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England Euro 2020 squad – how is it shaping up?
Gareth Southgate is running out of games to decide his squad for Euro 2020, which oddly retains that title despite taking place a year after it was originally scheduled, due to COVID-19. With only a handful of internations left to play, here is our current England squad prediction for Euro 2020.
Euro 2020 – England squad prediction
On the plane
England’s goalkeeping department seems set in stone despite the continued talk about Jordan Pickford’s status as the number one amid a string of high-profile errors for Everton. Nick Pope will be his back up with Dean Henderson almost certain to keep his place in the Euro 2020 England squad.
Right-back is a strong area for England with lots of options for Southgate to pick from. Kieran Trippier’s flexibility in filling in at left-back recently will earn him a berth, Kyle Walker appears to have been forgiven for his red card against Iceland and Trent Alexander-Arnold is a dead cert.
The other side of the defence is more of a problem. Ben Chilwell is the man in possession with a handful of players hoping to act as backup to the Chelsea left-back. Harry Maguire’s loss of form is another headache for Southgate but the Manchester United captain seems certain to retain his place with Joe Gomez another guaranteed selection. Eric Dier will be in the squad, though the picture behind that trio is less clear with a few months to go before the tournament.
Declan Rice is one of Southgate’s favourites, so he and Jordan Henderson are certainties to make the final squad. There are places up for grabs in midfield, but Mason Mount will take one.
Captain Harry Kane, United striker Marcus Rashford, Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling and Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho are a strong front four. There might be one or two more spots for an attacker behind them, but plenty of contenders will be left disappointed.
In the departure lounge
That is 17 places already accounted for, though form and fitness will be a factor too. Defence looks to be England’s weakest area and Southgate has tried a few options at the back. Michael Keane has started the season well for Everton and is in contention to travel, while the leadership and communication of Wolves skipper Conor Coady could see him included as well, especially if England play with a back three. Being left-footed is a big tick in the box for Tyrone Mings.
Southgate does not seem to trust the Aston Villa captain but public clamour for his inclusion will see Jack Grealish right in the mix as England will need his creativity in the final third. Kalvin Phillips has looked good and his ability on the ball should force his way into the squad.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin will be hard to ignore if he maintains his scoring streak, with Danny Ings a strong alternative as cover for Kane. Or could Jamie Vardy come out of retirement?
Waiting for a late call
Indiscretions in Iceland have left young talents Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood on the sidelines for now, but if they can regain Southgate’s trust they have a good chance of being included in the final 23.
Versatility will be a must for the last few picks in the squad, which could be good news for the Arsenal duo of Bukayo Saka and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who can both fill multiple roles. Harvey Barnes offers something a bit different to the other wide options available but Harry Winks will need a good season with Tottenham if he is to get into the confirmed selection.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has performed well for England in the past but may find his chances limited at Liverpool this season. Set piece expertise keeps James Ward-Prowse in the mix too and he seems to have moved up the list of midfielders, in front of Leicester’s James Maddison.
Tammy Abraham’s time might yet come for the Three Lions but the Chelsea striker will surely struggle for regular games at Stamford Bridge after the Blues’ summer spending spree.
Aaron Ramsdale and Alex McCarthy are part of a small club of English goalkeepers who are starting regularly in the Premier League, but their hopes of selection are remote barring injury.
Booking their holidays
Starting against Denmark in the Nations League gave Reece James a chance to impress but England’s strength in depth at right-back will probably see the Chelsea defender miss out along with Aaron Wan-Bissaka. England using right-backs on the left has to be bad news for Danny Rose and Luke Shaw, while Ryan Bertrand does not need to be waiting by the phone either.
Burnley centre-back James Tarkowski was previously a regular in squads but he seems to be permanently on the sidelines now, along with the forgotten Chris Smalling and Phil Jones. It is also a long way back for John Stones, who is out of favour for both club and country right now.
A loan move to Fulham gives Ruben Loftus-Cheek a chance to get Premier League games under his belt but, despite having 10 caps to his name, he does not seem to be in the frame now. Callum Hudson-Odoi is another Chelsea youngster whose Euros hopes are fading fast.
Callum Wilson has been in fine form after his transfer to Newcastle but the ex-Bournemouth striker has a tough task to move above several strikers ahead of him in the pecking order for the England Euro 2020 squad.
Predicted squad: Pickford, Pope, D. Henderson; Trippier, Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Walker, Dier, Maguire, Gomez, Coady, Saka; J. Henderson, Rice, Phillips, Foden, Mount, Grealish, Winks; Kane, Sancho, Sterling, Rashford.
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