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The UEFA Euro 2020 is set to take the European footballing stage by storm, with Turkey preparing to take on Italy in the opening game on June 12.
One of the favourites to win the tournament are England, who have reinvented themselves under the leadership of Gareth Southgate, reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and finishing third in the 2018-19 UEFA Nations League. Although the final squads are yet to be announced, a tentative squad could be picked based on the current form of players plying their trade in various leagues in the world.
Players like Cristiano Ronaldo, N'Golo Kante, Virgil van Dijk, and Kevin de Bruyne are definite inclusions whenever their clubs or nations take to the football field. However, many others dream of representing their country and try hard to earn the opportunity by putting in eye-catching performances for their respective clubs.
Having said that, this article aims to predict the best playing XI that Southgate might pick to represent England as they begin their Euro campaign against Croatia at Wembley.
This article will also consider the players who are currently injured but are likely to make it back in time to be in contention for a Euro 2020 spot. The formation used is a 4-3-3 which has been the England boss' favoured formation in recent games.
Also Read: 3 reasons why the UEFA Nations League could overtake the European Championship in the future
Goalkeeper - Dean Henderson
This first inclusion might be a bit controversial as many would say that Jordan Pickford deserves to keep the number 1 shirt.
However, as heroic as Pickford was in the 2018 World Cup, his performances for Everton and England have since been laced with errors and howlers. One of his major strengths is his ability to play out from the back but, more often than not, it has also proved to be his downfall as playing out from the back invites pressure from the opposition.
During this period, Sheffield United's Dean Henderson has emerged as a genuine contender for the spot between the sticks. The Blades are flying high in the Premier League and one of the reasons for their form has been the Manchester United loanee.
Henderson has a save percentage of 74% as compared to Pickford's 62% and fellow England hopeful, Nick Pope's 69%. He has made just one error leading to a goal while Pickford and Pope have made 3 and 2 errors, respectively. The 22-year-old has also kept 10 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, which is the second-best record in the league.
Southgate is a loyal manager who doesn't replace any player unless there is compelling evidence. Pickford's drop in form and Henderson's rise might just be enough evidence to convince the former England international to hand a starting berth to Henderson at Euro 2020.
Full-backs - Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB) and Ben Chilwell (LB)
England have an embarrassment of riches at right-back and boast of arguably the best set of players in the position. Kieran Trippier has been fairly consistent since moving to Atletico Madrid from Tottenham, Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been solid for the Red Devils and Kyle Walker has been a vital player for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
However, the player who has the biggest claim on the right-back spot is Liverpool's young sensation Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 21-year-old has been magnificent for the Reds for the past two seasons and has only improved further this season. He has good pace and is now known around the world for his spot-on crosses and accurate long and diagonal passes.
The Reds defender has already equalled his record-breaking tally of 12 assists in the Premier League with 9 games to go. Although not the most solid defensively, he does not shy away from his duties in his own half of the field and he more than makes up for any defensive frailty with his attacking play.
With England having good finishers like Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, Alexander-Arnold's pin-point crosses might prove to be very productive for the side. The Liverpool right-back is also a dead-ball specialist which is always a useful quality needed to win tight games.
Partnering Alexander-Arnold at full-back will be Leicester City's Ben Chilwell. Chilwell may not be as proficient going forward as Alexander-Arnold in terms of numbers but it may be because of the way the Foxes use their full-backs as compared to Liverpool.
The left-back, however, has a good left foot with which he tends to put in dangerous balls into the box and can also help with the set-piece duties. He is quick, strong and is also good aerially, something that is not usually associated with full-backs.
England aren't as well stacked in the left-back position as they are at right-back with Danny Rose and Luke Shaw being extremely inconsistent for their clubs. However, in any case, Chilwell is a top-class player and would be the first choice left-back for most teams in the world.
Centre-backs - Joe Gomez (RCB) and Harry Maguire (LCB)
The centre-back partnership starts with another Liverpool defender, Joe Gomez. Gomez has proven to be an able partner for Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool and is yet another young defender who has improved leaps and bounds under Jurgen Klopp, staking a claim to be one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
The former Charlton man is a quick and strong defender who is part of one of the best defences in Europe right now. His positional awareness needs improvement, but he has the ability to recover rapidly and put in a tackle.
It is easy to forget that Gomez is just 22-years-old as he has played 123 games in his career, 99 of which are for Liverpool, including a successful Champions League final and the UEFA Super Cup win over Chelsea.
With the error-prone John Stones putting in inconsistent performances for a shaky Manchester City backline, Gomez is a brilliant option for Southgate, more so given his partnership with Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool.
Arguably England's most consistent defender, Harry Maguire has been a mainstay for Southgate in most competitive games. He was brilliant at the 2018 World Cup and is now the world's most expensive defender.
Maguire is a rock-solid defender, who is dominant aerially and is consequently a threat from corners and free-kicks. He may not have the Gomez's pace but has excellent positioning and tackling and is extremely composed with the ball at his feet.
Although Manchester United have not enjoyed their best season so far, Maguire has been one of the few stand-out performers. He would comfortably beat talented players like Tyrone Mings and Fikayo Tomori to secure the other centre-back spot.
With Gomez and Maguire, England will have the perfect combination of pace and power and will be able to dominate teams in the air as well as on the ground.
Midfielders - Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain(RCM), Jordan Henderson (CDM), Jack Grealish (LCM)
In terms of world-class quality, the midfield has been identified as a weak spot for England by many experts. However, this does not mean that the Three Lions lack talented players in any way. Players like Eric Dier, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount, and James Maddison are all worthy midfielders with Mount and Maddison especially impressing this season.
However, on current form and potential, the best midfield trio that England can field is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jordan Henderson, and Jack Grealish.
When a player does well in the English Championship, the first question asked of him is whether he can replicate his form in the Premier League. Grealish has answered this question with aplomb. The midfielder was sensational for Aston Villa last season and helped them win promotion. He has mirrored his form in the English top-flight this term, scoring 7 and assisting 6 in 25 appearances for the Villans.
The 24-year-old is a technically-gifted midfielder who has an eye for a pass, can dictate play when needed and is capable of scoring a long-range screamer. He has direct competition from Maddison who is a similar sort of player but Grealish's work rate in defence is what makes him a favourite to start over Leicester City's No. 10.
Oxlade-Chamberlain would be the right-sided central midfielder. He has been good for Liverpool every time he has played despite injuries limiting his involvement in the past two seasons.
However, the former Arsenal man is a top player who brings power and drive to the midfield. He has a cracking right foot with which he is capable of scoring from long range and is also a good crosser of the ball. His goals for Liverpool against Genk in the Champions League and the Gunners in the League Cup are a testament to this fact. He is different from the likes of Maddison and Grealish as he likes to drive at defences, beat his man and get a shot off.
In a team full of technically-gifted players, you need a leader who can pull the team through when things aren't going their way. The player who fits this bill perfectly is Liverpool captain Henderson.
Not the most flashy, the former Sunderland man is an absolute engine who has been a vital cog for the Reds this season and their worst form of the campaign has coincided with Henderson being sidelined due to injury. He has been so good that in a league full of eye-catching players, he stands as one of the favourites to win the PFA Player of the Year. Although he is a box-to-box midfielder, he has been exemplary for Liverpool in the No.6 role in the absence of Fabinho.
In a midfield three, the best combination to have is a holding midfielder, a box-to-box player and a technical player who can also play as a No.10 if required and with Henderson, Oxlade- Chamberlain and Grealish, England have this combination covered.
Forwards - Raheem Sterling (LW), Jadon Sancho (RW), Harry Kane (CF)
Arguably England's best player going into the Euros, Raheem Sterling is a world-class player and one of the best attacking players in the world. He has been brilliant for Manchester City this term, scoring 20 goals and assisting 7 in 39 appearances in all competitions.
From a tricks-only winger, the 25-year-old has become a complete player who contributes with goals and assists. His form will be a very important asset if England are to win the tournament.
Jadon Sancho is probably the only English player after Wayne Rooney who has made such a big impression in world football at the age of 19. He has been blistering for Borussia Dortmund, making the top three of the goal and assist charts in the Bundesliga, even though he primarily plays on the wing. Overall, he has scored 17 goals and racked up 19 assists in 34 appearances.
Although Marcus Rashford has made an impact at Manchester United and for England, Sancho's ridiculous numbers and the fact that Rashford's return from injury would be close to the Euros, make him a favourite to start over Rashford.
Harry Kane is certain to get back into the international set-up and lead the line for Southgate's team as soon as he recovers from his injury.
The England captain is one of the best finishers in world football at the moment. He is tall, strong and can drop deep to receive the ball and bring the wingers into play. He has scored 32 goals in 45 appearances for the Three Lions and was the top scorer of the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
England have good strikers at the moment with Tammy Abraham and Danny Ings proving their worth in the Premier League, but Kane should be the focal point of all England attacks come the Euro 2020.
