by England’s front five of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane will be as good as any at Euro 2024, while Gareth Southgate can also count on an experienced goalkeeper and a wealth of offense at right-back.
The manager’s concerns at centre-back have eased now that Harry Maguire is back playing for Manchester United, allaying questions about Southgate’s loyalty to one of his most experienced players.
But three months out from the Euros, Southgate still has major issues to deal with elsewhere, and will be looking for solutions in today’s friendly against Brazil at Wembley and Belgium’s visit to the national stadium Tuesday.
Scarcity left-handed
Luke Shaw has been in St George’s Park for rehabilitation this week but Southgate admitted he is likely to be fit in the “dying stages” of the season, making the England full-back a key doubt for the Euros.
Ben Chilwell is the only natural left-back in the squad and is certain to start against Brazil or Belgium, but the Chelsea player has had his own injury problems this season, and is likely to right-footed Kieran Trippier, also sidelined this month, is ahead of him in Southgate’s thinking.
Joe Gomez could cover on the left while Levi Colwill played there for Chelsea, increasing his chances of returning to the squad if Shaw and/or Chilwell are not fit. Rico Lewis and Fikayo Tomori have covered both left sides for England this season, but are not in the current squad.
The bottom line is that Southgate cannot call upon another left-back who offers the same defensive and natural balance as Shaw.
The third man in the middle of the field
Rice and Bellingham are very impressed with England’s midfield three, but perhaps the biggest question facing Southgate is the identity of the third man.
If England were to play Serbia in their Euro opener tomorrow, Jordan Henderson would probably get the nod, but his relationship with the fans has been strained by his travels in Saudi Arabia and, at 33, he is not clear if he still has the legs to help. England dominate in midfield. He is also absent against Brazil through injury.
Southgate’s favorite is Kalvin Phillips, but he has effectively played out of contention with the current squad with a series of dreadful performances since joining West Ham on loan from Manchester City in January.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is an option in midfield, but he will miss this camp through injury, so is there enough time to fit him in before the tournament?
John Stones would be an interesting option further forward, where he has excelled for Manchester City, but he will be needed as a goalkeeper.
Conor Gallagher and James Maddison are likely to be too much up front for Southgate, while Liverpool’s Curtis Jones is another player who misses out through injury. Mason Mount has dropped out of the World Cup conversation.
Manchester United’s 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has a great chance to make an impact at this camp, although he would be keen to start at the Euros.
The Basics of Harry Kane
Southgate will only be able to name 23 players for the Euros after taking a 26-man squad to the last two major tournaments, leaving the manager facing a delicate balancing act.
With Kane almost certain to start every game at the finals if fully fit, it would be a treat to bring both Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney to Germany, and Southgate will want to keep a close eye on the a pair tonight and next week.
Brentford’s Toney is more like Kane and is available again after his betting ban, but Watkins is one of the players of the Premier League season, leaving him in pole position for the difficult task of benefiting remove the captain.
Jarrod Bowen and Marcus Rashford can also play through the middle, strengthening their cases to be on the fly.
Competition ahead
Foden’s form since the November camp has cemented his place as England’s front three with Kane and Arsenal talisman Saka – even if both wings prefer to play from the left.
Foden’s rise in importance for England is as much a result of his own level as the fall of his City team-mate Jack Grealish, who misses this month through injury, and Rashford, however.
Grealish can barely get a game for the champions, while Rashford has struggled on and off the pitch this season, leaving Southgate with big questions over two of his more experienced starters .
The rise of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer gives England an exciting new option, while Anthony Gordon is likely to be given a chance this month with Jarrod Bowen enjoying a superb season for West Ham.
But with Raheem Sterling out of the picture, England are missing the same fierce competition for places in wide areas that they had at the World Cup.
