Gareth Southgate has named England’s 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. So, HITC Football has looked at the Three Lions’ best XI with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham.
England travel to the Middle East to take on Iran, the United States of America and Wales in Group B. Southgate will hope to build on the Three Lions’ fourth-place finish at the last World Cup in 2018. He took his country to their first semi-final appearance since Italia 90.
Defeat in the third-place play-off to Belgium also saw England match their finish from Italia 90. The Three Lions have only produced a better finish than fourth at the quadrennial FIFA tournament in 1966. They won their only title to date on home soil under Sir Alf Ramsey.
Southgate names his 26-man England squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup
The Football Association (FA) has now announced Southgate’s 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Tottenham Hotspur striker Kane is among those the Three Lions boss has named. He skippered his nation at Russia 2018 and won the Golden Boot on six goals.
Kane will start his bid to secure back-to-back Golden Boots in Qatar as England face Iran on November 21. The Three Lions continue their Group B run against the USA on the 25th and face home nations rivals Wales in their last first round fixture on the 29th in Al Rayyan.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Nick Pope (Newcastle)
Defenders: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ben White (Arsenal), John Stones (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Conor Coady (Everton – on loan from Wolves), Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher (Chelsea)
Forwards: Phil Foden, Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), James Maddison (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Callum Wilson (Newcastle)
So, with Southgate now announcing his 26-man England squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, HITC Football has taken a look at the Three Lions’ best XI ahead of the tournament.
Jordan Pickford (GK): The Everton star remains England’s No.1 at the World Cup
Everton star Pickford will remain England’s No.1 goalkeeper at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. He has guarded the Three Lions’ net since his debut in 2017 having ousted Joe Hart for the position. He kept a clean sheet in seven ties at Russia 2018 and five in seven at Euro 2020.
Kieran Trippier (RB): The Newcastle star will benefit from James’ injury woes
Trippier is set to benefit the most from a knee injury ruling Chelsea defender Reece James out of Qatar 2022. The Newcastle star should now start at the World Cup in his place, with Southgate often loath to field Liverpool’s Alexander-Arnold due to his defensive shortfalls.
Kyle Walker (CB): Southgate may have to wait to use the Manchester City ace
Southgate might have to bide his time before England can call on Walker at the World Cup. But his Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, expects the full-back will recover from a groin injury. Southgate often uses the 32-year-old as a centre-half for his pace and powerful build.
Ben White (CB): The Arsenal star is one of England’s best defenders right now
White has been performing tremendously for Arsenal so far this season and will go to the World Cup as one of England’s best defenders. His development at full-back under Mikel Arteta will also be beneficial for Southgate after adding an attacking aspect to his duties.
John Stones (CB): Southgate can lean on the Manchester City ace in defence
Southgate can lean on Stones to hold up England’s backline at the World Cup. The 28-year-old is going to a fourth major tournament after playing seven times over the 2018 World Cup and in seven games at Euro 2020. The Manchester City ace also scored twice in Russia.
Luke Shaw (LB): Qatar 2022 will be the Manchester United star’s second World Cup
Shaw is off to a second World Cup after featuring once at Brazil 2014. Roy Hodgson made the left-back the youngest player to feature for any side in South America that summer. But Southgate would omit the Manchester United dynamo for his squad for Russia 2018.
Declan Rice (CM): The West Ham star is an England captain in waiting
Rice is now emerging as a possible future England captain after taking over the armband at West Ham. He also proved at Euro 2020 that he is perfectly suited to international duty as a vital part of Southgate’s plans. The 23-year-old is only getting better in a box-to-box role.
Jude Bellingham (CM): The Borussia Dortmund star is set to breakout for England
Southgate has been slow to put too much trust in Bellingham but the 19-year-old is set for a breakout tournament for England. The Borussia Dortmund wonderkid will give the Three Lions a dynamic threat from the engine room, capable of dictating the flow of elite games.
Bukayo Saka (RW): Southgate must keep the Arsenal winger in his best position
Southgate has named Saka in England’s squad for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. But he must also keep the Arsenal winger in his best position and not attempt to utilise the 21-year-old at full-back again. The forward is a menace in possession able to turn defenders inside out.
Harry Kane (ST): The Tottenham star will be after a second World Cup Golden Boot
Kane will be after his second Golden Boot at a World Cup and captain England to, at least, another major semi-final. He fired the Three Lions to the penultimate round at Russia 2018 but did not score after the last 16. Yet all of his four Euro 2020 goals came in knockout ties.
Raheem Sterling (LW): Southgate will hope he can rely on the Chelsea star again
Southgate will hope he can rely on Sterling to deliver for England again after announcing the 27-year-old in his Word Cup squad. The 79-cap forward was the early talisman of the Three Lions’ Euro 2020 campaign after scoring three goals and assisting one in their first five ties.
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