With England having topped their group to qualify for EURO 2024, we run the rule over the candidates to make the squad for the tournament in Germany next summer.
England’s EURO 2024 Squad
Goalkeepers
Guaranteed Starter
Jordan Pickford
Embed from Getty ImagesUnlike previous tournaments, there is no debate surrounding England’s number one this time. Pickford has never let his country down, and the Everton man has been manager Gareth Southgate’s preferred choice throughout his tenure. Others have challenged him, but the 29-year-old has never come close to losing his spot in the team, only ever being rested to give chances to others.
On The Plane
Aaron Ramsdale
The Arsenal goalkeeper had been considered by many as a threat to Pickford’s spot, with Ramsdale being named in the PFA Team of the Year following a stellar 2022-23 campaign.
This season however he has found himself on the bench at the club level after losing his place to Spaniard David Raya, putting an end to any hopes of becoming his country’s number one at least in the short-term. His undoubted quality gets him on the plane as chief support to Pickford.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn Contention
Sam Johnstone, Nick Pope
Johnstone is Southgate’s preferred number three of late, having started the recent friendly against Australia. The Crystal Palace man has beaten off competition from fellow Englishman Dean Henderson at club level, and looks to be in a strong position to claim a place in England’s squad at Euro 2024.
Newcastle’s Nick Pope was previously England’s second choice and has been in fine form for the Champions League side, and could yet snatch the number three position from Johnstone.
Defenders
Guaranteed Starter
John Stones, Kyle Walker
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Manchester City pair have locked down their places in Southgate’s first-choice XI, with Stones having become one of the best central defenders in the world, also featuring in defensive-midfield for Pep Guardiola’s side. Reece James’ injury struggles at Chelsea and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shift to a midfield role for his country have secured Walker his place in the side at right-back.
On The Plane
Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Kieran Trippier
Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire had been struggling for minutes at the club level at the start of the season, following manager Eric Ten Hag’s decision to strip him of the captaincy, but Southgate’s faith in him.
Recently he’s found his way into the United team, keeping French international and World Cup winner Raphael Varane out of the side, and whilst no longer a guaranteed starter for his country is assured of at least a spot on the plane.
Embed from Getty ImagesNewcastle right-back Kieran Trippier has been an ever-present in Southgate’s England squads when fit, with the La Liga winner starting at left-back for much of EURO 2020 as the Three Lions reached the final. The left-hand side looks to be his best route into the starting XI, with Walker looking to have secured his place on the right.
Trippier will have to fight Luke Shaw for the left-back spot, with the Manchester United full-back having cemented himself as England’s best player on the left of the back four, a position in which Southgate’s side lack depth.
In Contention
Ben Chilwell, Levi Colwill, Lewis Dunk, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori
England has found themselves in an unusual position; having struggled to find quality centre-backs for years, with Stones and Maguire seen as the automatic first-choice pairing, they are now blessed with quality depth. Eric Dier and Conor Coady were included as England’s backup central defenders in their 2022 World Cup squad, but both are firmly out of contention for next summer’s tournament.
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk had to wait five years for his second international cap having made his debut in 2018, but his strong performances for his club coupled with a brilliant performance in England’s recent 3-1 win over Scotland have put him in a good position to not just make the squad but perhaps start alongside Stones in the heart of defence.
Embed from Getty ImagesLevi Colwill recently made his debut in England’s victory against Australia, following a year that saw him excel on loan at Brighton before securing a starting place in the Chelsea team. Colwill is missing the Three Lions’ latest fixtures through injury, but despite having just one cap to his name, the 20-year-old has an excellent chance of featuring in Southgate’s plans next summer.
23-year-old Marc Guehi has already earned seven caps for his country, making his debut against Switzerland in March 2022. Having made a £20m move from Chelsea to Crystal Palace in 2021, Guehi has secured a reputation as one of the best defenders outside of the Premier League’s traditional “big six”, with his quality on the ball giving him a strong chance of featuring in Germany next year.
Fikayo Tomori has only earned five caps for his country despite making his debut in 2019 and has appeared less fancied by Southgate throughout his tenure. The former Chelsea man has excelled since leaving for AC Milan and was a key member of the side that won Serie A in the 2021-22 season. Having been overlooked for some time, Tomori has been included in recent England squads and will hope to be given a chance to impress Southgate.
Reece James has once again been struggling with injury, having missed the last World Cup with a knee injury. The Chelsea man is one of the best right-backs in the world when fit, but it is a position England are blessed with talent; Walker, Trippier, and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold have all featured in the right-back spot in recent years. If James can prove his fitness he will make the squad, but his decision to skip England’s latest fixtures to rest may have soured his relationship with Southgate.
Embed from Getty ImagesChelsea left-back Ben Chilwell was left on the bench for the entirety of the last Euros and missed the 2022 World Cup through injury. He has been struggling with a hamstring injury this season which has limited his minutes and put his England place in jeopardy, but a fit and firing Chilwell surely makes the squad at least as cover in a position the Three Lions lack depth.
Outside Chance
Dan Burn, Joe Gomez, Ezri Konsa, Rico Lewis, Ben White
Arsenal’s Ben White would undoubtedly make the squad based purely on performance alone. The 26-year-old is naturally a centre-back, but has been deployed at right-back for his club since the start of last season, and has made the position his own. He was included in England’s 2022 World Cup squad but left mid-way through the tournament citing personal reasons, and has not added to his four caps since.
Southgate has blamed an abundance of options in his position for not picking him, but given he is one of his country’s finest defenders it would appear issues over his departure in Qatar are a factor and it seems unlikely he will be reintroduced to the squad before next summer’s tournament.
Embed from Getty ImagesSouthgate called Aston Villa centre-back Ezri Konsa into his latest squad following injuries to Dunk and Colwill, and with the 26-year-old in fine form for his club he seems to be next in line for a spot in the squad should England lose any of their first-choice defenders. Joe Gomez could also be in contention if he continues to play regular football at a high level for Liverpool.
18-year-old Rico Lewis was also called into the England’s squad following withdrawals, with the Manchester City right-back admired by the England boss, however, Euro 2024 will likely come too soon for him unless there is an injury crisis. Newcastle’s Dan Burn is playing regularly at a high level and despite being 31 years old, he could find a way into the squad should England lose any of their first-choice left-backs.
Right-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Tino Livramento and Max Aarons will miss out due to England’s depth in that area; similarly, the likes of centre-backs Max Kilman, James Tarkowski, Adam Webster and Lloyd Kelly will struggle to get near the squad even with stellar campaigns. Southgate has moved on from previous regulars Eric Dier and Tyrone Mings, whilst the tournament comes too soon for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite.
Midfielders
Guaranteed Starter
Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice
Jude Bellingham has gone from strength to strength since his summer move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, and the 20-year-old is guaranteed to start in Gareth Southgate’s midfield in England’s EURO 2024 squad. He will be paired with Arsenal’s Declan Rice, who similarly earned a big-money transfer last summer when he joined the North London club from West Ham. The two have developed a strong partnership and will be key men for their country in Germany.
Embed from Getty ImagesOn The Plane
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher, James Maddison, Kalvin Phillips
James Maddison had appeared unfancied by Gareth Southgate for some time, following an incident in which he was photographed in a casino having told England he was too unwell to feature in their game that night. However, since his summer move to Tottenham, he has been in fine form, and after breaking into the England setup during his final season at Leicester, he hasn’t looked back. His performances this season will not only assure him of a place in the squad but also put him in a strong position to start for the Three Lions in the attacking midfield position at the tournament.
Embed from Getty ImagesTrent Alexander-Arnold has become one of the best right-backs in the world under Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, but this year Southgate has deployed him in the centre of midfield. One of the best passers of the ball around, he has not looked out of place, and given the number of right-backs at the England manager’s disposal, midfield might prove to be his best route into the starting XI. Whilst breaking up the midfield two of Bellingham and Rice might be a stretch too far for the 25-year-old, after missing the last Euro’s through injury he is certain to be amongst the travelling party for this campaign provided he is fit.
Embed from Getty ImagesConor Gallagher has been transformed under manager Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea, becoming a key player for the Blues and one of their best midfielders. Whilst breaking into the England team might prove tough, he will undoubtedly be on the plane so long as he keeps delivering for his club.
The same can’t be said of Kalvin Phillips, who has barely featured for Manchester City since joining them from Leeds over a year ago, but he has never lost his place in Southgate’s squad. A loan move could be on the cards in January, but whatever his future holds at club level it would be a surprise were he not to make the EURO 2024 squad given England’s lack of defensive midfielders.
In Contention
Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, James Ward-Prowse
Henderson has been a regular for his country for years, having made his debut against France back in 2010. He spent over a decade at Liverpool, and whilst his role for his country has diminished, he has still been involved and made regular appearances from the bench in recent tournaments. His involvement in England’s EURO 2024 squad however is far from a guarantee, following his move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq last summer. He was booed by fans in a recent friendly, and while Southgate has been his biggest supporter, at 33 years old a younger midfielder may take his spot on the plane.
Embed from Getty ImagesMason Mount and James Ward-Prowse have had contrasting fortunes since their respective summer transfers. While Ward-Prowse has flourished at West Ham, Mount has struggled to find both form and fitness in a Manchester United team that has itself underperformed.
Ward-Prowse has just 11 England caps since his debut in 2017, and has been overlooked for Southgate’s recent squads despite his fine run of form, and clearly needs to do more to impress the boss, but he will definitely be in contention for a place on the plane if he continues to shine for his new club. Mount has been a regular under Southgate but with others such as Maddison performing so well, it will be a difficult task for him to get back in the squad and he will need to get back to playing and playing well if he is to make it to Germany.
Outside Chance
Harvey Elliott, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Sean Longstaff, Jacob Ramsey, Emile Smith Rowe, Joe Willock
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has impressed for AC Milan since joining them from Chelsea in the summer, with the midfielder’s career having stagnated over recent years and the last of his 10 England caps coming back in 2018. Still only 27, there’s a slim chance he could force his way into Southgate’s plans.
Eberechi Eze made his England debut earlier this year and has been a consistent performer for Crystal Palace over the last few seasons. The attacking midfielder can also play on the wing and his versatility could aid his hopes of making the squad, although competition is fierce.
Harvey Elliott, Morgan Gibbs-White, Jacob Ramsey and Emile Smith Rowe were all members of England’s victorious under-21 side from the European Championships last summer, and all four will be on manager Gareth Southgate’s radar. Elliott has become a regular for Liverpool, and although often features from the bench, it seems likely he will win an England cap soon.
Embed from Getty ImagesBoth Gibbs-White and Ramsey have become key men for their respective clubs, with Gibbs-White a guaranteed starter for Nottingham Forest while Ramsey has been a consistent performer for high-flying Aston Villa. Euro 2024 may come too soon for all three, but they are amongst the next in line should any of the England squad pick up injuries. Smith Rowe has struggled with fitness issues for Arsenal but won three caps for his country in 2021 and could be an option if he gets back to playing regularly.
Joe Willock is only 24 and deserves a mention for how well he has been playing for Newcastle. The former Arsenal man has kept more experienced players out of the team and is starring in the Champions League, and is definitely someone Southgate will have an eye on. His club teammate Sean Longstaff is also unlikely to feature in Germany but could be an option in the defensive midfield area should Kalvin Phillips fail to find game-time.
Forwards
Guaranteed Starter
Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland’s captain Harry Kane has been in phenomenal form since leaving Tottenham for German champions Bayern Munich and will hope to end his trophy drought before next summer’s big tournament. Southgate will be sweating on his fitness, as without their talisman England’s chances of ending their own trophy drought would not look nearly as promising. Kane became his country’s leading scorer in March this year, with the 30-year-old boasting an incredible record of 62 goals from just 89 caps.
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka has developed into one of the best young talents around. The 22-year-old made his international debut in 2020 and already has 11 goals from 32 appearances. His missed penalty against Italy in the EURO 2020 final shootout could have had a severe impact on his future career, but he has gone from strength to strength since, developing into one of Europe’s best players and becoming a certain starter on the right wing in Gareth Southgate’s strongest lineup.
On The Plane
Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford
Manchester City duo Phil Foden and Jack Grealish have both been in and out of Pep Guardiola’s side, but there is no doubt they are amongst England’s best-attacking players. Many would argue both have been underutilised by Southgate, with questions especially surrounding Foden’s role in the side. He will be 24 once the Euros arrive, and with 31 caps to his name, you would be forgiven for expecting him to have nailed down a place in the side already. His best chance of starting would seem to be in the left-wing position, with Raheem Sterling out of favour currently and Marcus Rashford struggling for form.
Embed from Getty ImagesGrealish has lost his place in Man City’s team to Belgium’s Jeremy Doku, and while the 28-year-old isn’t likely to be in Southgate’s first-choice XI, the winger remains one of England’s best attackers and made frequent impact from the bench in past tournaments.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has been horribly out of form at club level. He has scored just once in the Premier League, but despite his struggles for the Reds he continues to perform for his country, scoring in England’s 3-1 victory over Italy in October. Rashford will definitely be in the squad but will need to start playing better for his club if he wants to start in Germany.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn Contention
Jarrod Bowen, Raheem Sterling, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Callum Wilson
Embed from Getty ImagesRaheem Sterling found himself left out of every England squad in 2023, raising serious questions about his international future. The 28-year-old has been a key player for Southgate since he took charge, and was widely considered the Three Lions’ standout player at EURO 2020. Southgate previously picked Sterling even when his club form had dropped off, and with the winger currently in great form for Chelsea, theories have emerged about a possible breakdown in relations between the pair. Regardless of if there is any truth to such talk, it’s clear Sterling faces a fight to make England’s EURO 2024 Squad.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe battle to be Harry Kane’s backup is fierce. Ollie Watkins and Callum Wilson have both been in scintillating form for their respective clubs; Watkins has six league goals this campaign whilst Wilson has seven. Watkins has attracted interest from some of the Premier League’s leading clubs with his performances for Aston Villa, and both he and Newcastle’s Wilson, who has one of the best goal-to-game ratios in Europe, could well be on the plane should Southgate decide to take three central strikers.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has not played since May after he received an eight-month ban for breaching FA betting rules. The 27-year-old had been in great form for the West London outfit and was unlucky to miss out on selection for the World Cup last year, and eventually earned his first cap in March. He will be an option for Southgate when he returns to the field in January.
West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen has picked up a handful of caps since his debut last year, and the winger has been in fine form for his club. It could come down to a choice between him and Sterling for a place on the plane.
Outside Chance
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anthony Gordon, Eddie Nketiah
Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah has been in good form for his club, recently scoring his maiden Premier League hat-trick, and was handed his international debut in the recent friendly against Australia. He holds the record for most England U21 goals but will need a stellar season if he is to make the squad.
Embed from Getty ImagesEverton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was involved in the EURO 2020 squad, but injuries and a lack of goals compared to fellow English strikers mean it is unlikely he will make it this time around. Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon is only 22 and was involved in England’s U21 EURO win back in the summer following his big-money move from Everton, and could be a surprise inclusion if he continues his good season so far.
