Gareth Southgate will choose the England squad for the World Cup in Qatar in a few days as fans get ready to add it to World Cup predictions.
But who will be selected? This will be England’s seventh consecutive World Cup appearance, and they seek to win for the first time since 1966.
Gareth Southgate has a strong pool of players for the World Cup, but their poor performance in the Nations League will cause him concern.
There will always be players who are anticipated to participate but do not due to strategy, injury, or other unforeseeable circumstances.
Reece James’ knee injury versus Milan in the Champions League will surely prevent him from participating in the competition in Qatar. Ben Chilwell’s hamstring injury, meanwhile, has rendered him ineligible for the World Cup.
This year, Southgate will have the option of selecting 26 players as opposed to 23. This is because of the peculiar middle structure of the season.
Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka will be among the first names on the list. Chelsea’s Reece James, who injured his knee in the Champions League, is in a race against the clock to recover.
Group B consists of England, the United States, Wales, and Iran. The Three Lions are certain they will advance to the next round.
Potential Squad Call Up
Even though the deadline is not until November 13, Southgate will likely announce England’s World Cup roster on November 10.
Southgate is certain that his squad can win the tournament, but they will need to be “nearly faultless” in the Persian Gulf.
England’s preparations were hindered this summer because they failed to win any of their six games and were eliminated from the Nations League.
One player that is sure not to miss is captain Harry Kane, who has been performing admirably, while Jordan Pickford, who has been performing admirably for Everton, seems to cement his place in the squad.
Much will depend on Harry Kane’s performance. The Tottenham captain has been scoring goals and has enjoyed an injury-free spell for the Premier League’s Tottenham.
England will hope he is in peak physical condition when they travel to Qatar. Since Kane began training with a new physio, his physique has improved, and the 29-year-old is determined to surpass Wayne Rooney’s England record of 53 goals. It would be odd if Kane did not surpass Rooney’s record in Qatar.
No one doubts that Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, and Phil Foden are all spearheading the attack on the 26-man roster.
Jack Grealish’s ingenuity will be crucial on the wing. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, two Manchester United players, may be considered.
Nick Pope of Newcastle United and the legendary Aaron Ramsdale will want to battle it out for a spot with Pickford before the World Cup; thus, they should be included in the roster of 26.
Ben White, who has been instrumental in the Gunners’ excellent start to the season, has been asked to join the squad due to a lack of right-backs.
Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace and Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United will also be awaiting word on whether or not they have performed well enough to board the plane.
Other players, including Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, are still recovering from injuries and are therefore questionable. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was injured during the weekend.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luke Shaw, and Harry Maguire have all been criticized throughout the 2022–23 season, and the latter two are currently competing for regular playing time with their respective clubs.
Two Chelsea defenders, Reece James, and Ben Chilwell will be unable to participate in the World Cup due to injury. Kyle Walker is also uncertain about his participation due to physical issues.
Notable Players
One player not to miss ought to be Declan Rice. The West Ham captain should be a valuable asset for the team, and his ability to be in the right position at the right time makes him a crucial member of England’s defence.
England’s defence could need a boost with Rice’s assistance. His ability to obtain the ball is unparalleled, and how he plays his position should aid Bellingham’s ascent. Southgate has come to rely on Rice because of his excellent passing range.
One of England’s most experienced football managers, Harry Redknapp, believes Southgate should select players based on their current form rather than their reputation.
In 12 league games this season, James Maddison, a midfielder for Leicester City, has scored six goals and assisted four others. Redknapp believes Maddison should be selected alongside Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka, and Mason Mount.