Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Jordan Pickford has been the starting goalkeeper for England for a while now and probably deserves to stay in the squad. He has the best save percentage of any goalkeeper in the league and he has also prevented the most goals. Pickford has also average 4.3 saves a game which is the joint highest in the league. Nick Pope has also been excellent. Pope has managed to keep 3 clean sheets this season and is only 0.2% behind Pickford on save percentage in this season’s Premier League. Nick is also level with Pickford at the top of the table for saves per 90. Pope is also third in Goals Prevented which showcases how close these two have been this season. The final goalkeeper that I would pick is Aaron Ramsdale. Aaron Ramsdale has kept 3 clean sheets in the league this season. The problem for Ramsdale is that he has only saved 65% of the shots that have come his way which isn’t great. Still deserves to be in though.
Defenders: Ben Chilwell, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi, Conor Coady, Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander Arnold, Kieran Trippier, Reece James
My first centre back pick is John Stones. The City defender has improved massively for the past couple of seasons and definitely deserves to potentially start in the World Cup. My second choice and arguably the best centre half of the four is Fikayo Tomori. He was a solid player at Chelsea, but he has become an absolute beast since he joined AC Milan. He is a guaranteed starter for me. My third centre back option is Marc Guehi. The 22-year-old is a very good talent and has really shone since joining Crystal Palace. My final proper centre back is former Wolves captain now turned Everton player Conor Coady. Coady has actually played pretty well since he has signed to the Toffees and probably deserves to be in the squad.
Another player that could potentially play at centre back is Kyle Walker. Walker is a right back but has played in a back three for England before. Also, I don’t think Walker is as good as other players in his position, but he deserves his spot due to his flexibility of where he can play. My only proper Left Back is Ben Chilwell. He is absolutely the best left back option for England, he was great at Leicester and has continued that at Chelsea. An option that I like is the potential to play both of the Chelsea full backs. Reece James is a hell of a footballer and for me, is the best Right Back in the squad. He can cross the ball very well but is also pretty solid when it comes to his defensive duties. For me, Trent Alexander Arnold also deserves to be in the squad. Would he play though, I doubt it. Trent is a hell of a crosser, but he isn’t very good at defending. Also, he hasn’t been very good this year. I feel that he deserves to make the 26-man squad, but I don’t feel like I would give him many minutes. The final defensive player that I have picked is Kieran Trippier. For me, Trippier is playing really well for Newcastle. He is a solid defensive player but is a lot better in the attacking areas. Also, if England have a free kick late on, he is a great person that you could bring on to take it.
Midfielders: Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips, James Ward Prowse, Jude Bellingham, James Maddison, Mason Mount
For me, Declan Rice is a must in this England Squad. He is a terrific defensive midfielder, one of the best in the entire Premier League. He is definitely a player that is going to a big team in the future. My backup option for defensive midfield is Kalvin Phillips. The problem with Kalvin, is the fact that he is currently injured and is a doubt to make the World Cup squad. If he is fit enough to go to Qatar, he probably should. The biggest concern for Phillips though is his lack of match sharpness. Luckily for him, there isn’t really anyone else that can take his place. For Central midfield, Jude Bellingham is the best option. For me, he is a guaranteed starter in this squad, he is so, so good. He is one of a few players in this England squad that can really carry them to success. My other central midfield option is James Ward Prowse. I think that JWP is a really good footballer. He is a talented player and is a set piece specialist. Like Trippier, having Ward Prowse in the side is a massive boost when England have set piece opportunities. In the attacking midfield roles, Mason Mount is the best option. Mount is a terrific footballer and is easily one of the standouts for Chelsea. Mount can play a big part in England success. And finally, maybe a surprise pick, I have James Maddison. I personally feel that James Maddison has played really well in a pretty awful Leicester side and deserves to be in the final 26. Maddison won’t start and I don’t know if he will get loads of minutes, but he is definitely an option.
Forwards: Harry Kane, Tammy Abraham, Ivan Toney, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Eberechi Eze, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka
Maybe the most obvious pick in the England squad is captain Harry Kane. Kane has scored six goals in seven Premier League games and will play a massive role if England are to go far in this tournament. The second Centre Forward that I would take is Tammy Abraham. Tammy was a good striker at Villa, a slightly better one at Chelsea but has easily shown his best at AS Roma. Abraham has transformed himself into a goal scoring machine under Jose Mourinho. Even though he won’t start, he is a terrific option to bring on from the bench when needed. The final out and out Central Striker that I have selected is Brentford’s Ivan Toney. Toney has been excellent for a few seasons now and really deserves to go to a major international competition. He has scored 5 goals in 7 goals and has also got himself 2 assists. Also, if England go to a penalty shootout, Toney should definitely be brought on as he is incredible at taking penalties.
An absolute must for England is playing Phil Foden. Phil Foden is one of England’s best 3 players in my opinion and will be a big factor in England’s World Cup run. Also, Phil Foden can play on the left, the right or in Attacking Midfield if needed which makes him absolutely crucial to England. Raheem Sterling also deserves to be in the squad. Raheem has played pretty alright at Chelsea and is known for playing his best football in an England shirt. Sterling is also versatile; he can play on either the left-hand side or the right-hand side of the attack. Bukayo Saka has been really good at Arsenal over the last few seasons. In the Premier League, only Kevin De Bruyne has more assists than Saka which tells you how good of a season he is having. Saka deserves to be in the squad and can potentially start or at the very least, be one of the first substitutes to come on. Now, Jack Grealish. Grealish hasn’t been particularly amazing at Manchester City but there is a good footballer inside of him somewhere. It will be interesting to see if the Aston Villa version of Jack comes out in Qatar. The final player that I have selected for England’s World Cup squad is Eberechi Eze. For me, I always feel that someone different deserves to go to a big international competition and in my opinion, Eze is the best option. Eze has been really impressive at Crystal Palace this year and deserves some recognition. Will he play, I doubt it but, he will definitely benefit from being around the squad.
Players who just miss out: Preliminary squad
Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson
Henderson is a really good player but unfortunately for him, he hasn’t outshone fellow England goalkeepers.
Defender: Harry Maguire
Harry Maguire isn’t very good. Add in the fact that he isn’t playing for Manchester United, he just doesn’t deserve to be in the squad.
Midfielder: Emile Smith Rowe
Emile Smith Rowe could have been picked instead of Eze. Just hasn’t been impressive enough to warrant a spot though.
Forward: Jarrod Bowen
Another man who I haven’t been impressed with is West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen. The fact that he has started all seven of West Ham’s Premier League games and has failed to give a single goal contribution just isn’t good enough.
England’s 2022 World Cup Squad in full:
Jordan Pickford
Reece James
Ben Chilwell
Declan Rice
John Stones
Fikayo Tomori
Phil Foden
James Ward Prowse
Harry Kane
Raheem Sterling
Bukayo Saka
Kieran Trippier
Nick Pope
James Maddison
Tammy Abraham
Jack Grealish
Ivan Toney
Kyle Walker
Mason Mount
Conor Coady
Aaron Ramsdale
Jude Bellingham
Kalvin Phiilips
Marc Guehi
Trent Alexander Arnold
Eberechi Eze
I agree with the maguire assesment