England Best XI for Euro 2024 qualifiers: Everton and Tottenham stars feature | OneFootball

England and Australia face off at Wembley Stadium for a friendly meeting between the two sides on Friday.

They then switch their attention to qualification for next summer’s European Championships with a game against Italy.

Here’s the expected line-up to represent the Three Lions in their upcoming matches.

GK: Jordan Pickford

Jordan Pickford became the first goalkeeper to keep five clean sheets across the first five games of a European Championships, after England’s 4-0 victory over Ukraine in July.

Pickford kept his first clean sheet of the season against Bournemouth last weekend. Fellow English goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, has been relegated to the bench since the arrival of David Raya while Sam Johnstone has kept the most clean sheets in the league.

However, Pickford has been England’s undisputed number one and will likely be first choice when the Three Lions face Italy.

RB: Kyle Walker

Walker had a standout performance against Ukraine, showcasing his abilities both defensively and offensively.

He effectively neutralised the threat posed by Mykhailo Mudryk throughout the match and capped off his performance with a well-taken goal, marking his first for the England national team.

The 33-year-old will aim to retain his place at right back when the Three Lions host Italy.

LB: Kieran Trippier

Following the absence of Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell, Kieran Trippier is set to deputise at left-back having previously proved his versatility in the past.

Trippier has continued his fine form this season recording five assists and leading the Premier League defenders with the most progressive passes and big chance creation.

The Newcastle United defender could provide Gareth Southgate with defensive rigidity and could also prove his attacking prowess at the opposite end of the pitch.

CB: Lewis Dunk

Lewis Dunk’s exceptional form at Brighton & Hove Albion has earned him an England call-up, with Gareth Southgate including the Seagulls’ captain in the squad for the upcoming games.

Dunk’s performances for Brighton have been remarkable, helping the club secure European qualification for the first time in its history.

CB: Harry Maguire

Despite facing criticism at Manchester United, Harry Maguire has been a commanding presence at the heart of England’s adaptable defensive set-up.

He was recognised as a key member of UEFA’s official team of the tournament for Euro 2020, showcasing his consistency as one of the national team’s most reliable defenders.

Maguire has missed just one competitive international match since 2021. This was the 4-0 Nations League loss to Hungary in June 2022 – England’s most significant home defeat since 1928.

Maguire’s spirited performance against Brentford last weekend suggests he’s ready to replicate such displays for the Three Lions against Italy.

DM: Declan Rice

Declan Rice has become a key member of Mikel Arteta’s table-topping Arsenal.

The 24-year-old’s defensive rigidity will provide cover for Jude Bellingham who is expected to continue his goal threat when the Three Lions face Italy.

CM: Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham’s remarkable form has played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s surge to the top of La Liga.

His high-profile transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid for €103 million this summer came with great expectations, and he has exceeded them.

Bellingham not only brought a new dimension to Madrid’s midfield but also filled the void left by Karim Benzema’s departure in terms of goalscoring.

He has scored ten goals, including eight in La Liga. Among those, five were crucial late winners, and he recently scored a brace in a 4-0 victory over Osasuna, making him the top scorer in La Liga.

Bellingham continued his scoring spree in the Champions League, netting a late winner against Union Berlin and contributing to a 3-2 victory over Napoli.

AMF: James Maddison

James Maddison has established himself as one of the Premier League’s top attacking midfielders, and his performances since joining Tottenham Hotspur have been exceptional.

The 26-year-old leads the Premier League in chances created this season, with an impressive tally of 25. He has also secured the top spot in the Playmaker Award chart with five assists, adding to his two goals.

His creative prowess was evident from the opening weekend when he provided two assists in a 2-2 draw against Brentford.

Maddison continued his impressive form by scoring in consecutive away games against Bournemouth and Burnley.

He contributed another brace of assists in a match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and assisted the winning goal against Luton Town.

The 26-year-old will aim to get a starting berth in Gareth Southgate’s starting line-up in the upcoming matches.

RW: Jarred Bowen

Jarred Bowen will hope to feature at England’s friendly with Australia as well as the game against Italy.

The 26-year-old is enjoying an impressive Premier League season after scoring five goals.

With the withdrawal of Bukayo Saka, Southgate can rely on the form of Bowen in their upcoming matches.

LW: Phil Foden

Phil Foden has recently been a mainstay in Gareth Southgate’s squad. The 23-year-old repaid his faith by netting against Scotland and will hope to retain his place in the Three Lions’ upcoming fixtures.

CF: Harry Kane

Harry Kane will lead his troops out for both games. Kane has been in fine form for Bayern Munich since his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur and will hope to extend his record goalscoring record of 59 goals for England in the upcoming matches.