Who would you choose to start for England at Euro 2024?
Next stop: Euro 2024.
The next squad that England coach Gareth Southgate puts together is his selection for Germany. So who will make up the starting XI for the Three Lions' opening game against Serbia on June 16?
There are no more friendlies left but with the domestic season coming to an end there are still plenty of players who still have points to show for it.
We have former England and Blackburn striker Chris Sutton, former Man City midfielder Michael Brown, former Arsenal defender Matt Upson, ` Sport chief football journalist Phil McNulty and ` Sport columnist and Spanish football expert Guillem Balague asked who they would pick for the big kick.
We would also like you to select your starting XI below.
Chris Sutton: Gareth Southgate will pick Harry Maguire when he's fit, but I've been really impressed with Joe Gomez this season wherever he's played in Liverpool's defense and I want to pick him. Bukayo Saka is on the right in my team, but Phil Foden has to be in there somewhere – I put him on the left – and the big decision was who gets the extra spot in midfield. I want to be attack-oriented, but I don't rely on Trent Alexander-Arnold, I rely on James Maddison.
Michael Brown: We don't have a natural player who would be our number one on the left. This is a bit worrying as it is not as clearly demarcated as other areas of the pitch. I think if we talk about current form then Cole Palmer gets the nod for me. There's another curveball. Does Southgate see Alexander-Arnold in that other midfield spot? If he does that, it would leave Foden free to the left. Could Jarrad Branthwaite be there in place of Maguire? Because of the experience Maguire has and the way he performs, he will have to take him out.
Matt Upson: I'm betting on John Stones and Harry Maguire in central defense because they get on well and have great experience, and I don't think anyone will challenge them enough. It's a little more difficult who plays alongside Declan Rice, but I like the look of Kobbie Mainoo, a great addition to the squad. He has the energy and the character and I think he has the mentality to handle this level.
Guillem Balague: England is going into the European Championship with probably the strongest team in Europe at the moment. The majority of the squad puts itself together. Maguire will start because Southgate likes him a lot and he is probably the best option he has in central defense alongside the Stones at the moment. The only problems are the final spot in midfield and who to play at left-back. I'd play Maddison behind Harry Kane and use Kieran Trippier (if fit) at left-back, replacing him with Gomez if he's not (that is, if Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell aren't ready either).
Phil McNulty: England need to be bold in Germany, so I think Southgate should include Manchester United's brilliant 18-year-old Mainoo in his starting line-up against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. Mainoo showed in his first start against Belgium that he has the temperament and talent for international football. His partnership with Rice provided the perfect platform for the development of the outstanding Jude Bellingham. So why hold him back?
I will qualify this list by saying that there was a reluctance to use Maguire in central defense and that I would have preferred someone to make a compelling case for replacing him. We know Southgate will use him alongside the Stones unless injury occurs, so he's included here despite reservations.
Now it's your turn…
Choose your England team for the opening game of Euro 2024
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