Euro 2020 is just around the corner and, here at talkSPORT.com, we couldn’t be more excited.
England have a great chance of going far with an abundance of talent at Gareth Southgate’s disposal and home advantage at play – with their group games and latter stages of the tournament at Wembley.
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The Three Lions have one of the very best strikers in the world in their ranks in Harry Kane, while he will be accompanied by world class talents such as Marcus Rashford in attack.
With the tournament just two months away, it seems every man their dog is drawing up their preferred XI and 23-man squad list.
However, in recent weeks, some big names have been sidelined with injury to deal Southgate some concerns ahead of the championship.
Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson would have been a certain starter but he has missed the last few months, while Declan Rice is sidelined having picked up a knee problem on international duty.
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Jack Grealish has also been ruled out with a shin injury, which is a blow for both Aston Villa and the nation.
That means the three players who may well have comrpised England’s starting midfield are injury doubts for the Croatia clash.
If Gareth Southgate had to pick his XI against Croatia right now, he’d have some enormous decisions to make and we at talkSPORT.com have explored, hypothetically, the XI we think he’d choose based on form and fitness.
Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson
Jordan Pickford has not let Southgate down during his five-year stint as England boss but if he had to choose his XI today he would not have the Everton man at his disposal as he’s only just returning from injury.
He has been out of action with an abdominal injury, while second choice Pope is also suffering shoulder problems.
Pope didn’t too much wrong during the last international break but he is not as capable with his feet as Pickford and was found out on the ball on a few occasions against Albania and Poland.
However, Manchester United goalkeeper Henderson is now seemingly Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s no.1 giving him a huge run at taking the England spot too. It’s going to be a fascinating battle.
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Defenders: Kyle Walker, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, John Stones
The right-back position in England’s XI is probably the fiercest spot for competition in the side.
Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kieran Trippier and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are all fighting for the same spot.
Right now, you’d have to say Walker is winning the race and on form he’d probably be Southgate’s top choice.
Alexander-Arnold is the most naturally gifted out of the lot offensively but Southgate does not trust him to do his defensive work – and while he netted against Aston Villa last weekend, his recent error against Real Madrid will have been noted by the Three Lions gaffer.
There are suggestions the 22-year-old could be left out of the squad for the tournament entirely due to those concerns.
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Walker also has the advantage over James and Trippier due to his partnership with City teammate Stones.
The 30-year-old, who has been pivotal for City as they canter to the Premier League title, will also appeal to Southgate for his experience in past tournaments and the fact he can play in a back three.
Harry Maguire would almost certainly partner Stones at the back, with both players flourishing for their respective clubs this season.
Shaw, who has also had a brilliant campaign for United, will occupy the left-back slot over Ben Chilwell due to the strong partnership he has formed with Maguire throughout the 2020/21 campaign.
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Midfielders: Kalvin Phillips, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount
With Rice and Henderson currently out, Leeds’ Phillips is the most natural defensive midfielder in Southgate’s ranks and that would him a certainty for one of the deeper spots in the midfield.
Who could partner him in the midfield is the more interesting debate.
Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse impressed in his cameo displays during the international break, but there’s no debating that Southgate would win over more fans if he chose Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham.
Bellingham, who is still just 17, just oozes class and was a standout performer for Dortmund in their loss to Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The youngster’s potential is frightening having shown composure on the ball way beyond his years this term.
Bellingham is a box-to-box midfielder but he would have to be more disciplined in his defensive duties if he was to partner Phillips in the XI.
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Mason Mount is a virtual certainty for the starting side anyway given his form and Grealish’s absence means in this XI, he would occupy the more advanced role in the midfield.
Mount has been excellent for Chelsea and England this season and many believe he should now be one of the first names on team sheet at Euro 2020.
He helped the Blues through to the Champions League semi-finals and could get them into the FA Cup final, and the top four in the coming weeks.
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Forwards: Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane
Raheem Sterling may have made his name as one of the Premier League’s finest players in recent seasons but in recent weeks he has fallen down the pecking order.
Competing for a spot in the England XI is Phil Foden and in recent weeks he’s been superb, helping them qualify for the Champions League semi-finals.
Rashford is likely to be the other winger, whether that’s in his regular role on the left, or on the right, where he has played previously
The United ace is having another brilliant campaign having hit his 20th goal in all competitions against Granada last Thursday.
The undisputed first name on the team sheet is Kane, England’s skipper and most important player.
If Kane, who has a staggering 19 goals and 13 assists in the Premier League this term, continues his brilliant form on the international stage this summer then the Three Lions have a great shot of winning the tournament.
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England’s XI vs Croatia on current form and fitness
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