3 Notes on Gareth Southgate's World Cup Squad
Gareth Southgate became the latest international coach to name his squad for the World Cup on Thursday [10 November]. As is tradition, his picks for the Three Lions have proven divisive:
England’s squad is built around the same core that came within a penalty shootout of winning the Euros in 2021. Consequentially, few players who were seeking a call-up received one.
As always, there’s plenty to discuss.
Status Quo Reigns Supreme in Defence
Marc Guehi, Fikayo Tomori and Chris Smalling are notable — and controversial — omissions in defence. Reece James also missed out, albeit due to injury.
Harry Maguire’s inclusion is, understandably, a sensitive subject. He’s only made one Premier League start (in a win over West Ham) since August and seems to be a shadow of his former self.
But he has Southgate’s trust — which is a more valuable commodity than form these days.
“I think before the number one pick would always be Harry Maguire for Gareth Southgate, and what he’s done in tournaments for England,” Jamie Carragher has said.
“But on the back of what happened in the last internationals, how it’s gone for him at Manchester United, I think it’s really difficult to pick him.”
Maguire will fly to Qatar under extraordinary pressure. If he commits another gaffe, Southgate’s decision to pick him over in-form alternatives will come under enormous scrutiny.
Ben White’s inclusion jumps out the screen for two reasons:
He’s a rare example of a player breaking through the status quo
His selection implies that England will stick with their 3-4-3
It’s impossible to overstate the importance of England’s defence to their chances of success in Qatar. If they leak like a rusty tap while Tomori is kicking back in Milan, Southgate will pay with his job.
(Sidenote: England’s squad only includes one natural left-back. That’s bold.)
Surprise Inclusions: James Maddison and Conor Gallagher
Jarrod Bowen’s poor form opened the door for James Maddison to break back into the squad and the Leicester City playmaker seized the opportunity.
Maddison — who recently told Sky Sports that he didn’t expect to make the cut — has six goals and four assists on the season and absolutely deserves his spot on the plane to Qatar.
Related: James Maddison: The Jewel in Leicester City’s Crown
But what about Conor Gallagher, who has one goal and one assist in 11 appearances for Chelsea? His inclusion doesn’t make sense for two reasons.
Gallagher is at his best when deployed as a No. 10, a role Southgate uses rarely
He isn’t one of England’s best attacking midfielders and has struggled in central midfield for his club
It’s an odd call.
Harry Kane Will Feel Offensive Burden
Ivan Toney’s omission isn’t a shock. He’s never been a central part of the squad and was always an outside bet to crack the roster. However, his absence could create issues for Southgate — who travels to Qatar with just two full-time centre-forwards.
Toney is exactly the kind of forward that could save England in difficult moments, not least because he’s a specialist from the penalty spot. He’s also an aerial threat and an absolute pain to play against.
Tammy Abraham will also be disappointed to miss out. The former Chelsea forward has been a breath of fresh air in Serie A and — like Toney — would’ve added something different to the England squad.
As a result, Harry Kane is under even more pressure than usual. If he doesn’t score in bucketloads (or suffers an injury), Callum Wilson is his only certified backup. It’s a risky call from an already under-fire coach.
Quickly…
What will Jordan Henderson’s role be in Qatar? He hasn’t played well enough this season to justify a starter’s job.
There’s little to say about England’s trio of goalkeepers: the net remains Jordan Pickford’s to lose.
Kalvin Phillips has barely played for Manchester City: who will partner Declan Rice in central midfield?
Conor Coady over Guehi and Tomori feels… bold.
Raheem Sterling is out of form: will he keep his place in the starting eleven? If not, who will replace him?