speeeeeeedie

Sterling deserves his place in the starting 11. He flopped at the Euro's, but they all did. He has been class all season. I still don't get the Shelvey love in.

For those who didn't click; Pickford Walker Stones Maguire Tripper Henderson Rose Lingard Sterling Alli Kane I can justify Rashford being sub. He won't complain, and will cause havoc when he comes on. I didn't see the friendlies so don't know how England played with only one holding midfielder. My impression was that England would play with 2 covering the back 3, with Dier being in for another attacker. My worry in that team is Trippier. Could Lingard do Trippier's job, and have Dier in there too?

England definitely have the attacking talent to beat teams, but shakiness and inexperience elsewhere will be their undoing. I'm with the majority opinion on here that Southgate will pick 2 from Sterling, Rashford, and Alli to play behind Kane. I think Sterling is in; he's played well all season, and has a World Cup under his belt. Rashford is dynamic, but Alli plays well with Kane. Colombia won more games at the last World Cup than all their previous appearances combined.

Another 80's 90's stalwart Steve Bould only got 2 caps as well. Both in friendlies too. For years England had access to quality central defenders; Butcher, Adams, Des Walker, Mark Wright, Martin Keown, Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Ledley King. Pallister had a mere 22 caps.

My guess is that Germany will play as they usually do; back 4, 2 ball keeping central midfielders, 3 "free" midfielders, and a big lad up front. I don't think that Sane was left out because of his ability. Much like Nainngolan with Belgium, he's annoyed the manager.

Shilton benefitted from little competition. Clemence was old. Woods not good enough. Woods was bigger than Shilton, it may have helped in the pens. He wasn't much better at Mexico 86. His lack of quickness contributed to both Maradona's goals.

Usually 1 team runs away with the Championship. Newcastle last year, Wolves this. I know little about Derby but they have created a lot of buzz hiring Lampard. I've no idea if he is any good. Time and results will see to that. On the face of it Derby are on the up and Villa are sinking; both who made it to the play offs. Not to derail the thread (I'll move it if need be) but there were some interesting points regarding Prem era capped England players lack of managerial success. Shearer's 8 games at Newcastle didn't work. Gary Neville's stint at Valencia was a disaster - he was also a part of Hodgson's back room team. His brother is England women's coach. Peter Shilton flamed out at Plymouth. Tony Adams was last seen in some ex-Soviet republic after going nowhere at Wycombe. Sol Campbell can't get a look in anywhere. Rio Ferdinand wants to be a boxer. Beckham is a celebrity. David Platt lasted a week at Forest. Most of the above were England captain at some point. Yet Southgate gets no end of grief, but at least he's willing to try. The FA really need to review how coaches are developed.

I see that the British tabloids are sticking to tradition. Even before a ball is kicked they are doing their level best to create disharmony and rile up the public against the England team. The latest evidence is the front page story in the Sun and subsequent overblown fake outrage at Raheem Sterling's tattoo of a gun on his leg. They had some halfwit demand England kick him out of the squad. I don't know why they do it, but they do.

Spain have the talent to win it. They are solid from back to front. However, if Costa gets a strop on or injures himself (he's injury prone so a distinct possibility) they are light up front. They aren't the quickest at the back either. Pique and Ramos are still good but are past their peak. I'm all hope for England. Game 1 is 3 weeks today.

Lots of decent away days to be had next season. 3 Local games. 5 against Yorkshire teams, plus Boro. 5 easy drives to the midlands or thereabouts. A couple of London trips. Bristol, Swansea, and East Anglia seem to be the hardest to get to. I've never been to Ipswich's ground but I've read on here it's a good place to go to. Is Millwall a pain to get to?

Spot on there. I always likened that dilemma to having two excellent goalkeepers. A manager would pick one and go with it. No England manager ever did.

Argentina's 23 has been named. There's no place for Mauro Icardi. He scored 29 goals in Serie A this season Not surprising though with the riches at their disposal. Unfortunately their defensive options are scant. Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Willy Caballero, Franco Armani Defenders: Gabriel Mercado, Javier Mascherano, Nicolas Otamendi, Federico Fazio, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Acuna, Cristian Ansaldi Midfielders: Manuel Lanzini, Maximiliano Meza, Lucas Biglia, Ever Banega, Giovani Lo Celso, Angel Di Maria, Cristian Pavon, Eduardo Salvio Forwards: Paulo Dybala, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain

Unfortunately you are thinking logically. It never is with England. Last time out they got 2 draws and a raggy win out of a group containing Wales, Russia, and Slovakia. I watched the USA easily dismantle Panama 6 months ago. They are not a good side by any stretch, but they'll have all the passion in the world and will make it very hard.

You have a point there. Belgium's stature is elevated in England as a host of their squad play in the Premier League, and their manager is well known too. Their 2 world class players plus Courtois can win games. But add in their inefficient strikers, 2 midfielders wasting their prime playing in China, old defenders (Vermaelen for one), and the inevitable pressure heaped upon them, it doesn't look as good.

Both teams have some talent at their disposal. Belgium's preliminary squad; Belgium, Benteke included Spain: Spain, Nacho Monreal included Spain will be very hard to beat, as they are defensively solid, and will have a fit Costa this time out. Belgium have flattered to deceive for a while. De Bruyne and Hazard are world class, but can their skill be converted into goals by Benteke, Batshuayi, and flat track bully Lukaku?

The England squad debate has centered around the omission of Shelvey, Lallana, and Wilshere. Of the 3 I'd only argue for Lallana's inclusion. I don't think that Shelvey is up to it, and Wilshere signed his card when he pulled out of March's friendlies. I read that Renato Sanches has been left out of Portugal's squad. He was outstanding for them at Euro 2016, and had the world at his feet post tournament. Man U offered big money for him. He chose Bayern Munich. Fast forward less than 2 years and he can't get a game for relegated Swansea. I wonder what happened?

Lacazette is poor. He was a boy v. men the last time I saw him. Martial is France's Walcott. Fast, and someone who has a good game now and again. Payet had a good year at West Ham. He's the best of a mediocre bunch. I'll not dispute that England doesn't have level 1 talent. I'll also not dispute that Premier League riches, the shortsighted FA, stupid players, a wildfire media, judgmental fans, and greedy agents, all have played their part in limiting England's national football team over the years. Yet I'll be cheering them on this summer. They are all we have. Edit. France squad; Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain) Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart), Adil Rami (Marseille), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Steven N'Zonzi (Sevilla), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich) Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Florian Thauvin (Marseille)

I looked at JacknOry's Wikipedia links of the Portuguese signings. I'm no Sherlock Holmes but it looks well dodgy. All signed for undisclosed fees, all got 3 year contracts. All were crap. Only Henrique seems to have played more than a handful of games since he left Rovers. It's interesting that 3 of them ended up at some Romanian team. Also one went to Whitehawk FC. I am pretty sure that they were charged with some football related crime or other a few years back. Hopefully hose days at Ewood are over and Venkys have entrusted Waggott to run a football club. Edit; Whitehawk details; Former Whitehawk president with previous convictions jailed 2 Whitehawk players charged for match fixing Stinks to high heaven.

You are absolutely right about Southgate in that regard. He has an idea of how a side should look. He gets lambasted as the FA's man and a failed manager, but he spent years with the u21's and has brought some of that experience with him. England doesn't have Germany or Spain's talent, but they'll be organised, quick on the break, and possess a top notch striker.

Would that not be Ashley Young? He played left back for Mourinho most of the season. I put Delph in the middle as without him there are only 3 which doesn't give much cover, and they all may play too.

I grabbed the squad from the BBC website. My guess is that Southgate will look at it like this. Goalkeepers: Butland, Pickford, Pope Central defenders: Cahill, Jones, Maguire, Stones, Walker, Wide men: Alexander-Arnold, Rose, Trippier, Young. Holding Midfielders: Dier, Henderson, Delph, Loftus-Cheek. Attackers: Kane, Rashford, Sterling, Vardy, Alli, Welbeck, Lingard, Delph, Lingard, and Welbeck can all do the wide man job too. Let's see what this lot can do.

England squad is named; Goalkeepers: Butland, Pickford, Pope Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Cahill, Delph, Jones, Maguire, Rose, Stones, Trippier, Walker, Young. Midfielders: Alli, Dier, Henderson, Lingard, Loftus-Cheek. Forwards: Kane, Rashford, Sterling, Vardy, Welbeck

England isn't blessed with talent at the mo. If Southgate goes with Livermore it's because he thinks he's worth a spot. I doubt that he'll play much though. For comparison here's Germany's provisional squad; Germany Provisional squad. They will be hard to beat, although if Neuer and Boateng aren't fit they won't be as solid.

Here is the Mirror's predicted squad; GOALKEEPERS Pickford, Butland, Pope DEFENDERS Trippier, Walker, Stones, Jones, Maguire, Rose, Young MIDFIELDERS Dier, Henderson, Delph, Livermore, Lallana, Loftus-Cheek, Alli, Sterling, Lingard ATTACKERS Kane, Vardy Rashford, Welbeck It's very similar my effort from a few days ago with the only changes being Jones for Tarkowski, and Young for Bertrand. Contentious names seems to be Delph and Livermore in, Shelvey and Wilshere out. Wilshere has had potential for years but never fulfilled it, and I don't think that Shelvey was ever getting a look in. England doesn't have the best defence. It needs protecting so Wilshere is being sacrificed for Livermore. Kane, Sterling, Vardy, Rashford, Lingard, Lallana, and Alli are capable to causing problems for any team.

Apparently Hart won't make the plane to Russia. Quite right if you ask me. He has been a horror show for England since before Euro 2016 - and he was shocking there. Since then he's been dropped by City, played iffy in Italy, and spent 2018 keeping the kit man company at West Ham. Hardly international form.