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England’s Euro 2021 squad – Who is fighting for their place?
The Euro 2020 final would have taken place this week but instead we will have to wait until next July to find out who the champions will be. England are among the favourites for the tournament and Gareth Southgate will already have an idea about who is certain to make England’s Euro 2021 squad and who is still fighting for their place. We take a look at who is safe and who still has a battle on their hands.
England’s Euro 2021 squad: Who is safe?
GK – Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Sheff Utd / Man Utd)
It looks like a straight choice between Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson for who will wear the gloves. Pickford has been England’s number one for a few years and, despite looking error prone for Everton, hasn’t done much wrong for his country.
Henderson’s performances this season have led to calls for him to be number one for United and England and where he ends up playing his club football next season will impact his international claim.
RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Possibly the best right-back in the world at the moment, Alexander-Arnold is strong defensively and unbelievable going forward. Only injury or an unprecedented drop in form will stop him starting for England next summer.
LB – Ben Chilwell (Leicester)
What England would give for the same strength in depth on the left as they have on the right. Currently Ben Chilwell doesn’t have a great deal of competition for the left-back position, although Luke Shaw is returning to form, and, even if one of his rivals pips him to the starting position, he is a certainty for the squad.
CB – Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Joe Gomez (Liverpool)
Harry ‘Slabhead’ Maguire will start for England next summer and the only question is who will play alongside him. The answer is most likely to be Joe Gomez who has been superb for Liverpool this season and looks to be England’s most naturally talented centre-back at the moment.
CM – Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool)
The Liverpool duo are big favourites of Gareth Southgate and will be in England’s Euro 2021 squad with Henderson certain to start, having captained Liverpool to Champions League and Premier League glory over the last year. Oxlade-Chamberlain is less certain to start and has had injury problems but will almost certainly make the final 23.
WF – Raheem Sterling (Man City), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)
An area in which England are blessed with an array of attacking talent, Gareth Southgate will have his hands full deciding which pair of wide forwards will support Harry Kane.
At the moment Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho are two of the best players in the world so edge ahead of Hudson-Odoi, who will be hoping for a huge season with Chelsea.
ST – Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd)
There’s no disputing the fact that, if he is fit, Harry Kane will start for England next summer. England’s captain won the Golden Boot in the 2018 World Cup and is already sixth on England’s list of all-time top scorers. At 26-years-old and 21 goals behind Wayne Rooney, Kane should become England’s leading scorer before he retires.
Marcus Rashford will be his first deputy but could also rival the wide-forwards to play on the left.
England’s Euro 2021 squad: Who is still fighting it out?
GK – Nick Pope (Burnley), Aaron Ramsdale (Bournemouth)
You’d have to say that Nick Pope is the heavy favourite to be Gareth Southgate’s third choice goalie but don’t completely write off Aaron Ramsdale who will surely have admirers if Bournemouth get relegated, with promotion-bound Leeds credited with an early interest.
RB – Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Man Utd), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Reece James (Chelsea), Kyle Walker (Man City)
Other nations will look on enviously at England’s incredible strength in depth at right-back. The days of Kyle Walker vs. Nathaniel Clyne look long behind us and England now have at least five very strong options for the position.
You would think that Aaron Wan-Bissaka will get his chance in the next year while Gareth Southgate is a huge fan of Kieran Trippier who has quietly excelled in Madrid. Reece James looks a fantastic all-round prospect while Walker shouldn’t be completely disregarded.
LB – Danny Rose (Tottenham / Newcastle), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham), Brandon Williams (Man Utd)
Ben Chilwell might have left-back sown up but the secondary left-back position in the squad is very much up for grabs. Whether Southgate opts for the experience of either Danny Rose / Luke Shaw or instead goes for a youngster like Ryan Sessegnon or Brandon Williams could depend on who has a big season.
CB – John Stones (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Fikayo Tomori (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Man Utd / Roma), Michael Keane (Everton), Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham), Rob Holding (Arsenal)
John Stones desperately needs a move to stand a chance or recapturing his form while Chris Smalling has fought his way back into contention after a fantastic spell at Roma.
Tyrone Mings has impressed for England so far and Rob Holding will be hoping for a consistent spell in the Arsenal line up to earn his own chance. Michael Keane has featured recently but looks the outsider here.
Tottenham’s Japhet Tanganga seems to be a fantastic talent and Gareth Southgate could turn to him if his form continues.
CM – Dele Alli (Tottenham), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Harry Winks (Tottenham), Phil Foden (Man City), Ross Barkley (Chelsea), James Maddison (Leicester), Declan Rice (West Ham)
Dele Alli only makes the ‘maybe’ list despite once upon a time being the first midfielder on the team sheet. He faces stiff competition from fellow attacking midfielders Mason Mount, Jack Grealish and James Maddison.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will certainly be called up if he can overcome his injury woes, although that is a big if. Ross Barkley and Declan Rice continue to feature for Gareth Southgate despite patchy form.
Phil Foden could be the one to keep an eye on, yet to be called up he will surely feature heavily for Manchester City next season.
WF – Jesse Lingard (Man Utd), Dwight McNeil (Burnley), Nathan Redmond (Southampton, Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
It pains me to put Jesse Lingard’s name on this list and I’m hoping his England career is now behind him but Gareth Southgate does have his favourites and has given him plenty of baffling England caps before.
Dwight McNeil and Nathan Redmond have enjoyed wonderful seasons and could be in contention if their form continues. Bukayo Saka looks a phenomenal talent and his ability to play in multiple positions, including left-back, will surely appeal to the England manager.
ST – Danny Ings (Southampton), Callum Wilson (Bournemouth), Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Mason Greenwood (Man Utd)
This looks to be a tough battle and could depend on how many strikers Southgate opts to take. Danny Ings is probably the form English striker in the Premier League at the moment but will need to carry that form through to next summer.
Callum Wilson has been dragged down by Bournemouth’s wretched season but a move could reinvigorate him. Tammy Abraham has had a great season but could find opportunities harder to come by at Chelsea who are spending money for fun.
Carlo Ancolotti loves Calvert-Lewin who has been brilliant and must fancy his chances. The best prospect of all is Mason Greenwood who, at just 18, has netted eight Premier League goals for United this season.
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