagher filled the role as the second No 6 against Brazil but playing in that position isn’t his natural game. Jordan Henderson can play the role, but has plummeted down the pecking order following his Liverpool exit.
The intriguing option is Alexander-Arnold, who generally plays at right back domestically. It was Southgate’s intention to play the Liverpool vice-captain in midfield against Brazil and Belgium but injury robbed him of that chance. ‘It’s such a specialist position,’ said Southgate on Saturday night. ‘There’s a huge difference between playing at full back and popping into midfield and starting in there. We’ve missed two opportunities with September and now this one — that is really frustrating because there’s so much that’s unknown at the minute.
‘I’ve liked the idea for a long time but we’re going to be trialling it when we haven’t seen it in a really high-level game.’
Kobbie Mainoo has emerged as a wildcard option. But the Manchester United rookie, who came off the bench for his debut against Brazil, has only made 20 senior appearances.
VERDICT: RICE AND BELLINGHAM (ADVANCED) BACK-UPS: ALEXANDERARNOLD/ PHILLIPS No 8 OR No 10
ONE solution for Southgate in his No6 conundrum would be to play Jude Bellingham next to Rice in a box-to-box capacity, a move which could allow Phil Foden to play centrally as a No 10. That would appease sections of the fanbase who say Southgate is too negative. But there was evidence in the Brazil match that against top opposition, England are more robust with two natural No 6s.
Bellingham was deployed as a No 10 against Brazil and was clearly instructed not to get involved too much with defending. The attacking impact the 20-year-old has made at Real Madrid, where Carlo Ancelotti has used him similarly to the way Southgate did on Saturday, has appeal as it involves playing English football’s pin-up boy higher up the field.
In contrast, moving Bellingham closer towards his own goal in a No6/8 role would ensure greater involvement in the game for the team’s most exciting player. It would be bold to have a midfield trio of Rice, Bellingham and Phil Foden but whether Southgate is convinced remains to be seen.
Away from that trio, James Maddison, Gallagher and Alexander-Arnold present options. But this is all about getting the best out of Bellingham. If Phillips can get back to his best, it would solve a lot of problems.
VERDICT: FODEN AS A 10 BACK-UP: MADDISON WIDE ATTACK
BUKAYO SAKA will head to Germany as England’s premier winger. His attacking threat is clear, but it is his ability to carry out Southgate’s defensive plan that makes him invaluable.
If Foden isn’t used centrally, there is every chance he will start on the opposite flank to Saka. But this is an area of the pitch Southgate doesn’t need to worry about in terms of alternatives — he’s got Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen and Cole Palmer. If Raheem Sterling can finish the season strongly, he could emerge as a late contender, too.
Southgate was impressed by Gordon against Brazil, and a further positive contribution against Belgium tomorrow could leave others vulnerable. Grealish has
struggled for form and fitness while Rashford has had his issues. Palmer offers different qualities — vision and an ability to execute killer passes could see him emerge as an alternative at No10. But Southgate is blessed with wide talent.
VERDICT: SAKA (WIDE RIGHT) AND RASHFORD (WIDE LEFT) BACK-UPS: PALMER/GORDON STRIKER
NO PRIZES for guessing the answer here. Harry Kane — England’s greatest striker of all time. If England are to win the Euros, the Bayern Munich star will be central. Goals, assists and
his ability to win free-kicks are crucial to England’s success. But the options behind Kane are less clear. Ollie Watkins fluffed his lines against Brazil. Ivan Toney will have his chance against Belgium. It is likely they are battling it out for one spot in the squad, particularly as Rashford can play as a central attacker, while Southgate has even name-checked Bellingham as a potential makeshift No9. But we all know the drill here: pray nothing serious happens to Kane between now and the summer.