A week today is when Gareth Southgate, will be selecting his 26-man squad for Qatar, but who will get a seat on the plane?
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Pope, Ramsdale,
Arguably the best three-keepers in the country. Some people might say that Dean Henderson is doing a decent job at Nottingham Forest, but you cannot look past Arsenal, Newcastle United, and Everton’s Number One.
Ramsdale has five clean sheets, Pickford has three, and Pope has six, which could mean that statistically, the Magpies’ Keeper wouldn’t be a bad option as the Number One. Still, you just feel that because Everton’s Keeper has never let Southgate down, plus Ramsdale’s form at Arsenal, he may not get a game in Qatar.
Centre Backs: Stones, Coady, White, Maguire
If Southgate sticks to a back three, you would presume that Stones and Maguire would be Southgate’s first-choice centre-backs. However, as Maguire has not been a regular starter for United under Erik Ten Hag, there could be a case for Ben White or Connor Coady to step in.
Due to his outstanding form for Arsenal, there is no question that Ben White has to go.
The Gunners have conceded just 11 goals in 12 games, and he has been a significant reason for this.
Right-Backs: Trippier, Trent, Walker(if fit)
This was the most difficult decision, but due to Reece James’s injury in Milan, Trent Alexander-Arnold had to be replaced. The reason for this is his extensive big-match experience. Another reason for this is that if England is struggling to break down a defence, his ability to deliver long balls and crosses into the box is vital, especially for players like Kane and Ivan Toney, who can score some unbelievable headers.
Appearing in three Champions League Finals is an outstanding achievement, but another reason for this is that, aside from Walker and Trippier, there is no one knocking on the door for the right-back slot.
Tripper has to go because of his outstanding form at Newcastle. Let’s hope Walker is 100% recovered because his experience and recovery pace will be crucial the deeper England goes in the Tournament.
That’s why he has to start ahead of Trent because Trent still has to get better at the defensive side of being a right-back, particularly when it comes to counter-attacks. Because Klopp prefers his team to play a high line, the 24-year-old can occasionally lose focus or begin panicking, which ultimately gets him into trouble.
But that does not mean he doesn’t have a significant part to play.
I think Southgate should consider playing him on the right side of midfield if Jude Bellingham gets injured or tired, simply because it would allow him to do what he does best, which is to be that creative player who can pick a pass or cross out of nowhere, which is what England was lacking in the Euro Final against Italy.
If Southgate picks him, starts him, and he has a great World Cup, it may silence the critics.
Left-Back: Shaw, Targett
Luke Shaw will most likely be the main Left-Back for the Three Lions in Qatar. Had Chilwell not picked up the thigh injury on Wednesday night, he would have probably been the second-choice left-back. Shaw has played in eight of United’s first 12 matches this season.
Along with Trippier, Matt Targett has been one of Newcastle’s best players this season. Targett has played in all nine of the Magpies’ games this season and has provided them with stability at the back.
Hence, he would be the perfect replacement for the Chelsea Left-Back in my opinion, simply because of his all-around capabilities.
If he can be consistent with his defending, he has the potential to be as good as Liverpool’s Andy.
If he can be consistent with his defending, he will be up there with the likes of Andy Robertson, who is one of the world’s top left-backs, but based on form, he has to be on the plane as a backup for Shaw.
Midfielders: Mount, Henderson, Rice, Bellingham
Mason Mount and Declan Rice formed an excellent midfield partnership with Jordan Henderson during the Euros, which provided England with the perfect balance between attack and defence. But now the question is, how does Southgate fit Bellingham, who is one of the world’s best midfielders right now?
My feeling is that if he goes with a 3-4-3 formation, Bellingham would be best suited on the right side of central midfield, with Rice next to him, and then Henderson, followed by Mount on the left wing.
Forwards: Kane, Toney, Grealish, Foden, Saka, Sterling
Harry Kane will no doubt be leading the line for England, and the Three Lions will need the Captain to be at his absolute best if they are to have any chance of taking home the World Cup.
Having recently surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 49 international goals, the 29-year-old is now just three goals from surpassing Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals, which would make him England’s greatest-ever goal scorer.
Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling should also start alongside him, because of their penetrating runs on and off the ball, which was one of the main reasons why England was such a potent force during last summer’s European Championships.
The Chelsea winger was also England’s second-highest goal-scorer, with three goals.
If I were Southgate, I would rotate between Grealish and Foden for the number 10 role. Because they’re both similar types of players, i would presume he’ll start with Foden, and then bring Grealish on as a sub.
Bukayo Saka, with no doubt, has to be on the plane to Qatar, especially after the start he has had for Arsenal this season. Four goals and five assists in 12 games is a terrific start to the season. The heartbreak at the Euros must have taken a lot out of him, especially the racist backlash he received on social media after missing the penalty in the final.
Surely he will have a point to prove this time when he lands in Qatar.
In terms of the second striker, this was a tough call between Ivan Toney and Callum Wilson. Still, because the Newcastle United striker is just returning from injury, you wouldn’t want to risk taking him, so Toney would be the preferred choice. What is so good about the Brentford striker is his aerial threat.
Eight goals from 13 is a good start to the season. And he has proven to be a good penalty-taker, which could be a crucial factor come the knockout stages.
He surely will prove to be a great deputy to Kane, should the England Captain be unfit to play.
So this is World In Sport‘s England Squad for Qatar 2022. Send us yours.
