With England’s World Cup qualifying campaign off to the perfect start, we now switch focus to this summer’s Euros and look and who could be in or out of the Three Lions squad.
Only 23 places are available in the final squad for this summer’s Euros so tough decision will lie ahead in several areas, especially as this is where a focus on position versatility will come into the thoughts of Southgate when trimming his squad down.
I therefore have taken a look who deserve to be in or out of the squad based on those who have been called up by England across October, November and March’s international windows.
Goalkeepers
In: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley), Dean Henderson (Manchester United)
Out: Sam Johnstone (West Bromwich Albion)
I think the goalkeeping selection is Southgate’s easiest aspect to sort out because I just can’t see past a recall for Everton’s Jordan Pickford alongside Nick Pope and Dean Henderson who will surely retain their spots.
West Brom’s Sam Johnstone therefore is certain to miss out on the major tournament given that he wasn’t set for a call-up for March’s fixtures, until Pickford was ruled out through injury.
Defence
In: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Out: Michael Keane (Everton), Conor Coady (Wolves), Reece James (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Maybe: John Stones (Manchester City)
Much like with the goalkeeping selection, I think Southgate knows his core defensive selection but I expect some snubs due to only 23 players allowed to be named in the Euros squad.
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold will definitely return given his ability so I can see another snub for Everton’s Michael Keane, with James and Coady joining him on the sidelines due to squad limits.
As for Stones, he made a huge error against Poland which will throw doubt over his inclusion given his habit for letting mistakes turn into slumps, yet he has been consistent for Manchester City this season so I think he will get the nod here if can avoid a drop in form.
The reason why I can see James and Coady dropping out is mainly due to their inexperience, alongside the fact that Southgate will need versatile central defenders who can fill in at fullbacks like Mings, Walker and Stones or in midfield in Dier’s case if required.
I however do hope that Coady is first-choice reserve in defence because he has shown impressive leadership qualities at times when on the pitch for England, which could be something that England could need against top opposition in the knockout stages.
Saka meanwhile has impressed at times for Arsenal this season but despite his versatility, he is inexperienced with just four senior international appearances plus it is hard to see room for him in the squad unless Kieran Trippier is dropped and Saka takes his place in the squad.
Midfield
In: Jesse Lingard (West Ham, loan from Manchester United), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Out: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur)
Maybe: James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Much like defence, Southgate probably is going to be versatility in terms of midfield so that he can tweak formations if needed, depending on opposition which will be tougher the further they go in the tournament.
On that note, Foden and Mount should both receive call-ups this summer given their versatile abilities across different midfield positions, whereas Phillips, Rice and Henderson are solid central midfield options of which the others can drop into if necessary.
Lingard meanwhile definitely would deserve a call-up if he can continue his revival in form at West Ham and on his recent England appearance, otherwise he could well be one of two players with question marks dangling over them if his form slips.
Ward-Prowse meanwhile feels like a definite maybe because of the 23-man squad restriction so if Southgate opts for five strikers, I sadly can see the Southampton midfielder only getting onto the reserve list otherwise he should be in if only four strikers are selected.
Bellingham therefore will likely be amongst the reserves due to his inexperience as I can’t see Winks even earning a recall after being snubbed last month, unless he delivers an incredible run of performances to earn himself a place in the squad.
There will be arguments for naming Leicester’s James Maddison in the squad but given his lack of appearances under Southgate, I just can’t see him getting a spot in the team except on reserves list at best.
Forward
In: Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Out: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Danny Ings (Southampton), Harvey Barnes (Leicester)
Maybe: Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
If Southgate names Ward-Prowse in midfield, I think the four strikers really select themselves given the quality of Calvert-Lewin, Kane, Rashford and Sterling.
Watkins really shouldn’t be in contention given that he was only handed an opportunity in March due to various injures, whereas Abraham, Ings and Sancho could miss out purely by virtue of the squad restrictions.
Should Ward-Prowse be snubbed in midfield, my bet would be on Sancho to get the call-up given his ability on the wing given that Sterling is the only definite winger assured of a place and would add extra attacking options tactically for Southgate.
As for Barnes, he has been great all season for Leicester in terms of creativity but I just can’t see him getting handed a call-up, especially after his recent knee injury unless he returns and delivers a series of stunning performance to justify a Euros spot.
Leave a Reply