Your England XI

[GhostoftheBok]

He's left himself no choice, really. He's refused to call up and test left backs - so he has nothing to work with. Poor planning.

Southgate's approach to football is much more conservative than almost all elite coaches, so the English players other managers might use on the left aren't players he would even consider.

So of all the players who absolutely don't work there he's gone for the most experienced.

[boltonboris]

Surprised to see Henderson omitted. Not disappointed, but I thought he'd want his experience and maturity in the camp.

[Prufrock]

He's left himself no choice, really. He's refused to call up and test left backs - so he has nothing to work with. Poor planning.

Southgate's approach to football is much more conservative than almost all elite coaches, so the English players other managers might use on the left aren't players he would even consider.

So of all the players who absolutely don't work there he's gone for the most experienced.

Still think the Chilwell omission is mind boggling. He strikes me as a bit of a cock, and isn't top level. But he's a good player and a specialist somewhere we are so short.

He's not been playing for Chelsea, because Cucarella has been good. But I'm not buying that as the reason. At least half the starting back four wont have started a game in months.

[Prufrock]

Though maybe he's planning a group stage exit to feck off the Tories

[TANGODANCER]

He'll claim friendlies don't matter (okay, he'll be right up to a point) , but better be honest and state up front we're struggling to rebuild a new team because age is catching up with more than a few. The team need training time together and football is becoming a young men's game in a hurry. I've just watched two under 17's internationals and the skill level is astonishing.

[boltonboris]

He'll claim friendlies don't matter (okay, he'll be right up to a point) , but better be honest and state up front we're struggling to rebuild a new team because age is catching up with more than a few. The team need training time together and football is becoming a young men's game in a hurry. I've just watched two under 17's internationals and the skill level is astonishing.

Unlucky against Italy weren't they?! The Italian keeper made some incredible stops to keep them in it, then obviously we lose on penalties

[TANGODANCER]

Surprised at some of this....https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cw0010vjr2dt

[Hoboh]

Surprised at some of this....https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cw0010vjr2dt

Not really surprising, for me anyway.

[Worthy4England]

Surprised at some of this....https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cw0010vjr2dt

Not really surprising, for me anyway.

Agree, mate.

A lot was made of Grealish and Sancho but for me, Bellingham is the real deal. COYWM.

[TANGODANCER]

Surprised at some of this....https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cw0010vjr2dt

Not really surprising, for me anyway.

Agree, mate.

A lot was made of Grealish and Sancho but for me, Bellingham is the real deal. COYWM.

Luke Shaw who hasn't kicked a ball for months? (and who I have never really rated as he sends the ball backwards at the merest hint of a challenge) No McGuire who is usually solid and no Grealish who is a game changer? Ah well, another Que Sera...

[GhostoftheBok]

We've left out some good players, but we're taking players who better suit what Southgate wants to do. It's fine. There's so much attacking talent.

Some of the defensive choices are baffling, but there you go.

[GhostoftheBok]

Luke Shaw who hasn't kicked a ball for months? (and who I have never really rated as he sends the ball backwards at the merest hint of a challenge) No McGuire who is usually solid and no Grealish who is a game changer? Ah well, another Que Sera...

Maguire is injured and Southgate has never liked Grealish.

Shaw...yeah. Our left back options are a lad who has been crocked for ages and an out-of-form right back.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

The manager often castigated as conservative and overly faithful has, in his 26-man squad, only picked 13 who went to the World Cup two years ago.

Grealish seems to be getting the headlines but Palmer, Foden, Eze, Saka, Gordon, Bowen and of course Bellingham have all had better seasons. This squad has so much talent in that attacking midfield it's almost painful.

Pity, then, about the defence. 'Cos attacks win games, defences win trophies... I see another heartbreaking nearly-campaign, followed by an underwhelming time under Southgate's successor. I just hope Gareth will be as willing to make changes in-game as he has been to so radically update his squad. There are matchwinners aplenty if harnessed correctly.

[Mar]

The manager often castigated as conservative and overly faithful has, in his 26-man squad, only picked 13 who went to the World Cup two years ago.

Grealish seems to be getting the headlines but Palmer, Foden, Eze, Saka, Gordon, Bowen and of course Bellingham have all had better seasons. This squad has so much talent in that attacking midfield it's almost painful.

Pity, then, about the defence. 'Cos attacks win games, defences win trophies... I see another heartbreaking nearly-campaign, followed by an underwhelming time under Southgate's successor. I just hope Gareth will be as willing to make changes in-game as he has been to so radically update his squad. There are matchwinners aplenty if harnessed correctly.

This seems a fair assessment and I can see it playing out similarly. The problem in previous tournaments hasn't been that we've not taken enough forwards, but more that Southgate has stuck predominantly with Kane until he's fatigued and knackered. Perhaps it'll be different this time round with our front three being swapped constantly.

In terms of our forward lineup, i'm very surprised that we've gone with as many as we have given that the likes of Branthwaite could've come in as an option at the back.

Bowen, Eze, Gordon, Kane, Palmer, Saka, Toney, Watkins, Foden. Thats 9 forwards with 8 defenders.

I'm struggling to see how Bowen, Toney and Gordon are going to get game time from that list.

I'd be expecting:

1) Foden, Kane, Palmer
2) Eze, Watkins, Saka
3) Gordon, Toney, Bowen

Feels like we're that blessed in midfield and up top that we can only really go out to outscore the opposition.

A back 5 of Shaw, Stones, Guehi, Walker, Trippier doesn't really suggest a load of clean sheets, and the backup of Dunk, Gomez and Konsa doesn't fill me with much hope once of of those gets injured.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Aye.

On the numerical squad 'imbalance', that's because they're lumping attacking midfielders in with the three centre-forwards (Kane, Watkins, Toney). Southgate has notably switched from the "6 and two 8s" to "two behind Bellingham" so it's definitely a 4-2-3-1.

To any of those forward trios you've named can add Bellingham at 10, and a front four of Palmer, Bellingham and Foden behind Kane is some weaponry. The 3 in the 4231 may have to interchange wisely but they're all intelligent players.

I suspect he may still pick Saka, and I can see why. Then again he's certainly being bolder than he sometimes has seemed. I suspect we will face a few low blocks - fascinating piece in The Athletic this week about how much lower pressing figures are at international level compared to the Prem - so we need a few lock-pickers.

You wonder how he would switch the 4231 if he prefers a back three in the harder games, as he often has. It could be that Bellingham becomes Kane's split-striker partner, but that still leaves a problem with the central midfield three; to accommodate the third centre-back, do you drop a Palmer/Foden? Otherwise it's dropping Rice's deeper-midfield partner (Gallagher?) and asking Rice to do a lot of work. I dare say Pep would play inside-forwards at wing-back, but Gareth's not Pep and England aren't City.

[Prufrock]

Not too fussed about the attacking side. We've got so much quality, it's tough to cock up. Slightly baffled as to why he's taken Bowen given he's 4th choice in his favoured position. But hey ho

The defence is a horror show though. Partly out of his control with a lack of quality at CB, but you're taking 26 players and you can find space for *one* left back, and he's likely not fit. And not even a left footed centre half. He's thick. What a waste of prime Harry Kane.

[Worthy4England]

Pity, then, about the defence. 'Cos attacks win games, defences win trophies... I see another heartbreaking nearly-campaign...

That could fit snugly, elsewhere on the forum, mate.

[boltonboris]

There's a few lads in there that can operate multiple roles, which is important if you get injuries / sickness

Saka, Foden, Gallagher, and moreso Bowen, can operate out wide or centrally. Bowen has impressed me down the right for England when he's played. He's not dislodging a fit Saka, but he could do a job there if needed and can play up front with Kane if we're chasing a game and need to go more direct

[TANGODANCER]

We need a left footed Kyle Walker. He's neither a full back or wing-back but a box to boxer. A sort of male Jill Scott, but even fit, Luke Shaw wouldn't be my choice. The wingers of Spain, France or Italy would rip him to ribbons. Oh for an English Ricardo Gardener..

[Mar]

Not sure having us reopen old wounds was the best idea for a precursor to England's Euro tournament.

It's almost as if we're letting other teams know how to beat us in this game.

Fairly confident the idea was to put bad memories to bed but it's clearly not ideal.

Gordon currently motm.

Be a good lesson to learn this as I suspect well see this situation play out in the tournament given our current defensive concerns.