I’m convinced Thomas Tuchel pretty much knows his eleven – and the way this squad is split tells us even more.
The main question mark for me is who starts as the 10 – I struggle to comprehend an England side without Jude Bellingham in it if fit, but clearly Tuchel likes Morgan Rogers after a brilliant season.
However, with Aston Villa not quite in the form they were and Bellingham back in action for Real Madrid, he may still yet force Tuchel to rethink.
In midfield, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are two of the first names on the team sheet – Anderson’s emergence this season could be the difference between success and failure this summer and is a player I genuinely think Gareth Southgate would have loved to have had.
I do think there is time for the two either side of Harry Kane to change, though right now an on-song Bukayo Saka has to start, and Anthony Gordon’s numbers are hard to ignore.
Defensively, Lewis Hall’s form means for me he’s the current standout choice at left-back, and at centre-back if John Stones hadn’t had such an injury-ravaged season I’d have loved to have him and his experience alongside Manchester City team-mate Marc Guehi.
Let’s also hope Reece James is fully fit by the time 17 June comes around too – it would have been interesting to have seen Trent Alexander-Arnold in this squad too, just to give us a different option from full-back.
A notable mention also for Nico O’Reilly who’s missing mainly because I’m not sure where he’d play – though performances like in the Carabao Cup final will only enhance his chances of forcing his way in.
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