England’s Euro 2024 squad: Southgate’s big decisions
- Explore Gareth Southgate’s key decisions for England’s Euro 2024 squad, including player selections, tactical adjustments, and potential challenges as they prepare for the tournament.
England’s Euro 2024 squad under Gareth Southgate has been the subject of much discussion ever since they were eliminated by France in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup.
The England manager will shortly put an end to that argument when he names his preliminary Germany team on Tuesday starting at 14:00 BST.
Before the announcement, we examine some of the most important concerns and let you select your ideal starting lineup for the Three Lions’ match against Serbia.
- Is Rashford’s job in jeopardy? The broad forward puzzle
England’s depth is most often found in this region of the pitch.
It was once possible to pick Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, and Marcus Rashford as Southgate’s front three.
But with Rashford’s form and fitness fluctuating with Manchester United, the left flank of England’s assault remains wide open.
Rashford was the one who gave the England assault its explosive pace, and even when he didn’t play well, his spot was secure because he could close the gap on opponents.
It would be extremely difficult for Southgate to leave out Phil Foden, who frequently plays on the left, though, given he has enjoyed the best season of his career.
March saw Anthony Gordon make his England debut. Gordon has also had a fantastic season with Newcastle. He has several strong points, including his work ethic, discipline, and ability to outpace the final defender.
Another person who was absent from the previous international camp is Jack Grealish. Despite having another strong season with Manchester City, he has been in and out of the team and might have fallen down the English team’s hierarchy. Nonetheless, he has had a significant impact on his nation and was heavily involved in Euro 2020.
Cole Palmer needs to be taken into account as well. This season, he has scored 22 goals in the Premier League and become Chelsea’s best player. Additionally, he had a 100% penalty conversion rate, which may possibly play a role in Southgate’s preparations for the tournament’s knockout round.
Stick with the tried-and-true?—important midfield choices
Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham practically guarantee two of the three center midfield berths. Thus, Southgate needs to know who his choices are for the third spot.
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool is regarded as a midfielder in England squads, but injury has limited that experiment.
Due to his moves to Ajax and Saudi Arabia, Jordan Henderson’s spot in the team is now precarious, and Kalvin Phillips was left off the roster following his unsatisfactory loan to West Ham.
The demand for Manchester United teenager Kobbie Mainoo to start in the starting lineup has grown after he made his England debut in March, skipping the under-21 team and playing brilliantly in friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
Toney or Watkins? Who is waiting for Kane?
Although Harry Kane is undoubtedly England’s first-choice striker, his back ailment makes his backups stand out more.
Ollie Watkins has been a fantastic asset to Aston Villa this season, leading them to the Champions League with 13 assists and 19 goals that were not awarded penalties in the Premier League.
He has made 11 appearances for England, scoring three goals and starting four of them.
According to Southgate, the club must recognize that Watkins is a different player from Kane and play to his abilities.
Ivan Toney of Brentford is another option to cover for Kane. As the center of attention at the forefront of the attack, his style is more akin to that of Kane. In March, he appeared comfortable on the big stage after scoring his first goal for England from the penalty spot.
Toney hasn’t scored in 12 games for the club, though, since he returned from a ban for breaking FA betting regulations, when he scored four goals in five games.
A problem at left-back? The defensive problems facing Southgate
For Southgate, one of the troublesome positions has been the left-back region. Kieran Trippier of Newcastle has recently participated in the greatest England games there. He got the start in the pivotal game at Wembley against Italy to guarantee tournament qualification.
Luke Shaw of Manchester United would be the starting left-back if everyone was healthy, but he has encountered difficulty recuperating from his most recent injury.
In addition to his injury struggles, Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell did not perform well against Brazil or Belgium.
Rico Lewis of Manchester City won man of the match in his maiden appearance for England and was called up as an injury replacement during the most recent international break. Joe Gomez of Liverpool is another option after being out for four years due to recall.
Kyle Walker of City appears to be the clear choice to start at right back, while Harry Maguire and John Stones appear to be the preferred starters at center defense, with the latter likely to having recovered from an injury.
After an outstanding loan from Spurs, Eric Dier of Bayern Munich increased his prospects of being Southgate’s additional defensive option. Of course, there is still the Ben White problem. Despite playing a significant role in the Premier League’s most formidable defense, the Arsenal defender is still not available for selection.
Speaking to the BBC, Southgate suggested that having a roster of 26 players instead of only 23 may allow him to take a chance on individuals who aren’t entirely fit.
Prospects for the palace? Outside bets Southgate has typically stayed true to the core of his team, but a few players may have joined him at the last minute.
Crystal Palace, led by Adam Wharton and Eberechi Eze, won six of their final seven games of the campaign.
Eze debuted for England last year, but he has only received two caps due to injury.
Wharton has advanced to the England U21 team, and Premier League elite teams are already noticing his skill set thanks to his passing abilities.
It is anticipated that some former U21 players will be included in Southgate’s squad because he values the pipeline inside the England setup. Following their victory at the U21 European Championship in the summer, Levi Colwill and Gordon have made their senior debuts.
One of the players on that tour was Curtis Jones, a midfielder for Liverpool, who would be an intriguing choice at a position where England isn’t particularly well-stocked.
Reece James, the captain of Chelsea, appeared to be the future right-back for England, but injuries have limited him to just five Premier League starts this year.
Nonetheless, he is a player of proven quality, and if England advances far in the competition, his youth may work to their advantage.
Raheem Sterling, a forward for Chelsea, is another player that merits discussion. Everyone was reminded of his potential by his goal on the last day of play, but it would be unexpected to see the player, who was formerly a regular for England, in the starting lineup.
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