James Maddison and Curtis Jones have departed the England camp after being told they will not be part of Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man squad for Euro 2024.
Southgate has to whittle down a group of 33 in time for Friday’s midnight deadline. i understands Jarell Quansah and James Trafford are also unlikely to make the cut.
A total of 27 players took part in a training session on Thursday on the eve of a friendly against Iceland that will sign off the Three Lions’ preparations for the tournament.
Lewis Dunk, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw all participated in individual training programmes due to minor injuries.
Among those players also sweating on their places will be Adam Wharton and Ivan Toney. Jarrod Bowen’s prospects of making the squad have been boosted by Maddison’s axe, while Eberechi Eze is thought to have a good chance of being included.
Monday’s 3-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina went about as smoothly as hoped but Southgate started a mostly second-string XI at St James’ Park. He is expected to play closer to a full-strength team against Iceland at Wembley on Friday.
How to watch England vs Iceland
England’s friendly against Iceland will kick off at 7.45pm BST on Friday 7 June at Wembley.
You can watch on Channel 4 or through their website or app for free, with coverage starting at 7pm.
England vs Iceland team news
Kyle Walker, Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo all joined the group on Tuesday after their delayed arrivals post-FA Cup final, with all three in line to feature against Iceland.
Meanwhile John Stones, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka all missed Monday’s Bosnia and Herzegovina game, but should all be fit to play on Friday.
Jude Bellingham is also yet to join up with the squad after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid last Saturday.
How England should line up against Iceland
Southgate has indicated that his first-choice players are likely to get a run-out against Iceland, confirming on Monday that Harry Kane will start.
Absentees and injuries allowed the England boss to assess some of his back-up options against Bosnia, but he will now want to see exactly what he has to work with in Germany.
Bellingham, Maguire and Shaw’s absences mean there are still chances for experimentation, but this is Southgate’s last chance to try something new.
In goal, Jordan Pickford will almost certainly continue as No 1, with Walker returning to the right-back spot he has dominated for so long.
Selecting a centre-back pairing is still difficult, but so long as Stones is fit, he should start alongside Marc Guehi.
Stones and Guehi have both looked rusty of late and game time, especially alongside each other, should build confidence.
On the left, Joe Gomez is a potential option but another outing for Kieran Trippier on his unfavoured side appears more likely.
Central midfield is the most contentious area in this side, namely who will start alongside Declan Rice.
There will undoubtedly be calls for Mainoo to pick up his third England cap and start, while some will argue the same for Adam Wharton.
But really this feels like a debate between the pair who started against Bosnia and Herzegovina – Conor Gallagher and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
England vs Iceland predicted lineup
- (4-3-2-1): Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Saka, Foden, Gordon, Kane
These are the two most likely to start against Serbia, the most experienced and accomplished options, albeit very different players.
Alexander-Arnold’s star turn on Monday makes him favourite to start alongside Rice in Germany and therefore he should also be starting at Wembley. Equally, a start for Mainoo or Wharton would certainly be fascinating, but probably not representative of what Southgate is likely to do this summer.
Further forward, Saka and Kane are both confirmed starters, with Foden likely to join them.
This leaves just one attacking spot – either on the left with Foden playing centrally, or through the middle with Foden pushed left.
This makes the two strongest candidates for this role Cole Palmer or Gordon. Palmer’s start on Monday may well count against him here, with Southgate likely to want to see Gordon provided he recovers from his injury in time.
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