England Euro 2020 Squad: Ante-Post

England’s journey to Euro2020 hit a bump in the road in Prague with a dreadful performance against Czech Republic tempering expectations ahead of next summer’s tournament. The Three Lions had previously been rampant in Group A, racking up goals and exposing their rivals with even more ruthlessness than Coleen Rooney. This narrative changed slightly when despite winning, they leaked three goals to a plucky Kosovo side in September, but few expected the horror show that unfolded at the Sinobo Stadium.

All of a sudden there are question marks hanging over the make up of Gareth Southgate’s squad. The England boss doesn’t choose his 23 until next May, and there could be plenty of changes between now and then. According to the current betting odds, Southgate’s 23 will look like this:

Pickford, Pope, Heaton

Walker, Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Rose, Maguire, Stones, Keane, Gomez

Henderson, Maddison, Alli, Rice, Mount, Barkley, Winks

Kane, Sterling, Rashford, Sancho, Abraham

It doesn’t take an expert to realise that there are a number of places potentially at risk here, with defence and midfield looking particularly up for grabs.

Defence

Since 2015, Kyle Walker had been England’s undisputed right-back. No player had played more minutes under Southgate. This all changed when the Man City defender was left out of England’s September fixtures, and then omitted again for the October away games against Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Walker remains 4/5 to make the cut, but as we’ve seen with Chris Smalling, once Southgate makes a bold call he doesn’t often to go back on it, and in Trent Alexander-Arnold (1/3), Kieran Trippier (6/4) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (2/1) he has serious competition. Trippier (6/4) has been picked in the last two squads since moving to Atletico Madrid, and his attacking qualities and set piece delivery means his price make most appeal in the race to be Alexander-Arnold’s understudy.

At centre back, England have real issues. It seems likely that £80m man Harry Maguire (1/5) is first choice, but who plays alongside him remains one of Southgate’s most pressing issues. Everton’s Michael Keane (5/4) has started England’s last three matches, but the former Burnley defender does not convince at international level. At the Nations League, John Stones (1/3) and Joe Gomez (1/2) started a game each, and if fit and playing regularly you’d expect both players to be included.

That however is a huge if. Both have had injury struggles in recent seasons, and neither are first choice at their club sides. Of their potential replacements, the odds make Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings (5/2) and Chelsea’s FikayoTomori (3/1) the favourites to take advantage. Both have started the 2019/20 season in good form, but neither have made their England debut at the time of writing. At the prices, Tomori looks the better value after a terrific start to his Chelsea career, but with so many doubts surrounding the England defence, it could be worth having a flyer at a bigger price. Lewis Dunk (16/1) has a sole cap to his name, but the Brighton captain has been a solid performer in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons, and with the Seagulls now playing the same passing football under Graham Potter that Southgate wants his England team to play, it’s not a stretch to see Dunk involved again soon at international level.

Midfield

If defence is a muddle, the picture surrounding England’s midfield is no clearer. Regulars Dele Alli (8/15) and Jesse Lingard (5/2) have both been dropped after sustained poor club form, with both now facing a battle to regain their places in Southgate’s thinking. Lingard in particular looks to have a job on his hands, with his previously good form for his country no longer enough for him to warrant inclusion. The emergence of James Maddison (4/9) and Mason Mount (4/6) means Alli and Lingard have strong competition, and there could be room for a different type of midfielder to take advantage if they can’t replicate the form that saw them play important roles in Russia. Jack Grealish (5/1) has made a decent start back in the Premier League for Villa, and it’s not hard to imagine the silky playmaker forcing his way into Southgate’s plans. He looks overpriced.

Another player at a backable price is Ruben Loftus-Cheek (11/4). The Chelsea midfielder would have gone to the Nations League barring an unfortunate injury, and if the 23-year-old returns to the level that saw him make a late charge into the 2018 World Cup squad, he looks a good bet to travel to another tournament. One more to consider at a huge price is James Ward-Prowse (20/1). The Southampton midfielder and former England U21s captain already has two caps to his name, and was part of the contingent as recently as March 2019.

Attack

If the defence and midfield pose a puzzle, then the attacking jigsaw looks much easier to solve. Harry Kane (1/25), Raheem Sterling (1/25) and Jadon Sancho (1/8) will be present unless injury strikes, and considering Marcus Rashford (1/5) has played more games than any other player under Gareth Southgate, it would be an almighty shock if the Man Utd striker did not join them. That likely leaves one attacking space to fill, with Callum Wilson (4/1), Tammy Abraham (8/11) and Callum Hudson-Odoi (6/5) all contenders to fill it. At the prices, it makes sense to side with Callum Wilson. The Bournemouth striker travelled to the Nations League and is proven in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons. The two Chelsea forwards are arguably more talented, but their prohibitive prices mean a chance is taken with Wilson.

Recommended bets

To make England’s Euro 2020 squad:

Fikayo Tomori (3/1) – Bet365

Callum Wilson (4/1) – Betfair

Jack Grealish (5/1) – Bet365

Lewis Dunk (16/1) – Betfair

James Ward-Prowse (20/1) – Betfair