GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Despite the fact Aaron Ramsdale may be an innately more talented keeper with a higher ceiling, Jordan Pickford has cemented himself within Gareth Southgate’s starting XI. He’s proven himself to be reliable in big moments, and despite the dip in form from Everton this past year, Pickford remained relatively rock-solid (all things considered). Perhaps most importantly, he’s earned the trust of his teammates and manager over the course of this cycle.
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GK: Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
It’s unlikely Ramsdale will usurp the starting spot from Pickford with only a few months until all eyes are in Qatar. To be sure, England has been chuffed to bits over his rapid improvement this past year. He has the look of a keeper with a commanding presence. Unfortunately for Ramsdale, Pickford hasn’t done anything to warrant losing his spot. Until that happens, Ramsdale likely will be the No. 2 for Southgate.
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GK: Nick Pope (Burnley)
Burnley being relegated to the Championship could have a rather significant impact on whether Pope makes the final squad. Rumors are swirling over the possibility of Pope being brought in (ahead of U.S. International Ethan Horvath) to replace Brice Samba on debutante Nottingham Forest. As long as he’s enjoying first-team football, Pope will be on the plane to Qatar. If not, England will likely look at Sam Johnstone or Fraser Forster (among others).
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Centre-Half: Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Maguire will be locked-in as a leader within the backline — whether Southgate opts for using a formation with three centre-halves or the traditional two centre-back look. His play for country is considerably better compared with club (though to be fair, United are a right mess). While the supporters are sometimes skeptical of Maguire’s ability on the ball, he’s still a strong solider with solid aerial prowess. He’ll likely partner next to a teammate being featured in the following slide…
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Centre-Half: John Stones (Manchester City)
The Maguire-Stones partnership appears to be the strongest at this point. If anything, it’s the grouping Southgate most trusts ahead of a group stage featuring Wales, Iran, and the United States. Stones’ campaign this past year at City wasn’t ideal. He wasn’t a weekly fixture for Pep Guardiola (starting only 32-percent of possible matches). It is a bit of a concern for the defensive-minded gaffer. However, at this point, we do think that Stones will ultimately keep his job as the starter.
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Centre-Half: Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan)
Tomori was fantastic for Milan this past year. He was an integral part of a team which won the Scudetto for the first time since 2011. Tomori always had the physical attributes necessary to perform at a high level. Whilst playing in Italy, he sharpened his collective skill-set terrifically. This included improving upon his spatial awareness on the pitch, as well as his reading of the game. Tomori also became a player bursting with confidence. While he’s not a lock for this roster, I personally prefer him to the likes of Tyrone Mings and Ben White.
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Centre-Half: Conor Coady (Wolves)
Coady is a capable player, to be sure. Wolves would likely call him the most indispensable footballer on the team sheet week after week. While not seeing the pitch as much for England, it doesn’t mean that the 29-year-old doesn’t hold some semblance of value for the squad. Every team needs a veteran presence to guide them through the proverbial choppy waters of a massive tournament. Coady is the leader on the pitch during training, in the locker room, and from the touch line (if not on the pitch itself). Team chemistry is paramount for any World Cup favorite, and it’s no different for England.
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Centre-Half: Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
Guehi will be 22 years of age when the World Cup begins this November. Some view him as a longshot to make the roster — instead believing he’ll be better-suited to ease his way in during the next cycle. However, there are also those of the opinion that Guehi is ready to help England immediately. It may behoove Southgate to take Guehi — if nothing else for the experience in learning from some of the older players at his position.
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RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
TAA should be on this final 26-man roster. Despite the crowded RB spot, Alexander-Arnold’s quality on the ball is too good to bypass. He’s electric when beating players down the flank. Duly, should England opt for a backline of Maguire-Stones-Kyle Walker, TAA’s potency as wingback surely will be utilized. With the following players also projected to function at RB (Walker, TAA, Reece James), we’re okay with leaving Kieran Trippier off the roster completely.
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RB: Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
The burly defender isn’t going anywhere. A fixture for both club and country, Walker continues to impact matches with his hulking frame and elite pace. Workmanlike, measured, and clinical, he’s a lynchpin for Southgate as someone who can play both centrally and wide (depending on formation). His speed really caters to Walker being a vital cog versus teams who like to transition via counter attacks.
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RB: Reece James (Chelsea)
The energetic right back from Chelsea is a nice like-for-like replacement for Walker. A pace merchant of sorts, James can bomb up and down the flank — yet tuck inside defensively when need be. One of James’ best attributes involves whipping the ball into dangerous areas. He’ll have to play well if he’s to ultimately prove himself as England’s future right back. The versatility and overall talent is certainly there.
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LB: Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
The left-back spot is far from solidified at this point. We’ve seen Trippier here, and Southgate even looked at James Justin at wingback in the recent 1-0 loss to Hungary. At this point, we’d have a hard time seeing anyone other than Shaw at the spot in a meaningful match. He understands Southgate’s system, and has performed exceedingly well at times under the gaffer. Assuming he fully recovers from his leg surgery, Shaw is a lock.
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LB: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea)
Chilwell had a rough past year with Chelsea. He sustained a serious ligament injury to his knee last November, and made only one appearance (on the final day of the season) since. The other options as a reserve at left back aren’t overly great. Competing with Chilwell would be Justin, Trippier, Omar Richards, Rico Henry, and possibly Matt Targett. Chilwell must prove he can be ready to go after sustaining the knee injury. This offseason will primarily include Chilwell regaining both fitness and strength.
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MF: Declan Rice (West Ham)
Declan Rice’s inclusion into England’s opening match versus Iran can be inked in black pen. The West Ham starlet has utterly ingratiated himself within the side, to the point where one can’t really envision an England XI without Rice in the centre of the park. Sophisticated on the ball, Rice is equally as effective when providing bite from the holding mid spot. He’s excellent in breaking up counter-attacks in transition, and partners wickedly well with any teammate when sitting in a double-pivot. An excellent young talent, to be sure.
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MF: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
Speaking of starlets, Bellingham is one of the world’s most promising U-20 players. It’s absolutely perplexing to analyze Bellingham’s style of play when knowing he’s only 19 years of age. There’s a real maturity to his game — undoubtedly coming from the fact he opted to cut his teeth away from home in Germany under the development of Borussia Dortmund. While he might not necessarily be a locked-on starter alongside Rice (or in an elevated role), he’s a very nice piece for England to utilize in a plethora of ways.
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MF: Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Hendo is headed to Qatar. This is a near certainty when surveying this potential roster. England’s group is certainly on the younger side, and it doesn’t project to be a group dripping with past World Cup experience. Henderson is not only a class midfielder, but he’s a wonderful mentor for the younger members of this squad. A steadying force in the dressing room and on the pitch, Henderson will clearly function as a calming influence for Southgate’s group.
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MF: Mason Mount (Chelsea)
Mount is a favourite of Southgate. The clever attack-minded player has a penchant for delicately playing proper balls down channels and into the final third. Mount is also not bashful when shooting from distance to test the goalkeeper. While he didn’t have a great showing at the European Championships, it still feels as if Mount is a favorite to start at one of the three forward spots. He’s also helped by the fact that both Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford have struggled.
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MF: Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United)
Phillips had a poor season at Leeds. Injuries didn’t help matters, and he certainly didn’t replicate the form he previously demonstrated. With that said, the expanded roster will allow for Phillips to sneak in here. Remember, Southgate’s double-pivot alignment will surely feature Rice. Both Bellingham and Henderson are more than capable in playing the role as Rice’s partner. Phillips offers a bit of a different look, as he’s bigger and more physical than both of his aforementioned competitors. The opportunity should be there for him to compete for a starting spot in the XI.
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MF: James Maddison (Leicester City)
Most projections don’t have Maddison making this roster. In truth, he could be bypassed for Harvey Elliott or James Ward-Prowse. Maddison notched 18 goals and 12 assists last year in a stellar season for Leicester. Of course, he’s likely not going to dislodge Mount, Jack Grealish, or Phil Foden. With that said, if Mount and Grealish continue to sputter somewhat, Maddison would be a nice wild card to have available on the bench. In a 26-man group, Maddison has a puncher’s chance at featuring in Qatar.
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FW: Harry Kane (Tottenham)
The star talisman, England will go as far as Kane can lead them. He’s in the midst of his prime, and one can make a real case that Kane is arguably the best No. 9 in the world today. While possessing a ruthless nature in and around the box, he’s also an unselfish player when aiming to put teammates in advantageous spots on the pitch. Barring injury, it’s a certainty he will become England’s all-time leading scorer.
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FW: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Saka was fantastic for the Gunners this past campaign. His trickiness on the ball — coupled with blistering pace and terrific energy — makes him a perfect fit on the wing as a wide forward in the front three. Southgate clearly rates Saka, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a scenario in which he wasn’t starting versus Iran in the opening match of the World Cup. In essentially a calendar year, perhaps no other player has improved as much as Saka.
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FW: Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Foden’s versatility — among his other attributes — is what makes him utterly special. You could play him wide as an inverted winger. Foden loves tucking inside where he can attack defenders off the dribble. Duly, playing him centrally enables the Man City star to get on the ball with more frequency. As such, he’s then able to pick out a pass for a teammate, or go to goal himself with a myriad of tricks under his proverbial sleeve. With much attention likely going to Kane, much responsibility is going to be placed on Foden. Essentially, he may evolve into the straw that stirs England’s cup of black tea (with milk).
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FW: Jack Grealish (Manchester City)
Grealish didn’t exactly produce the way many thought he would once making the move to play for Pep Guardiola. To be fair, his role changed — where he was no longer the fulcrum of the attack. City’s unbelievable treasure trove of attacking talent never allowed for Grealish to dominate the ball akin to how he previously functioned. Still, this is a special talent with the ability to flip a match on its head at any given moment. Even if he’s not starting for England, being able to bring Grealish off the bench is a major coup for Southgate and his staff.
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FW: Tammy Abraham (AS Roma)
Abraham is the current hot hand behind Kane right now. You could envision a scenario in which this position is fluid all the way to November. You want in-form strikers on your roster, and Abraham’s season in Serie A for AS Roma (17 goals, 4 assists) was considerably better than the other competitors he’s up against (Patrick Bamford, Marcus Rashford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Callum Wilson, Ollie Watkins). Abraham grew tremendously under Jose Mourinho, and looks primed for another strong season upcoming.
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FW: Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Sterling will be on the plane to Qatar. He’s a game-changer for England on the wing. We know all about his pace and trickiness on the ball. Now at age 27, Sterling is almost considered to be a ‘veteran’ for this squad. His leadership will be counted upon, as will his flexibility. You can see Southgate starting Sterling at times, and then opting to bring him off the bench as an impact sub. He’s a very nice card to play.
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FW: Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)
Sancho is the last inclusion into the squad. Some will feel as if he has no right going to the World Cup. Since featuring for United after a high-profile transfer from Borussia Dortmund, Sancho has been underwhelming…to say the least. A part-time starter, he notched only three goals and three assists. To be fair to Sancho, he did play for a rather volatile club. He’s also only 22 years of age — meaning his best football has yet to come. If he can settle and provide a solid start to the season for Man U, Sancho will be on the roster. With respects to Jarrod Bowen and others, Sancho is too talented to be left at home.
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Potential Starting XI
This a potential XI we could see Southgate opt for. The double-pivot still remains intact, with more a dynamic look in the form of Bellingham. Foden can cook in the middle of the pitch, with the unadulterated speed of Saka and Sterling creating some much-desired width.
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