THE countdown to the World Cup is well and truly on, with just 53 days until the tournament kicks off in Qatar.
One week earlier, on November 13, Gareth Southgate will submit his 26-man England squad and — after the recent 1-0 defeat in Italy and spirited 3-3 home draw with Germany — he still has a number of selection worries to resolve before making his final picks.
Here, our SunSport reporters pick their England squad and first XI for our opener against Iran on November 21.
DAVE KIDD
I’D go with a back four, to allow another attacking player in support of Harry Kane.
With Harry Maguire’s confidence shot, I’m selecting Eric Dier alongside John Stones.
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Southgate will stick with his 5-2-3, though — which means Mason Mount may miss out in the November 21 opener against Iran.
There’s no Maguire or Trent Alexander-Arnold in my squad but I’d pick James Maddison.
SQUAD: Pickford, Ramsdale, D Henderson, James, Walker, Trippier, Shaw, Chilwell, Stones, Dier, Tomori, White, Guehi, Rice, Bellingham, Phillips, J Henderson, Maddison, Saka, Mount, Grealish, Foden, Sterling, Kane, Rashford, Abraham.
LINE-UP: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Dier, Shaw; Rice, Mount, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Sterling (4-3-3)
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CHARLIE WYETT
SOUTHGATE should stick with a back three even though it is unpopular.
The only way to progress at a World Cup is by being cautious rather than gung-ho. Despite his talent, Phil Foden is not doing enough to get into the starting XI.
The squad pretty much picks itself. But there is no room for Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho or Conor Coady.
SQUAD: Pickford, Pope, Ramsdale, Walker, James, Trippier, White, Maguire, Tomori, Dier, Chilwell, Shaw, Bellingham, Rice, J Henderson, Ward-Prowse, Phillips, Mount, Abraham, Bowen, Foden, Grealish, Kane, Saka, Sterling, Toney.
LINE-UP: Pickford; Stones, Dier, Maguire; Trippier, Bellingham, Rice, Shaw; Saka, Kane, Sterling (3-4-3)
MARK IRWIN
ENGLAND need to take risks and play with the handbrake off in Qatar, so four at the back and an extra attacking player.
Fikayo Tomori replaces Harry Maguire at centre-half and Mason Mount gets the nod over Phil Foden who has not really done it for England yet. Trent Alexander-Arnold is unlucky not to get in, while James Ward-Prowse makes the cut for his free-kick ability.
SQUAD: Pickford, Ramsdale, D Henderson, James, Trippier, Walker, Stones, White, Maguire, Dier, Tomori, Shaw, Chilwell, Rice, Bellingham, Phillips, Ward-Prowse, J Henderson, Sterling, Saka, Mount, Foden, Kane, Rashford, Grealish, Calvert-Lewin.
LINE-UP: Pickford; James, Stones, Tomori, Shaw; Mount, Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Sterling (4-3-3)
PHIL THOMAS
JACK GREALISH would be the main man for most countries, and an attacking midfield trio alongside Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden would be as good as any.
Striker Tammy Abraham has proved himself at Roma and gets in the squad ahead of Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins.
SQUAD: Pickford, D Henderson, Ramsdale, James, Stones, Dier, Shaw, Maguire, Chilwell, Walker, Trippier, Tarkowski, Guehi, Bellingham, Rice, Foden, Grealish, Mount, Maddison, Saka, J Henderson, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling, Abraham.
LINE-UP: Pickford; James; Stones, Dier, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice; Sterling, Grealish, Foden; Kane (4-2-3-1)
MARTIN LIPTON
BUKAYO SAKA proved in 25 minutes against Germany why he has to start against Iran.
But there has to be a casualty and for me that is Raheem Sterling.
Tyrick Mitchell is my wildcard at left wing-back so no squad place for Luke Shaw. Marcus Rashford, if fit, travels but not Jadon Sancho.
SQUAD: Pickford, Ramsdale, Pope, Walker, Stones, Dier, Tomori, Maguire, Guehi, James, Alexander-Arnold, Trippier, Mitchell, Chilwell, Rice, Bellingham, J Henderson, Ward-Prowse, Saka, Foden, Grealish, Mount, Sterling, Kane, Rashford, Abraham.
LINE-UP: Pickford; Stones, Dier, Tomori; James, Rice, Bellingham, Mitchell; Saka, Kane, Foden (3-4-2-1)
TOM BARCLAY
AARON RAMSDALE is our most complete goalkeeper.
Clubmate Ben White adds mobility to the defence in front of him.
Getting the best out of Foden and Jude Bellingham will be crucial.
Why Southgate has overlooked Lewis Dunk is anyone’s guess, he has been Brighton’s best player.
SQUAD: Pickford, Ramsdale, Pope, James, Walker, Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Shaw, Stones, Dier, Dunk, White, Tomori, Rice, Bellingham, J Henderson, Ward-Prowse, Mount, Saka, Sterling, Grealish, Foden, Sancho, Rashford, Kane, Abraham.
LINE-UP: Ramsdale; James, White, Stones, Chilwell; Rice, Bellingham, Foden; Saka, Kane, Sterling (4-3-3)
JORDAN DAVIES
NO way Maguire makes the starting XI — he is a walking disaster.
Having four at the back will allow the midfield three, Mount especially, to venture forward more.
Saka must be a shoo-in for his attacking threat. Alexander-Arnold, who has the X-factor the squad could need, goes ahead of Trippier.
SQUAD: Pickford, Pope, Ramsdale, Stones, Dier, Maguire, Coady, White, Tomori, Shaw, James, Alexander-Arnold, Walker, Chilwell, Rice, Bellingham, J Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Kane, Saka, Foden, Sterling, Abraham, Rashford, Grealish.
LINE-UP: Pickford; James, Stones, Dier, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Mount; Saka, Kane, Sterling (4-3-3)
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
