Gareth Southgate had 270 minutes of World Cup qualifiers from which to cast a final glance over his England squad ahead of the summer’s European Championship.
The jury is out on how much can be gleaned from facing San Marino, Fifa’s lowest-ranked nation, or even a Robert Lewandowski-less Poland in April.
There is also the small matter of the rest of the domestic season which will decide the squad that travels across the continent. Uefa is expected to expand the number of players who can be selected from 23 to 26.
Southgate does not have to officially confirm his squad to Uefa until after the end of the Premier League season on 1 June.
However, the Football Association is expected to release the final list of names who have made the cut in the week commencing 24 May.
That leaves just three weeks between the public announcement and England’s first fixture, which takes place at Wembley on 13 June against Croatia in a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final.
England’s Euro 2020 fixtures and dates
- England vs Croatia – 13 June, 2pm
- England vs Scotland, 18 June, 8pm
- Czech Republic vs England, 22 June, 8pm
If England top Group D, they will play enter the knockout rounds in line with the following schedule:
- Round of 16: TBC, 29 June, 6pm
- Quarter-final: TBC, 3 July, 9pm
- Semi-final: TBC, 7 July, 9pm
- Final: TBC, 11 July, 9pm
While Southgate no doubt has a good idea of the bread and butter of his squad, there are still a number of selection dilemmas which could go down to the wire.
Does Alexander-Arnold make the cut?
The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold was the biggest talking point from the most recently round of internationals, with Jurgen Klopp speaking out to defend the Liverpool right-back.
The 22-year-old is competing with the likes of Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Reece James, and even Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Even if the Three Lions operate with one of them as a wing-back, allowing two to be selected in each starting XI, it is still a position in which there are more options than spaces on the bus.
Typically, Alexander-Arnold’s attacking contribution would see him stand head-and-shoulders above his competitors, but he has registered just two goals and four assists in the Premier League this season.
Who partners Maguire?
John Stones’ error against Poland will have planted a seed of doubt. The Manchester City centre-back has returned to his best form this season, but Conor Coady, Eric Dier, Tyrone Mings and Michael Keane are all in contention.
It is hardly a recipe for success – even the above mediocre England sides of the mid 2000s had a regular centre-back partnership upon which they could call – and Southgate does not yet appear to have decided on Harry Maguire’s partner.
That may be all the more reason to persevere with Stones in spite of his gaffe. It is doubtful whether Dier will be included in the squad at all, having been in and out of favour under Jose Mourinho at Tottenham, but he does offer versatility that is invaluable at a major tournament, filling in at centre-back, right-back and in central midfield.
Can Southgate leave out Lingard now?
The familiar battle between Mason Mount and Jack Grealish in attacking midfield now has another dimension as on current form, it would be almost unthinkable to leave Jesse Lingard at home.
The playmaker has eight league goals since joining West Ham on loan from Manchester United, spearheading David Moyes’ men’s European push.
A so-called “Golden Generation” means there will inevitably be some difficult calls for Southgate to make in May.
More on the Premier League
- ‘I want Burnley to be the UK’s favourite underdog’
- Young-Myles: The case for Spurs retaining Mourinho is diminishing by the week
- The making of Everton’s versatile defender whose rise surprised even his own manager
- Hall: Martial is running out of chances to prove he is part of the future at Man Utd
- The Czech ‘warriors’ who rose from obscurity to fire West Ham into European contention
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3mQ0F7o
Post a Comment