England's starting lineup to face Iran in the World Cup 2022.
The Sky Sports analysts have selected their starting XIs and talked about some of the important decisions to be made before England's opening World Cup match against Iran on November 21.
On Thursday, Gareth Southgate selected his 26-man squad, and he now has just a few days to prepare them for their opening game in Qatar.
Gary Neville, Jamie Redknapp, Karen Carney, and Jamie Carragher, four Sky Sports analysts, each selected their England starting XI and provided justifications for those selections on Super Sunday. The key players and possible formations Southgate might use were also examined.
Check out what they decided and why by reading on.
Neville explains why England must use a back three.
"I'm playing a three at the back because that's what Gareth has done in the last few games," said the coach. If he changed it to a back four, I would be shocked. He does not have a center-back duo he can rely on. Which two center backs do you start and declare your confidence in? Unluckily, none of them are adequate. Stopping counterattacks and playing solid defense are two of the finest strategies to defeat a team like Iran, the USA, or Wales. If you counterattack in international football, you're going to have a lot of problems. If Bellingham sprints forward from midfield, Rice is the only player left there, possibly with Harry Maguire and Stones, who can both be overpowered by opponents.
"I believe we will control the ball in the first three games; Alexander-Arnold and Shaw will be forward to make it a 3-4-3; if Bellingham gets forward, one of those wing-backs will step in; that back three enables for that to happen.
"Gareth Southgate is the best England manager I've ever seen when it comes to understanding international and knockout football. He is aware of the need to have a strong defensive foundation while trusting his attacking players to score goals.
Alexander-Arnold won't likely participate in a knockout game, in my opinion. As they get fit and the games grow tougher, Trippier and Walker will replace White and Alexander- Arnold on that right side. Another reason is that he only has five days left before the tournament and I believe he will play a back three in one of the last-16 or quarterfinal games. He must continue with the configuration he has chosen because he doesn't have time to switch. He might switch players, but you can't switch systems. In their final two games of March, they utilized a back three, and it has been eight months since they last utilized a back four.
Foden must start in a front three, according to Carragher
Mason Mount is questioned because he isn't as noticeable as other players, but every manager chooses him. "I love Raheem Sterling and he was England's finest player in the Euros, he was out of this world. He understands the other side of the game and he could do a job in that position, work back and make sure England is not counter-attacked through the center of the pitch. He has not been in terrific form this year, and recently, he has worn an England jersey. Saka has been performing exceptionally well in that role.
For the opening day of the tournament, I'm going with this group. Just pick Pope and Ramsdale over Pickford, please. Since there are four backs, I want to be very aggressive. Our players are not in peak condition.
"Yes, Eric Dier hasn't been in the best of form himself, but it is the best back four I can think of right now. Trent could have been with Trippier either way. Harry Maguire hasn't played enough football, in my opinion.
"Phil Foden would play behind Harry Kane, where we haven't seen him before, but that's where he wants to play, so I'd start with Bellingham and Rice as a two. in a three-man midfield. With Rice, Bellingham, and Foden as your partners, you can play a one and a two.
"Because of players like Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City, I want to get him the ball and on the half turn. We don't have enough guys like that, in our opinion." We don't do enough to get him involved. I want him to be alert, reach into his pockets, and grab it. How would I like it if Phil Foden was picking up the ball and was so evasive and difficult to play against?
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