On Thursday, England manager Gareth Southgate will announce his list of players for the World Cup. What are some of the top talking points?
The squad is announced on Thursday afternoon, considered the final release day. The named team ensures it will be the final one for Qatar.
The World Cup runs from November 20 to December 18, so remember to mark your calendars!
Southgate offers a platform for the community to vocalize their concerns, which is an excellent option for community members who might be uncomfortable submitting these issues directly to Southgate.
Who will take advantage of full-back injuries?
After Gareth Southgate initially announced his Euro 2020 squad, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold was the only right-back left without a spot.
Alexander-Arnold’s patchy form this season might lead to his exclusion from Qatar.
There’s a lot of uncertainty on the status of Manchester City defender Kyle Walker and Chelsea defender Reece James, who are both out injured.
Defender Kieran Trippier has been the only player in the Newcastle United squad who has been assured of a place on their Premier League starting lineup.
Defender Ben White, who’s spent much of his career playing in central defense, has also played the whole season at right-back for Arsenal FC – he could be an option too.
One of the only issues currently is Ben Chilwell’s left-back position, still sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Crystal Palace center-back Marc Guehi is a versatile player that can also play on the left, which increases his chances of being called up to the national team.
Who could be a wildcard in midfield or the wing?
Several midfielders were automatically on the plane – Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, West Ham’s Declan Rice, and Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham.
With a central midfielder making his way to England, now is the perfect time to get your Southampton season tickets. Walcott would surely be a surprise. James Ward-Prowse or Conor Gallagher? Whichever one you choose, it’s going to be a treat.
Who will go with Kane up front?
There’s been a lot of speculation about who should start as the backup striker for Chelsea. Since there are few options, each position is critical.
Kane, the English captain who won the 2018 World Cup Golden Boot, is guaranteed to start for England.
Marcus Rashford, who made a solid return to Manchester United this season despite not playing for their international team since Euro 2020, is a contender.
To say that Brentford striker Ivan Toney is making a lot of noise in the Premier League at the moment would be an understatement. His 20-for-20 penalty record is phenomenal, with a load of goals this season across all competitions and his first top-flight brace.
Who will be the backup goalkeeper?
Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope will be England’s first and second-choice goalkeepers.
The question is who goes with them.
Aaron Ramsdale has helped Arsenal to the top of the Premier League championship, and he hopes to make sure he is on that plane to Qatar next season.
So far this season, Dean Henderson has played for both Manchester United and Nottingham Forest but has yet to do much to keep his goal in the team. However, he has conceded more goals this season than any other Premier League keeper.
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