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Euros: What is England's strongest team?

England came up just short at Euro 2020, losing to Italy on penalties in the final, but they are serious contenders for next summer's European Championship finals in Germany.

Every England supporter has their own opinion on who should be in Gareth Southgate's first XI but here is our vision of England's starting line-up for the Euros:

Jordan Pickford

With Aaron Ramsdale losing his place in Arsenal's starting XI to David Raya, Jordan Pickford's status as England's number one looks even more secure.

The Everton man is a real favourite of Southgate's and he should see off competition from Ramsdale, Newcastle's Nick Pope and Crystal Palace's Sam Johnstone. 

Pickford has started all 19 of England's games at the last three major tournaments, producing penalty-shootout heroics against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup and conceding only twice in seven matches at Euro 2020.

Kyle Walker

Reece James's injury problems and Trent Alexander-Arnold's switch to a midfield role mean Manchester City's Kyle Walker remains the most solid option at right-back.

Both Walker and Newcastle's Kieran Trippier are the wrong side of 30 so Southgate may need to rotate his right-backs at the Euros, but the City man's pace and defensive quality give him the edge over Trippier.

John Stones

Pep Guardiola converted John Stones into a silky centre midfielder during Manchester City's 2022/23 treble-winning campaign, but the man nicknamed 'the Barnsley Beckenbauer' is more valuable as a centre-back for England.

His quality on the ball and understanding with club teammate Walker are important attributes for an England side who have racked up the clean sheets under Southgate.

Harry Maguire

Maguire's selection is a divisive issue for England fans. Having slipped down the pecking order at Manchester United and scored an own goal in September's friendly against Scotland, his place in the national-team starting XI may be under threat.

However the 30-year-old is a staunch favourite of Southgate, indeed his manager has spoken in defence of Maguire in the press consistently when questioned about his inclusion. Barring injury he looks set to continue in the heart of England's defence.

Luke Shaw

Manchester United's Luke Shaw, who scored an early opener against Italy in the Euro 2024 final, should be first-choice at left-back next summer.

Shaw has been the starting left-back for England for several years but faces competition from Chelsea's Ben Chilwell and Newcastle full-back Kieran Trippier.

Kalvin Phillips

Another favourite of Southgate, Kalvin Phillips has enjoyed solid performances for the national team but struggled for game time at Manchester City since his move from Leeds United.

Despite this, Phillips has remained a constant presence in England's midfield alongside Declan Rice. The 27-year-old defensive midfielder didn't start a game at the World Cup in Qatar but with Jordan Henderson's advancing age, he may be preferred in midfield for the Euros.

Declan Rice

Declan Rice was a key figure in the engine-room during England's run to the Euro 2020 final and he has shone for club and country since then.

After captaining West Ham to Europa Conference League glory last season, Rice moved to Arsenal for £105million and his early performances for the Gunners in the Premier League and Champions League have been excellent.  

Jude Bellingham

Like Rice, Jude Bellingham earned a massive summer move and he has enjoyed an extraordinary start to his Real Madrid career.

Appointed Borussia Dortmund's youngest ever captain last season, Bellingham has quickly emerged as one of the key players for Los Blancos in La Liga and the Champions League, and he was arguably England's best player at last year's World Cup. 

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is one of the first names on the team sheet for Southgate's England. Blessed with pace and trickery, the 22-year-old has developed into one of the best wingers in the Premier League.

Saka has responded brilliantly to his penalty miss in the Euro 2020 final, inspiring Arsenal's surprise Premier League title challenge last season, scoring a hat-trick in England's 7-0 win over North Macedonia in June, and again playing a key role in Arsenal's title challenge this season.  

Harry Kane

England captain Harry Kane left Tottenham in the summer, having become the record goalscorer for both Spurs and England during the 2022/23 campaign, and he is now tormenting Bundesliga defences with his new club Bayern Munich.

Kane scored 30 goals in his final league season at Tottenham, has struck immediately become a top marksman in the German league. The 30-year-old remains head and shoulders above any of his rivals for the England centre-forward role. 

James Maddison

The left side of England's front three is a real puzzle for Southgate, with Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Marcus Rashford, Jarrod Bowen and Raheem Sterling among those pushing for selection.

Sterling and Foden were the preferred options at the World Cup, where Rashford finished as England's joint-top scorer with three goals, but James Maddison started the recent qualifiers against Malta and Ukraine.

His early-season displays for new club Tottenham have caught the eye, if he maintains that club form then he could be a key part of Southgate's plans next summer. 

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