England World Cup 2022 squad: Who should join Harry Kane, Harry Maguire and Jude Bellingham on plane to Qatar?
ByTNT Sports
Updated 09/11/2022 at 09:07 GMT
It’s almost decision time. Part of the build-up to any international tournament is dominated by the most divisive of debates: who should actually go. With that in mind, welcome to Eurosport’s look at England’s potential 2022 World Cup squad for Qatar. Gareth Southgate’s side next match is their World Cup Group B opener against Iran – so there is no room for error with the squad announcement.
Southgate defends Maguire after mistakes led to goals in draw with Germany
It's almost decision time.
Gareth Southgate will soon name his England squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - and the inevitable run of headlines featuring the horrible words "could miss the World Cup" have begun.
The World Cup gets underway on November 20 when hosts Qatar play Ecuador in Group A, while England get their campaign underway against Iran a day later. But if all that still sounds a little while away yet, it is of scant relief to Southgate, who is yet to announce his provisional squad.
FIFA have set a deadline on November 13 for teams to finalise their 26-man squads for Qatar, so Southgate may make changes before the tournament begins, but it is hard to see him chopping and changing following the initial announcement unless injuries intervene.
England will head to Qatar on the back of a torrid Nations League campaign which ended in relegation to League B.
With the squad deadline looming, Eurosport have reviewed the performances and ranked players' hopes of making the squad. There are four sections: on the plane, practically there, on the fringes and wild card shouts. In this article we’ll introduce who’s in which section and give a few lines explaining some of the calls that may feel a bit more controversial. To be clear: the names are in absolutely no particular order...
Let’s get going.
On the plane, preparing for take-off
Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Jordan Pickford (Everton), John Stones (Manchester City), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Declan Rice (West Ham), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United)
What, Harry Maguire is still preparing for take-off?
That's right. Despite his hamstring injury and Germany horror show, it would be a huge shock if the Manchester United skipper was not on the plane. He has been a huge part of Southgate's plans until now and with no warm-up matches for Qatar, it is hugely unlikely he is dropped for anything other than fitness. Maguire has reportedly stayed in contact with Southgate during his latest injury lay-off, with the England boss set to offer him his full support ahead of the World Cup.
The recent absence of Kalvin Phillips has allowed others to shine in central midfield - and Jude Bellingham has taken that chance. The Borussia Dortmund star was excellent in an otherwise torrid international break for Southgate’s Three Lions. So impressive, in fact, it would not be a surprise to see him start against Iran in England's opener.
John Stones' injury is a worry but given he is stepping his return, he remains a shoo-in, and the same could be said for Bukayo Saka after his weekend scare. However, the Arsenal star should be on the plane to Qatar as he has returned to training.
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Jude Bellingham of England in action during the UEFA Nations League League A Group 3 match between Italy and England at San Siro on September 23, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
Practically there, shuttling on the runway
Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Tammy Abraham (AS Roma), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Nick Pope (Newcastle United), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Phillips and Kyle Walker will be on the plane if they can prove their fitness. The latter looks sure to be included, even if the opening game against Iran comes too soon for the 32-year-old. And given national team managers can name 26-man squads rather than the usual 23, they may be on the plane even if they aren't fully fit.
Pep Guardiola has stated both players feel "optimistic" about making the plane to Qatar.
Left-back is an area of weakness. A lack of form for Luke Shaw means he is not guaranteed a spot, particularly as Southgate has stationed Kieran Trippier on the left previously. Shaw played most recently against Germany so seems to be first off the cab rank.
Germany had three shots on target in the entertaining 3-3 draw against Nick Pope... and scored three goals. Yet he still seems to have Southgate’s trust and is, despite that match, a superior consistent shot-stopper to Aaron Ramsdale and Jordan Pickford.
Conor Coady and Eric Dier can both operate in a back three, which is Southgate’s preferred set-up when he does not expect to dominate the ball. Dier looked solid in both the Nations League games he started, and Coady remains a Southgate favourite and is renowned as a positive influence around the dressing room. Given there are doubts over Maguire, Stones and Walker - the expected back three - both men can start packing their bags.
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Luke Shaw of England celebrates his goal during the international friendly match between England and Switzerland at Wembley Stadium on March 26, 2022 in London, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Eurosport
On the fringes, trying to check-in
Ivan Toney (Brentford), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton), Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jadon Sancho (Manchester United), Dean Henderson (Nottingham Forest), Ben White (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United), James Maddison (Leicester City)
The first two groups have 22 players in total, leaving four spots up for grabs.
It seems bizarre that we live in a world where Southgate is preparing to take Coady to a World Cup when Ben White exists. The Arsenal man is having a brilliant campaign for the Premier League table-toppers, and will be hoping his recent form - and spate of injuries in the defence - lands him a spot on the plane.
In truth, the whole of the defence is a bit of a lottery. AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori’s hopes of making the trip now seem to rest on the withdrawal of other defenders, despite his excellent form this season, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has slipped to the fringes after his latest injury and Southgate's continued lack of trust in him.
Neither Jarrod Bowen and Ivan Toney got minutes in the recent Nations League outings, and remain relatively (in the case of Bowen) and completely (in the case of Toney) untested at international level. Thus, Marcus Rashford, who has returned to form under Erik ten Hag but was injured for the latest international break, is the most likely to force his way into the squad.
Another resurgent striker, Callum Wilson, could make the plane at the expense of Tammy Abraham.
James Ward-Prowse remains a firm Southgate favourite, so do not be surprised if he is in the squad.
Nov 7: The recent form of Leicester City attacker James Maddison has led to many to wonder whether he should be included.
Following the injury to James one or both of Alexander-Arnold and Ben White should hope for an inclusion.
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LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: Conor Coady and Ben White of England walk onto the pitch prior to the international friendly match between England and Cote D'Ivoire at Wembley Stadium on March 29, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA
Image credit: Eurosport
Wild card shouts and injury doubts
Jesse Lingard (Nottingham Forest), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton), Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Ryan Sessegnon (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal), Chris Smalling (Roma), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), James Tarkowski (Everton), Reece James (Chelsea), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Danny Welbeck (Brighton & Hove Albion), Dan Burn (Newcastle United), James Justin (Leicester City),
These are the players where it feels as if A LOT is going to have to change for them to get into the final 26, including a dramatic change in selection policy from Southgate.
The campaign for James Maddison’s inclusion hasn’t gone away, but it feels as if it is being completely ignored right now. Maybe a summer move might have changed it? Somehow we doubt it.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin might be the unluckiest player here, he just can’t stay fit and would surely have been on the plane as Kane’s back-up were it not for a horrendous run of fortune.
Joe Gomez is playing again for Liverpool following Alexander-Arnold's injury, but it is surely too late.
Reece James has plummeted from "on the plane" to out on account of the knee injury that he suffered against AC Milan. His Chelsea team-mate Ben Chilwell has also been relegated to this category after picking up a hamstring injury in Chelsea's 2-1 Champions League victory over Dinamo Zagreb on November 2. It has now been officially confirmed by Chelsea and Chilwell that he will miss the tournament.
There have also been growing calls for the inclusion of Brighton duo Lewis Dunk and Danny Welbeck after both were included in Southgate's provisional 55-man squad. Dunk has only a solitary cap for the Three Lions following his appearance in a friendly against the USA in November 2018, despite consistently being one of the Seagulls' top performers.
Welbeck has a reasonable record of 16 goals in 42 caps and was included in the squad for the last World Cup. However, his last appearance for England in a 1-0 friendly victory over Switzerland in September 2018.
With Chilwell's injury leaving his place on the plane open, Dan Burn has been brought into the conversation after a string of impressive performances for Newcastle since his arrival from Brighton in January.
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