Picking the England XI at Euro 2020 - Winners and losers from latest international break

The next time Gareth Southgate announces his England squad it will be for Euro 2020. It is likely the man in the England hot-seat knows the bulk of his squad already, but anything can happen from now until the end of the season with freak injuries and form. Who would have thought Jesse Lingard would be in with a chance of going to the Euros at the start of the year?

While there are probably only a few spaces left in Southgate's squad, what is less certain is England's best starting XI with everyone available. After months persisting with a back three, England played with a back four in all three World Cup qualifiers during the most recent break.

With attacking talent coming out of his ears, how will Southgate manage to get them all in the team. And is it even important that he does? We asked our senior writers to dip their toes into Southgate's shoes and pick their best England XI to attack this summer's tournament. Marin Laurence, Ben McAleer and Josh Wright all produced different blueprints to sucess.

Martin Laurence

Starting XI (4231): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Henderson; Sterling, Mount, Grealish; Kane

Having been expected to return to a back three against Poland, Gareth Southgate persisted with a 4-2-3-1 formation. While Robert Lewandowski's injury may have played a part, it's the set up that allows him to get as many of his attacking talents in the team as possible, so I'd stick with it.

Nick Pope had a shaky international break without really having anything to do so that would concern me. As much as his form for his club is sketchy, Jordan Pickford would get the nod for me as a result having not really put a foot – or a glove - wrong in an England shirt.

Despite his error in the week, the centre-back pairing picks itself in a back four, with Stones partnering Harry Maguire, though were it a three, Ezri Konsa would get my vote on the right. The full-back positions are more tricky but considering it's a four I've opted for, Trent Alexander-Arnold, who I believe is still England's best right-back on his day, and those days have been more frequent of late. He would get my vote just ahead of Kieran Trippier, who is having an excellent season with Atletico.

Luke Shaw versus Ben Chilwell is a real toss up in my opinion. I would go with Chilwell against weaker teams and Shaw against stronger, when a solid defence is more of a priority, so I'll go for the Manchester United man. Delivery from wide and indeed set pieces are always a real asset in tournament football, so he and Trent are strong options.
Declan Rice had the stronger break than Phillips for me, and I just don't see the two as an effective pairing. Jordan Henderson offers more dynamism than the latter, and Rice is the strongest ball winner of the three so that would be the base of my midfield.

Mason Mount has been the real revelation for England this season, running with his coaches pet label quite literally and proving his doubters wrong for both club and country. There's a reason his coaches love him, and his work rate in and out of possession now looks a must have in this England side.

Raheem Sterling's experience and direct dribbling would earn him my spot on the right – nominally at least, in a very fluid three - ahead of Jadon Sancho. On the left, if he can return to form having just returned to fitness, which is a significant if, Jack Grealish offers something different to any other player - not just in the England ranks but at the tournament overall in my opinion. He's the one I feel is most capable of unlocking a defence, with Phil Foden a tantalisingly close second.

Harry Kane up front. Enough said...

Ben McAleer

Starting XI (433): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Henderson, Phillips, Mount; Sterling, Kane, Rashford

With the European Championship's fast approaching, Gareth Southgate needs to settle on his ideal XI sooner rather than later. England will once again be one of the favourites to lift the trophy this summer, and with the final at Wembley, the Three Lions would relish the chance to secure a first major piece of silverware since 1966 on home turf.
Southgate will already have an idea on his preferred XI, and while I may not be able to pull off a waistcoat quite as well as the England boss, this is the England side I'd like to see for England this summer.

Starting from the back, Nick Pope stepped in well for England over the international break, keeping clean sheets in wins over San Marino and Albania, however his distribution was found wanting in the 2-1 win over Poland. Jordan Pickford has his critics, but he offers more with the ball at his feet for an England side that looks to build from the back, so the Everton man edges his Burnley counterpart here.

The full-backs are tough to decide, particularly at right-back. Gareth Southgate is inundated with options for the role, but at present, I'd have to settle for Kyle Walker. Trent Alexander-Arnold has underwhelmed for Liverpool, while Reece James and Kieran Trippier are further options, but Walker has the experience and affords Southgate greater tactical flexibility having played as a right centre-back in a back three for England in the past.

At left-back, Luke Shaw has excelled in a Manchester United shirt and his return to the international fold is completely deserved. With Ben Chilwell struggling for game time under Thomas Tuchel, Shaw is the ideal step in.

A midfield three of Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips and Mason Mount means there is no space for Declan Rice and Jack Grealish. Both deserve to be in the squad, but Phillips is perhaps the better distributor of the ball of he and Rice. Mount's international experience stands him in better stead than Grealish, though it's nice for Southgate to have options.

On the frontline, two of three spots are already sewn up. Harry Kane will lead the charge as England captain this summer and the Tottenham man and Manchester City star Raheem Sterling have forged a solid understanding on the international stage.

The question, then, is who lines up on the left wing role. Grealish is an option out wide, so too are youngsters Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, though the latter is perhaps viewed as a deputy for Sterling on the right. Personally, I'd still go for the tried and tested Marcus Rashford on the left flank. Injuries prevented the Manchester United man from proving his worth for England in March, yet he is still the internationally experienced option to call upon, and perhaps the best fit given his partnership with Kane and Sterling in previous seasons.

Josh Wright 

Starting XI (4231): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham; Sterling, Mount, Foden; Kane

For all of Jordan Pickford’s flaws, I don’t think there is an obviously superior goalkeeper to him for England at the moment. He is at least best suited to playing out from the back and that probably just about shades it for me. John Stones’ mistake against Poland is obviously untimely but there isn’t a better combination than him and Harry Maguire for now, while Luke Shaw on current form edges Ben Chilwell.

The big issue is at right-back. It has been clear for some time Gareth Southgate has reservations over Trent Alexander-Arnold and it would not at all surprise me if he did not even go to the Euros this summer. England are stacked in that position in fairness but it’s crazy to think there may not even be a place in the squad for someone of Alexander-Arnold’s brilliance. His form has dipped, admittedly, but what he has achieved over the last few years at the age of 22 is outrageous. It’s no slight on the others, but Alexander-Arnold needs the same trust for England he has for Liverpool.

Kalvin Phillips seems to have the edge to start in England’s midfield this summer but for me I would love to see Jude Bellingham thrown in there. I’ve been pretty set on him since his display against Sevilla in the Champions League last month. His performance really stuck with me. It is obviously quite a basic line of thought but if he can perform with that level of confidence in Champions League knockout football, at the age of 17, he can start for England.

In attack is where it is going to be tough for Southgate this summer. Mason Mount fully deserves to be a guaranteed starter for England. He is such a brilliant player; tactically smart, hard-working and surprisingly durable. He has really impressed for club and country this season. Harry Kane obviously has nothing to worry about, leaving Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish battling for two spots in the team. I’ve changed my mind so many times but have finally opted for Manchester City pair Sterling and Foden either side of Kane.

Foden has really kicked on since the turn of the year and playing with such authority for City at the moment. Some of his touches for England during the break were out of this world and there is the added bonus he should be relatively fresh for the summer as Pep Guardiola isn’t bothered to bench him for a few games at a time. I'd personally enjoy watching Grealish and Sancho over Sterling but the City forward has to be in the side. Grealish, Sancho and Foden aren’t slow by any means but they do tend to play at the same tempo. Obviously, Sterling is more than just pace, but the fact he has that extra gear compared to the others is important. He is also far more experienced and my England team does generally lack that in midfield and attack.