Football England boss set to name his squad for the Qatar World Cup
ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate will reveal his World Cup squad today having taken a final decision on the form and fitness of key players and those that made a late charge to be on the plane to Qatar.
All eyes will be on the national team’s social media channels at 2pm as the 26-strong selection heading to the Gulf is announced before the Three Lions boss explains his choices to the media at St George’s Park.
England’s Group B opener will be only 11 days away when Southgate reveals his squad for a tournament that has been wedged into the middle of the season.
The rapid turnaround before the side jets off to Doha next Tuesday means Southgate is unlikely to spring any major surprises, but some in-form players are pushing to return to the fold.
Marcus Rashford has not kicked a ball for England since missing his spot-kick in last year’s European Championship final penalty shootout defeat to Italy, with injury and poor form seeing him fall out of Southgate’s plans last term. But the 25-year-old has been in resurgent form since Erik ten Hag’s arrival at Manchester United and is a contender to be named today.
Southgate had looked set to call him up for the final camp before the World Cup in September until picking up an injury, and the national team boss admitted his familiarity with the set-up could boost his chances. James Maddison’s fine form at Leicester has led to clamour for the attacking midfielder to be selected for the first time since his solitary cap in 2019, while striker Callum Wilson has caught the eye at Newcastle.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney was called up by England for the first time in September but did not make his debut, while a hamstring issue may well extinguish Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s faint hopes of a recall.
FIFA’s deadline for final confirmation of the squad is Monday and Southgate will be sweating watching the final round of Premier League fixtures this weekend.
The England boss has already seen two Chelsea full-backs ruled out of the tournament through injury, with left-back Ben Chilwell’s hamstring issue compounding Reece James’ unfortunate injury.
James hurt his knee against AC Milan on October 11 and the club predicted an eight-week absence. However, James confirmed yesterday he would not be in the squad flying to the Gulf.
There appears to be more positive news about fellow right-back Kyle Walker, who has always been confident of winning his race to be fit after undergoing a groin operation early last month.
Kalvin Phillips - England’s 202021 player of the year - has been laid low even longer than his Manchester City team-mate. Out since shoulder surgery in September, Pep Guardiola confirmed the Euro 2020 star would be among the substitutes for last night’s Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea.
Phillips’ lack of game-time is a concern heading into the World
Cup, just as it is for England regular Harry Maguire. The Manchester United captain started the first two matches of Ten Hag’s reign, but poor form and a subsequent enforced injury absence means he has only featured six further times at club level.
Southgate’s centre-back selection will be interesting as he prepares to use a three-man defence at the World Cup. Ben White’s form for table-topping Arsenal has seen him make a strong claim to be selected.
England kick off their World Cup campaign against Iran on November 21, before facing the United States on November 25 and Wales in their final Group B match on November 29.
» Wales boss Robert Page admitted he was never going to leave out Joe Allen of Wales’ World Cup squad, even though doubts persist over the Swansea midfielder’s fitness. Allen, who played at both Euro 2016 and Euro 2020, remains a key player for Wales at the age of 32 but has not played since damaging his hamstring on September 17.
He was among a 26-man World Cup squad - Wales’ first for 64 years - announced last night.
“We’re giving him every opportunity to be fit,” Wales boss Page said. “There was no way I was ever going to not name him in the 26.”
Gareth Bale, who also has fitnees issues, captains the squad.
Former Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer is the beneficiary of Rhys Norrington-Davies’ absence because of a serious hamstring injury.
The Luton defender returns to the squad after a 14-month absence, his last cap coming in a friendly with Finland in September 2021.