If I were Gareth Southgate…

Introduction

The Euros are less than four weeks away and Gareth Southgate is due to name his extended 26-man squad next week. Despite the increased allowance to the squad size, there are still numerous tough calls to make, particularly at Right Back and the Attacking areas, due to the strength in-depth that England have at the moment. It is hard to remember an England Manager who has had such an array of talent to choose from going into a major International tournament, and the years delay has helped Southgate as players like Foden, Mount, Saka, Greenwood, Bellingham have all matured and players like Shaw and Stones have had great seasons and rediscovered their form.

Despite all of this, there’s still more questions than answers currently. Will he play four or five at the back? Will he play two holding midfielders? Will Henderson, Rice, Grealish be fit? Will he pick Trent Alexander-Arnold? More should become clear with the squad selection next week, and more still with the two friendlies against Austria and Romania on the 2^nd and 6^th June, respectively.

With the domestic season drawing to a close, and attention switching to the International scene, I have put together the 26 names that would form my squad and conducted an analysis of how I would set them up.

My Squad

Goalkeepers

Jordan Pickford
Nick Pope
Dean Henderson

Defenders

Kyle Walker
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Reece James
Harry Maguire
John Stones
Fikayo Tomori
Eric Dier
Luke Shaw
Ben Chilwell

Midfielders

Jordan Henderson
Declan Rice
Jude Bellingham
Kalvin Phillips
Mason Mount
Phil Foden

Forwards

Marcus Rashford
Raheem Sterling
Jadon Sancho
Jack Grealish
Bukayo Saka
Harry Kane
Dominic Calvert-Lewin
Mason Greenwood

My setup

My preferred formation would be 4-3-3, but I have picked a squad that could switch to 3-4-3 against stronger opposition if required.

Starting line-up for Croatia:

* Henderson to be replaced by Bellingham if he is not fit for the first game.

Criteria:

Form – Players like Kane, Foden, Mount, Rice, Shaw, Maguire, Stones have all had great seasons and should be in the team on merit.
Balance – With any team it needs to have the balance between attack and defence. Although it is tempting to overload the team with as much of the attacking talent in the squad as possible, only a balanced team will win the competition.
Relationships – A common criticism of England squads of yesteryears is that domestic rivalries and cliques are apparent, and therefore the team chemistry & relationships formed have not been where they need to be, to win a major International competition. Whilst I do not think this is as much of a problem for this generation of players, I have made use of established domestic relationships within this team. Maguire-Shaw-Rashford down the left and Stones-Walker-Foden down the right. This understanding between them should help when defending together and importantly with attacking patterns.
Maximising strengths – Scholes, left midfield? Not for me. Players need to be played in positions within a system that allows them to maximise their strengths. This means leaving out some big names, but individuals will not win an international tournament. The back four all play in back fours for their clubs, so they will be comfortable in this system. Rice can provide defensive protection, as he does so well for West Ham. Henderson provides balance, energy, and leadership in the 8 role. Mount can play deep enough to have an influence, but with the defensive structure around him that allows him to move into the attacking left half space when Rashford is starting out wide. Rashford likes to come in from the left making penetrative runs in behind, much like Son at Tottenham, therefore Kane can drop deep, as he is so good at, while Rashford stretches the defence the other way. Foden has freedom to roam from the inside right position, there is nobody better in world football (Messi aside) at appearing in pockets and breaking down defensive lines.

Team Structure

Whilst it is a 4-3-3 on paper, that is all it is. A formation is just a framework, it is important that the players know their defensive and attacking responsibilities within the system as a whole.

Defensive Structure

In the defensive phase, I would set up in a narrow 4-4-2. This firstly crowds the central areas, making it tough for teams to play through. It will also force teams to attack down the sides, where the pace of Kyle Walker and an in-form Luke Shaw can contain the threat, paired with Mount and Foden using their intensity and endurance to support them. Importantly, it means that it takes the defensive responsibility off of the main goal threats; Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford. Kane can drop in, to collect the ball from deep, whilst Rashford will always be on the last line of the defence, ready to run in behind and gives England the ability to transition quickly/an outlet into the channels when England are under the cosh. Whilst it is certainly less common in modern football, a 4-4-2, two banks of four is still a strong defensive base.

Attacking Structure

In attack the structure will be a 2-3-5/3-2-5 with Rice sitting in with Maguire and Stones as the core defenders. Shaw and Henderson will tuck in and be well positioned to help from deep in attack, whilst also well positioned to cope with a counterattack. There will always be at least four in defensive positions, although largely this is based on a 5-5 balance. Five attacking players, five defenders.

The key to the attacking patterns will be the front five playing in the five vertical channels of the pitch. Walker and Rashford out wide, Mount and Foden in the inside half-spaces and Kane central. This will stretch defenders and create space for Foden and Mount to play in, and for Rashford to run into. It will also encourage Kane to stay central, where he will gain the most opportunities.

I believe it is crucial for players to be able to express themselves in the attacking areas, but five players all playing with free reign can generate problems and a lack of cohesion, particularly in International football, where the players do not train day-in day-out with each other. Having this five-channel structure, provides the base for the attacking players to be expressive within and provides the best opportunity for cohesive attacking patterns.

Attacking Patterns

To make the most of the abundance of attacking talent that England are blessed with, there needs to be an emphasis on effective attacking patterns and providing a framework for these players to breakdown opposition defences. Particularly against Scotland and the Czech Republic who will undoubtedly defend in a packed low block, where well-rehearsed, cohesive, and intricate patterns will be required to open them up. In Foden, Mount, Kane they certainly have the players to do it and against Scotland and the Czechs they could play the extra attacker in Grealish, with Mount playing the Henderson role.

The key to effective possession for me is creating overloads. This system allows for overloads to be created all over the pitch, where 3 players can be near to each other at all times, allowing for triangles and staggered lines to help breakdown low blocks (also means they are well positioned to counter press and win the ball back quickly).

When playing down the right, Henderson can step up from deep to form an overload with Foden and Walker. Shaw can tuck in from the left to provide a solid defensive structure. Mount can position centrally as an option should England look to move across the pitch. Kane will be where he is needed, in-between the goalposts, and Rashford can enter late at the back post.

When attacking down the left, a similar pattern can occur. Shaw can step forward and create an overload with Mount and Rashford. Foden can come central, for the sideways option. Kane is still where he is needed, and this time, Walker is providing the width. Although Foden and Walker could interchange, like they do for Manchester City. Henderson will this time tuck in to provide the defensive cover.

Plan B

Whilst a 4-3-3 is my preferred setup for this team, should England get into the latter stages of the tournament, then it is likely that a Plan B will be needed – either because Plan A is not working or because they need an extra defensive body. Should this happen, I have picked my squad with players in mind that could fit a 3-4-3.

Defensive Structure

3-4-3 would become a 5-3-2 out of possession. Keeping the partnership up top, but an extra body in the heart of defence. Foden and Mount will drop alongside Rice and support their Full Backs. This would be a good setup against a team who dominate the ball, making it hard for teams to play through, also has bodies in the box to deal with deliveries in.

Attacking Structure

Would stay fairly similar to the structure in Plan A. This time with Chilwell providing width on the left and Mount playing deeper, allowed to pull strings and conduct the tempo.

Squad Options

The squad I picked provides adequate cover in all positions for both systems, particularly in attacking areas, where options will be most important.