Gareth Southgate will reduce his provisional 33-man squad to a maximum of 26 names on Tuesday before this summer’s Euro Cup.
The tournament was delayed 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic, but it starts on June 11.
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Southgate has a big decision to make about his Euro team
The Premier League season ended last week with key players escaping unscathed and Southgate also got a boost from seeing Jordan Henderson on the Liverpool bench.
The England manager was supposed to name his 26 finalists for the tournament last Tuesday, but decided to name an expanded 33-man roster to give himself more time.
The Europa League and Champions League finals were played this week with many English players in action, but luckily it seems they all came out unscathed.
Speaking of his decision to appoint a 33-man team, Southgate explained: “I think our situation is more complicated than in any other country at the moment.
“We have known for a long time that of these 33, 12 players still have to play in the European final this week, so we were always going to need some extra players for the first part of the camp.”
Full Provisional England Squad of 33 Men
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Man Utd), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Sheff Utd)
Defenders: John Stones (Man City), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Lobos), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Kieran Trippier (Atlético de Madrid), Ben White (Brighton)
Midfielders: Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Jesse Lingard (Man Utd), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Forward: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Mason Greenwood (Man Utd), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Managers can select 26 players instead of the usual 23 for the European Championship to help reduce the burden on players.
Changes can be made to their team until the final presentation date of June 1, while players who are injured can be replaced before the first game of the tournament.
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Southgate looks ready to leave Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the England team
Here’s who talkSPORT.com thinks Southgate will select from its 26-man squad on Tuesday.
Goalkeepers
Goalkeeper Nick Pope was ruled out with injury as he requires surgery for a knee problem. With Pope injured, this means that Sam Johnstone will take his place.
Jordan Pickford and Dean Henderson are the other two goalkeepers who are sure to be named to the team. Aaron Ramsdale is the name that will likely be lost.
Pickford has been Southgate’s preferred choice for some time and is likely to start England’s first game of the tournament.
Who’s Missing: Aaron Ramsdale
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Pickford has been one of Southgate’s favorites in the past
Defenders
Harry Maguire has been struggling with an injury he sustained for the past three weeks and missed Wednesday’s Europa League final. But there is hope that he is ready for the Euro and Southgate is likely to pick the man from Man United, even if he enters the tournament not fully fit.
The other centers likely to be selected are John Stones, Tyrone Mings and Conor Coady. The unlucky ones are Ben White and Ben Godfrey, with Kyle Walker and Declan Rice able to fill them in if the need arises.
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Reece James looks set to beat Alexander-Arnold to a place on the England team
The right-back position is likely to cause the most headaches with Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker all vying for a spot.
James shone in the Champions League final, while Walker has been excellent in recent months.
If Southgate selected three, the most likely would be Walker, James and Trippier with Alexander-Arnold missing.
Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw are possible inclusions, as both have had good seasons for Chelsea and Manchester United, respectively.
Who’s Missing: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Godfrey, Ben White.
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Luke Shaw has had one of his best seasons with Manchester United
Midfielders
Henderson’s return to the Liverpool bench was a boost for Southgate, but the midfielder hasn’t played at all since February.
Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips are the other defensive midfield options available, and both play a key role in the international break in March.
It will be difficult to decide who to leave out and could depend on Jude Bellingham or James Ward-Prowse. Mason Mount and Jesse Lingard are almost certain inclusions following their brilliant club form.
Who gets lost: James Ward-Prowse
Lingard played his way back into the England contest while on loan to West Ham
Forward
England are blessed with so many attacking options that it will be difficult for Southgate to miss out on some players.
Harry Kane will be the first name on the team roster alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho.
Mason Greenwood has been excellent for Man United in recent weeks and is likely to be chosen, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin will back Kane.
Phil Foden has been brilliant for Man City and was unlucky not to be a Champions League winner, while Jack Grealish is likely to leave despite missing several games at the end of the season.
It will be a tough call, but Bukayo Saka and Ollie Watkins may be the two to be skipped.
Who’s Missing: Bukayo Saka, Ollie Watkins
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Harry Kane to be the first name on Southgate’s team
England full team
Henderson, Pickford, Johnstone; Chilwell, Coady, James, Maguire, Mings, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker; Bellingham, Henderson, Lingard, Mount, Phillips, Rice; Calvert-Lewin, Foden, Grealish, Greenwood, Kane, Rashford, Sterling, Sancho.
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