First time in Dublin since 2015 and first competitive fixture against the Republic of Ireland since 1991. First matches against Finland since 2001. First match against Greece since 2006. Every position matters. Top and it’s back to League A. Second and it’s promotion play offs. Third and its relegation play offs. Faith and it’s down to League D. First set is Saturday and Tuesday but the second and third are Thursday and Sunday which is less ideal for training time particularly November when it’s away in Greece on the Thursday.
Also fitting to start it now as Today was the first day of pre season friendlies. Mount and Raahford were involved for Man United.
The new manger absolutely has to win promotion without needing the playoff. A relegation playoff would be a diaster.
I bet he ends up back in 5 to 10 years time if we ever have a massive failure. The Dutch have always been a revolving door for example.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/07/16/england-2026-world-cup-team-evolution-kane/ England’s 2026 World Cup squad: Ben White in, Harry Kane stays With only a handful of veterans in the Euro 2024 squad, a revolution is not necessary but who might emerge to augment the core of the side? Spoiler (Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content) Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler The end of the European Championship could also signal the end of the tournament careers of some key members of the current England squad. With two years until the 2026 World Cup, how many players will retain their place? And which areas of the squad will see the most turnover? Here, Telegraph Sport gazes into our crystal ball to predict how England’s squad might look two years down the line. Goalkeepers Jordan Pickford will be 32 by the time of the 2026 World Cup. While that is not an old age for a goalkeeper, he can expect to be under serious pressure for his place by that point. Aaron Ramsdale’s club future could be the key issue here. If he makes the right move away from Arsenal, and then continues his development, he could feasibly snatch Pickford’s No 1 shirt quite soon. Especially if Gareth Southgate – one of Pickford’s biggest champions – is not in charge. It is also worth keeping an eye on the development of James Trafford. Defenders Kyle Walker will be 36 in 2026, which surely makes it unlikely that he will still be England’s first-choice right-back. Kieran Trippier, meanwhile, will be 35. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s time should finally come, then, although it remains to be seen how his Liverpool career will develop following the departure of Jürgen Klopp. As it stands, it is hard to see a way in which Ben White can return to the international fold. However, if a new coaching staff comes in, the Arsenal defender could quickly become an important player for his country, and the main competition to Alexander-Arnold at right-back. Don’t forget Reece James, either. He will be 26 in two years, which should mean he is coming into his prime. As for the emerging right-backs, Rico Lewis and Tino Livramento appear to be the most likely contenders to establish themselves in the England squad over the next two seasons. At centre-back, Marc Guehi and John Stones will be 26 and 32 respectively. It is highly possible that they remain the first-choice defenders, although Levi Colwill, Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarell Quansah are all developing promisingly. Colwill is left-footed, which could give him the edge if he can play consistently at club level. As for the left-backs, Luke Shaw can expect to remain in the fold. He will be 31 in 2026, which is certainly not too old to be starting regularly. Can Ben Chilwell rediscover his form? Can Lewis Hall fulfil his potential? As it stands, Shaw seems the most likely option, although he could be under threat if Colwill plays regularly as a left-back at club level. Midfielders Declan Rice is one of the most important players in this England squad and he will surely be central again, fitness permitting. He will be 27, in his prime, during the 2026 World Cup. Jude Bellingham is not going anywhere, either, while the same can be said for Phil Foden. The development of Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton, the two young guns at Euro 2024, will be fascinating. On paper, there is no reason why they would not be involved, but young players do not always follow the path that has seemingly been laid out for them. Liverpool duo Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones will be among those hoping to challenge for a place by the summer of 2026, if not sooner. Can young Archie Gray, who has just swapped Leeds United for Tottenham Hotspur, fulfil his enormous potential? Newcastle United’s Lewis Miley is another exciting youngster, although 2026 might come too soon. Slightly further forward, Cole Palmer will expect to remain in the picture after his excellent tournament in Germany. Will Eberechi Eze still be playing for Crystal Palace? Will Mason Mount find his feet at Manchester United? Morgan Gibbs-White is a rising force to watch, as is Morgan Rogers. Wingers Bukayo Saka will be 24 at the next World Cup and it is currently hard to imagine a scenario in which he is not a starter for England. Jarrod Bowen, however, will be 29. He could be under pressure from the likes of Noni Madueke, Jadon Sancho (depending on how his club career develops) and young Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, currently of Borussia Dortmund. The career arcs of Raheem Sterling (who will be 31) and Jack Grealish (who will be 30) will be fascinating. You would not rule out either of them making a comeback to the international stage. The same is true of Marcus Rashford, who will be 28. Anthony Gordon is on the right path, clearly. Perhaps Harvey Barnes could rediscover the form that led to his call-up in 2020. Strikers Will Harry Kane remain the first-choice striker for England at the age of 32? Based on the form he showed this summer, the answer is no. But his fitness was clearly a significant issue in recent weeks, and there is no reason why a fully-fit Kane could not be hugely effective in two years. He has never relied on pace, anyway. As for the others… Well, it is hard to say. Ollie Watkins will be 30, and his game is more reliant on physical speed and power. Ivan Toney will also be 30. Both players will surely be in the mix, but it is hard to say with any certainty that they will be better than they are now. It might simply come down to pre-tournament form and sharpness. In truth, there is not a long list of youngsters ready to take over the centre-forward position. Tammy Abraham and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are already beyond the age of 25. Kane looks relatively secure, for now. Predicted team (4-3-3) Ramsdale; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Guehi, Colwill; Mainoo, Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Gordon. Predicted 26-man squad Goalkeepers Aaron Ramsdale, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford. Defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Ben White, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Jarrad Branthwaite, Levi Colwill, Luke Shaw. Midfielders Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Adam Wharton, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Morgan Gibbs-White. Forwards Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford.
Big choice for the fa to make personally, we should be consulting the heads of city/arsenal/Liverpool for their advices and training regimes etc as well as tactical knowledge we need a proper system and coaches who can educate the young English guys who aren’t there yet imo we have a gifted group of players clearly good enough to win things but need that extra edge to push us over
The issue none of those managers have ever managing internationally. It’s a big difference managing international to a club.
These exercises are always so futile.you’d struggle to find one person who would have predicted Wharton and Mainoo both to make the squad whilst the likes of Mount and Rashford wouldn’t be there. So much can change in 2 years.
Very sad to see Southgate go, its the right time for everyone but he's for me been undoubtedly the best England manager of all time. As someone who's first tournament memory was '98, it was a long, long wait for a semi-final and Southgate is the one who delivered it, alongside two finals. Most great England memories people have now are because of him. Plenty of people will focus on what he wasn't good at, ultimately he was never the kind of tactician who could just get England over the line, but the focus should be at the many things he was good at: he basically built England into a consistent tournament team for the first time ever, he overcame psychological scars l frankly never expected to see England overcome (who'd have thought we'd be confident going into a shoot out!?), he made the England team respected again. And that to say nothing of the man who has been nothing but an amazing role model who desperately loved England as much as anyone could. You'll hear a lot about how he wasted this generation and nothing could be further from the truth. This is not a uniquely talented England generation. It's never been the best squad in the world. And certainly the position he took it from, England were at an all time low. I don't doubt that maybe, somewhere, someone improved on the results he got but I don't think many do. And typical of the man, he stepped down of his own choosing doing what's best for the team. I think deep down he would acknowledge that this England team has not been quite right for the last cycle, that things have maybe got a bit muddled in the coaching and selections. That despite making the final, England will benefit from a new pair of eyes to carry the team forward and maybe make that final leap forward to tournament winners, which if it did happen, would be strongly because of the work Southgate has put in. But we cannot mistake that this England team is now a team we expect to go deep in tournaments and that is the work of Southgate alone. So many before him tried and failed. I would be very far from sure that the next manager will improve on Southgate's work - but the time is right to take the gamble.
It's just a space-filling piece. Don't think they've spent much time or thought on it if they think Colwill being left-footed gives him an advantage over Branthwaite... who's left-footed.
A very good post. One of his biggest achievements is making sure the next manager has to go pretty deep to be sure of keeping their job. A manager doing a Keegan or Hodgson and not getting out of the group in 2026 or 2028 would be on thin ice
England assistant head coach Steve Holland will leave his role following Gareth Southgate’s resignation. Follow the England news on @MailSport— Sami Mokbel (@SamiMokbel81_DM) July 16, 2024 Just in case there was any confusion - Steve Holland has also resigned and has left his England job with Gareth Southgate. Underlines the fact they were/are very much a partnership.— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) July 16, 2024
A new England boss must put Jude Bellingham in his place - and three other things that must happen before the Three Lions finally lift trophy, writes IAN LADYMAN https://t.co/FHwfEdKoQ9— Mail Sport (@MailSport) July 16, 2024 God they're just insufferable. They never, ever change.
A guy that refused to go to Germany? It’s a court Marshall offence. He’s a coward. Perhaps he should stick to painting pretty pictures on his arms and topping up his tan. If you think the chap is better than Walker you’ve lost it.