England manager Gareth Southgate has a tough job with selection ahead of this summer’s Euro 2024 in Germany. Southgate has a lot of players performing at top levels in Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden to name a few.
However, with certain players not playing as much as the England manager would like it remains to be seen who the England boss picks in his squad.
Gareth Southgate’s Selection Dilemma
Gareth Southgate has a problem ahead of this summer’s Euros in Germany. Whilst many coaches would love to have players competing for places in the squad. For Southgate it leaves him in a precarious position.
One problematic position is right back where the likes of Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben White are all competing for one spot on the team. It remains to be seen who the unfortunate player or players will be to miss out.
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Midfield is another issue for Southgate with the England manager struggling to fit all his best players within the team. Who will partner Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in midfield. Will Kobbie Mainoo get in the starting eleven? Where will the likes of James Maddison, James Ward-Prowse, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden all fit in?
With Palmer and Foden playing their best football as a number ten for their respective clubs, with the duo having 39 goals between them this season. It gives Southgate a problem as to where he will play all his best players.
But the England manager shouldn’t count out Bellingham as a number ten. This is where the Real Madrid player has been utilised as an attacking number ten by Carlo Ancelotti and has scored 21 goals so far in that position.
Pressure on Southgate with England Favourites for the Euro 2024
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The last two tournaments have been successful for England. The team getting into the final of Euro 2020 and the Quarter-Finals of the 2022 World Cup.
Form and Playing Time Could Decide Euro Squad
With the English talent shining across the biggest stage of football. There are certain players who may miss out either due to form or their playing time.
Kalvin Phillips is one of those players with the Englishman struggling for game time since he moved to Manchester City. A loan move in January to West Ham hasn’t gone to plan with Phillips. Making several mistakes and rash decisions which has cost the Hammers.
Whilst Phillips was key to England’s journey to the Euro 2021 final the rise of Kobbie Mainoo could mean that the Yorkshireman misses out.
Aaron Ramsdale is another contender who could miss the Euro 2024 plane. With his playing time reduced following the arrival of David Raya in the summer. The Englishman has played just six games this season and was poor against Brentford both home and away.
With Dean Henderson and other goalkeepers playing regularly, it could force Southgate to look elsewhere but the manager did reassure the keeper before last month’s friendlies.
James Maddison has had a mixed season; at the start of the season the former Leicester player was superb for Tottenham as they topped the table, but an injury midseason stopped Maddison from cementing his place for Germany.
Since his return, the Englishman has struggled with his consistency and hasn’t been able to reignite his early form of the season.
With competition to be England’s number ten it could mean that Gareth Southgate doesn’t pick Maddison based on his form since his injury. With the likes of Foden and Palmer excelling in that number ten role it makes Maddison’s job harder to get into the squad.
The question lingers: Can England clinch Euro 2024, or will the FA seek alternatives post-tournament?
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