Southgate, who selected a 55-man preliminary squad at the end of October, must whittle it down to a final group of 26 for the tournament, which runs from November 20 to December 18. Time is running out for players to impress with Southgate announcing his starting line-up on Thursday at 2pm. But who will he choose? Here, the Sky Sports editors have their say on who should be in the team…
Nick Wright: Toney loses as Wilson gets the nod
Image: Ivan Toney battles Callum Wilson to be Harry Kane’s back-up striker
Nick Wright’s England 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope. Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Ben White, Eric Dier, Luke Shaw, Kyle Walker, Conor Coady. Means: Declan Rice, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Kalvin Phillips, James Maddison, Conor Gallagher. Front: Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Callum Wilson.
Midfield is the area that worries me. There’s a quality unit there in Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and Jude Bellingham, but will Phillips be ready? Depth is sorely lacking. I’ve included Conor Gallagher because he could play a few different roles if needed. James Maddison is another creative choice. Marcus Rashford should go, in my opinion. He will likely feature on the flanks but could also replace Harry Kane alongside the fit Callum Wilson. Wilson gets the nod ahead of the struggling Tammy Abraham, the out-of-form Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brentford’s Ivan Toney. I was tempted to pick Toney, mostly because of his penalty taking ability, with potential shots in mind, but I couldn’t squeeze in another striker. The fact that he is yet to make an international appearance also makes him a bit too green for this tournament.
Peter Smith: Don’t rush back three injured and prepare for penalties
Image: Kalvin Phillips says he is “very optimistic” about being included in the World Cup squad
Peter Smith’s England 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope. Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Ben White, Eric Dier, Luke Shaw, Ryan Sessegnon, Conor Coady. Means: Declan Rice, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, James Maddison. Front: Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Callum Wilson, Ivan Toney.
England have fallen into the trap of trying to bring key players back from injury for big tournaments too many times in the past. He was never really paid, so alternatives have to be found for Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips. Trent Alexander-Arnold is a beneficiary, while Conor Gallagher can add energy to the midfield if first-choice Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice need a breather. The back three will be John Stones, Eric Dier and Harry Maguire, but Ben White and Conor Coady provide decent support. With Ben Chilwell out at left-back/left cover for Luke Shaw and Ryan Sessegnon he is on the right track at Tottenham, while James Maddison’s numbers – and the luxury of a bigger squad of 26 – make him indispensable. choose. Up top, the in-form Callum Wilson should go as Harry Kane’s back-up, Marcus Rashford’s recent displays suggest he could cause problems down the left and Ivan Toney’s mastery of the penalty spot will come in handy when that inevitable process comes .
Joe Shread: Maguire and Grealish dropped, Sessegnon and Maddison make the cut
Image: Harry Maguire has started both of England’s last two Nations League games
Joe Shread’s England 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope. Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Ryan Sessegnon, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Eric Dier, Ben White, Fikayo Tomori. Means: Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Conor Gallagher, James Ward-Prowse, Mason Mount, James Maddison. Front: Harry Kane, Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Boukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford.
Let’s Party Like It’s 2018 – I’m getting the gang back together from the last World Cup. After missing my squad in April, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker – assuming he’s fit – are back. The increased all-round qualities offered by the experienced duo see them usurp Trent Alexander-Arnold. I may have written seven months ago that leaving him out would be “nonsense”, but the Liverpool defender’s defensive shortcomings have been hard to ignore this season. However, with Reece James’ knee injury ruling him out of the tournament, Alexander-Arnold will have to travel given the lack of alternatives. Eric Dier also gets a recall, although again that has more to do with a lack of centre-back options. Out goes Harry Maguire, a member of the 2018 squad The Manchester United man has been out for well over a year and his confused performance in England’s draw with Germany in September only confirmed the suspicion that he shouldn’t be in the squad , let alone in the starting lineup. I’m also giving a surprise recall to one of the lesser-known members of England’s 2018 vintage. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has overcome his injury woes and his strength, quality in possession and ability to play centrally or out wide will made him a very useful choice. He is joined in the squad by Conor Gallagher and James Ward-Prowse, who come in for Kalvin Phillips, a star for England at Euro 2020 but has lacked game time and fitness since joining Manchester City. The final member of the 2018 squad to return to the fold is Marcus Rashford. I wrote in April that there should be a place for the Man Utd striker if he regains form – and he has done just that. He replaces Jadon Sancho, who is yet to impress at Old Trafford or with England. There is still time for two final changes. Ryan Sessegnon gets a maiden call-up amid the full-back crisis that has seen Ben Chilwell as the latest victim, while James Maddison, who hasn’t even featured in the England team since winning his solitary title three years ago years, is gaining a long-awaited recall. His added versatility, dead-ball quality and performance in front of goal earn him the nod ahead of Jack Grealish, who the hype has yet to live up to.
Ben Grounds: Bowen, Loftus-Cheek offer something different
Image: Jarrod Bowen has four England caps
Ben Grounds’ 26-man England squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale. Defenders: Luke Shaw, Ryan Sessegnon, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, Eric Dier, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Conor Coady, Ben White. Means: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson. Front: Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Callum Wilson, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Jarrod Bowen.
Jordan Henderson comes in if Calvin Phillips can’t prove his fitness in time, while Trent Alexander-Arnold replaces Rhys James after the Chelsea defender fell in the recovery battle. Kyle Walker is still not guaranteed to be in contention in goal, but if England reach the latter stages against the best nations with terrific pace in attack, his situation is worth risking given the extra places in the squad. Ben White’s versatility means he is included in the worst-case scenario that Walker suffers a setback and Southgate opts to deploy three at the back. White’s defensive awareness as a right centre-back would then compliment Kieran Trippier’s attacking thrust. Alexander-Arnold is a better player to have as an option than another mixed midfielder in James Ward-Prowse, whose form has dipped at the wrong time, while I don’t see when Southgate would turn to James Maddison given the other attacking options at his disposal. The same cannot be said for Jarrod Bowen or Ruben Loftus-Cheek, arguably the biggest surprises in this squad, but the West Ham forward is a more natural fit in a front three than a Maddison, while Loftus-Cheek has showed that he can play in many positions. and he is someone Southgate has watched closely for several seasons. Injury-prone Callum Wilson is a risk, but the Newcastle striker has timed his run to perfection. Having a fit player to call on if Harry Kane needs support is certainly something Ivan Toney could provide, but it’s Wilson’s understanding of Trippier – a potential route to goal – that plays in his favor .
Dan Sansom: Elliott in but no place for Sancho
Image: Harvey Elliott has never played for England’s senior team
Dan Sansom’s England 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Nick Pope. Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, Ben White, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Eric Dier, Luke Shaw, Kieran Trippier. Means: Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips, Jordan Henderson, Jude Bellingham, Harvey Elliott, Mason Mount, James Maddison. Front: Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Callum Wilson.
With Rhys James out for the tournament, Trent Alexander-Arnold is included as a creative option at right-back. That position can also be filled by the more defensively disciplined Ben White…
