GARETH SOUTHGATE’s World Cup England team would look completely different if the tournament started TOMORROW and was based on this season’s best performers.
Just four players who have featured under Southgate in the last two major tournaments make the starting XI.
Mainstay names Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Jordan Pickford, Kalvin Phillips, Luke Shaw, Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire, Jack Grealish, Reece James and John Stones all miss out after slow starts to the season.
Instead, three Newcastle players would be tasked with preventing goals.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope would start ahead of Pickford and Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale.
Pope has an average rating of 7.27, according to WhoScored.com, who use over 200 different statistics to rate players’ performances.
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Matt Targett and Kieran Trippier would start as Southgate’s full-backs.
The Magpies duo are rated at 6.98 and 7.37 respectively.
Trippier, like Pope has kept three clean sheets but also notched a superb free-kick against Manchester City.
Everton’s James Tarkowski would partner ex-Manchester United ace Chris Smalling in the heart of the defence.
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Smalling has started the campaign well with Roma under the management of Jose Mourinho.
The 32-year-old is averaging 0.7 tackles per game in the Serie A and 1.8 interceptions.
He also scored in the 1-0 win over Cremonese.
James Ward-Prowse, who was unlucky to miss out on the Euro 2020 squad, would be partnered by 19-year-old Jude Bellingham.
Both are showing their strengths defensively and offensively.
Bellingham for Borussia Dortmund is averaging three tackles per game, coupled with 1.7 interceptions per 90.
While going forward, he is pulling off 3.2 dribbles-a-game.
Ward-Prowse’s key passing has been impressive, in particular.
The 27-year-old Southampton captain is averaging 2.5 key passes a game in a new-look Saints side.
Euro 2020 starter Rice has had a relatively slow start to the season, as has his West Ham team-mates.
While Phillips is struggling to find consistent minutes at Man City.
Leeds’ Jack Harrison would man the left flank, with Bukayo Saka on the right.
Harrison has started the new season strong.
The 25-year-old scored the goal which kept Leeds in the top division on the final game of last season.
And his form has continued, scoring one and assisting THREE in six league games.
Harry Kane would be joined by in-form Brentford striker Ivan Toney up front.
Toney has the highest average rating out of all the starting players.
His five goals and two assists in the Premier League this season, including a hat-trick against Leeds, has earned him a rating of 7.76.
Strike partner Kane is his nearest rival having been rated at 7.53.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
