Gareth Southgate admitted that his task of reducing his provisional 33-man squad down to just 26 was not aided by a string of impressive performances in England’s 3-0 win over Bosnia.
The likes of Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen and Adam Wharton staked their claim to be included in the squad that will begin England’s Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on June 16.
While Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer made decent cases to be included in the England bosses starting XI.
But well before their Gelsenkirchen date and even ahead of Southgate’s final squad selection, the Three Lions will take on Iceland at Wembley in what promises to be a final audition for several hopefuls.
Mail Sport’s Ian Ladyman, Craig Hope and Sami Mokbel share their view on who will be the sorry seven come Friday, before trying to guess how Southgate will line-up the troops on opening night.
Gareth Southgate has only one more 90 minutes of match action to decide on the 26 players he’ll take to the European Championships in Germany
The Three Lions face Iceland at Wembley on Friday when Southgate will confirm his squad
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IAN LADYMAN
Dunk hasn’t shown himself to be quite suited to international football, while Quansah and Branthwaite are only in the training squad as cover. Their time will come. Shaw is England’s best left back, but isn’t fit and I would rather have Gomez, who can cover for Trippier and play across the back four if required.
Further forward, Jones is a victim of Wharton’s emergence, while Maddison is a player I really like, but who has been overtaken by other dynamic midfielders who have had better seasons.
So, on to my team. Does it look a little safe? A little pragmatic? A little Southgate? Yes, but it’s meant to be. As dull as it sounds, game one in a tournament is about being solid, dependable and hard to beat. Lose game one and you are in trouble.
This is a team designed to do a job. It isn’t designed to win 4-0 because it doesn’t have to, but it’s still good enough to give England a great start.
So Gallagher’s legs alongside Rice give England security and physicality and offer some protection to a back four that — due to recent injuries — may well need some.
And Palmer for Saka? Yes, that’s right. Palmer needs to be in this team. Sorry, Bukayo.
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison came on for Cole Palmer for the final 30 mins of England’s win at St James’ Park
CRAIG HOPE
I am assuming Shaw and Maguire are fit and have gone with eight defenders and that includes Alexander-Arnold, who looked so much better and influential at right back against Bosnia. Dunk and Guehi do not convince me for England and I’d rather have Gomez and Konsa as cover at centre back, with Walker also an option there.
In midfield, I’d take Wharton as the Theo Walcott 2006 wildcard. He’s going to be a star. My big call in terms of the squad is to leave out Grealish. Bowen and Eze give you more energy and penetration.
Grealish won’t start and he’s not a game-changer any more, so what is the point of having him there? Watkins does well to survive because he doesn’t look the part in an England shirt, but three strikers is a luxury we can afford.
As for the team, I’d play Alexander-Arnold in the group when the onus is on breaking down opponents. I’d move Walker to centre back to play alongside Stones if Maguire isn’t ready. I’ve got to get Palmer in, at the expense of Saka.
Mainoo gets the nod over Gallagher — give him that opening game to see how he fares rather than trialling further down the line, that is my logic. And play Bellingham off Kane — they are England’s two best players, so let them strike up a relationship from the first game.
Jack Grealish is in danger of missing out on Southgate’s final squad after struggling for form and fitness last term with Manchester City
SAMI MOKBEL
Ivan Toney’s poor end to the season, coupled with Ollie Watkins’ excellent campaign, puts the Brentford striker’s place in the squad in jeopardy.
James Maddison hasn’t played well for six months and could be susceptible, and the fact Ezri Konsa played 90 minutes against Bosnia will leave Joe Gomez sweating on his place too.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney is hoping to get his chance to impress on Friday, having failed to make it off the bench against Bosnia
In my XI to start the tournament, Alexander-Arnold in midfield is the biggest call here. It’s a risk, of course, given his lack of experience in that area of the field. But, with all due respect to Serbia, it’s a game England should be winning.
Starting the Liverpool man a week on Sunday would give Southgate a safe platform to subject his Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment to its toughest test yet.
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