The closest England have gotten to a ‘home’ tournament since ’96…so will we finally see it come home as EURO 2020 finally gets underway?

12 months on from its initial start date, Euro 2020 (finally) kicks off this weekend, with England fans once again optimistic about the national team’s chances of ending the 55-year drought since the infamous World Cup triumph in 1966.

Whether or not this is the year where it will finally ‘come home’ will become clearer as the next month of football goes on. However, there should certainly be excitement regarding the crop of players involved for England this year.

Here’s a round-up of who made it into Gareth Southgate’s final squad and also those who were arguably unlucky to miss out from myself and Ben Dixon, who has analysed the goalkeeping and defensive areas.

Goalkeepers

Dean Henderson (Manchester United), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton)

In the build-up to this tournament, it was largely believed that between the sticks would be Burnley ‘keeper Nick Pope, but Gareth Southgate received news that the stopper would have to undergo minor knee surgery which would keep him out of the tournament.

Pope is without a doubt one of the best English goalkeepers and has shown across the past few seasons that he is deserving of the number one shirt, and it seemed that it would finally be his following his consistent performances for Burnley.

The three chosen though were expected following this news, in Henderson, Johnstone and Pickford with the latter likely to be favoured for the second major tournament in a row. The now 27-year-old provided some incredible saves that helped England progress through the last tournament and Southgate will be hoping that the Evertonian can shine again this summer.

Whilst Pickford may not be as highly rated in terms of shot-stopping as Pope is, he is a vital part of how Southgate wants his England side to play. Southgate’s England have commonly played out from the back, which is helped massively by having a ‘keeper that relishes at this opportunity.

This season Pickford has averaged 32.19 passes per game and has made 263 accurate long passes, just showing how much the Everton goalkeeper excels with the ball at his feet.

England are covered in-depth though, with two Carrington graduates. Henderson is held in high regards by Manchester United fans as the successor to David De Gea, but has rarely had the chance to prove this in the Premier League this season. With Henderson only being 24 however, having the experience of a major international tournament will only help his confidence develop.

Sam Johnstone rounds up the ‘keeper choices that Southgate has chosen this time around. Despite being relegated with West Brom this season, his shot-stopping ability must not be undermined with him making 166 saves this campaign, 19 more than any other in the league and also 76 more than Pickford.

Defenders

Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Wolves), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ben White (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Once again, this position lacks a probable starter due to injury. For the days leading up to the unveiling of Southgate’s 26 man squad, social media was flooded with debates regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold’s place within the team. However, in the side’s first warm-up game against Austria the full-back was forced to be replaced following a thigh injury, which then saw the Liverpool defender replaced by Brighton’s Ben White, who impressed in the warm-up games.

White’s inclusion in the squad has received a lot of critics with many claiming the spot could have gone to others shortlisted in Southgate’s preliminary squad, but with rumours swirling that Harry Maguire potentially may not be fit for the start of the tournament, his inclusion is just, with many preferring the Brighton centre half to Tyrone Mings.

Without a doubt, the inclusion of Alexander-Arnold meant the probability of a back five was heightened offering the wing-back to go forward whilst limiting his defensive duties, whilst this is still a possibility with La Liga winner Trippier, it seems unlikely this will be the case and Southgate will likely favour the back four.

Who takes up the right-back role is a difficult one. On one hand, you have a reliable and experienced full-back in Premier League champion Kyle Walker, on the other Reece James, a young and exciting full-back who excelled in the Champions League final against Raheem Sterling with some saying it to be the best defensive display from a full-back in a final for some time. Both excel defensively but James’ attacking contributions could give him the nod over Walker.

The centre back partnership would hopefully be Maguire and Stones, but with Maguire, at the time of writing, still not in training with the squad, this looks more and more unlikely for the opening game against Croatia.

Stones this season has remoulded himself, rumoured to leave the Citizens to reunite with Arteta at the end of last season, Stones has resurged as one of England’s best defenders and finally reaching the level that his days at Everton showed he would.

Furthermore, he fits the mould of the aforementioned style that Southgate desires. With an average of 78.50 passes per game and the ability to play long balls with ease, he lives up to the Rolls Royce defender analogy of his playstyle.

Harry Maguire without a doubt is England’s best defender and I think only now are people realising this. In a way, it’s fair to say that he is, like Stones, living up to his price tag. But this stunted him massively. Rather than focusing on the Manchester United captain’s ability, the price tag always came into it, I suppose it will when you cost £80m. But if the affectionately named ‘Slabhead’ is to miss this tournament or at least the opening games, who takes this role?

Mings has become a seasoned international under Southgate and has featured more commonly than any other centre half (other than those previously mentioned), however, I doubt he will be the one to take this slot. It will likely be taken by Ben White. It is clear to see the rise of the young defender over the past two years. A big part of this is credited to Marcelo Bielsa, White looks comfortable playing out from the back and could be an excellent partner to Stones in this tournament.

The left-back debate is arguably much harder than the one that Southgate faces on the other flank. Luke Shaw is coming off the back of his best season at Manchester United and finally looks to be shaping up as the full-back he once was predicted to be, living up to the potential from his years at Southampton. On the other hand, Ben Chilwell is continuing to show how good he can be.

In the season that preceded the last European Championships an 18-year-old Chilwell spent two months at Huddersfield Town before being recalled to Leicester City due to how successful those two months were. Now 24, Chilwell has added a Champions League trophy to add to his Premier League trophy and looks to be a key part of the Chelsea squad. With excellent defensive awareness and his attacking prowess, he will likely be named ahead of Shaw in this tournament.

Midfielders

Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham United).

Eyebrows were certainly raised when Gareth Southgate included just five midfielders in his 26-man squad. There is a manifold of talent in that group with an average age of just 23.2 (21.5 without the 30-year-old Henderson); the potential is frightening.

In a three-man midfield set-up that is likely to be used, whether in a 4-3-3 or a 5-3-2, there is space for a deep-lying, defensive midfielder, a box-to-box workhorse and someone free to roam and who is constantly sketching out plans for a forward move.

Right now, I would suggest that Declan Rice and Mason Mount are nailed on regular starters, with the remaining three each offering something different.

Rice has been impressive for West Ham as they sealed a top-six finish under David Moyes whilst Mount has played some immense football at times since the appointment of Thomas Tuchel, with Chelsea triumphant in the Champions League.

With Bellingham, it’s a case of experience (or lack of). The Birmingham-born midfielder is simply brilliant whilst also just 17. Brilliant at 17 and playing for his national team in a major tournament. He puts us all to shame really.

The talent is clearly there and the youngster has shone when given the nod in warm-up games played in 2021 as part of Euro preparations.

Southgate has commented on the immense levels of maturity the 17-year-old box-to-box midfielder possesses, yet the experience (at least at an international level) isn’t quite there yet.

Having said that, the 50-year-old has always given youth opportunities should they be deserved during his tenure as England manager and there’s definitely a gem there in Bellingham.

Phillips has had a strong debut campaign in the top-flight for Leeds. A shoulder injury in the late autumn and a calf injury in February has held the midfielder back from being available for every league game for Marcelo Bielsa, who you wouldn’t put it past to include the ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’ in every match should he have been available.

However, there are similarities between him and Rice and, with the latter having been involved in Gareth Southgate’s plans for longer, it seems clear that the West Ham kingpin will be given the nod.

Henderson was sensational last season as Liverpool went on to win the Premier League title with few obstacles, however, this season hasn’t been the same success story.

Injuries haven’t helped, with the 30-year-old reportedly carrying a knock during the friendly win over Austria before playing the second half against Romania on Sunday where he missed a penalty.

59 senior caps is invaluable to this squad full of youth and the Liverpool skipper’s experience certainly shouldn’t be overlooked. He is a presence the team would only benefit from.

Injury to any of the midfielders would prove detrimental with just one backup remaining should anyone be ruled out of the tournament. Five doesn’t seem enough, but the five involved are excellent in their own way.

It still feels ludicrous that Gareth Southgate didn’t include Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse in the final 26-man squad when two opportunities arose.

The 26-year-old is certainly one of Europe’s top set-piece takers and has developed immensely as a box-to-box midfielder, not missing a single minute of Premier League football this campaign with the Saints.

England have an array of tricky forwards in the squad who will undoubtedly win England free-kicks. It seems obvious that having Ward-Prowse involved was incredibly logical, yet Southgate had other plans and opted for another defender when Alexander-Arnold was ruled out of the tournament.

Forwards

Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Aston Villa), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton).

This is the area where my mouth starts to water slightly. England have got some of Europe’s best forwards amongst their ranks, yet there’s only space for three in the starting line up.

Kane starts, that’s a given. The 27-year-old is the captain and has also added creativity to his game at Tottenham this season, leading the way for both goals and assists in the Premier League this term. At the same time he’s also one of the best strikers in the world. No headache for Southgate there.

Then come the likes of Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, who have been involved in major tournaments for England before and are amongst those in the squad with the most caps (61 and 41 respectively).

Neither have been sensational for their clubs this season, but they both can be on their day and offer decent experience despite their young ages (26 and 23 respectively).

The remaining attackers in Foden, Grealish, Saka, Sancho and Calvert-Lewin are still relatively new to the England set up in the grand scheme of things.

Sancho made his debut in October 2018 and has made 19 appearances since, with the 21-year-old arguably not demonstrating the same world-class ability shown at club level with Dortmund whilst playing in an England shirt so far.

The right-winger has scored 16 times in 38 appearances for Dortmund this season, quality that England will crave throughout the tournament.

Foden, Grealish, Calvert-Lewin and Saka all made their senior England debuts this season, with the quartet sharing 27 caps between them.

They’re some of the Premier League’s most exciting talents, with Foden winning the young player of the season award after a stellar campaign with Manchester City.

Saka has been brilliant for Arsenal, whilst still only 19 years of age, and it’s a mystery how Jack Grealish hasn’t been involved with England for longer than he actually has. Once again, the Aston Villa skipper has been a delight and could certainly knock on the door of a regular starting spot.

Everton’s Calvert-Lewin has added more goals to his game and can certainly be regarded as one of the Premier League’s most prolific talismen.

The 24-year-old netted 21 goals in 39 appearances in all competitions, with four goals in nine for England since his debut in September; a decent back-up for captain Kane.

Out of the eight involved, only two in Harry Kane and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have regularly been playing as a central striker with the remaining six more used to being deployed out wide. Whether or not that is an error of judgement from Southgate will become clear through the tournament, but the talent on display is thrilling.

Regardless of whether you’re optimistic or pessimistic towards England’s chances at the European Championships this summer, there’s no doubt that we’re blessed with one of the best squads as well as the fact that it’s the closest to a home tournament we have gotten since 1996.

With all group games being played at Wembley, plus the round of 16 tie for the Group D winner as well as the semi-finals and final, it’s an opportunity that must be grasped with two hands.

Southgate gets it. His players get it. The fans get it. Now, let’s go get it and bring it home.

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