Sport
Who would make a GB Men’s football team in Tokyo 2020?
London 2012 was the last Olympics at which a GB men’s football team competed. It is difficult to see that changing any time soon as the home nations want to maintain independence but who would be in with a shot of playing had a team been sent to Tokyo?
Only three overage players are allowed and we have tried to include a mix of players from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to provide a fair representation for everyone. Here is the XI we came up with to lead Team GB’s medal hopes in Japan at the Olympics:
A possible GB Men’s football team for Tokyo 2020
GK – Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United)
It would be easy to pick a lot of England’s young heroes from this summer’s Euro 2020 campaign but realistically the likes of Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho need a period of rest and recuperation ahead of the new domestic season starting this month.
One player who should be fresh after not featuring at the tournament is Ramsdale, with the goalkeeper being linked with a big-money move to Arsenal despite suffering successive relegations from the Premier League. He will don the gloves for our fantasy Tokyo team.
RB – Neco Williams (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold might be keen having missed out on the Euros due to injury but Liverpool blocked Mo Salah from featuring for Egypt. So we will opt for team-mate Williams, who would be much more likely to get the green light to go and play in our GB Men’s football team from Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
A rampaging right-back who is already making an impact at senior international level for Wales, Williams would provide plenty of energy down the flank for our youthful XI at the Olympics.
CB – Ben Godfrey (Everton)
Of the two uncapped defensive Bens who were in Gareth Southgate’s initial squad, it was Godfrey who did not make the cut. But he gets another shot at glory in our Tokyo squad.
Godfrey had a brilliant first season at Everton after joining from Norwich City and adds important versatility, having played in every position in the back four, as well as in defensive midfield.
CB – Jonny Evans (Leicester City)
Our first pick for our trio of overage players in the GB Men’s football team is Evans, a three-time Premier League winner from his time at Manchester United. At 33, the solid centre-back is approaching the latter stages of his career and would be a strong contender to captain the team due to his leadership skills.
LB – Jamal Lewis (Newcastle United)
Northern Ireland team-mate Lewis lines up alongside Evans in defence. Another Norwich City alumni, Lewis had a steep learning curve in his first season at Newcastle but he has a big future.
Finding existing partnerships will be key to aid team cohesion and the fact Lewis knows both Evans and Godfrey from international and club level respectively will be a boost for the side.
MF – Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea)
Versatility will give our manager options and Ampadu can feature in either defence or midfield. He had a tricky Euro 2020, with a red card against Italy, but he can make amends in Tokyo.
Still just 20 having broken through Exeter City’s academy at a very young age, Ampadu was on loan with Ramsdale at Sheffield United during their unsuccessful 2020-21 season.
MF – Billy Gilmour (Chelsea)
Gilmour had been expected to light up Euro 2020 for Scotland but a bout of Covid-19 ruled the young midfielder out of the decider against Croatia after he shone against England at Wembley. Likely to become a fixture in Chelsea’s midfield in the coming years, Gilmour deserves another crack at international glory this summer now he has fully recovered from the virus.
MF – John McGinn (Aston Villa)
We are leaning on existing partnerships again, so our second overage pick is another Scot who will know Gilmour from international camps. Villa midfielder McGinn is a huge goal threat – he struck seven goals during Euro 2020 qualifying – and his playmaking abilities will provide creativity in the middle of the park for our team too.
FW – Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
It is hard to look beyond Bale as the final overage pick in the GB Men’s football team. The 32-year-old has hinted he could quit international football but the chance to play at the Olympic Games would surely appeal to Bale. If nothing else, Tokyo has some of the most spectacular golf courses in the world…
FW – Mason Greenwood – Manchester United
Greenwood missed Euro 2020 due to injury and has had a difficult adaption to international level after he and Foden were sent home from Iceland due to breaking Covid-19 bubble rules.
But the Manchester United forward is the chosen man to lead the line, with his ability to score goals from all angles and with either foot ensuring Team GB will have plenty of firepower.
Wrapping up the GB Men’s football team is McNeil, a consistent left winger who goes under the radar perhaps due to his club. Burnley are hardly known for sparkling football but McNeil has made Sean Dyche’s Clarets a lot more watchable in the last couple of years.
An England’s Under-21s regular, McNeil will be capped by the senior squad sooner rather than later. Linked with a move to Everton, playing at the Olympics would unlock his talent further.
Manager: Eddie Howe
Still out of work after leaving Bournemouth a year ago, Howe would be an outstanding candidate to take charge for this one-off tournament. Howe’s side usually deliver a progressive, attacking style and he knows most of the players in the side from his years in the Premier League.
Howe has long been touted as a probable future England manager and this would give him an initial taste of international football as he continues to mull over his next career move.
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