England manager Gareth Southgate names his final squad for the last camp before he must decide who is selected to fly to Qatar for this winter’s World Cup.
His side face extremely tough tests in their last two games, a trip to Milan to face reigning European Champions Italy before returning home for the visit of Germany to Wembley.
The time for experimenting is over and Southgate is expected to name his strongest sides for the Nations League ties, with the England team in its lowest ebb since he became manager and led the nation to the semi-finals of the World Cup and the final of Euro 2020.
Following an unbeaten World Cup qualification group, the team’s last four games — albeit in a condensed period of four matches at the end of a long season impacted by Covid — resulted in two defeats to Hungary and draws with their upcoming opponents.
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Goalkeeper
Southgate’s trusted No 1 Jordan Pickford is out for around a month with a thigh injury, offering a wonderful opportunity for either Nick Pope or Aaron Ramsdale. The England manager has resolutely stuck by Pickford through dips in form but he has usually performed well for his country.
Pope, who moved to Newcastle from Burnley in the summer, and Ramsdale, now first-choice at high-flying Arsenal, have both been in great form but if either gets the nod they will have the chance to sow seeds of doubt in Southgate’s mind about whether to stick with Pickford in Qatar. Ramsdale is most likely to start against Italy.
Defence
The big issue in defence is Harry Maguire. Another key player for Southgate since practically the start, his form has dropped spectacularly for Manchester United and it has affected his recent England performances, too.
Does Southgate stick with a player who has in recent times been subjected to boos from his own supporters? Nobody is safe. While loyal, Southgate has been unafraid to make difficult decisions to drop players over the years, as Jesse Lingard, Dele Alli, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho know well.
Neither first-choice left-backs/wing-backs, Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw, have played much, presenting a problem often solved by Kieran Trippier. On the right, however, Reece James has continued his fine, unflappable form, whereas Trent Alexander-Arnold has not hit his usual heights for Liverpool this season.
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Midfield
The question is, who fits where? Phil Foden and Mason Mount are contenders for more advanced central midfield roles, but often play on the wing. Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips formed a brilliant partnership at the European Championships, but Phillips has played only 13 minutes — via two substitute appearances — since moving to Manchester City in the summer. Not ideal.
That might leave a gap for teenage star Jude Bellingham to prove to the England manager he is ready to start the most high-profile games at only 19 years old.
Attack
One goal in four games against tough opponents will be a massive cause for concern for Southgate. And even that solitary strike was a late penalty against Germany from Harry Kane, who is still as reliable as ever with five goals in eight appearances for Tottenham this season.
Raheem Sterling, another Southgate mainstay, will be sure to play alongside Kane, and has made a strong start since moving to Chelsea in the summer. But who joins them on the right of the front three?
Plenty of players are vying for it: the young, exuberant and slightly more defensively minded Bukayo Saka, the supremely talented Foden, Mount, whose game lacks nothing apart from goals.
Jack Grealish is another option, but appears to have slipped down Pep Guardiola’s pecking order at Manchester City. Then Southgate has to consider Rashford and Sancho, both dropped by the manager last time around but both hitting richer form at the right time for Manchester United.
Not to forget Tammy Abraham, performing well at Roma but who will have to make do with a role as Kane’s understudy. Many are calling for Brentford’s Ivan Toney, with five goals in six Premier League games, to be given a shot — but it has probably come too late for him.
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