The Nations League semi-finals kicked off last night with Portugal running out 3-1 winners over Switzerland thanks to an impressive Cristiano Ronaldo hat trick. Tonight's semi-final features England, who will play Holland, and Gareth Southgate has a couple of selection headaches ahead of the game, due to Champions League outings and injuries.
Below is the team that I think should start against the Netherlands.
GOALKEEPER
In my predicted line-up for the Czechia match in March, I thought Tom Heaton should have started. At the time, Pickford was going through his worse spell as Everton no.1 as there were calls for Southgate to drop him. However, Everton finished the season remarkably well and Pickford was in between the sticks. He should be rewarded for his club form and deserves to stay as England's first choice for the foreseeable future.
VERDICT - Jordan Pickford
RIGHT BACK
The Champions League final had many English players involved and one of them was Liverpool full back Trent Alexander-Arnold. If he had not played against Tottenham, then I would've chosen him ahead of Walker but he did play, and played well, so Walker will no doubt be the fresher of the two and will have been preparing flat out for this specific match.
VERDICT - Kyle Walker
CENTRE BACKS
The England squad features four central defenders - Gomez, Keane, Maguire and Stones. Joe Gomez was a part of the Liverpool squad who won the Champions League final but since returning from injury, he has not played a great deal of football consistently. On ability alone Gomez would partner Stones at the back but I think Maguire should get the nod over Gomez.
VERDICT - Harry Maguire and John Stones
LEFT BACK
Danny Rose was one of the Tottenham players to play in Madrid but he would not have started anyway if he had not played. Ben Chilwell is England's first choice left back and Rose's performance in the final was pretty average so he didn't really do much to convince Southgate to play him over Chilwell.
VERDICT - Ben Chilwell
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
The three candidates to play as the deepest midfielder are Fabian Delph, Eric Dier and Declan Rice. Delph, in my opinion, should not have been included in the squad for not playing enough football for Manchester City, so he should not be in contention to start. It is between Dier and Rice and it should be the latter who plays. Rice was nominated for YPOTY after a tremendous season for West Ham so he fully merits his starting spot.
VERDICT - Declan Rice
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
The other four midfielders in the squad - Alli, Barkley, Henderson and Lingard - will occupy the more advanced role. Henderson may have played for Liverpool but he is a leader which England lack without him and his box-to-box running is something the other players do not possess. Lingard has had a ridiculously poor season - so much so I predicted him to be left out of the squad- and Alli has not hit the heights of previous seasons and his display in the final was not impressive. Therefore, Ross Barkley should be chosen although I would bring Alli on at some point if Barkley is not playing well.
VERDICT - Ross Barkley and Jordan Henderson
RIGHT WING
This is very simple. Jadon Sancho has been one of the best players in Europe this season, registering 12 goals and 18 assists at just 19 years old in his first proper season in the Bundesliga. He is such a good players and his performances have made him indispensable to the starting line up.
VERDICT - Jadon Sancho
LEFT WING
Perhaps an even more simpler choice is to play Raheem Sterling on the opposite wing. Sterling has improved yet again as a player but more importantly excelled off the pitch this season. He has become the main man in tackling racism in football. He is a world class player.
VERDICT - Raheem Sterling
STRIKER
This is probably the most difficult choice for Southgate. Harry Kane is the captain and England's best goalscorer but he has only played 90 minutes once since April and that performance - in the Champions League - final showed that he lacks fitness and is rusty. Marcus Rashford could be called upon but I still think you have to pick Kane. He is the talisman and has at least some football played recently. He will also be determined to win something after suffering loss with Tottenham. If Kane is under performing, Southgate should have no hesitation and sub him off for Rashford, who's pace could make him a threat from the bench
VERDICT - Harry Kane
A win for England would put them through to their first major final since 1966, but it won't be easy against a tough Dutch side. They have the world's best defender and terrific players in the middle of the park. The Netherlands' attack is perhaps lacking that extra quality, so hopefully England can triumph.
Below is the team that I think should start against the Netherlands.
GOALKEEPER
In my predicted line-up for the Czechia match in March, I thought Tom Heaton should have started. At the time, Pickford was going through his worse spell as Everton no.1 as there were calls for Southgate to drop him. However, Everton finished the season remarkably well and Pickford was in between the sticks. He should be rewarded for his club form and deserves to stay as England's first choice for the foreseeable future.
VERDICT - Jordan Pickford
RIGHT BACK
The Champions League final had many English players involved and one of them was Liverpool full back Trent Alexander-Arnold. If he had not played against Tottenham, then I would've chosen him ahead of Walker but he did play, and played well, so Walker will no doubt be the fresher of the two and will have been preparing flat out for this specific match.
VERDICT - Kyle Walker
CENTRE BACKS
The England squad features four central defenders - Gomez, Keane, Maguire and Stones. Joe Gomez was a part of the Liverpool squad who won the Champions League final but since returning from injury, he has not played a great deal of football consistently. On ability alone Gomez would partner Stones at the back but I think Maguire should get the nod over Gomez.
VERDICT - Harry Maguire and John Stones
LEFT BACK
Danny Rose was one of the Tottenham players to play in Madrid but he would not have started anyway if he had not played. Ben Chilwell is England's first choice left back and Rose's performance in the final was pretty average so he didn't really do much to convince Southgate to play him over Chilwell.
VERDICT - Ben Chilwell
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD
The three candidates to play as the deepest midfielder are Fabian Delph, Eric Dier and Declan Rice. Delph, in my opinion, should not have been included in the squad for not playing enough football for Manchester City, so he should not be in contention to start. It is between Dier and Rice and it should be the latter who plays. Rice was nominated for YPOTY after a tremendous season for West Ham so he fully merits his starting spot.
VERDICT - Declan Rice
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS
The other four midfielders in the squad - Alli, Barkley, Henderson and Lingard - will occupy the more advanced role. Henderson may have played for Liverpool but he is a leader which England lack without him and his box-to-box running is something the other players do not possess. Lingard has had a ridiculously poor season - so much so I predicted him to be left out of the squad- and Alli has not hit the heights of previous seasons and his display in the final was not impressive. Therefore, Ross Barkley should be chosen although I would bring Alli on at some point if Barkley is not playing well.
VERDICT - Ross Barkley and Jordan Henderson
RIGHT WING
This is very simple. Jadon Sancho has been one of the best players in Europe this season, registering 12 goals and 18 assists at just 19 years old in his first proper season in the Bundesliga. He is such a good players and his performances have made him indispensable to the starting line up.
VERDICT - Jadon Sancho
LEFT WING
Perhaps an even more simpler choice is to play Raheem Sterling on the opposite wing. Sterling has improved yet again as a player but more importantly excelled off the pitch this season. He has become the main man in tackling racism in football. He is a world class player.
VERDICT - Raheem Sterling
STRIKER
This is probably the most difficult choice for Southgate. Harry Kane is the captain and England's best goalscorer but he has only played 90 minutes once since April and that performance - in the Champions League - final showed that he lacks fitness and is rusty. Marcus Rashford could be called upon but I still think you have to pick Kane. He is the talisman and has at least some football played recently. He will also be determined to win something after suffering loss with Tottenham. If Kane is under performing, Southgate should have no hesitation and sub him off for Rashford, who's pace could make him a threat from the bench
VERDICT - Harry Kane
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