England manager Gareth Southgate’s next team selection is for Germany, so who will start against Serbia on June 16?
There are no more friendlies left before the provisional squad is announced on May 21, but with the domestic season coming to a finish, there are plenty of players who still have points to show.
We asked former England and Blackburn striker Chris Sutton, ex-Man City midfielder Michael Brown, ex-Arsenal defender Matt Upson, BBC Sport’s top football writer Phil McNulty, and BBC Sport columnist and Spanish football specialist Guillem Balague who they would select for the big game.
Please select your preferred starting XI from the options provided below:
Chris Sutton: Gareth Southgate will choose Harry Maguire if he is healthy, but I have been really impressed with Joe Gomez this season, wherever he has played in Liverpool’s defence, and I want to play him. Bukayo Saka is on my team’s right flank, but Phil Foden has to be someplace – I’ve moved him to the left – and the key choice was who gets the additional midfield spot. I want to be attacking, but I’m not going to bring Trent Alexander-Arnold in; instead, I’m going with James Maddison.
Michael Brown:We do not have a natural number one on the left side. It’s a minor problem because it’s not as obvious as other parts of the pitch. If we’re talking about current form, I believe Cole Palmer deserves the nod. There is one more curveball. Does Southgate envision Alexander-Arnold in the other midfield position? If he does, Foden will be released to the left. Could Jarrad Branthwaite replace Maguire? He’ll have to go a long way to take him out because of Maguire’s expertise and performance.
Matt Upson:I’m going with John Stones and Harry Maguire in central defence because they work well together and have a lot of experience, and I don’t think anyone is testing them enough. It’s a little difficult to figure out who will play alongside Declan Rice, but I like the look of Kobbie Mainoo, who would be an excellent addition to the squad. He has the energy and character, and I believe he has the mindset to handle that level.
Guillem Balague: England enters the Euros with perhaps the strongest squad in Europe at the time. Most of the squad chooses themselves. Maguire will start because Southgate loves him and believes he is currently the finest option in the centre of defence with Stones. The only issues are the final midfield position and who will play left back. I’d start Maddison behind Harry Kane and Kieran Trippier (if fit) at left-back, replacing Gomez if he’s not (assuming Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell are also out).
Phil McNulty: England will need to be daring in Germany, so I believe Southgate should start Manchester United’s excellent 18-year-old Maino against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. Mainoo shown in his debut start against Belgium that he possesses the mentality and talent for international football, with his connection with Rice creating the ideal platform for the exceptional Jude Bellingham to thrive. So, why hold him back?
I will qualify this line-up by stating that there was reluctance to select Maguire in central defence, and I would have liked it if someone had presented a solid reason to replace him. We know Southgate will select him with Stones until injured, thus he is included here despite reservations.
