GiveMeSport
·20 June 2022
GiveMeSport
·20 June 2022
The 2022 World Cup is just five months away.
England will go into the competition as one of the favourites.
The Three Lions got to the semi-finals in 2018 and will look to make up for that near-miss in Qatar.
Gareth Southgate has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.
England are stacked pretty much all over the park. There’s only a few players in the side that have nailed down a place in the side.
So, with so many players competing for a place in the team, who will Southgate choose to play for England’s opening game against Iran on November 21?
BBC Sport asked their readers to pick the England XI they’d choose to play against Iran if the competition started tomorrow.
A vote was held and BBC have named the most popular selections. View it below…
GK: Jordan Pickford
Pickford has never let England down. He has been chosen in the side ahead of Aaron Ramsdale.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold
England have so many right-backs, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Kyle Walker. It’s the Liverpool man who gets the nod.
CB: Harry Maguire
This is a controversial selection given his form for Manchester United over the past season. He rarely lets England down, though, and was colossal during the Three Lions’ run to the Euro 2020 final last year.
CB: John Stones
Stones has been solid for City this campaign. He has been named in the side ahead of AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori.
LB: Ben Chilwell
Chilwell sustained a serious knee injury in November 2021 but returned right at the end of the campaign. He will be competing with Luke Shaw for a starter spot.
CM: Declan Rice
CM: Jude Bellingham
Bellingham, just 18, is one of the best young players in the world. Despite his age, he seems likely to start in Qatar.
CM: Phil Foden
Foden’s talent is undeniable but he’s struggled to produce in an England shirt. If he hits form at the World Cup, England will be very tough to stop.
LW: Jack Grealish
Grealish underwhelmed for Man City over the 2021/22 season, directly contributing to just 10 goals following his £100m move from Aston Villa. Despite that, England fans want to see him in the side against Iran.
RW: Raheem Sterling
Like Grealish, Sterling also underwhelmed for Man City in 2021/22. But he always produces his best stuff for England. He’s been chosen in the team ahead of Bukayo Saka.
ST: Harry Kane
If Kane is fully fit he has to start. He is undroppable.
Among the players that miss out on the side include Ramsdale, James, Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford.