Jamie Carragher & Gary Neville debate England's potential World Cup line up & Southgate's future

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Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher take a look at the possible contenders for England's World Cup squad and discuss the future of Gareth Southgate at the country's manager.
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[@emeelise]

The disrespect Tomori is getting

[@CB-ms2cq]

Facts

[@samikemal5834]

If he's playing in out every game in the prem he's getting sucked off by Neville and Carragher

[@richardhorrocks1460]

Same old England fans. There's always that player that - if only Southgate was not so terrible and would pick - would change all of our fortunes. Grealish, Sancho, blah blah blah. It's just a stick to beat Southgate with. And yet, he was 100% right about Grealish and Sancho. Neither of them are world-beaters, and that is now clear for all to see. I don't know much about Tomori, but I know he plays in a weak league, and I know that as an international manager, partnerships, familiarity, relationship etc. are of more worth than temporary form. But there'll always be that player. Who was that bald Newcastle player a few years ago who apparently would transform our team? It was ridiculous.

[@alexbelotti1603]

@@richardhorrocks1460 you don’t know much about Tomori … you lost your point there

[@goldytwatus1674]

No you can complain about any player being excluded, there is enough competition without worrying about players from weaker leagues

[@bernardobiechina7487]

Did Gary Neville just skipped on Fikayo Timori? The level of disrespect this guy gets in England is alarming. In Italy, Timori would bench Bonucci in the national team, that is how much they rate him there. This guy's ranked 4th best defender in the champion league and the best defender in Seria A last season. I mean, what more can he do to prove these clueless English pundits and manager he is the best defender they got? Are they not watching football outside of England? Or they just don't like him. I really don't understand. This is the same guy who was scouted by Paolo Maldini and currently seeks advices from Maldini yet he is overlooked. Smalling is another guy to be looked after. He's been phenomenal to Roma under Jose Mourinho, with more goals and blocks than all the current English defenders combined. Italians are laughing at the cluelessness of Southgate for neglecting Smalling for Maguire who can't even run not to mention basic defending. Before anyone speaks of the level of football in Seria A or the decline, also remember, Italy beat England at Wembly, to win the Euros. Also, Italy is well known for producing great defenders than any other country in Europe. English pundits need to watch more football outside of England. No wonder English managers are lowly ranked among their European counterparts, because they're too fixated to English football. Explore!!!!

[@lenl860]

Who would’ve thought that English pundits who’s job it is to watch and commentate on the premier league would not watch the serie a and every other foreign competition. They don’t watch the championship because it’s not their job and they don’t have the time to watch every game everywhere

[@SheevPalps868]

I’m no genius, but i would imagine it’s because they don’t watch the serie A. English pundits watch English football, they don’t have time to watch and analyse other leagues

[@huckelberry201]

Hopefully he shows his class in the upcoming Chelsea games

[@pinealdreams1064]

@@lenl860 You'd think the England manager who only works three or four times a year would have time.

[@barry4649]

You’re 100% right and it’s actually disgraceful, someone who’s captaining at times one of the biggest clubs in the world and winning titles in Italy not in the team over a human potato in Harry Maguire. Makes you think the likes of Chris Smalling, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson Odoi have very small chance of getting in despite their good form abroad because playing for Southampton is seen as better than playing for AC Milan by that clown of a manager

[@isaacweston685]

The disrespect to Tomori is baffling….if we do not start Tomori we will not win this competition. He’s far and away the best we have.

[@DINKL8ERG]

Maguire all day pal

[@jaypurcell3733]

Won’t win the competition either way

[@seanpadraigobrien1260]

He's shite

[@paulgal]

Yous won’t win it anyway typical English too confident.

[@seanpadraigobrien1260]

@@paulgal they won't even best Wales. Mark my words

[@d-vngwenya4043]

Stones and Tomori can easily play a high line is a solid pairing. Tomori covers for the most adventurous full back in Theo Hernandez and keeps getting better . The thing Maguire has over him is Goals - but defending in all aspects Tomori is levels above him

[@garypipe1770]

Maguire should not be at the tournament. If your not playing club level you shouldn't go

[@wag3486]

Not even a mention for Tomori, can’t wait till we get a new manager and he finally gets his proper chance to show everyone what he’s about

[@Daniboi971]

Overrated now. He's better than Maguire, sure, but people can't stop going on about him yet they don't even watch him. He's decent - he's not the next Nesta.

[@andythoms8130]

@@Daniboi971 he has the pace and defensive quality . He doesn't need walker to cover for him.

[@adamkennedy7297]

He's rubbish

[@jhaych]

@@andythoms8130 I watch Milan most weekends and if you watch him you'd understand how important kalulu is to him or hernandez at times, he does have errors in him.

[@Daniboi971]

@@jhaych Yeah same, I live in Milan. He is good but inconsistent. Sometimes he's wellll out of position

[@nrox8823]

Now we know why Gary did so well at Valencia

[@uhzc1]

🤣

[@daedralord1]

How many other pundits took the risk to go manage? So many pundits don’t. Gary took the risk

[@bharat3719]

@@daedralord1 I am not a football player so I don't pretend to be one. If I go to play with football players and get battered, that is my fault and I deserve the criticism. Doesn't matter if I took the risk.

[@georgeezomo3883]

@@bharat3719 Strange analogy. Football has been Gary's whole life. Meanwhile, if a huge opportunity opened up in your career and you were approached for the job, you'd turn it down because you weren't sure how it would turn out? 😄

[@bharat3719]

@@georgeezomo3883 nothing wrong in taking the job but if you suck at it then you deserve the criticism. No-one would care if you took a risk.

[@p-money33]

A back 5 doesn't mean you have to be super defensive. You can still have your players making attacking runs, playing 1-2s, and getting in the box etc. But Gareth prefers a slower, more cautious mentality regardless of formation. Just putting attacking players on the pitch won't change that

[@alexwarren9730]

That’s because he’s clueless in terms of coaching. It’s basically sticking as many players behind the ball as possible which means wing backs not getting forward and the 2 cdms sitting in front of the 3 cbs.

[@lewisepicfootycontent5934]

The whole point of a back 5 is to have attacking fullbacks

[@eurojesus3739]

@@alexwarren9730 oh yeah and how many euro finals have you been to?

[@georgewilliams5890]

Our weakest position by far is Centre back so why is he picking 3 of them? Just stick to a back 4 so you can have more of our talented players playing

[@abdouldmml]

@@alexwarren9730 lol national team managers don't coach! They have the players for 2 weeks lol

[@Will-vg1xi]

If you look at our two best centre backs at the moment (Tomori & Stones), both of them play in a back 4. Ben White plays in a back 4 (he's no longer at Brighton, Gary), Walker plays in a back 4, Trent and Shaw do too. If we do the back 4 we can get both Foden and Saka in (both play in a system that operates with a back 4). We've got three of the best young talents in Saka, Bellingham and Foden, one of the best strikers in the world and Raheem Sterling who's a very proven player. What's the obsession with the back 5 system? Neville, a failed manager, was trying to argue how all of these England defenders play in a back 5, they don't. Our two best centre backs don't, and if we play Walker (who's a guaranteed starter in the best team in England), that provides a secure defensive option. Bellingham and Rice can both offer defensive quality while Foden, Saka and Sterling all play in pressing systems. The fact that he completely ignored Tomori is just astonishing as well - there is no way Maguire or Dier deserve to be starting above him. I also don't like Carragher's attitude towards people criticising Southgate. Quite frankly, our tournament runs (apart from Germany) have all been teams we should beat - and when we've come up against a team on our level we've lost. The nations league campaign was shocking, and he deserves criticism for that - not just the results, but how stale our style of play was. And the boringness of our games isn't just a nations league thing, we've seen it in tournaments as well. We barely scraped past Denmark and played an absolutely shocking game against Scotland in the Euros

[@bendover9663]

Dier deserves it but not Maguire and yep I agree fully apart from that....

[@naomistein8900]

Agree

[@DarthVader-to1gq]

I think every single point you made hits the nail on the head.

[@dnick91095]

I agree with your first 2 paragraphs. My XI would be this in a 4-2-3-1. Pickford James Stones Tomori Trippier Rice Bellingham Saka Sterling Foden Kane It's rly not rocket-science on the best XI imo. Maybe Walker starts vs Iran since he's familiar with Stones from City(?) I have no doubts a GOOD manager could employ James or TAA there as well. SG could watch tapes of Walker doing this for MC in both big games and others and take away important things that he could teach and or employ with TAA or James and see how they & then the team perform. Also Trippier for free kicks and to play the "Cancelo" role/style. Maybe I'm thinking too gloriously lol. Saka Sterling Kane are a lock for me, while I like Grealish from the bench. Foden could also play in the midfield 3 and Maddison could also play for Foden there. Maddison has to be a lock imo. The last paragraph, England & SG can only be judged with who's in front of them. They got one of the better draws with Colombia as a top seed R16 in Russia 2018, but that's not England's fault. Colombia are still a good team. Sweden performed better than Germany in 2018. They swept aside Mexico with EASE, so they deserved to be in the QF's. Big historical teams don't matter if they don't perform. Denmark in 2021 was a revitalized side so beating them is credit to England. Even big/winning teams draw/lose and play "shocking" games. Spain 0-1 Switzerland 2010; France 1-1 S. Korea 2006; France 2-1 Australia 2018; Germany 2-2 Ghana 2014.

[@vanman266]

5 at the back is not a problem but Southgate plays with a back 7.

[@mrjamtoast7581]

100% he plants men behind the ball to keep a clean sheet and hopes one of our front players will come up with something special. Thats why we’re so dull to watch, he tries to not lose games instead of winning them.

[@Ze_Moose]

7? Talk about parking the bus‼️

[@adamdickinson2894]

@@mrjamtoast7581 yet in two tournaments he's won 9 games - more than England won in the whole decade before he was manager

[@mrjamtoast7581]

@@adamdickinson2894 so games 2-4 years ago help us how? Lost 6 on the bounce and haven’t looked good in a long time. All of the points i made are still fact, he’s a great man manager and speaker but tactically he’s not up to it.

[@lohanekanayke455]

@@adamdickinson2894 bro england got the best squad they ever got and they need to be attacking football because after this generation if you win nothing u will regret it heavily

[@marineboy1964]

Southgate going with 6 at the back 3 holding midfielders and kane up top for the world cup

[@marineboy1964]

Kane can also drop back and help out defensively

[@nickdaboss03]

Best possible lineup

[@PeteStanner4567]

Are you allowed to play two goalkeepers at the same time?

[@marineboy1964]

@@PeteStanner4567 that's a good question how about 2 keepers and a sweeper and take out 2 of the defensive midfielders

[@jamieeason6859]

9-1-0 then

[@acelab3224]

Back 4 of Walker, Stones, Tomori, and Shaw/Chilwell is totally competent. Back 5 of Trippier, Walker, Stones, Tomori, and Shaw/Chilwell is also solid. The problem is not the back line formation but the lack of playing on the front foot with attacking midfielders/wingers that this team has in spades.

[@robharwood-stamper9857]

100% Mount Sako Sancho Foden Grealish Sterling Kane take your pick.... should be on the ball, front foot, 110% maximum energy.

[@broccolipasta7605]

And even with that back 5 you mentioned, imagine being able to bring Reece & Trent in for Walker & Trippier at 60 mins and those 2 just whip them in constantly and take pens if needed. There are solutions to the excessive RBs. They could be the game changers if needed.

[@bendover9663]

The issue is we have a guy who was a defender playing defensive football....

[@rubenpacheco2917]

I’m not even an English fan but it’s crazy how everyone is talking about the defense but not the middle? The middle has to balance with the defense for it to work.

[@robharwood-stamper9857]

@@bendover9663 that's exactly why he doesn't pick Trent. Southgate was a solid defender who read the game well, so every defender he is picking us based on his own style. Personally think someone should bite the bullet and play Trent in an attacking right or cam role, he reminds me of bale in his early years at spurs and think he should just move up the pitch

[@jamesulbot]

How they can't mention Tomori, he's class

[@GamerFrisco]

We don't need him

[@armchaircoach]

They got Maguire, they don't need him 😂

[@docwhat8370]

Looked class against Chelsea last week.

[@AidenWhite]

How they’re mentioning Joe Gomez without Chris Smalling is criminal

[@dirkbogarde44]

Smalling...the campest straight man on the planet.

[@Jordan-bp8hy]

Cant believe Webster at Brighton hasn't been shortlisted. He's been a phenomenal CB this season and last year really. And is comfy on the left side, when our only other left sided CBs are Maguire and Mings

[@Revelian1982]

​@@Jordan-bp8hy If he played for a bigger club, he'd get considered. I'm not saying that's right, but it's true.

[@AidenWhite]

@@dirkbogarde44 facts 🤣

[@mallyy1251]

@@Jordan-bp8hy Webster is class

[@harryhutchison4687]

It’s so odd to see two pundits who generally seem to know quite a bit about football, defend Gareth Southgate like that.

[@NCkiller4890yo]

Cuz they still wanna be employed, there that former player who criticized Maguire on sky and never got invited back. Whether that's true or not, English agenda exists.

[@themog4911]

They are paid to say what Sky Sports wants them to say. Media believe telling the truth would have a negative effect on subscriptions.

[@csbdcsbd8728]

Defend him how?

[@chrismitchell2791]

Or, they both and Gareth actually understand more about football than a load of lads switching between the match and FIFA manager mode.

[@01stesam]

@@chrismitchell2791 nah there’s clearly a media wide conspiracy to keep Southgate in the job because reasons? See makes perfect sense

[@JayPlayer]

I feel Maddison needs to get a call up. Maybe not start but I think he’s been undoubtably one the best attacking midfielder behind de bruyne in the prem regardless of how bad Leicester are doing rn.

[@amantesfaye1674]

I love watching him his technique is flawless

[@goonerdoy]

100%

[@XBesty12X]

No way, people I can who see sense?!

[@shyam-kq9nk]

Fax

[@SmithyAFC]

How is Ben White not in the squad, solid defender that can play multiple positions and he goes under the radar.

[@SSSalvage]

Walker, James, Taa all right backs and all better than ben shite.

[@shebeshimillion7250]

@@SSSalvage he is a better defender than all the player you listed

[@SSSalvage]

@@shebeshimillion7250 ok mate.

[@olofforsbacka819]

@@shebeshimillion7250 yeah he's a better cb not a better fullback

[@edenhazard2751]

No one cares about that Tan Shite.

[@alexbelotti1603]

Gary Neville making excuses into why Southgate won’t call up Ben white,Maddison, Tomori or even Smalling who’s playing well. Southgate has overstayed his welcome.

[@imo098765]

Ben White gets nowhere near the RB position and CB he isnt even good enough for his own club

[@barry4649]

@@imo098765 but neither is Harry Maguire and he’s going to be the first name on the team sheet despite being way worse

[@pesmerga182]

Because he reminds him of ole

[@yugam-jain]

@@imo098765 Don't confuse a player being versatile with not being able to play a position for his club. Ben White played 29 games as a CB in the PL last season (3 games as a RB and missed 6 games to injury/illness) and has played every game in the PL this season as a RB, keeping a fully fit Tomiyasu out of the line-up. He is good enough for both positions.

[@Squidward-jv7go]

@@imo098765 That’s just not even close to correct mate he played CB all of last year, it’s just his versatility and ability that has kept him at RB, he’s more reliable than Gabriel, and Saliba is just a freak. He would’ve started the season at CB if Tomiyasu wasn’t injured

[@Ronnny77]

Tomori should have done a Jamal musiala move,he will get picked right into that Germany

[@matthewchampion8214]

What the hell is a Jamal Musiala move for Tomori? You know you can't just choose to play for Germany. Tomori's other options are Canada and Nigeria.

[@Ronnny77]

@@matthewchampion8214 atleast he will play in nigeria lol

[@andrewjoyce9038]

Hes not eligible for anyone else now hes captied

[@godkot4466]

He should have chosen his home country Nigeria.

[@Daniboi971]

Should have. they're BLM unless a white organisation offers them tons of money HAHAHA

[@ffbear8078]

The idea that a starting centre back for the serie A and premier league reigning champions respectfully couldn't make a brilliant back 2 is insane. We then have a La Liga winner full back in Trippier who can play either side and is a great free kick taker and TAA and Reece James who have been talked about as 2 of the best full backs in the world rn. How is it not possible to play a back 4?

[@ffbear8078]

Gk: Pickford LB: Trippier LCB: Tomori RCB: Stones RB: James 6: Rice 8: Bellingham 10: Foden LW: Sterling ST: Kane RW: Saka Subs: Pope Ramsdale TAA Chilwell Walker Dier White Henderson Phillips Ward-Prowse Mount Grealish Maddison Abraham Rashford

[@ffbear8078]

Could take Shaw cause of England performances but seems unnecessary

[@randomdaveUK]

Because a back 4 ties up the full backs to be more defensive. They become support players and less attacking. Back 5 is actually a back 3 for England with how good our wing backs are in attack. We'd have a front 5 at times. I prefer back 4 generally, but we've got great players who wouldn't suit that atm. Tomori is a great talent who will probably be starting games after the world cup and feature at the next Euros. He's 6-7 years ahead of where CBs hit their peak, loads of time

[@ffbear8078]

@@randomdaveUK thats the problem tho, in the back 5 the wing backs are too aggressive imo, and it's taking a player off the midfield to leave 3 at the back and have 4 on the wings, we'd do better to keep 4 at the back, have another in the middle 10 role to mix play in between the wings and play off of Kane. All our attacks are down the wings cause we basically have 4 wingers

[@randomdaveUK]

@@ffbear8078 I'd love a 4231 or 4141 for England. Defensive unit would be good, could get Foden in as a No10. Still play Sterling and Saka or Grealish. 4141 would allow Bellingham to get forward, leave Rice as the defensive midfielder. Problem with both of those, they're not coached to play in either formation for England. Most of them don't play in a team with a back 4

[@fraserposford144]

Agreed. All that matters is tournament results. Past England teams did amazingly well in qualifying, crazy media hype around England winning, only to get nowhere beyond a Quarterfinal at the tournament and in some cases worse. Southgate's results so far have been above and beyond what many of us expected and I'll happily take a few bad results in the Nations League or friendlies if that means England get it right in the next major tournament.

[@jacobford-thomson8937]

Everyone saying our back 4 isn’t strong enough tomori one of the best cb in serie a and stones one of the best in prem both play in a 4. Not going to be many better pairings in the World Cup. With James or whoever right back and chillwell on the left the defence is so solid

[@barry4649]

But then there’s not the great Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire in the team, you can’t do that 😂

[@nigget-tv-videos4135]

we have top players in every position, the trick is putting the right players in the system he is employing, thats where he fails.

[@CharlieVane21]

GS doesn't know Tomori exists. Plays in a faraway place with dragons and wizards, etc,. No one is really sure if it is a myth or no?

[@broderickfall]

@Daemon Targaryen they don't watch serie A. They probably don't even watch 90 minute PL games. It's the blind questioning the blind

[@fgrhuhrg]

@Daemon Targaryen Hernandez a CB? Looks like you been watching the wrong games too lol. Kalulu and Tomori have been a great CB partnership and that wouldn't be possible if Tomori was as bad as you're saying

[@DustyBrah]

Funny how they both think Foden has to start, and both would love him in midfield, and both think we lack a creative player but they don’t think that’s enough of a reason to play 433…

[@Adam-cr8qe]

Every single one of these ex player pundits makes the same mistake over and over again, they keep thinking its about defence

[@gregordrizzlewing7339]

Foden is terrible for England. He’s good technically yes but my god do they toot that boys horn 🤣🤣

[@Adam-cr8qe]

@@gregordrizzlewing7339 everyone is because its a poorly set up side. Hes got 8 defensive players around him usually

[@gregordrizzlewing7339]

@@Adam-cr8qe everyone ain’t terrible though. Kane saka mount and shaw are all good for England even trippier. Foden just can’t do it without Debruyne and all the other talent city has

[@Adam-cr8qe]

@@gregordrizzlewing7339 ofcourse he can, kane is rubbish for england most of the time, shaw had a good tournament last time, mount got criticised loads thats about it apart from saka. Its the negativity and fear that england play with that stops players shining. Saka is an exception he just does his thing. Foden is too good to leave out

[@ONEMADKILLERx]

A back 4 is definitely possible with Tomori Stones Walker and then either chilwell or Shaw at left back. Rice Bellingham and Maddison midfield with Kane and whatever two wingers are playing well.

[@Anonymous-xr8hx]

If we're playing a back 4 James should be the starting RB.

[@Itzxkazer]

@@Anonymous-xr8hx definitely think walker is defensively more sound

[@dranthony1882]

Tomori is not this elite level people assume him to be

[@ONEMADKILLERx]

@@dranthony1882 None of the other centre backs are either.

[@XXXTENTAClON227]

Trippier right back

[@mattstoodley1649]

I’m aussie but always follow England in football when invariably the aussies go out in the group( crazy to say I know) but I would like to see a 4-2-3-1 used. It detracts a little from the wingbacks but gives the sheer amount of attacking talent a better chance at success. Play Timori/Stones in the centre, rice/Bellingham in the hole and Grealish/foden/Saka in attack with Kane up top.. looks hella dangerous to me.. good luck in the tourney

[@LS-kw7ck]

4231? What is this, 2010? LOL

[@Daniboi971]

The only issue I can see there is 3 wide players. I'd probably play Mount in the 10 spot instead of Grealish. But otherwise I totally agree. And thanks for support! Onya!

[@BrandonSmith-ct5rz]

That's a perfect set up for me mate, good call. I'm English living in aus so I'm routing for the Aussies as a second team this WC. But yeah that type of formation would be perfect for us imo. That's a deadly starting line up too.

[@Mrarmybarmy]

@@LS-kw7ck literally the same formation Arsenal play… their the league leaders if you didn’t know

[@vangledosh]

@@LS-kw7ck Get off Fifa bud

[@cdog857]

Neville rattled through the defenders and finished by saying it forces you to play a back 5. Really??? Trent AA, trippier, Shaw, Maguire, stones, walker, white all play in back 4s for their clubs. Massaging facts to suit his point.

[@eurojesus3739]

this isn't really true and it's basically a misunderstanding of formations. most teams play 3 or 4 at the back when they're attacking and 5 at the back when they're defending with the CDM dropping into defence

[@stefanarsic4038]

The last game that Saka came on for England he literally turned it on it’s head and they drew the game. How that doesn’t get mentioned here and how he changed that game is ridiculous.

[@naomistein8900]

Neville said Bellingham changed the game. No Saka Did. Involved in every England goal lol

[@DeluxeRyan]

Plays for Arsenal

[@jakebiffin8512]

Saka is 💩

[@mattmc1234]

I agree with the point that the amount of games you win between tournaments is irrelevant, just look at Turkey going into the Euros last year, they were unbeaten in about 20 games or something, they then proceeded to get battered in every game and went out in the group stages. Where the form matters is through momentum you get in the group stages of tournaments which has and can propel teams straight to the final.

[@user-he2ou2ex2f]

It's not meaningless though. You'd rather win 5 games going into a tournament then go 5 without a win.

[@archiemurdoch3231]

Why is every pundit acting like tomori doesn't exist. Can only premier league players play for England???

[@justtheon5903]

It’s funny you say that because sancho only started playing when he signed for united

[@joshuanolan1435]

Bellingham, Abraham & trippier when he was in Spain so no

[@archiemurdoch3231]

@@joshuanolan1435 when was the last time tammy got real minutes. Bellingham is breaking through yes only because southgate would actually be booted if he didn't play and trippier wasnt first choice

[@joshuanolan1435]

@@archiemurdoch3231 & the fact he hasn’t picked rashford Maddison who also play in the prem tomori obviously doesn’t suit the system like Arnold

[@temporaryuseraccount0012]

Not only that. But Southgate mainly chooses players only from the bigger Premier League clubs. Quality English players from smaller Premier clubs, often don't get much chance with Gareth.

[@mannyg8316]

Fikayo Tomori should be the at the top of that defender list, best English CB in Europe last season

[@Adam-cr8qe]

But in england we play down other leagues all the time, which is why it took him about 40 years to realise that sancho and bellingham were good

[@michaeljohn2822]

Marc guehi is calm and excellent to deliver balls for attacking, have seen it done by him many times for zaha and benteke

[@jamespratt7526]

Gary says we have to play a five and then says “no excuse for not finding a role for Foden”. The reason there is no room for Foden is because of the extra defenders on the pitch! 😂

[@adamdickinson2894]

England in major tournaments: 2018-21: 9 wins 2004-16: 9 wins All you need to know

[@ItsAv3rageGamer]

What about the opposition? If England can't beat Tunisia, Panama, Columbia, Denmark, Sweden, Ukraine, Czech Republic and aging Germany and Croatia sides i'd be really worried. Previous England managers had far tougher opposition.

[@adamdickinson2894]

@@ItsAv3rageGamer In that first spell, England failed to beat USA, Costa Rica, Algeria, Sweden, Slovakia, Russia and Iceland at major tournaments plus Macedonia, Israel, Russia (again) and Croatia twice in Euro 2008 qualifying when they couldn't get to the tournament. So either you're young or forgetful because being able to beat poorer opposition has been a problem for England for decades. Now tell me, who was the 'far tougher' opposition that made up the nine wins in that first spell, Trinidad & Tobago? Ecuador? Slovenia? Before Southgate beat Germany at the Euros, when was the last genuinely big team England beat at a tournament? You're going back nearly 20 years.

[@bendover9663]

What do most of them have in common.... losing on Penalties (04 06 12 21)

[@adamdickinson2894]

@@bendover9663 what does Southgate have that none of the others do? 18

[@coveredindie]

Our squad is not as strong as the Golden Generation, but the other top countries are much weaker. We have the best team we’ve ever had, relative to the other nations.

[@dalegrant9282]

Yeah but it has to be used well

[@m.a4491]

Brasil's second team would easily smash this England squad. The only position that's superior for England is it's RB.

[@ItsAv3rageGamer]

@@m.a4491 Kane is better than any of Brazil's strikers.

[@JD-vq7ln]

Our starting XI is not, but our depth in squad is better. That is what they aren't talking about. Gareth didn't use his subs in the euros final which is what lost it. He brought on rashford at right back and sancho with 4mins to go of extra time. Utter disgrace, to then expect them to take a penalty without touching a ball.

[@michaeljohn2822]

Beckham,lampard,rooney,gerard, those were the dream team

[@bennyt4903]

Is there a way to watch full episodes without having sky?

[@lar2800]

Good manager can easily see which players are good individually and know how use them functionally

[@powerplant.]

Can't understand much of what Southgate is up to, but the players are clearly behind him. I thought we were pretty dreadful for the year leading up to the Euros and I disagreed with almost every move we made and yet we still finished runners up. I'm just gonna go with the flow and leave him to it.

[@xty070]

Pretend like England didn’t have the easiest run to the finals 😒

[@bendover9663]

@@xty070 and played all games bar 1 at home, plus messed up basically a gift wrapped chance of winning a tournament, apart from that Southgates done okay 🤭

[@powerplant.]

I don't know if any of you that replied are English, but who would you replace Southgate with? I'm not much of a fan but semi final followed by final is a much better record than any of our recent managers. Where are all the quality English managers?

[@powerplant.]

@zak What about the question I asked? I don't disagree with you, but nobody has a decent suggestion of who to replace him with. Howe and Potter are not viable for the foreseeable, so who else?

[@dnick91095]

​@zak who cares? get off of your high horse. England and ANY TEAM can only face what's in front of them. Germany is never easy. You're only using hindsight to judge. England faced "an easy team" in Iceland in 2016 as well but flopped. If England beat Italy in Euro 2012 via PK's, the narrative would've been "England BARELY beat a weak Italy via PK's. Italy didn't even make the R16 in South Africa 2010. Then the same thing in Brazil 2014" What about 2008? Arguably in everyone's PRIME ENGLAND with their golden generation. England couldn't just NOT LOSE at home to Croatia. Even a DRAW at home on their last matchday literally would've had them in Euro 2008. You've got to beat what's in front of you, no matter who it is.

[@craigsavage5584]

Ben White has to make the squad for the world Cup, yes he may not get much game time but with the performances so far this season he needs to be there without a doubt

[@naomistein8900]

Agree

[@anapsuturi9827]

I love how we are always discussing defence in case of the squad, but all this years with Garreth problems was and is offense. England has enough creative players they just don't have a proper system around them. Even last game with Germany players did not know what to do with a ball until Saka and Mount came along and Bellingem was doing his best the whole game. As to Foden he is a great kid and very efficient in a system where he knows what and how to do, and great KDB, who will always find him with his passing, and in England he gets lost a lot of times. They can try 442, with Tomori Stones/White in the back, TAA /James, Chilwell as FB, Rice, Bellingem, Saka, Mount, Sterling, Kane. FB will help up front, midfielders will be able to cover up for fullbacks if needed, Kane is very good at drawing CB outside the box, and he can pass the ball to running in Sterling or Saka.

[@KAV0151]

The problem with the 5-2-3 / 3-4-3 shape is the two in central midfield.

[@quadinho1248]

The best english Starting XI is: Sterling Kane Saka Foden Rice Bellingham Chillwell Tomori Stones Walker Ramsdale You can switch Walker for James/Trent against deep lines, you can throw in Sancho against deep lines, Shaw or Chillwell is an open race and Rashford can hurt oppositions on the counter attack if you bring him in.

[@Adam-cr8qe]

Not bad

[@ryanyates4124]

Pickford over Ramsdale. But both are very good

[@Hyde_Hill]

Nice one. Similar to mine. I have James over Walker and Pickford over Ramsdale even though Ramsdale has a higher ceiling it seems Pickford does better for the England squad. And Foden as a 10.

[@jamespratt7526]

Fundamentally, picking an extra defender over a forward is accommodating a lesser player at the expense of a player who is closer to world class. The 3 at the back is exacerbated by playing (pre Bellingham) too many CDMs on top of the defence

[@kcsniper1243]

Ive said it for a few years England need to transition Trent into a CM the way that Phillip Lamb did for Bayern under Pep. I feel like England best midfield would be Rice CDM, Bellingham & Trent as the CM.

[@philth69]

It's not so much the back 5 it's that Southgate also plays 2 defensive midfielders so it's more like a back 7 most of the time.✅️

[@djrozzer7010]

Exactly this.

[@jacksonjefwa8469]

I'm rooting for England this year 👏🏿 🙌🏿 Alot of talents in that squad just need a good coach

[@Heartstarts2pound]

You're going to cry

[@dorincucos2197]

The question is valid - would another manager do better? I'd say probably yes. The base Southgate has set is very low actually - beating Denmark and Columbia are things you expect of this England squad. And losing to Croatia and Italy undermine the idea that there is a special unity pushing the team. The only exceptional result is the win againsy Germany, and in the circumstances that seemed quite normal as well.

[@danbrown5196]

Even think Wilson, Gordon and Harrison would give you more drive and strength up top

[@GhostCardo]

Tomori is probably englands best CB, so overlooked

[@fusionsuper34]

When Tomori left Chelsea, I was devastated. He was one of the best centre backs at the club and still is today, at AC Milan. But for him to be ignored for selection along with a few others such as White, Dunk, Maddison, Barnes etc. That stinks of arrogance and ignorance.

[@pendafen7405]

As long as Pickford goalkeeps and Stones defends, we're sound at the back. Something about those two together is powerful.

[@XavierJAlexander]

Gary showing the managerial talents of a Sunday league team

[@stevey-nwas1230]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@Charlie-bh5lo]

We don't play with wing backs at Arsenal but when we did Saka was very good as LWB

[@toadoftruth]

The problem with the 3 at the back formation is our wing backs don’t get forward enough, so it basically is a back 5 which is negative

[@jaymo3205]

Most of England's goals at the last EC and WC under Southgate came from set pieces anyway. If anything he should play for a way to win as many corners and free kicks as they can like Sheffield United did with Jostein Flo.

[@matt-lo8ut]

That's an absolute nonsense. James is in everyone's fantasy teams for goals and assists + Shaw has been incredible going forward for England. Remember the final? This negative talk is a joke. A final and a semi final. You would have to have a short memory or be rather young to not appreciate how well Gareth and this team have done. This is by no means a great squad either. Kane, Foden and Bellingham are world class, perhaps Rice. 15 years ago we had Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes, Rooney, Owen, Ferdinand, Terry, Ashley Cole, Beckham who were all world class. Some people need a reality check on just how remarkable a job Gareth has done.

[@BM-qn6fg]

You lads are goosed though with a back four. Neville is right. The centre back options are simply not good enough. Even as a three they’ll be shaky.

[@jaymo3205]

@@matt-lo8ut " A final and a semi final....15 years ago...." We still get knocked out by the first decent team we come up against, it's just we've had very had very nice draws in those competitions. He hasn't had his pants pulled down yet so he's done better than 60% of England managers of the last 30 years.

[@matt-lo8ut]

@@jaymo3205 60%? Random % you've just pulled out or? He's done better than all of them since Ramsey. That's objectively the correct answer. You can't choose who you play against, we beat Germany comfortably, that team from a few years ago lost to Portugal, 'wink wink', we have struggled regardless of opposition for 60 years!! We have never EVER been in a semi and then a final of back to back major tournaments, you really don't know how bad it can get, or how bad it was, do you? Our manager is a remarkable manager. He'll only get the credit he deserves once he's gone and we're back to being knocked out in the group stages.

[@johnnyfreespeech5815]

This is a prime example of where we always go wrong in England. You decide how you want to play and which players will facilitate this. Pretty simple but as per usual we always get in a mess trying to complicate things: ‘How do we setup against the crap teams?’ ‘When do we switch back to a different formation?’ ‘Can this guy play in a slightly different position?’ We’re overthinking it. AGAIN.

[@garypipe1770]

I fully agree. Keep it simple. 1. Stick to a formation 2. Pick best players for how you want to play not based on perceived quality. 3. Only players who are performing at club level in the squad. Simple things really but it always gets massively over complicated

[@dockeyboy]

You have such a large pool of players which complicates things

[@bilinasmini3480]

have to constantly drop into midfield to get a touch in Gareth’s system which makes the whole team feel like we have had someone sent off.

[@dantalksscentsuk]

I think Southgate is holding the team back. He picks his favourites such as Maguire despite them not playing for there clubs. He ignores players in form such as Maddison and Tomori. Imagine Pep, Klopp or any top manager with this squad..I'm sure they would start Grealish, Maddison and foden behind Kane. The only question mark for me is the goalkeeper and who partners Stones. The rest of the squad is strong 💪 There is no way we should be playing 5-4-1 with all the talent we have in this squad.

[@magikarpsplashy]

"Is again under scrutiny for the first time". Epic

[@TroyMcClure26]

Tomori not being mentioned because he plays in Italy is astounding! He’s the best we’ve got BY FAR yet we will probably start with Maguire

[@elliscarey5294]

Tbf Stones is better but Tomori and him are the clear 2

[@TroyMcClure26]

@@elliscarey5294 I disagree. Stones is a good defender but how much defending do city actually do? Haha

[@eurojesus3739]

@@TroyMcClure26 you're forgetting that the serie A got chewed up and left by the side of the road about 5 years ago. being the best CB in the serie A is like being the least rapey priest. woo hoo

[@olofforsbacka819]

@@elliscarey5294 Guehi exists

[@AliG-yu2bn]

@@eurojesus3739 imagine commenting on a league you don't watch and no absolutely nothing about. Ignorance is all I can say tbh

[@Nefariousbig]

Saka/JWP/Chilwell Tomori Dier/Stones James Trent Rice Bellingham and Foden/Mount Kane Rashford/Sterling/Grealish 532. Am I wrong that this would be a good setup? Kane still gets his wide runners in the form of Saka/Foden and his strike partner. It gets Trent on the pitch with players around him versatile enough to cover the gaps he leaves. James may feel like squandered potential at RCB but would be able to slot into a makeshift back 4 as play evolves, or comfortably drive up the pitch knowing Trent/Rice can cover. You could get JWP involved in theory and have access to his elite free kicks if that was part of a gameplan, Grealish buying them for days. We have an excellent combination of both speciality players with one or two elite attributes or areas of expertise, and genuinely world class versatile players that can make up for weaknesses elsewhere in the team. We really need to start using them!

[@zcasparyt991]

GK - Pickford LB - Shaw/Chilwell CB - Stones CB - Tomori RB - Reece James/TAA CDM - Rice CM - Bellingham CAM - Foden/Mount LW - Rashford/Sancho ST - Kane RW - Sterling/Saka

[@danreynolds929]

The tournament results on paper look good, and you can only beat what’s in front of you, but in the World Cup we beat: Tunisia, Panama, Columbia on penalties, and Sweden. Soon as we came up against one of the better teams like Croatia and Belgium we lost. Euro’s we beat a couple of better teams but still drew to Scotland and lost in the final. The games still need winning but it’s not like we beat Argentina, France etc.

[@dij_on_]

england didn't qualify for euro 2008 despite the fact that there was an all english ucl final that year. international teams are very rarely good these days - look at italy for example. they won the euros but couldn't beat north macedonia and now won't be at the world cup. it's all swings and roundabouts.

[@dij_on_]

those tournament results are good, because we've produced better players and done worse. and in the same way that we only beat colombia on penalties, we lost the euro final on pens - that doesn't detract from italy's achievement.

[@guitarreilly]

the golden generation didn't even do that ! we also beat germany which we haven't done in a major tournament since 1966. Its easy to criticise. You have a short. Memory and you’re ridiculously ungrateful

[@jabrilmahmmed573]

Germany were on their worst form ever since 2016, Denmark are a weaker team than england

[@cwm6203]

@@guitarreilly Yes they did, they beat Germany 5-1 at Germany.

[@CharlieVane21]

I read in The Athletic a while back that England isn't good enough for TAA and Foden. Both would start for Brazil but not for England. Is this down to GS? I dunno?

[@carlsimmons305]

Can Jamie & Gary provide the starting 11 & substitutes with formation they would use… Explain why as well :-)

[@Jordan-bp8hy]

Got to play a back 5, our defenders just aren't good enough. Got to find a spot for TAA or James in that starting 11, neither look comfortable at RB over RWB. Shaw needs a good LCB go help him out, Chilwell naturally a WB. Not only that, but our CBs all look comfortable in 5s compared to 4s. Stones and Tomori i'd trust as a partnership but Southgate doesn't seem to want to use Tomori. However, you can play wing backs and also play attacking. This line that if we play 5 defenders we cant attack as well is nonsense. We seem to delay going through the gears at England, regardless of system.

[@Adam-cr8qe]

They get overrun in midfield by the better teams with this setup when the game starts to get tough. Its a negative system with no flair and its only worked against teams that arent that special. Croatia, netherlands, belgium, italy, all took advantage

[@Jordan-bp8hy]

@@Adam-cr8qe think Southgate thinks it's the only system that gives them a chance. If they tried making a 4 work, the defence just isn't good enough. I too want us to go 4, but we'd be still be sat back and pragmatic under Southgate

[@Adam-cr8qe]

@@Jordan-bp8hy in terms of southgate thats possibly true, which is why I would rather eddie how was in charge. These ex 90s defenders are obsessed with making england lose every single tournament. I disagree about the defence though, I think our players are perfectly capable when directed properly

[@stuartbrotherton3896]

TAA laziest player I’ve ever seen

[@ChewyHands]

I’m really sorry but Jamie might be right and say this England squad isn’t that much better than 96 or the 2000s but honestly the Germany of today is light years behind Germany 96. Brazil are nowhere near the team with Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Italy are in a transition period especially at the back, Chilleni was 62 years old in the euros final but we couldn’t get at him. England and France are the only two teams in world football with close to world class starting XI’s and Gareth absolutely bottled it against Italy and Croatia who had significantly worse sides. This World Cup we should be going in as favourites behind France but instead I’m worried about us getting a goals against Iran, Wales and USA when we have the most creative player behind KDB in the league as a right back who he won’t even play and one of the CFs in the world in Kane who is gonna have to constantly drop into midfield to get a touch in Gareth’s system which makes the whole team feel like we have had someone sent off.

[@jpa_fasty3997]

100% agree. Excellent comment.

[@Kevin-be9iy]

To dismiss brazil with the excuse of them not being near one of the greatest national teams of all time is ridiculous. Brazil have quality in every position and as a team are in amazing form.

[@YungFusebox]

'62 years old' hahaha

[@jonmartin9732]

Um Brazil is looking really good actually and Argentina look dangerous and solid as a team.

[@AK-bj6fk]

I don't get it. How in 2018 were England a better side than us. A midfield of Dier, Henderson and Alli vs. Modric, Brozovic, and Rakitic.

[@ashwilliams4959]

The fact it took til kane and sterling for an attacking player to be mentioned is worrying. Will be surprised if we make it out the group stage

[@3Helium3]

He's playing the squad the best it could be played, I agree. in terms of formation anyway.

[@blakepowell2904]

Southgate one most protective we manager , unbelievable

[@matthewdoyle3877]

Do u think he has done better than Sven?????????? Sven was overhyped my the media. Southgate has done miles better than him, with a worse team

[@bendover9663]

@@matthewdoyle3877 tbf to Sven the standard of national football back then was higher but mainly it was, yes, those Penalty kicks😫

[@simonb1996]

Play a back 5 = 1 less central midfielder = Lose control of the midfield = Lose control on the game = Inviting far more pressure onto the defence and goal.

[@RocketDan]

The main reason teams play with three central defenders is to mitigate the opposition press when facing a 4-3-3. At international level teams don't press with the aggression or organisation they do at club level, as such, there is no need for England to play a back 3 at the world cup.

[@KelbornXx]

The England squad should be: GK - Pickford, Pope, Ramsdale. CB - Stones, Tomori, White, Dier. RB - Trippier, Walker, Alexander-Arnold, James. LB - Shaw, Chilwell. CM - Rice, Bellingham, Henderson, Mount. AM - Saka, Maddison, Foden, Sterling, Grealish, Sancho. CF - Kane, Rashford, Toney.

[@TelepartyPlays]

Jamie Carragher: “we have a brave manager” 😱

[@dnick91095]

He's right tbh. SG ran a 3 ATB in Russia 2018 and Euro 2021. Picks players he trusts & has gotten the farthest than any other practically fugazi manager before him, even with the so-called "golden generation" 2004-2008

[@resync6346]

smalling and kilman should be there instead of gomez

[@MrBectham]

I have not been watching much wolves games this season, people keep talking about max kilman 😂😂but they are nearly bottom of the league so far

[@resync6346]

@@MrBectham they are actually very good defensively, the problem is they dont score goals

[@jackkarran8050]

I wish Ebere Eze would get some love. That boy is special.

[@polarbeartom9416]

Back 13 seems more likely under Southgate with the ref playing up top and revert back to Kane taking corners

[@redmate_]

Trent is in some poor form right now but they need to take him. Even off the bench he is one of the most creative English players and can get you over the line in a tournament

[@jhaych]

Use jwp

[@dontchatbreeze]

depends on the set up he is so poor defensively so its always risky playing him. in theory england should have enough creativity anyway. kyle walker is just more reliable defensively and a safer option

[@jacobmurphy9728]

@@dontchatbreeze but its also crucial to get the wingback's right i think thats a big position in terms of how england set up because i think against the big sides i think tripper but lets say its 1-1 against france in the semis maybe a trent who has an excellent cross just that bit of difference could be the key and in a world cup we need to take risk and atleast have that option like a plan b i think i agree right now id pick either him or tripper but atleast have him on the bench

[@redmate_]

If they're using 3 at the back and then wing backs, there's no one better than trent. Even give trent the last 20 if you're needing a goal. Way more of a threat than JWP

[@briantadjalli6754]

I think we should play 343 with ramsdale , Walker, stones, tomori as the cbs and gk, Reece and chilwell fullbacks, Bellingham and Trent cms, sterling kane and mount as attackers. I know this is a bit absurd but I feel like it would work and it would be a fun team with Trent in cm and Walker in cb, that looks amazing

[@thomasforde3900]

If we play a back 5, we need to have more belief going forward. For example, why not play Reece James AND Trent? Especially if Walker isn’t fully fit, Reece James and Trent could overlap and control that side of the pitch at an elite level and the quality of the side would increase massively

[@Kyle_lofc]

8:01. They beat Germany in the euros Neville. That was a good achievement. Apart from that. Getting to the semi final and the final was not an achievement for this brilliant England side when you look at the teams they played apart from Germany. A manager that plays to this side strengths would’ve won one of the tournaments at least

[@barry4649]

Not to mention under Jogi Low toward the end Germany were rubbish

[@hellohi1445]

@@barry4649 I mean Germany weren’t bad at the end. They destroyed Portugal. Southgate deserves this WC. We can’t just sack him after reaching the finals.

[@barry4649]

@@hellohi1445 I agree, you can’t sack him but it will be a World Cup wasted, if England were proper ballsy they’d sack him now to get Tuchel but nobody would do that and that is incredibly harsh

[@hellohi1445]

@@barry4649 yeh it’s one of those where u know u can get a better team in England with a better manager, but the guy just came off of a remarkable euros run which decades of managers couldn’t achieve, so u can’t sack the guy.

[@barry4649]

@@hellohi1445 and that’s fair but context is key and the writing is on the wall for Gareth Southgate

[@Azjayfox]

I like what Southgate has done, best progress I've seen as an England manager, however I think his time is up. We have some great attacking players. We don't utilise them. We're very cautious when we don't need to be.

[@simonmenzies3142]

Walker is the only truly top defender out of the lot

[@Jim90117]

Joe Gomez has been absolutely shocking in recent games for Liverpool, no idea how he is getting this call up

[@jmckeev765]

i always love an analysis by sir gary neville

[@ayushchandwani]

Best XI Ramsdale James Tomori White Trippier Rice Bellingham Saka. Maddison. Foden Kane

[@01stesam]

Hahaahahaha

[@Ronnie-ul5ld]

greatest manager of all time....the myth the legend gary neville

[@baka28032]

Carra is analyzing with logic and tactics while Gary just feels😭 Thats the difference between them

[@francissmalls3882]

It's all well and good trying to shoehorn foden into the line up, but if he doesn't suit the system then you're shoot yourself in the foot. Foden is a better player than saka, but saka suits this rigid system better. This is why we need a more expressive manager to utilise the top players more.

[@Karma2Babylon]

England got to a semi with a midfield of Henderson, Delli Ali and Jesse Lingaard, I’d guess the likes of Colombia and Sweden are still scratching their heads and wondering how on earth they got beat by England. England get to final with Rice and Phillips in midfield and the teams they beat that had equal or better players than England are watching England fans going “meh!” Southgate: best manager since Sir Alf.

[@halberggb3124]

I don't know about Sweden but Colombia have been depressing since 2014 and even before that, they barely got qualification in the last minute there.

[@MarkSmith-er7fe]

lol

[@Karma2Babylon]

@@halberggb3124 England were eliminated in group stage in 2014 and spanked by Iceland in 16’ so I’m not seeing why Colombia were minnows in comparison

[@AdityaNema]

What an insult to the premier league and these players that Gary says it's "unbelievable" for them to reach semifinal and final and get knocked out by the first decent team they face. I think it's unbelievable that England got relegated in the nations league.

[@01stesam]

Wait till you hear about what we were like in tournaments pre Southgate, if we even qualified 😂

[@harrywitney3964]

lost to croatia and italy who didnt qualify for the world cup😬 This is why we dont win, expectations are so low

[@01stesam]

England had won one knockout this millennium before Southgate you fool of course there is low expectations

[@harrywitney3964]

@@01stesam great: other teams performed bad so this one must perform bad too! The England way

[@csbdcsbd8728]

You honestly think with the media and arrogant English public expectations are somehow low?

[@thomaswalsh7043]

We should play a 343/4222 hybrid. Get both James & Trent in & will allow Trent to be more attacking

[@christophermiller4791]

This would be mine (3-4-3) Ramsdale White - Dier - Stones Trent - Bellingham - Rice - Chilwell Saka - Kane - Foden

[@harryrowlands5804]

It's crazy how they don't care about Nations League now England have been relegated. With a population and football history England have they should be expected to be winning the euros or the world cups? I find it madness that English fans settle for anything less.

[@csbdcsbd8728]

And what if you come up against another great nation and lose because they're equally as talented?

[@heavyrain002]

It's actually infuriating to see that much attacking talent in the team and for pundits to still persist with this notion that we have to play 5 at the back or we stand no chance. Bar France, Brazil and maybe Argentina, there are no other teams in this competition with talent like ours from midfield onwards, yet we're reluctant to put an emphasis there as our defence is a bit shaky. The majority of our players play in a back 4 for their clubs, and two of them (Stones and Tomori) played as a CB in title winning teams. Ridiculous how we don't deploy a back 4 with those two and really use the midfield and attacking talent at our disposal to actually go at teams and not sit back and hope for the best. Another scrappy run past average teams then narrow loss to a good team is pending...

[@yaboi5509]

Pickford, James, Tomori, Guehi, Chilwell, Rice, Bellingham, Saka, Foden, Sterling, Kane. Can switch to a back 5 by bringing either Saka, Foden, or Sterling out and bringing stones or white in. Still got Trent, Mount, Tammy, Grealish on the bench or even Maddison if he goes. I get the whole 3 at the back thing but u win tournaments by scoring goals and England don’t score enough goals cos they don’t have enough creators/goal scorers on the pitch

[@docwhat8370]

I guess this simply comes down to what the best England starting 11 is. I think playing a 3-4-3 or 4-3-3 gives us a chance to employ our best players and have a go. For 3-4-3 I'd favour Pickford, White, Coady, Stones, James, Chilwell, Rice, Bellingham, Foden, Saka, Kane And for 4-3-3 Pickford, James, Coady, Stones, Chilwell, Rice, Mount, Bellingham, Foden, Saka, Kane I think Stones suffers if there's no leader in the backline and Coady's a very good defender as well as being a leader at the back.

[@dalailasma6610]

He is not keeping england back? You must be kidding

[@mojamz453]

Baffling how Tomori, White and Saka are underrated!

[@thetruthhurts7675]

Tomorri is easy to understand. England have had far too many potentially "Great players" that the England manager blooded far to early Peter Bonetti of Chelsea being the most famous he got his only England start over the then goalkeeper, and failed totally. The pressure at a world cup is too intense to blood new players no matter what you think of their talent.

[@mojamz453]

@@thetruthhurts7675 So are you suggesting that a out of form, low confidence, error plagued player like Harry Maguire continues to play?

[@thetruthhurts7675]

@@mojamz453 Strangely and only in this instance YES. I don't normally agree with anything Southgate does, I am possibly his worst critic, but he manages England whereas I am semi retired from Aircraft Engineering (to give a perspective on my none managerial position here). However no one gets into an international team for the world cup at the last minute, even the true GOAT Pele was blooded a year before his Brazil debut was in 1957, for the 1958 world cup. Come on giving a player, who hasn't really played consistantly in a national team before a debut in a world cup is never going to happen, especially one who effectively only plays in the equivalent of the Englsh Championship at a push. Even Ronaldo the Portuguese player, had a year to get used to interntional football before the Euro's of 2004. Messi 2005 for the 2006 world cup. Tomorri isn't the best defender in Europe there fore he doesn't stand out enough for any national coach to choose him over established players. Whether I agree with Southgate's team picks or not, in this and only this instance, will I say Southgate is correct. I can name at least two England managers who have bowed to press, and public support before a world cup/Euro's, and both were sacked for doing what you want Southgate to do, another reeason why he was never going to pick him for this world cup. One final name who had a debut, before a world cup, the other Ronaldo of Brazil, his debut for Brazil 1994, he did go to that world cup, but didn't play a single minute because Brazil were that much better than any other team!!

[@joedavidson3370]

We should be playing a 4-3-3, most English teams play a variation of the 4-3-3 so most of the team are adapted to that.

[@eurojesus3739]

except that these players have been playing together, for ~5 years under Southgate with five at the back. every single game. including the games where we came a whisker from the world cup final and and inch from winning the Euros. I don't remember what happened in any tournaments before Southgate came along

[@crung8]

Crazy that James Tarkowski isn’t even in the conversation.

[@brianpetersen2364]

Coady has been outstanding in a back 4, Maguire is a liability

[@FIshfood500]

Clary’s shite

[@vengeance9503]

If we play coady starting cb we’re doomed he’s basic

[@vengeance9503]

No where near tomori white smalling or stones level

[@mylom8397]

I watched Coady week in, week out at Wolves. He needs to be in a back 5 - The amount of times he crutched on Kilman/Boly/Saiss to save him was unreal. He's not good enough in a back 4, too many mistakes, and not commanding enough. I love Coady and think he's a great player and I'm gutted we sold him, but I just don't think he's suited as a pair in a back 4. Kilman is miles clear of Coady at CB (which is why we sold Coady and kept Kilman), for me he has a shout at that spot ahead of CC.

[@vengeance9503]

@@mylom8397 that’s what I mean we don’t need another basic cb when he have good cb like Ben white tomori and stones doesn’t make sense to me all good on the ball and can defend unlike that fridge maguire who can’t play in a 2 because he’s not mobile to slow and can’t defend 1on1 he’s literally a liability

[@teddyeastside8051]

These guys deserve Southgate and I blame them specifically for England underachieving.