Kieran Trippier Jack Grealish Harry Maguire Luke Shaw Declan Rice Jude Bellingham Bukayo Saka Kyle Walker Eric Dier Reece James Gareth Southgate Phil Foden Manchester Germany Italy Jordan county Henderson Arsenal rowing Chelsea plane cup on Kieran Trippier Jack Grealish Harry Maguire Luke Shaw Declan Rice Jude Bellingham Bukayo Saka Kyle Walker Eric Dier Reece James Gareth Southgate Phil Foden Manchester Germany Italy Jordan county Henderson

On the plane or sofa? How England’s World Cup squad is likely to look

theguardian.com

It is inconceivable that Jordan Pickford will not be England’s No 1 despite missing the latest camp with a thigh injury.

Gareth Southgate is loyal to his senior players and often prefers to go with the tried and trusted. The manager has repeatedly backed Harry Maguire, even after the centre-back blundered during Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with Germany, and is past the point of experimentation.

He values experience and wants leaders like Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier around. Both are familiar with Southgate’s back three, as is a resurgent Eric Dier, while Reece James’s occasional defensive wobbles are cancelled out by the thrust he offers from right wing-back.

On the opposite flank Luke Shaw, who was a doubt after losing his place at Manchester United, has surely played his way back in after impressing against Germany.

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Mikel Arteta has backed Ben White to step in for England if Kyle Walker is ruled out of the World Cup through injury and believes he could slot comfortably into Gareth Southgate’s back three.

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