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England World Cup Squad: Key Takeaways and Analysis

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

England manager Gareth Southgate has named his squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League games, and with the World Cup on the horizon, the selection raises questions about who has secured a spot in the final 26-man squad. With several holdovers from the 2018 squad and new faces, the selection committee had a tough task in narrowing down the team. As the team gears up for the World Cup, key players who failed to make the cut for the Nations League games will be trying to get back into Southgate's good books.

Key Takeaways:

  • Jordan Pickford remains England's number one goalkeeper, having played a crucial role in keeping Everton in the Premier League this season.
  • Kyle Walker, with 138 caps and three goals at international level, remains a mainstay of the England national team.
  • Danny Rose has struggled since being included in the 2018 World Cup squad, missing out on a place in the Watford side and subsequently being relegated from the Premier League.
  • Eric Dier has re-established himself as a key player in the Tottenham side, despite missing out on a place in the England squad in March's international friendlies.
  • Harry Maguire has had a frustrating season for Manchester United and may have his England spot under threat, particularly with new manager Erik ten Hag taking charge.
  • Jamie Vardy, despite telling The Guardian in 2018 that he was stepping back from international duties, is not expected to be included in the World Cup squad, having not featured in England's Euro 2020 squad.
  • Kieran Trippier will be hoping that returning to England will boost his chances of being included in the World Cup squad for Qatar.
  • Phil Jones has endured a torrid time at Manchester United in recent seasons, with several injuries and mental health struggles affecting his performances.

Statistics:

  • England have 43 international caps to Jamies Vardy's name, having not featured since 2018
  • England have 138 international caps to Kyle Walker's name
  • Marcus Rashford has 12 goals in 46 games for England.
  • England's World Cup semi-finals in 2018 was won against Croatia, while the final was lost in penalties to Italy
  • The England manager, Gareth Southgate, has not revealed how players are selected for the World Cup squad, stating that decisions would be made at the right time

Sources:

  • The Guardian: " England Players and their World Cup Chances" [31/05/2022]
  • Daily Mail: " England Squad For Nations League: Gareth Southgate Names His Squad for June 2019" [08/06/2019]
  • ESPN FC: " England Squad for Nations League revealed" [01/06/2022]

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