Gareth Southgate has 26 ideal players in mind to take home Euro 2024 but this could change depending on injuries, as they need to balance their squad.
Here are your dilemmas ahead of the deadline (midnight on Friday) to submit your final team to UEFA. England will also face Iceland at Wembley that night.
The Trent puzzle
Trent Alexander-Arnold started in midfield and then played at right-back when substitutions were made in the second half. Southgate says he can use him in any position. With Ezri Konsa also able to play at full-back, he provides cover for Kyle Walker, who will start.
“It could be either one,” said Southgate, when asked about Alexander-Arnold’s position. “In a game like this we felt there would be more space where his quality as a full-back could help us. Against a wing system that can be useful and in midfield he is still learning and discovering the role so positionally that sometimes it will be different for him, but sometimes you saw moments of quality in his passes. The smoother it passes, the longer passes. Therefore, both positions are very important for us.”
Cubs among the Three Lions
Adam Wharton looked at home in an England shirt when he came off the bench for his debut. His time at the base of midfield is well beyond his 20s and the way he behaved on the pitch is anything but a rookie. Southgate made references to England not having a player to “see the pictures early” when or before receiving the ball. There’s certainly a touch of Michael Carrick about him.
Southgate was open about the position of young players such as Wharton, Curtis Jones, Jarell Quansah, Jarrad Branthwaite and Wharton in his squad ahead of the game against Bosnia. “We have some young players that I talked to early on and said, ‘Look, we don’t know how this is going to end, but let’s let the starting point be that this should be a great experience for you guys. Come train with us. Chances are you won’t come with us all the way,’” he said.
Wharton certainly has a bright future in England, even if he doesn’t board the plane this time. “There’s no doubt he impressed us,” Southgate said. “Whenever we call up a new player, the other players always doubt what we are doing and think we don’t know what we are doing. So they work with these young people and say, ‘OK, now we see why.'”
Left back cover
Luke Shaw has been out since February with a hamstring injury but has done everything he can to be part of the squad, opting to be part of his recovery with England in March when he could have been working elsewhere or taking advantage of the rehabilitation in hot weather. .
Southgate has been positive about his progress, saying “he has a good chance”. He has been working on the grass – not in the gym – this week, but has not trained with the team. But even being fit for the tournament, Shaw could still miss the opening game against Serbia and cover is needed. Kieran Trippier is ready to start on June 16th. Others who can play at left-back are valuable assets, including Konsa, who played there against Bosnia on Monday night for part of the second half.
Joe Gomez’s return to the England squad after almost four years away was largely due to him being able to play in defense. Shaw’s doubt brought these players to reckoning,
There are no 10
After the season he has had, Jude Bellingham is England’s primary number 10; Southgate’s most attacking midfielder plays behind Harry Kane or even runs ahead of him when the captain approaches to collect the ball. The Champions League winner with Real Madrid had a week off to prepare psychologically and physically for the tournament.
Cole Palmer pushed for his place in the team with his performances throughout the season and also with his penalty against Bosnia.
In the press conference after the game, Southgate was asked about the importance of penalties in the tournament – penalties always occupy the back of minds. Palmer started at number 10 on his England debut, while James Maddison came off the bench in the second half.
Does Southgate need Bellingham, Palmer and Maddison? The England coach also has Conor Gallagher, whose name was later mentioned as having an important and mature game against Bosnia. Gallagher has played deeper but can play further forward, as he did for Chelsea during the season.
How many attackers?
The good news went unnoticed this week. Kane has been training full steam after a few days following the England encounter, where he was making the final parts of his recovery from a back knock. He had been ruled out of the last two games of the Bundesliga season, but managed to come off the bench against Bosnia and score his 63rd international goal.
Ollie Watkins started the match and had a good chance as he was beaten by Palmer, then headed home from a couple of corners that found the target. Overall he was quiet, but Aston Villa’s number of goals and assists this season has seen him become Kane’s backup.
Ivan Toney was unused at St James’ Park and failed to score for Brentford after the last international break when he scored a penalty against Belgium. Southgate must decide whether two reserve strikers are needed. If all goes according to plan and England beat Serbia and Denmark, the reserve striker could start against Slovenia in the final group game.
Many wings
Although Southgate does not have fully fit left-backs at his disposal at the moment, he does have plenty of options in attack. Players not in the squad for the Bosnia game include Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, who are pushing to start against Serbia, and Anthony Gordon, who impressed Southgate during the March internationals.
Before the game, Southgate offered no guarantees that Jack Grealish would be in the final 26, but the Manchester City striker came off the bench and provided an assist for Alexander-Arnold and was involved in Kane’s goal. Jarrod Bowen had a solid performance and his 20-goal season makes him a strong candidate to make the roster.
Eberechi Eze didn’t hurt his chances with the way he started against Bosnia, with Southgate impressed with the way he took on players, saying he runs past opponents.
