Jordan PickfordIs missing because of injury Harry MaguireAt Manchester UnitedAnd Trent Alexander-ArnoldIt has had a slow start for the season. Liverpool (and has never really been a flavour of the month for Gareth Southgate…)
EnglandAre about to play their last two matches before the World Cup kicks off in November — Nations League fixtures away to Italy on Friday, September 23 and at home against GermanyThree days later.
Southgate is expected to name his squad for these matches on Thursday. So we asked five writers to do the exact same.
Here are their 26-man squads, with a few surprising picks…
Goalkeepers
Jack Pitt-Brooke: Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson
This should be the easiest part of the squad to choose for QatarThe injury to Jordan Pickford has made the situation slightly more complicated. He will be England’s No 1 at the World Cup, his third major tournament. Now he feels the wobble that he experienced in his Everton form has passed.He has never made any serious mistakes in an England shirt.
Pickford being unavailable for the next two matches, Southgate will be able to explore his options. Aaron Ramsdale will likely be next in line. Like Pickford, he can distribute the ball well and fit in with Southgate’s style. Nick Pope is another reliable understudy who is doing well at Newcastle United. Dean Henderson, who missed two years playing football for Manchester United, is making up the difference at Nottingham Forest on loan and should be allowed to play.
Dominic Fifield, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale and Dean Henderson
This would have been significantly more complicated had Pickford not succumbed to a thigh injury and been ruled out of September’s Nations League fixtures.
That should present Henderson with a route back into the setup — he would argue his form at Forest might have merited a call-up regardless. He was a Manchester United loanee who won his first cap in 2020, but his career stagnated on the bench during the 2021-22 season. He has played twice as many games this season as last year, and has been a great player.
Henderson saving a penalty on Forest (Photo by Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images).
It is unlikely that he will be able to replace Pope or Ramsdale in order to get game time. Ramsdale has helped him immensely at Newcastle since his summer move. ArsenalTo the top of the league.
Carl Anka: Dean Henderson, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
You can also view this timeline. Henderson might have been England and Manchester United’s No 1However, he has had to prove himself after a rough 12 months. Ramsdale (who is more comfortable with his feet) as well as Pope (who is calmer) continue on.
Pickford’s injury has offered a small window of opportunity for Henderson to re-enter the scene for Euro 2024. That is, if his luck comes good and he can move ahead one of Pope or Ramsdale in the queue — bPickford is still Pickford’s No 1. It is a shame the Everton keeper’s “No Problem! No Problem!” before saving Jorginho’s penalty has been lost in the Euro 2020 defeat. Pickford’s “Get the rave on!” stylings have been tempered given his work with a sports psychologist and he’s much stronger for it.
Liam Tharme: Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson
Pickford remains my number one, but Pickford’s injury has opened what felt like an extremely secure spot in England’s side. His 45 caps are more than triple the other three contenders combined (Pope – eight, Ramsdale – three, Henderson – one).
Pickford’s absence means Ramsdale and Pope slide up the pecking order, though have pretty contrasting styles. Ramsdale feels more suited to ball-playing, particularly with short passes, but Pope’s sweeper-keeping and notable cross-claiming skills are massively valuable.
Injuries often give silver linings — Henderson should deservedly earn a place for these Nations League games, but beyond being an outstanding shot-stopper (including at penalties) is not quite up to the level of the other goalkeepers as a distributor or box defender.
Seb Stafford-Bloor: Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson
This has been a very contentious debate. Pickford’s poor form has been the basis of much of the criticism. Perhaps such is life for goalkeepers. However, Pickford’s position as England’s starter is still bolstered by Pope and Ramsdale and not threatened by them. Pickford will miss this get-together, but there’s no doubt that he’ll be anything other than No 1 once the World Cup starts — and that means that Henderson remains on the outside looking in, even if he is picked this time.
That’s partly a legacy of his lost year at Manchester United, but also, you suspect, because he doesn’t really offer an obvious alternative to any of the incumbents. His footwork isn’t good enough to rival Pickford. He doesn’t offer the reassuring sense of security of Pope. And he isn’t vastly superior to Ramsdale, either, who now has the week-to-week experience of playing for a big club over him too.
Defenders
Pitt-Brooke: Harry Maguire John Stones, Kyle Walker, Eric Dier, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Kieran Trippier, Ben Chilwell, Ryan Sessegnon, Trent Alexander-Arnold
England’s weakness is the centre of their defence.
Southgate is loyal to Maguire, Stones and Walker. Walker could also be an option. It’s the defense from World Cup 2018 or Euro 2020. Maguire’s struggles at Manchester United are well known but Southgate will not drop him any time soon.
After a long absence, I would love to see Dier back as a backup and Guehi given another chance (although Fikayo Tomori wouldn’t be unlucky to go).
(Photo: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Alexander-Arnold is the most popular full-back or wing-back, so despite his recent struggles, I would continue to support him. Ryan Sessegnon would be my first senior call-up. He is a wingback. TottenhamHe is more confident and fit than he’s been in years. He could be a key player if England play a back-three in Qatar.
Fifield: John Stones, Marc Guehi, Eric Dier, Fikayo Tomori, Ben White, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Kieran Trippier, Luke Shaw
Southgate’s 26-man squad for Euro 2020 included 10 defenders, with five recognisable centre-backs plus the versatile Walker. Let’s stick to that number on the basis that his team will most likely play three at the back in September and, subsequently, Qatar.
Maguire and Shaw are no longer the first-choice Manchester United players. Can they really expect to be included in this team? Shaw’s case is marginally strengthened by the fact that he and Ben Chilwell are left-footers who offer balance. Maguire isn’t the only centre-half impressing, but there are other center-halves who are doing better than Maguire. Guehi is a popular choice. Crystal Palace. Tomori has been a part of all of AC Milan’s six Serie AMatches this season. White may be operating at full-back but will be fit, sharp and confident given Arsenal’s form, while Dier, absent for two years, has been revitalised under Antonio Conte.
Alexander-Arnold, as strange as it still feels, may only gain selection because injury is threatening Walker’s involvement.
Anka: John Stones, Marc Guehi, Eric Dier, Fikayo Tomori, Ben White, Kyle Walker, Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Kieran Trippier, Ryan Sessegnon
A quick disclaimer before I don my tin-hat: While Southgate is loyal and trustworthy to the players who have done right for him, he does not hesitate to transfer on trusted lieutenants once their time is up.
If England are to play 3-4-3/3-5-2 “Sufferball” once more, you need 10 defenders, with Walker and Tripper as your skeleton keys. Walker is carrying a knock, but I’ll have him again. Maguire is in poor health and is unlikely to be his old self by December. Conor CoadyThis is a valuable dressing-room presence, but we need jugadores.
Tomori, who should be going to Euro 2020 and Guehi, who is going from strength to strength at Palace, are in. The jury is out on Shaw’s fitness/form, so in comes Sessegnon. White and Dier have good passing skills and are capable of defending meat and potatoes.
Tharme: Harry Maguire, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Ben White, Kyle Walker, Ben Chilwell, Ryan Sessegnon, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kieran Trippier
Maguire is an important central defender for England. Maguire’s failures at Manchester United were more systemic and tactical than any individual flaws. He is comfortable in the back two or three positions and can move across the pitch with ease.
Southgate will probably play a back three but will want the personnel to switch to a four — all the central defenders I have picked are comfortable in either format.
Shaw is my left field pick for left-wing-back, and I choose Sessegnon instead. His form during the embryonic season at Tottenham was good. I believe his experience (at) is a plus. Fulham) as a winger, and at times wing-back, suits England’s system more. I remain unbothered if Shaw is selected instead — although injury may rule him out anyway…
Stafford-Bloor: Kieran Trippier, Reece James, Kyle Walker, Eric Dier, Ben White, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell, Ryan Sessegnon
Southgate is loyal — this we know — but there must be limits to that faith. If Maguire or Shaw fail to recover their form at Manchester United, there must be a contingency plan and it must prove to work. Even in that short cameo against Arsenal, Maguire’s self-belief looks to have been obliterated by months of criticism and headlines; a World Cup is no place for that kind of fragility, meaning that gambling on a renaissance during the tournament would be a mighty risk.
Keep that in mind and Dier should be welcomed from the international frigid. Sessegnon should similarly be rewarded for his achievements. Shaw’s situation also necessitates the need for a further look at Crystal Palace’s Mitchell, who would be the best purely defensive, left-footed option on that side of the pitch.
Midfielders
Pitt-Brooke: Declan RiceJude Bellingham Phil Foden, James Ward-Prowse, Mason Mount
England’s midfield situation is not clear. Rice will be playing at the World Cup alongside at least one other player. Jordan Henderson and Kalvin PhillipsThe season has not started off to the best of starts. Southgate should give Bellingham another chance at starting.
Dortmund is looking good for Bellingham (Photo by Markus Gilliar/Getty Images).
Mount and Foden are the other creative No 8s. However, they are still not ready to play that role for England. Southgate has only two games before the World Cup so he must find a way for creativity to be balanced with defensive solidity. The way to do that is to get either Mount or Foden — or even both — into the middle of the pitch. England has no other options for these roles. Maybe it’s worth another try.
Fifield: Declan Rice (Mason Mount), Jude Bellingham, James Ward Prowse Eberechi Eze
Phillips’ possible absence from the England team at major tournaments is the greatest problem. Phillips was such a key player last time England competed in a major tournament. However, his competitive activity has been very limited this term. Phillips’ impact has been diminished by niggling injuries since his summer transfer. Manchester City.
Perhaps Rice and Bellingham should be in the middle of the field. Henderson is now unable to play, so Eze is the wildcard. He has been playing as No 8 at Crystal Palace (although he could also play higher up the pitch) and provides something slightly different from this England setup. Eze is calm in possession, slippery movement, and good vision when passing. Eze would have been in Euro 2020’s preliminary squad if he had not sustained an Achilles injury. His involvement might hinge on a tweak in formation, but Eze’s form merits Southgate taking a closer look.
Anka: Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount Harvey ElliottPhil Foden Jack Grealish
Ask questions later and take Elliott to the World Cup. A midfield three of Rice-Bellingham-Elliott is the sort of thing Southgate would never play, and might not work in the more frugal environments of World Cup knockout football, but I want to see it. Only once.
Phillips’ fitness status is up in the air but for this pair of games, I’m going to bring him anyway just to have a look at what he’s learnt in the last two months under Pep Guardiola. Before the friendly, Henderson donated a shirt for Bellingham. Let’s get on with the succession plan and play the 19-year-old throughout the tournament.
Tharme: Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, James Ward Prowse, Mason Mount, Phil Foden Bukayo Saka
Delighted to find space for Ward-Prowse with Phillips’ injury issues. You need to have a set-piece specialist in a 26-player squad. These are important given the number of goals England have scored from these situations at major tournaments.
Complexity is not about picking the squad, but rather about choosing the starting XI of midfielders. As fun and direct as Grealish is to watch, he is less suited to England’s patient build-and-retain approach than Foden or Mount.
Bellingham is a fascinating player. He is technically excellent, an outstanding mover and more complete (in and out of possession) than any other midfield option — but specialists are good and essential, too. It’s all about balance.
Stafford-Bloor: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, James Ward-Prowse
The midfield seems to be picking its own at the moment. Phillips is out of contention because Henderson is a bit stiff and injured. Rice, Bellingham and Foden are all possible picks. Grealish can be considered a midfielder if Grealish is not, and Ward-Prowse is a credible supplementary option. In black and white, it’s quite worrying.
Gallagher scores 26 points, but Gallagher’s international break is crucial. He was excellent at Palace last season, certainly, but he’s had a difficult time back at Chelsea and — as yet — there’s no great evidence that he can be more than Another Player at international level. Can he alter the midfield’s shape? Is he able to change the direction of a tournament’s course? There is no way to know for certain, so he must build his credibility over the next few months.
Forward
Pitt-Brooke: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Ivan Toney, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze
Some picks are obvious while others are less obvious. It is important to reintegrate Sancho (Manchester United’s top scorer) and Rashford (England’s second highest scorer). Southgate misses Rashford as a goal scorer, but if Rashford is back in top form that will only be a good thing.
Toney would be a good choice. England needs an alternative to Kane, who is injured. Toney, as a No 9, can score goals and be a leader. Toney is better than any of their other options in this role. Maybe it’s quite late to bring someone into international football but Toney looks like he has the personality to adjust.
(Photo: Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Eze would be a great addition to the team, considering how well he plays at Palace.
Fifield: Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Jadon Sancho
Normally, Kane’s backup would be Dominic Calvert-LewinOder Tammy Abraham, but the former is injured and the latter — who has scored twice in Roma’s first six Serie A fixtures — has had a minor shoulder complaint. Toney might be rewarded for his excellent form at Brentford by having this opportunity at this level.
The restoration of Rashford’s confidence makes him another central option. Grealish’s season to date has been frustrated by injury, but he has returned to the bench of late and should now gain greater involvement, while Sancho is finding some rhythm under Erik ten Hag.
Anka: Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling Tammy Abraham, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho
Rashford and Sancho were the biggest beneficiaries of the expansion to 26 person squads. They were marginalized at the end 2021-22, but have a wider margin for error now. Sancho seems to have been more of a left-side option, which creates a slight tactical headache. Rashford may be an alternative option for tired legs. Jarrod Bowen is a fine player when attacking in transitions, but England aren’t quite equipped to play that way.
For this squad, Saka, Sterling, Kane are essentials. Abraham Now, Toney is the Crown Prince of Rome. Toney doesn’t make the squad due to poor timing, rather than lack of skill.
I advise Toney to “take a holiday” to Dubai with his football boots in December. Just in case.
Tharme: Raheem and Harry Kane Tammy Abraham, Marcus Rashford, Ivan Toney, Jarrod Bowen, Jack Grealish
Calvert-Lewin has no injury issues. Patrick BamfordThis made it easier to choose.
Abraham seems less central to Southgate’s plans than he should be given his all-round ability and quality scoring record.
Southgate has been smartly cycling through fringe forward options, and Toney merits a cap. He offers a different No 9 profile, boasting an immense vertical jump — which makes sense when you discover he did high jump at school — but also the technical quality to play through balls. Toney’s penalty record is quite frankly ridiculous too.
Bowen’s preference over Sancho comes down to the fact that there are many options. Grealish is an inverted winger who is better than Sancho. I don’t see the need to use the same type player twice. His start to the season has been poor but Bowen’s ball-striking and dribbling off both feet are elite. He is a versatile player and can play in any position on the forward line. Premier LeaguePlayers can shoot accurately under pressure.
Stafford-Bloor, Harry Kane Tammy Abraham, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho
Toney was a great choice. The problem — whichever way you look at it — is that that just wouldn’t make any tactical sense. Kane and Abraham The requirement for a multirole forward is not for an additional No 9/9.5, but rather for a multirole forward. That favors the resurgent Rashford.
It’s a time problem as much as anything else. Toney would have an opportunity to play with the attacking strategy he could use if this was an ordinary World Cup Cycle with England still eight month away from the final tournament. The World Cup is rapidly growing in the window. He’s a victim of bad timing, nothing more, and with Calvert-Lewin and Callum WilsonBoth have been injured.
Our writers’ full squads
Pitt-Brooke: Ramsdale, Pope, Henderson, Maguire, Stones, Walker, Dier, Guehi, James, Trippier, Chilwell, Sessegnon, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Bellingham, Foden, Ward-Prowse, Mount, Kane, Sterling, Rashford, Sancho, Toney, Grealish, Saka, Eze
Fifield: Pope, Ramsdale, Henderson, Stones, Guehi, Dier, Tomori, White, Alexander-Arnold, James, Chilwell, Trippier, Shaw, Rice, Mount, Bellingham, Ward-Prowse, Eze, Foden, Sterling, Kane, Saka, Toney, Rashford, Grealish, Sancho
Anka: Henderson, Pope, Ramsdale, Stones, Guehi, Dier, Tomori, White, Walker, James, Chilwell, Trippier, Sessegnon, Phillips, Rice, Bellingham, Mount, Elliott, Foden, Grealish, Kane, Sterling, Abraham, Rashford. Saka. Sancho
Tharme: Ramsdale, Pope, Henderson, Maguire, Stones, Tomori, White, Walker, Chilwell, Sessegnon, Alexander-Arnold, James, Trippier, Rice, Bellingham, Ward-Prowse, Mount, Foden, Saka, Sterling, Kane, Abraham, Rashford, Toney, Bowen, Grealish
Stafford-Bloor: Pope, Ramsdale, Henderson, Trippier, James, Walker, Dier, White, Stones, Tomori, Guehi, Mitchell, Sessegnon, Rice, Bellingham, Mount, Gallagher, Foden, Grealish, Ward-Prowse, Kane, Abraham, Rashford Sterling Saka Sancho
(Photos by Getty Images/Design, Eamonn Dlton)
