The 26-man England squad for Euro 2020 wasn’t an easy one to pick for Gareth Southgate. The England manager first announced a 33-man provisional squad and then finally trimmed down the squad. However, it is an important decision to make for the manager as England have yet to win a European Championship and, after the semi-final run in the 2018 World Cup, expectations are running high.
The England attack is stacked with the likes of Harry Kane, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford. Kane was in excellent form in the 2020/21 season of the Premier League. Sancho started the season slowly for Dortmund but ended it in fine nick. The form of Rashford and Sterling is cause for conern, especially that of the latter. Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell, meanwhile, are coming off a Champions League-winning season and will be keen to continue that form with England.
England’s midfield is where they look a bit short as they only have four proper central midfielders in the final squad with Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) and Declan Rice (West Ham United). The likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden will play in the more advanced roles. Bellingham is only 17 but has shown ability and could be a major player if he continues his form. The full-back situation is where things get tricky. Southgate has selected Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Reece James and Trent-Alexander Arnold in the squad but the Liverpool full-back got ruled out due to injury. Walker will most likely start on the right side of a three-man defence, meaning James and Trippier will be the two competing for the right-back slot. For the left wing-back role, Luke Shaw and Chilwell will compete, with the Manchester United man holding the edge at present.
Southgate has also kept faith in Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson, despite the two of them battling injuries. Maguire has been in fine form for United towards the latter half of this season particularly. Henderson, meanwhile, is arguably the best player to be deep in the midfield. England could well be in a spot of bother if Maguire fails to recover in time for the knockouts or struggles to perform when fit. That being said, this side is about as strong a team England could have. The pressure will be on to break their European Championships jinx.
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The 26-man England squad for Euro 2020 wasn’t an easy one to pick for Gareth Southgate. The England manager first announced a 33-man provisional squad and then finally trimmed down the squad. However, it is an important decision to make for the manager as England have yet to win a European Championship and, after the semi-final run in the 2018 World Cup, expectations are running high.
The England attack is stacked with the likes of Harry Kane, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford. Kane was in excellent form in the 2020/21 season of the Premier League. Sancho started the season slowly for Dortmund but ended it in fine nick. The form of Rashford and Sterling is cause for conern, especially that of the latter. Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell, meanwhile, are coming off a Champions League-winning season and will be keen to continue that form with England.
England’s midfield is where they look a bit short as they only have four proper central midfielders in the final squad with Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United) and Declan Rice (West Ham United). The likes of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden will play in the more advanced roles. Bellingham is only 17 but has shown ability and could be a major player if he continues his form. The full-back situation is where things get tricky. Southgate has selected Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Reece James and Trent-Alexander Arnold in the squad but the Liverpool full-back got ruled out due to injury. Walker will most likely start on the right side of a three-man defence, meaning James and Trippier will be the two competing for the right-back slot. For the left wing-back role, Luke Shaw and Chilwell will compete, with the Manchester United man holding the edge at present.
Southgate has also kept faith in Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson, despite the two of them battling injuries. Maguire has been in fine form for United towards the latter half of this season particularly. Henderson, meanwhile, is arguably the best player to be deep in the midfield. England could well be in a spot of bother if Maguire fails to recover in time for the knockouts or struggles to perform when fit. That being said, this side is about as strong a team England could have. The pressure will be on to break their European Championships jinx.
