Sport
7 England players hoping to make the Qatar 2022 squad
Penalty heartbreak meant Euro 2020 ended on a low note for Gareth Southgate’s England. But pushing Italy as hard as they did shows how far this Three Lions side has come under Southgate’s leadership – they reached their first final for 55 years. When the dust settles there will be plenty of positives to take out of the experience overall, not least because the youthful average age of England’s squad means there is little need for major changes to be made. It will be a case of evolution rather than revolution for Southgate and England ahead of Qatar 2022 but here are seven of the players who will be looking to press their claims for selection.
7 England players who could feature in Qatar 2022
Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)
Greenwood pulled out of the provisional squad for Euro 2020 due to a pre-existing injury but the striker seemed likely to be one of the players cut from the final group by Southgate anyway. The teenager has not had the smoothest start to life at international level, with last year’s Iceland indiscretion – he and Phil Foden were both sent home – putting an early blot on his copybook.
Greenwood’s talent is not in doubt, though, with the 19-year-old having already scored 17 Premier League goals. A sharp finisher on either foot, assuming Greenwood continues his progress he looks a lock to be in the England World Cup squad for Qatar 2022, providing competition for Harry Kane.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Another player who missed out on Euro 2020 due to injury, much of the pre-tournament build-up centred on whether or not Southgate would select Alexander-Arnold in his final squad of 26. England are hardly short of right-backs with the likes of Max Aarons and Tariq Lamptey others who could develop into major contenders for a very congested position for the Three Lions.
Alexander-Arnold is already regarded as one of the best in the world for his position, however, so Southgate will likely integrate him into his team over the course of the next 18 months.
Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal)
England have plenty of options to play in the number 10 role, including Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, but they still lack a player who can unpick the tightest of locks at international level.
Perhaps that man could be Smith Rowe, with the Arsenal youngster enjoying a breakthrough campaign in the 2020-21 Premier League season. Smith Rowe certainly needs to add more goals and assists to his game, but the 20-year-old will probably be in the England squad soon and will certainly have his eyes set on Qatar 2022.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
Eze was set to be in England’s provisional squad but an Achilles injury ended his chances of being selected for this year’s tournament. The 23-year-old will come again, though, and while he faces a lengthy recovery the World Cup is far enough away for him to have a good chance.
Able to play in a range of attacking midfield roles but thriving cutting in off the wing, Eze has magic in his boots. He would be a handy option to bring off the bench at the very least.
Joe Willock (Arsenal)
Few players ended the last Premier League season in form as strong as Willock, who hit eight goals in 14 games during a prolific loan spell with Newcastle United.
Willock netted in seven consecutive games and with England lacking quality alternatives to Kane, he will be on Southgate’s radar for Qatar 2022 if he gets a chance to impress at Arsenal this season.
Considered to be a midfielder for most of his young career, Magpies boss Steve Bruce pushed Willock into a more attacking role and it paid off in spades with a string of eye-catching strikes.
Curtis Jones (Liverpool)
Georginio Wijnaldum’s departure means Jones is likely to be a firm fixture in Liverpool’s side moving forward and the 20-year-old already has 30 appearances for the Reds under his belt.
Tall and combative with an eye for goal, Jones could become a more progressive midfield option for England, despite both Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips impressing during Euro 2020.
Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)
Hudson-Odoi already has a trio of caps after making his debut during qualifying for Euro 2020.
The 20-year-old then fell off Southgate’s radar somewhat after struggling for regular game-time at Chelsea, where he has already racked up over 50 appearances.
Being a long-term target for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich is a sign of Hudson-Odoi’s quality and the winger will surely become a regular fixture in Three Lions squads in the near future.
You could earn up to £10 (or currency equivalent) in bonus funds by joining Colossus with our New Player Bonus. Click here to join the action.
