SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 14 hrs 17 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
SN
European Championship | Group Stage
Jun 16, 2024 at 8pm UK
VELTINS-Arena
EN

Serbia
0 - 1
England


Gudelj (39'), Tadic (75'), Stojkovic (83')
FT(HT: 0-1)

How England could line up for Euro 2024 opener: Gareth Southgate's predicted XI

:Headline: How England could line up for Euro 2024 opener: Gareth Southgate's predicted XI:
Sports Mole looks at how Gareth Southgate could line up his England side for their opening Euro 2024 fixture against Serbia on June 16.
Sports Mole

Preparations are now complete, flights and hotels are booked, and all focus now turns towards the start of another bid for long-awaited continental glory for England's men's team.

Hoping to emulate the women's champions of 2022, England endured a mixed period of warm-up friendlies on home turf, firstly putting three unanswered goals past Bosnia-Herzegovina at St James' Park.

The Three Lions did not put in the most inspiring display on June 3, though, and four days later, Gareth Southgate's men cut extremely lacklustre figures in a 1-0 loss to Euro 2016 conquerors Iceland.

England's 26-man selection for the Euros had already been confirmed before their latest embarrassment at the hands of Our Boys, and Southgate has plenty of food for thought before Group C rivals Serbia await for their opening Euro 2024 tie on June 16.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how England could line up for their showdown with Dragan Stojkovic's side at Veltins-Arena.


Goalkeeper - Jordan Pickford

Could Aaron Ramsdale have done better for Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson's Iceland winner? Perhaps, but had he managed to prevent England suffering defeat or not, the Arsenal man will drop out for undisputed first-choice Jordan Pickford anyway.


Right-back - Kyle Walker

The oldest player in England's selection, Kyle Walker may now be 34 years of age, but few wingers get the better of the Manchester City man even in his advancing years.


Centre-backs - John Stones and Marc Guehi

Expected to be fine after an injury scare against Iceland, John Stones remains an England mainstay despite his lack of Manchester City action, but who partners him is the subject of much uncertainty.

As Harry Maguire is absent, all of Ezri Konsa, Lewis Dunk and Joe Gomez could come into the reckoning, but Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi appears to be at the head of the queue to deputise for the Manchester United man.


Left-back - Kieran Trippier

Even if Luke Shaw makes a miraculous recovery in time for the clash with Serbia, the left-back has not played since February and has not been seen in England colours since June 2023, so should not be thrown back into the deep end. As such, the left-back spot is Kieran Trippier's.


Central midfield - Declan Rice and Trent Alexander-Arnold

While Arsenal's Declan Rice was one of several England players found wanting against Iceland, the £105m midfielder is one of the first names on Southgate's team sheet and is an unchallenged starter in the middle.

The presences of Adam Wharton, Conor Gallagher and Kobbie Mainoo make Southgate's other midfield call incredibly complicated, but Trent Alexander-Arnold's masterful display against Bosnia from a central role could see him get the nod.


Right winger - Bukayo Saka

Whether Bukayo Saka would hold off Cole Palmer for the right-wing spot was the subject of much debate, but the Arsenal star will be fresh and ready to go at the Euros and should demote the Chelsea man to the bench.


Attacking midfield - Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham's Champions League exploits with Real Madrid denied him the chance to feature in either friendly, but Southgate surely has no option but to build the team around the 20-year-old in the number 10 slot.


Left wing - Phil Foden

Many want to see Phil Foden unleashed in a central role, but the Manchester City attacker was ineffective in such a position against Iceland, and Bellingham's re-introduction should see Southgate shift the 24-year-old out to the left.


Striker - Harry Kane

Despite his awful miss against Iceland from a few yards out, Harry Kane remains the greatest striker male or female that his nation has ever seen and will spearhead the Three Lions' charge in Germany barring an injury nightmare.

Sports Mole's predicted England XI for Serbia clash: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane


body check tags ::

amp_article__545458 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-08 18:09:48:
html db last update - 2024-06-08 18:09:48 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Are England playing today?
Harry Houdini: Wilson's late wizardry helps Fulham snatch victory from Brentford
Solanke fires quickfire double as Spurs thrash Champions League rivals Aston Villa
Ivan Toney opens up on England recall hopes
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Two European giants 'to rival' Real Madrid for Chelsea midfielder

1

TE

Preview: Red Star vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PR

'It's been very tough' - Amorim opens up on taking Man United job

3

'B

Is Haaland injured? Guardiola reveals all ahead of Sporting clash

4

IH

Hoping for the best: Chelsea star Palmer 'to undergo scan' on knee injury

5

HF

Mainoo, Maguire return dates: Man United injury, suspension news vs. PAOK

6

MM

Preview: Brugge vs. Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PB

Preview: Feyenoord vs. Salzburg - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PF

Preview: Besiktas vs. Malmo - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PB

"I'm not thinking about it": Tielemans comments on criticism, transfer talk

10

&N


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .