MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 23:33:15| >> :600:132409:132409:

How England could line up at the Euros

Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how England could line up at this summer's European Championships.

England manager Gareth Southgate has a plethora of selection dilemmas in all areas of the pitch for this summer's rescheduled European Championships.

The Three Lions are gearing up for their first Euros campaign under Southgate, who will currently be focused on his side's ventures in qualification for the 2022 World Cup as England prepare to take on San Marino, Albania and Poland later this month.

However, the top performers in these fixtures could certainly give Southgate some selection headaches when it comes to this summer's continental tournament, and with the prospect of other players returning from injury in time to put their names in the hat, competition could hardly be more fierce for places in the setup.

With that in mind, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how England could line up at the Euros.


POSS ENG XI AT EUROS

Jordan Pickford's injury allows Nick Pope, Dean Henderson and the uncapped Sam Johnstone the chance to play their way into Southgate's good books, but England's number one is in no danger of losing his spot in the team when fully fit - especially after some stellar showings for Everton this term - so Pickford should act as the last line of defence if fully fit.

Three familiar faces are likely to line up in front of the Everton man, as John Stones's remarkable season at Manchester City means that he surely warrants a spot in defence over Eric Dier and Conor Coady, while Harry Maguire and Kyle Walker are likely to occupy the final spots in Southgate's customary back three, despite pressure from Michael Keane.

The England manager affirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold was dropped from the squad for March's fixtures due to tactical reasons, and with the likes of Reece James, Kieran Tripper, Matty Cash and maybe even Calum Chambers set to stake their claims for spots in the side, Alexander-Arnold's place on the right is far from safe.

However, if the Liverpool man can rediscover his best form in the business end of the season, he should be given the nod on that side, while Ben Chilwell will likely have to fend off the resurgent Luke Shaw and the ever-impressive Matt Targett if he wants to continue on the opposite side, although the Chelsea man has vast experience playing in a more advanced role compared to his rivals.

Jordan Henderson is set to anchor the midfield - so long as he manages to make a full recovery from his adductor problem in good time - and there should be no questions over Declan Rice's place in the team, with the 22-year-old leading West Ham United's charge for a Champions League spot.

The final third is where Southgate's real dilemma lies, as the England boss has an abundance of options to choose from when it comes to who will be providing support to Harry Kane, who is already up to sixth on the all-time top goalscorers list for the Three Lions.

Phil Foden, Mason Mount, Bukayo Saka and Mason Greenwood make up a selection of the brightest stars of tomorrow, while Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish can also feel optimistic about their chances, but two names stand out.

Jadon Sancho has taken a while to get going with Borussia Dortmund this season and is currently nursing a muscular problem, but the 20-year-old could earn Southgate's trust on the right, while Raheem Sterling is likely to complete the lineup in his favoured left-wing position.

ID:440308:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6990:
Written by
Ben Knapton
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
An injured Jordan Pickford on February 13, 2021
Read Next:
Everton, England keeper Pickford to miss rest of season?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!