England Senior National Team General Discussion Thread

I feel like he has moved on from both Trent and Shaw and will stick to those he used or wanted to use(Quansah) last month as much as possible.

 

Garner is another player who could work his way into getting minutes at right or left back.

 

Calvert-Lewin scores a penalty.

 

I don’t think he has moved on from them at all despite not picking them, it would be ludicrous to do so especially if we pick up injuries in those areas. Those players ( Trent and Shaw ) won’t need much integration considering they have been in the England squads for so many years, especially Shaw.

 

Who knows. I don’t even expect Shaw even if O’Reilly and Hall were both injured.
Trent probably needs James and Livramento injured and even then there is Spence, White, Quansah and Konsa who has said can play right back.

 

I would personally take the 2022 WC versions of Pickford, Stones, Shaw, Walker, Tripper, Maguire, Saka, Foden, Rashford and even Bellingham over the versions we've seen in 2026.

The 2022 defensive core of Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Trippier and Walker are better than the 2026 defence, with the probable exception Guehi over 22 Maguire and furthermore, that defence (under Southgate) were greater than the sum of its parts and had accumulated yrs of chemistry/understanding which people (critically) overlook.

Rice may be older/more experienced, but thats a false economy, if hes entering this WC in the scorching heat, significantly more exhausted than the last. Declan (& Saka) were Englands best player vs France in 22 then came back from the tournament and Captained my club to the UEFA Conference League. Saka and Rice currently look knackered compared to the versions England had in Qatar

Foden, Saka and Rashford were all better versions in 22 WC than they've been in 26, it's not even up for debate.

Even the younger Bellingham in 2022 (as an attacking8 at Dortmund) was a more dangerous version than 26 Bellingham. 26 has been Bellinghams most frustrating season, since he established himself for England.

26 Elliot Anderson IMO is slightly ahead of 22 Jordan Henderson, although Liverpool fans would probably rip me for saying that.

The two as you mentioned , could debate where 2026 versions are as good as 2022 are Kane and Pickford.
Pickford is still England no1, but some Everton fans argue his prime yrs are behind him, even if he's still a very good GK.

Harry Kane turns 33 this WC and I don't think Kane is a better footballer now. He eventually moved to a massive club, with much better teammates than he had at Tottenham. If he'd left Spurs, gone to Bayern a few yrs earlier (which he should have done), we would of seen him putting out similar numbers as he's doing now.

If you were picking a team from both tournaments.The only players/versions from 2026 who force their way into the combined team are Guehi and Anderson.

 

I would say Anderson is already a massive upgrade on Henderson’s best imo, I’ve honestly never particularly rated him, very limited player who I don’t think I’ve ever seen play through the lines, just a holding player who does the basics. I just don’t get the clamour for him despite being a good cheerleader. I think the whole midfield dimension with Anderson, Rice and Bellingham is much better balance than the 2022 version and counts for a lot at International level. Whether the heat and tiredness plays a part is yet to be seen but just on the balance I think is better.

 

Scott bossed another midfield with a supposed world class player in the opposition (Tonali) today.

Best English central midfielder in the league on form at the moment.

 

I don't think many people who watch a lot of football ever considered Henderson to be World Class. But before the 22WC, Englands midfield options were simply not good enough for elite knockout opposition.

It was a trio of Henderson, Lingard and Dele Alli in 2018 (yes it was that bad) or later Rice (younger), Philips and Mount. It often gets missed, how much of an upgrade we saw in Southgates last two tournaments.

 

Also, while I’m at it, James Hill is operating at an insanely high level and has been since December. He’s a statistical monster, strong, quick, and sensible. Great passer on the ball. Hell of a long throw on him too.

There’s absolutely no reason a player like Dan Burn should be in the squad ahead of a player with Hill’s profile and ceiling.

 

I'd take Scott ahead of Henderson every time

 

Palmer and Delap start for Chelsea. Sharman-Lowe, Tosin, Chalobah and Acheampong are on the bench.
Heaven. Shaw and Mainoo start for Manchester United. Mount, Thwaites and Lacey are on the bench.

 

Tottenham are diabolical

 

Yeah was going to mention him during the game today, really good player and should be a consideration really but obviously Tuchel won’t pick him at this point. Think there’s a lot of snobbery when it comes to Bournemouth.

 

Picked him up in my Opta based fantasy league in early January, and he's been sensational. Only Bruno Fernandes has more points than him in 2026.
Nobody has more clearances or aerial duels won in that period

 

The combined team from WC22 & WC26 probably looks somewhere in the ballpark of;

------------------------22Pickford
22Walker----22Stones-----26Guehi----22Shaw
--------------26Anderson----22Rice
22Saka-------22Bellingham-----22Rashford
-------------------------Kane(either version)

 

Oh yeah we were in dire straits really during that time and Southgate worked miracles with it to be fair, was not a lot of options so Henderson was there through default. However now, I wouldn’t pick Henderson unless we were in absolute chaos. Can think of fringe players I’d rather take like Garner, Mainoo, Scott and Morton to be honest. Henderson’s time has gone and even Southgate knew that during the last Euros, why Tuchel thinks we need him just as a cheerleader when we have quite a few leaders these days I really don’t get.

 

Apparently it all stems down to the review Tuchel and his team did into why the Euros was messy (Despite making the final) and a main feedback he got from people was the lack of Henderson messed up the dressing room,

 

Really confused how Rice 4 years ago is better than Rice today? Also the only reason Bellingham has had an ‘average’ season is through injuries. He showed on Wednesday night just how high his level can be.

 

I think I would have Pickford 26, Rice 26 personally. Bellingham has had a bit of an injury hit season, don’t think he’s any worse, just the combinations with Madrid haven’t worked in his favour. Played more as a central midfielder this season so his numbers ( assists & goals ) will be impacted I would suspect. I can agree with the other picks though even if Walker as good as he was as a defender often offered very little going forward unlike a fit Reece James who offers more going forward but not defensively. I think there’s a different balance to today’s team compared with 2022, whether it’s better or not time will tell.

 

I mean look, none of us were around the camp but if they are suggesting it was ‘ messy ‘ just because of Henderson not around the camp, just take him as a cheerleader in the dressing room in a non playing capacity or make him a coach if he’s that influential. I just can’t fathom of how he would have made a difference on the pitch.

 

Bellingham has been injured which effects his form going into the tournament, you just answered your own question.

Rice and Saka are older, more experienced players now, than they were back in the 22WC (on paper). But they've been overplayed by Arteta at Arsenal and showing signs of burnout.

Tournaments are not played out on paper