It’s almost time for World Cup 2022 and Gareth Southgate has released his 26-man England squad ahead of the trip to Qatar. We’ve taken a look at the Three Lions, picked out some key players for the upcoming tournament and discussed who is unlucky to have missed out.
Check out the latest live football odds for the World Cup at NetBet Sport, including boosted odds on England to lift the trophy at 10/1!
England Squad – Has Southgate got it right?
Gareth Southgate released his World Cup squad on Thursday, which has of course got the nation arguing. A large bulk of those selected were also present in the Euro 2020 squad, with the increase from 23 to 26 players allowing for a few wildcards.
The inclusion of James Maddison is a welcome one, with the majority in agreement that his Leicester form was worthy of a call-up. The only real shock exclusion from the squad is Fikayo Tomori, who played a crucial role in AC Milan’s Serie A winning campaign last season. The 24-year-old has featured in every game for Milan thus far in 2022/23, leading many to believe he deserved a place ahead of either Conor Coady or Harry Maguire.
Southgate’s centre forward selection has also been up for debate. Harry Kane is almost un-droppable, with Callum Wilson preferred over in-form Ivan Toney and Roma’s Tammy Abraham. As well as Abraham, Southgate cited form as the reason for Jadon Sancho’s omission. The former Dortmund star has failed to hit the ground running since swapping Germany for England and will miss out on Qatar as a result.
There is a nice balance to this England squad. Experienced internationals make up a solid core, with incredibly talented youngsters littered throughout the squad. You can find Southgate’s boys at 10/1 to win the tournament with NetBet, or at 4/1 to reach a second successive major final.
World Cup 2022: England’s Key Players
There are three players that stand out to us as having the potential to drive England towards a long-awaited trophy. Kane is the obvious one. England’s captain is breathing down the neck of all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney and is vital in his nation’s tournament progression. Whether it’s for his creativity or finishing, you want Kane with the ball at his feet.
Declan Rice could be instrumental in the latter stages, providing England successfully navigate their group that is. He is likely to sit at the base of England’s midfield, responsible for stemming opposition transitions, as well as launching attacks with a range of passing. Rice’s defensive initiative will be pivotal against the bigger sides.
Jude Bellingham is primed for a mammoth breakthrough tournament. He’s hardly a hidden gem anymore – the 19-year-old has already captained Dortmund and is in fine domestic form this season. The box-to-box midfielder is as assured and aggressive in the tackle as he is tiptoeing round defenders in the final third. There’s a good chance Bellingham increases his already enormous transfer value in Qatar.
England Squad
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Benjamin White, Eric Dier, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Conor Coady, Luke Shaw
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher, James Maddison
Forwards: Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Callum Wilson, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish
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