How England might line up against Italy

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England crashed out of the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the quarter-final stage to eventual runners’ up France after a 2-1 loss in which Harry Kane missed a penalty that would have levelled things up with over five minutes to go. Gareth Southgate has remained in charge for the UEFA Euro 2024 cycle and The Three Lions have a difficult qualifying group alongside Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta.

Southgate is a loyal manager and his loyalty has rewarded him whilst in charge of the national side. Given that, despite the excellent performances of Aaron Ramsdale at seemingly Premier League champions-elect Arsenal, Jordan Pickford should retain his place against the Italians in Naples and Everton’s number one has been in fine form for the last couple of seasons now.

In the past, Southgate has often switched to a back three for games against so-called ‘tougher’ opponents but he bucked that trend by retaining his 4-3-3 system for the aforementioned quarter-final defeat to France.

Given that England held their own for large parts of that match and Italy would be regarded as inferior to the French, a four-at-the-back system is likely to be persisted with. Harry Maguire, like Pickford, will be likely to retain his place due to impressive performances for England as much as anything else.

Southgate does now have the option of using Luke Shaw in the centre of defence with Erik ten Hag deploying the former Southampton man then on occasion for Manchester United. However, it is far more likely Shaw keeps his spot at left-back ahead of Ben Chilwell, who has returned to form in recent weeks.

On the right side of the defence, England, as ever, are blessed with options. Both Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier have been trusted men for Southgate. Given the club form of the two players, Trippier seems likeliest to get the nod on the right side of defence with John Stones, who has been exceptional for Manchester City this season playing alongside him in the centre.

In midfield, despite having clear knocks and strains, Jude Bellingham should start in Naples. The Borussia Dortmund gem was outstanding at his breakthrough tournament in Qatar and he should continue to form part of a midfield alongside Declan Rice. The other role is not really up for debate, with Jordan Henderson’s good World Cup leaving him as the only standout candidate in the three due to the lack of playing time for both Conor Gallagher and Kalvin Phillips as well as injury to Mason Mount.

Injuries have caused an issue for Southgate in the forward areas, too, with arguably the most in-form player in the squad, Marcus Rashford, having had to withdraw from these two qualifiers due to injury.

Instead of Rashford on the left, the next in-form player in that position would be Jack Grealish. Grealish has rarely been trusted to start for Southgate and in what should be a tough game, especially tactically, it may be deemed a risk by the former Middlesbrough boss. If Grealish doesn’t start a big game now, though, given his form, an injury to Rashford and the indifferent form of Raheem Sterling and his club teammate Phil Foden, they he may never for Southgate.

The other two members of the front three more or less pick themselves with captain Harry Kane a goal away from being the out right all-time leading goal scorer for England alongside Bukayo Saka, a leading candidate for the PFA Player of the Year award in the Premier League this season.

PREDICTED XI: Pickford, Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Henderson, Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Grealish