Ok, so with nothing much going on in the football World at the moment and understandable so under the current circumstances, I thought I would throw in this thread just for a bit of fun and especially for you guys in lockdown ( I’m not fwiw ) who might be a bit bored by now and might have spare time to do a bit of research and looking into future talents along with the current ones and try and come up with a England Squad or team ( your choice ) that you might want to see or who on the current trajectory of their talent you think might make the cut. Obviously it’s a long way off so we’ll all be wrong when the time comes around, hence why it’s just a bit of fun.
My Squad (4-3-3 for team selection) Henderson (29) Pickford (32) Ramsdale (27) TAA (27) James (26) Livramento (23) Saka (24) Gomez (28) Tomori (28) Harwood-Bellis (24) Godfrey (28) Garner (25) Doyle (24) Mount (27) Foden (26) Maddison (29) Bellingham (22) Sancho (26) Hudson-Odoi (25) Rashford (28) Greenwood (24) Abraham (28) Sterling (31) Starting 11 Henderson TAA Gomez Tomori Saka Garner Foden Bellingham Sancho Greenwood Rashford Unfortunately I haven’t that much time to really delve into it and not really sure about some of the combinations and I’ve probably missed out some real obvious talents but what the heck, just for a bit of fun.
Actually just realised Livramento is off course another talented right back and not a left back, my bad, so will replace him with Chillwell.
Don't know enough to really say too much here, but I've heard a lot about Aaron Wan-Bissaka and I notice he's not in your squad here. What is your opinion on him?
Yeah, could easily be in the squad come 2026 tbh. I just went with James and TAA due to their attacking threat but there’s an argument for AWB also for his defensive strength.
I think at 33 Kane will have his best days behind him and we will have other younger strikers ahead of him. Obviously it’s a long way off and you never know, if he keeps himself in tip top condition then you can’t rule it out by any means but I would hope players like Rashford, Greenwood, Abraham, Brewster, Barry and there will be others by 2026 that will be going past Kane other pushing him out. Liam Delap is another that I’m hopeful on that will have a top class career ahead of him.
Then how about Declan Rice? I wonder if he will make the 2026 team...he's only 21 right now so by 2026 for England, he will be 28 by then by the time the FIFA World Cup is in Canada-USA-Mexico
Yeah, good shout and again you can’t rule him out. I’ve just gone with some younger players that I feel might just get the nod because they seem like better players in possession but there’s no reason to think that Rice will also improve in this regard. He will certainly have the experience by then so can definitely see that happening to be honest.
I can definitely see Henderson being the captain for England for Canada-USA-Mexico...if not him then definitely Pickford or Sterling
I would be surprised if Henderson is still an International player by 2026 to be honest, a bit like Kane he will be way past his best and just can’t see that others won’t have surpassed him by then with some of the talent coming through.
Not sure as 2026 is quite a long way off but from the Squad I selected, most of these kids will have matured quite nicely so you could maybe have quite a few options, Pickford, TAA, Gomez, Foden, Maddison, Rashford, Sterling. I don’t really see a Captains role in modern day football as such a big deal tbh, it’s not like rugby for example where it’s a prominent role.
But England definitely are the favorites or one of them for Qatar 2022 but come 2026 I think that will probably be England's best chance as far as winning it all
FWIW Karamoko Dembele could be a really good player for England if he picks them. Harvey Elliot is another to consider. Definitely a fun thread! Hopefully I'll be around and able to go to as many games as possible since this will be in North America.
Well it being in North America and being Ghanaian-Canadian and living in Canada...I can go to games not just in Toronto but in Montreal and or Edmonton
Assuming we qualify! Last (Male) World Cup hosted in North America did not see England feature and given nations like the Netherlands & Italy did not participate in Russia last time out it is always conceivable. Indeed, my prediction for 2018 is still up on another forum and it contained Joe Hart, Jack Wilshere, Zaha & Daniel Sturridge, none of whom were present. A couple of those I don’t regret as it is basically impossible to anticipate injury ruining a career. Zaha is an example of the complicated nature of dual eligibility. Not sure what happened to the goalie... Spoiler (Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content) Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler I checked to see what the average age of a player at the World Cup was and it seems to be consistently mid to late twenties. At the 2010 World Cup, Ghana were the youngest squad at 24 years old and the most experienced were Brazil, England and defending Champions Italy at around 28. In 2014, Ghana was again the youngest at 25 this time with the oldest being Argentina at 28-29. At the most recent tournament, most youthful side was Nigeria (25) and the elders were the likes of Panama, Costa Rica & Iceland at 29. The average age of a player in Russia was 27.4. A quick glance at your squad Marcho and I reckon your selection is around 27 years old, which is in the right ballpark. The typical player in 2026 will have been born around or slightly before the turn of the century which probably makes this tournament the furthest out that you can predict with any realism. That said, only two of the last ten (2002 & 2010 World Cup) European and World Cup squads named by England did not contain a teenager… Having looked at the age of the average team, I was curious what it was for the winning Nations. Since England (26.5) won it the oldest Champions were Italy in 2006 at 28-29. The youngest was Brazil in 1970, who had a squad age of 24.4 although the starting XI was more like 26. The overall squad being younger than the victorious starting XI seem to be typical, in the last decade Spain and Germany had squads around 26 but the starting eleven against Netherlands and Argentina were closer to 27. There wasn't much difference for France with a squad of 26.4, whereas against Croatia in the final the players were apparently 26.3. That was close to the typical age of a World Cup winner at 26.5. For the European Championship it is a very similar 26.4 according to the Daily Mirror. Usually the triumphant team might have a few particularly young or older players but there's a core around their mid twenties to early thirties. The data company Gracenote Sports produced graphs from the last World Cup showing the optimum (based on World Cup winners since 1966) age range and the distribution of sides from various games like France v Argentina or the final. There were a few other elements winning teams seemed to have in common. Typically short odds with the bookmakers. Since the rankings were officially introduced every eventual Champion was in the top seven of either the FIFA or ELO system. They have an abundance of caps, the French had the fewest amount of caps for a World Cup winning squad this century and the starting XI still had over 500 appearances against Croatia. These International victors are also accomplished at domestic level, winning Cup competitions, League Titles, and featuring in the business end of the Europa & Champions League. Since the 1986 switch to the current format every eventual winner topped their group stage, even after Spain lost their opening match in 2010. Also, the Champions are stingy in defence - 1990 is the last time a team lifted the trophy without keeping clean sheets in the majority of their games. Spain didn't concede a goal during the knockout stage in South Africa and didn't have to score more than one goal in any of those fixtures. Incidentally, England in 2018 failed on most of these metrics. Long odds, a Fifa Ranking of #12, this semi final graph shows the side was a little on the young side and they were the least capped in the tournament. Many of the players like Pickford, Trippier, Maguire, Ali, Kane have won nothing of importance at their clubs. Ended runner up to Belgium in the group stage and conceded in six of their seven games. Also inexperienced coaches tend not to win the Euro/World Cup. Observing the data I think 2006 was probably the last time we had a team who looked the part. Shorter odds, a high (#10 FIFA/#3 ELO) ranking and lots of caps. Apart from the goalkeeper, every outfield player who started the quarter-final against Portugal has won a League title and played in a Champions League final. These players were also around the 'right' age - Robinson, Gary Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, Campbell, Carragher, A Cole, Carrick, Hargreaves, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, J Cole, Crouch & Michael Owen were all 24-31. I know people cringe at the golden generation tag but it had some validity. They had also won their group and ended up only conceding in one of the five fixtures. In 2017, England won both U17 & U20 World Cups and the age group between won the European title at U19 level for the first time. Those players were born 1997-2000 and in terms of a Senior World Cup, I would agree that 2026 probably represents their best chance of being competitive. I agree with the majority of that squad. Though I don’t like Rice as a defensive midfielder either due to his limited passing capabilities it is traditionally such a weak position that I assume he’ll make the squad. Hopeful my favourite player Kane will still be around as he’s not dependent on pace and would be about the same age Mandžukić was and younger than Klose. Although if these big injuries sustained in the last two seasons keep occurring then obviously he won’t make it. Although Sterling is 18 months younger than Kane I think he’s got less chance of sustaining an International career as imo small attacking wide players reliant on speed decline sooner. My guess at a squad, starters in bold. Boyce-Clarke, Henderson, Pickford Arnold, Gomez, Guehi, Harwood-Bellis, R James, Panzo, Saka Bellingham, Doyle, Foden, Mount, Musah, Patino, Rice K Dembélé, Greenwood, Hudson-Odoi, Kane, Rashford, Sancho You didn’t predict the boss but I doubt Southgate will still be in charge, there are suggestions he wants to go back to club football at some point and Sir Alf Ramsey was the last manager to last a decade. As mentioned earlier I’d prefer an experienced coach so not Gerrard or Lampard yet even if they were available. The FA have said they prefer an Englishman and praised Howe in the past who in return has called it the ultimate job. Bournemouth have struggled this season but he’d still be my prediction.
Considering England had one of the youngest squads in Russia, I can only imagine they will qualify for 2026 especially if they keep the same core of young players. Considering that it will be in my backyard of Canada, I already know how the England fans will be especially where I am from in Toronto. Toronto being one of the cities hosting World Cup games, there will be a lot of England fans guaranteed. But as far as a 2026 starting 11 for England in Canada-USA-Mexico (2026 ages) GK- Henderson (29 years old) CB- Guehi (26 years old) CB- Gomez (29 years old) LB- Saka (25 years old) RB- Trent Alexander Arnold (27 years old) CM- Rice (27 years old) CM- Foden (26 years old) LAM- Patino (23 years old) CAM- Musah (23 years old) RAM- Sancho (26 years old) CF- Kane (captain) (32 years old)
Not only did I fail to get even 50% of the squad prediction correct, my guess that Eddie Howe would be manager for this tournament was also wrong. Assumed Tuchel would still be in club management. This will turn out to be wrong when it really should be correct!
Haha yeah horribly wrong, well 11 right picks and surprisingly got the keepers pretty much spot on but was miles of it with Kane but at 33, I guess I thought he would be ease out but if anything he has improved with age seeing as pace was never a factor with him, plus a lack of options. Actually think he could easily be around for the next Euro’s and performing at a high level. It’s always fun and interesting to do these prediction squads though as most of the time they are just way off and understandable so since it’s so hard to predict player trajectories. So many of the leading names at the time either lose their form or injuries get the better of them and then you just always get late bloomers that almost come from nowhere. Then again, trying to predict a squad 6 years in advance was always going to be futile. I mean four years is tough, nevermind six years, just what was I thinking, lol.
If we were doing Euro 2032 you could assume that Bellingham, Anderson, Scott, Wharton, will still be around the team in midfield, but defence and attack is anyone’s guess!
Honestly wouldn't be surprised if Kane is still playing at the top level akin to someone like Lewandowski is now, come 2030, especially if he's still playing in the Bundesliga.