Under manager Gareth Southgate, the Three Lions will look to build on their success from the previous two major competitions and win their first international trophy since 1966. England’s Nations League campaign was a complete failure, with them going 0-4, being dropped to Group B, and not scoring until that insane 3-3 tie with Germany.
While Italy defeated England on penalties in the Euro 2020 championship game at Wembley, England exceeded expectations by making the 2018 World Cup semifinals in Russia.
Squad:
Coach: Gareth Southgate.
Captain: Harry Kane.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale.
Defenders: Harry Maguire, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Luke Shaw, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eric Dier, Conor Coady, Ben White.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, James Maddison, Conor Gallagher.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling , Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Callum Wilson.
Fixtures:
Group Stage Fixture Schedule
- England vs. Iran – November 21, 6.30 p.m.
- England vs. United States – November 26, 12.30 p.m.
- England vs. Wales – November 30, 12.30 a.m.
Team News:
First, it’s important to note that it’s unclear whether Southgate will use a back 3 or a back 4. Trippier will presumably play as a right-sided full-back alongside Shaw on the other flank because Kyle Walker is injured, but it’s unclear who will play in between them. The XI will have two each of Shaw, Stones, and Maguire. Given Iran’s relative strength, if I had to pick (and I do), it could seem more likely that Southgate chooses to play a back 4 with an additional midfielder/attacker.
Although Southgate rates the connection between the former Leeds United player and Declan Rice highly, Kalvin Phillips remains a doubt in the midfield due to a lack of playing time. Jude Bellingham is another name that is always being mentioned, and his impressive results for Dortmund indicate that he will likely start the game. The other uncertainty is James Maddison, who hasn’t trained in the last two days, but he was never going to make the starting XI.
England’s predicted XI:
Goal Keeper: Pickford.
Defenders: Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw.
Midfielders: Rice, Bellingham, Mount.
Forwards: Sterling, Foden, Kane (C).
