The Football Association has confirmed that England manager Gareth Southgate will name his 23-man squad for the Fifa World Cup on Wednesday 16 May.
According to Sky Sports, Southgate will first submit a 35-man provisional squad to Fifa on Monday. Two days later he will reduce the squad to 23 plus five stand-by players. World Cup nations have a deadline of 4 June to confirm their final squads.
After friendly matches against Nigeria and Costa Rica, England will depart for Russia on 12 June. At the World Cup the Three Lions will play Tunisia, Belgium and Panama in Group G.
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We look at the players who Southgate could name in his squad for the 2018 World Cup and those who are likely to stay at home.
England World Cup squad news
Goalkeepers
It’s not just going to be a battle for England’s goalkeeping spots on the plane, but also for the No.1 shirt. The Daily Telegraph says that Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland will compete to start in goal, while Joe Hart is tipped to take the squad’s third keeper spot. Sky Sports says that Burnley stoppers Nick Pope and Tom Heaton are “battling to be included”.
Defenders
Kyle Walker has had a superb season with champions Manchester City and will definitely be on the plane. But there are fitness concerns over Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier, The Sun reports, after the defender hobbled off during the victory against Newcastle on Wednesday. Fabian Delph and Ashley Young’s versatility could see them on the plane.
Midfielders
Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson (a potential England captain), Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard are shoe-ins for Southgate’s squad. The Daily Mail says the England boss is set to hand Jack Wilshere a World Cup lifeline by naming the Arsenal star in his 35-man provisional squad. However, the Daily Star believes Wilshere will be left at home. This could provide a chance for Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek or Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook.
Forwards
Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling are definite picks – and starters – for England in Russia. The Telegraph says that England “need Kane at his best this summer” while Sterling is one of England’s most dangerous players. Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford and Danny Welbeck are also tipped to be in Russia.
Could England go for youth?
According to the Telegraph, Southgate is “weighing up” the decision to name Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, 19, and Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, 17, in the provisional 35-man squad to be submitted to Fifa on Monday.
The Times also adds that Alexander-Arnold is being considered for the provisional squad, as is Jadon Sancho, the 18-year-old who has impressed for Borussia Dortmund in Germany this season. Sancho, a former Manchester City youth player, has provided four assists in six Bundesliga starts.
Unlikely to be named
Southgate isn’t expected to change his mind about Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey or Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, the Telegraph says.
Meanwhile the Daily Star has listed the players who could be left at home this summer. Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere is set to miss out as is Adam Lallana, James Tarkowski, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Danny Rose, Nick Pope and Jake Livermore.
Who is definitely not going to Russia?
Liverpool duo Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez will both miss the Champions League final and World Cup because of knee and ankle injuries respectively. Another Liverpool star, Adam Lallana, is also a doubt because of injury, Sky Sports reports.
England squad predictions
Alistair Tweedale of The Daily Telegraph picks his 23-man England squad for the World Cup:
- Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, Joe Hart
- Defenders: Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ryan Bertrand, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, John Stones, Phil Jones, Gary Cahill
- Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard, Fabian Delph, Ashley Young
- Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
2018 World Cup: England fixtures
Before heading to Russia, England have friendly matches against Nigeria at Wembley on 2 June, then against Costa Rica at Leeds United’s Elland Road ground on 7 June. Southgate’s team leave for Russia on 12 June.
England’s World Cup group games
The Three Lions are in World Cup Group G with Tunisia, Panama and Belgium.
- 18 June: England vs. Tunisia (7pm UK time; Volgograd; live on BBC)
- 24 June: England vs. Panama (1pm; Nizhny Novgorod; live on BBC)
- 28 June: England vs. Belgium (7pm; Kaliningrad; live on ITV)
