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The perennial under-achievers of International football have one more opportunity to set the record straight in the biggest arena of world football. Gareth Southgate has finally put out the 23-man squad that he will be taking to Russia in June.
Unlike most of the other squads, the players aren't distributed across multiple trades - all of them have been plying their trade in the Premier League this season. Most of the squad is along the expected lines, as Southgate has opted for a mostly young and untested squad instead of players with mere experience.
Other than this, there is a list of players on standby in case one of those in the main squad drop out due to injury and will consist of: Tom Heaton (Burnley), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Lewis Cook (Bournemouth), Jake Livermore (West Brom) and Adam Lallana (Liverpool).
That being said, here's a look at how the English players on the plane to Russia have fared so far:
Goalkeepers
A big question going into the FIFA World Cup 2018 was whether Southgate will opt for the international experience of Joe Hart over seasonal form and the answer has been a resounding "No". The veteran West Ham goalkeeper is not even on the standby squad and England will take with it three goalkeepers who have had fantastic seasons by themselves.
Nick Pope is certainly the stand-out performer in goal this year, and not a lot of keepers managed to have a season as good as his. The Burnley shot-stopper burst onto to the scene after Tom Heaton's injury and has filled the boots to perfection.
His save percentage in the league is the second highest (75.3 %, second only to De Gea), and has kept 11 clean sheets (114 saves) in the PL. If the selection is solely based on current form, Pope will be the one to don the No. 1 jersey. But a lack of international exposure will plant doubts in the manager's head as England cannot expect a goof-up once more.
Jack Butland might have gotten relegated with Stoke City, but very few can claim that he isn't an excellent goalkeeper. Chances are that he will come back to the PL with one of the newly promoted sides, or even with one of the top sides that are looking for a younger keeper.
Butland leads the charts in saves made (144) and has a 68.8% save percentage in the league this season. While he has managed only 6 clean sheets in the process, it speaks more about Stoke's defense as a whole.
However, from the looks of it, Jordan Pickford seems most likely to don the gloves come June. After a transfer from a shockingly bad Sunderland in which he was the sole bright spot, Pickford has once again had a stellar run with Everton this season.
With 10 clean sheets to his name in the PL, Pickford has truly transformed into a complete keeper under Sam Allardyce. His 65.8% save percentage (121 saves) might be lower than the others, but his distribution is far better than the other two and might be the reason he gets picked first.
His weakness in dealing with crosses will be a concern for England though, but with all said and done, Pickford will be the best bet to be part of the starting XI.
Defenders
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold finds his way into the squad on the back of an exceptional season at Liverpool. The full-back has been a breath of fresh air at the Kop and has impressed everyone with his non-stop energy and pressing.
In 34 appearances for the Reds this season, the 19-year-old has put in 2.1 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game, and 2.3 clearances per game. His pace down the flanks will be the most important for England when they come up against the bigger teams later on in the tournament.
Tottenham's Kieran Trippier has also found his way into the squad as a full-back. He has consistently been a part of Pochettino's young squad and has the habit of bombing forward and helping out in offence.
His 8 assists across all competitions will be a major factor in his selection, as well as his partnership with Kane. In defense, the right back as 2.1 tackles and 1.9 clearances per game to go with his other assets.
Another Tottenham defender finding his name is Danny Rose. This might be a surprising inclusion, as Rose isn't a regular in the squad and has spent a lot of time in the bench this season.
Having played only a handful of games (only 10 games in the league), Rose's form isn't stellar and many would have preferred Smalling to have his spot. However, Southgate has gone with Rose and he might get a rare few minutes against the weaker sides.
If anyone has earned their spot as a centre back this season, it has to be Harry Maguire. Coming in to replace Robert Huth at Leicester, Maguire has had a season to remember for the foxes. His physicality at the back will be something England badly needs, as the rest of their players have the knack of being bullied off the ball.
With 2 goals and 4 assists this season, his offensive contribution cannot be denied as he loves to make runs forward. But his defensive game is even better - 4.6 clearances, 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game are more than testament to his case to be part of the starting XI.
Phil Jones suffers from the misfortune of missing out a lot of games due to injury, but when he is fit, he has been an absolute rock at the back for Manchester United. Together with Bailly and de Gea, Jones is part of the PL side with the most clean sheets this season and it is no mere coincidence.
Unlike his counterparts, Jones rarely moves out of position and is often the last man standing when attacking set pieces. His lack of pace is matched by his positioning and he is often the difference between a corner and a goal - as made evident by his 5.6 clearances and 1.1 tackles per game.
John Stones is another peculiar pick, considering that he hasn't been a consistent enough starter for Manchester City this season. Stones does have the tendency to make the occasional mistake, mistakes that will not tend to go unpunished in the World Cup and without a miracle, he will spend most of the tournament warming the bench.
Unlike Stones, Kyle Walker has had an instrumental season as a full back at Manchester City and his selection in the squad was probably the easiest decision for Southgate. He has been stellar in both offense and defense for the PL champions and will definitely start at right back.
With 7 assists so far, his crosses into the box will make the difference against teams that put men behind the ball. His defensive work-rate is not far behind either with 2.1 clearances and 1.4 tackles per game.
Amidst this sea of new blood and potential, Gary Cahill remains the sole experienced veteran and it was probably the reason for his inclusion. Although he hasn't had a great season at Chelsea, his quality and leadership at the back cannot be denied.
While Cahill is not going to start every game, he does make for an exceptional back-up. He is currently on a resurgence towards the late end of this season, and do not be surprised if he starts at CB.
Midfielders
Jordan Henderson received plenty of praise during Liverpool's first leg against Roma in the UEFA Champions League semi-final, and rightly so. As a player who sticks to the instructions of the coach no matter what the situation is, Henderson will be a valuable asset as a central midfielder.
The Liverpool captain might not be the flashiest of players, but his no-nonsense approach to the game will be vital when things go south for the three lions.
Eric Dier has been part of Tottenham's squad for a long time now, and has become the backbone of their entire midfield. With England, he will be performing the same role - transitioning from defense to attack - alongside Henderson.
Like Henderson, Dier doesn't have the stats to boost his career but the difference he brings to the squad with his pressing and ability to hold the ball is immense. Against the faster teams, Dier will be the difference as he has to keep a calm mind and not just hoof the ball up-field.
Another Tottenham midfielder who finds his way into the squad is Dele Alli, and he has the stats to back it up. His antics and diving on the pitch might not make him a favorite among fans, but his quality on the ball cannot be ignored.
Alongside Kane, Alli is Tottenham's most forward player and often finds his way into the box. His dribbling in the box is another major asset for drawing penalties and will be greatly appreciated. WIth 14 goals and 14 assists across all competitions, he is as creative as he is lethal in front of goal.
The only downside is his discipline as he has a knack for accumulating cards and England cannot afford to lose him during the important stages of the tournament.
Jesse Lingard's inclusion in the squad cannot be protested by even the staunchest of Manchester United haters, as the 25-year-old has become a revelation with his goal scoring knack in important games.
His trademark late run into the box to poach rebounds and blocks has been a staple of his life at United, and Southgate will be hoping for more of the same. He has scored 14 goals and 5 assists across all competitions and considering his limited starting time it is well and truly remarkable.
Ashley Young and Fabian Delph are two more names included in the list, but they have played most of the season as defenders for their respective Manchester sides. Southgate is not likely to use them as make-shift defenders considering the pool of defenders at his disposal.
As a result, they should be content to serve as defensive midfielders in the late stages of the game when a lead has to be held on to. Ashley Young's crossing ability makes him that much more of an effective sub from the bench.
Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the final midfielder in the roster, and he impressed during England's friendlies earlier this year. He is a defensive midfielder by build with the mind of an attacking entity and offers a new dimension of play compared to the others in the list.
Whether he will start a game remains to be seen, but this will be a wonderful experience for the talented youngster.
Forwards
It is hard to imagine the England squad without Harry Kane, and he is right up there. Considered as England's messiah for this World Cup, it will be a phenomenal pressure on the Tottenham forward's shoulders, as the hope of an entire nation rests on it.
He has had a great season to go in accordance with the expectations - bagging 43 goals across all competitions is no easy feat. But Kane's problem will be consistency. He cannot afford to go missing in any game if he wants to bring the trophy back.
Fortunately for him, there are a lot of Spurs players in the line-up with whom he has a good rapport, and it will be an important part of England's fortunes in the tournament.
Partnering Kane up front will be Leicester's Jamie Vardy. Unlike Kane who likes to take part in the build-up, Vardy is all about being in the box at the right time, and England will benefit from this difference between its two forwards.
Vardy has gone under the radar this season with 24 goals, owing to the immense hype of the newer forwards, and he will be pleased by it. His naturally carefree approach to the game is far different from the mentality most English players carry into the World Cup. Also, his one-time finishes make him an even better candidate.
Playing down the left wing with these two power hitters will be Raheem Sterling. Under Pep Guardiola, Sterling has transformed into an altogether different player just in time for the World Cup. Bagging 24 goals and 12 assists across all competitions, he is in the form of his life and can only get better.
Like Alli, Sterling likes to dribble the ball in the box and is generally a magnet for attracting challenges from defenders. He also has a sweet curler into the top corner that he doesn't shy away from. If England are to win this World Cup, these three players right here are the most important to their fortunes.
Marcus Rashford has had a quiet season at Manchester United after his breakout last year, and will most likely be on the bench for most of the duration of the tournament. His pace and dribbling, however, make him an excellent substitute against tired legs and Southgate will look to exploit it at every chance.
Despite not getting a lot of minutes, he has 15 goals and 6 assists to his name this season, thus making a stronger case for him as a super sub from the bench.
How Dany Welbeck has managed to get on the plane to Russia after an abysmal campaign at an abysmal Arsenal this season remains a mystery, and the lesser one thinks about it the better. Maybe Southgate sees something in him the rest of the world has tried hard enough and not been able to see.
