England currently sit top of Group A, after wins against Czechia and Montenegro, having played two less games than other teams. The Three Lions' last international was their penalty shootout victory over Switzerland but facing Bulgaria should be a much easier task. Aaron Wan-Bissaka withdrew from the squad earlier this week due to a back problem meaning Southgate has 24 players to pick from for today's match.
Below is who I would start against Bulgaria.
GOALKEEPER - Jordan Pickford (Everton)
The three 'keepers called up to the squad were Tom Heaton, Nick Pope and, obviously, Jordan Pickford. All of them have been first choice for their clubs at the start of the season which is good from an England perspective as there will be good competition for the no.1 spot. Pickford has been Southgate's main goalie for over a year now and it should stay that way. He was questioned at times last year but the Everton man stepped it up and the end of last season and performed well and has carried that on to this season.
RIGHT BACK - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Kyle Walker was surprisingly left out of the squad, despite playing good for City, and with Wan-Bissaka's withdrawal, that leaves just Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier as the natural right backs. Trippier has also started well at Atletico Madrid with his crossing a tremendous threat down the right flank. The same can be said for Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool and between them two, I think the Scouser is a much better player. Trippier had a poor season last year at Tottenham but his move to Spain seems to have done wonders for him, and I'd probably start him against Kosovo on Tuesday to give both players a go.
CENTRE BACKS - Harry Maguire (Manchester United) & Michael Keane (Everton)
The absence of John Stones has seen Tyrone Mings earn his first international call up. I don't think he should start, so that leaves Maguire, Keane and Joe Gomez to battle it out for the two spots. Naturally Joe Gomez is a better player than Keane but Gomez has been forced out of the Liverpool side, with Joel Matip partnering Virgil van Dijk. It's a question about whether Gomez merits his starting place in the England side as he does not start for Liverpool. Keane does start for Everton and it would be a good chance to see how he performs. Gomez should start on Tuesday, though.
LEFT BACK - Ben Chilwell (Leicester City)
Chilwell has established himself as England's no.1 left back ahead of Danny Rose and Luke Shaw. The Foxes have had a terrific start to the season, finding themselves in 3rd place. Chilwell is a fantastic crosser and is defensively sound. I don't think Rose is as good defensively as Chilwell, who for me should start for England as left back.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER - Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur)
England struggled against the Netherlands playing the ball out from the back, with Declan Rice coming under scrutiny for his performance as the holding midfielder. Southgate wants to try and embed this style of play and to do so he needs a natural passer at the base of his midfield three. Rice is only 20 so can continue to grow and get better at that role but Winks is slightly advanced in his knowledge and understanding of the game and plays a similar role for Tottenham. Again, I think Rice should start against Kosovo.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS - James Maddison (Leicester City) & Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Under Southgate, England have been crying out for a creative midfielder. We have struggled against better opposition in the final third as we lack an advanced playmaker. James Maddison could be that guy. He was linked with a move to Spurs in the summer due to his stellar season for Leicester and is not hard to see why. He created the most chances in the Premier League last season and also carries a threat from set pieces with his accuracy from dead balls. With a playmaker already involved, Henderson can complement Maddison well as he is more of a box-to-box midfielder. He will run up and down the field all day long which gives a nice balance in the centre.
WINGERS - Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) & Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
England have three world class players in Alexander-Arnold, Kane and Sterling. The latter two must play every game. The threat Sterling has with his pace, goals and crossing is terrifying to any full back that must mark him. The same can be said for Sancho, who blew on to the scene last year and has continued scoring and assisting for Dortmund again. There's been rumours that Rashford may start instead of Sancho but, in my opinion, that should not happen.
STRIKER - Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
As stated above, Harry Kane is a world class player. He is a natural goalscorer and captain. Kane has 3 goals this season and is practically the first name on the team sheet. Rashford could play on the wing but Wilson is very much an out-and-out striker who will have to keep his goalscoring form up for Bournemouth to stay in the squad with Tammy Abraham close to being picked.
That is my team. No doubt Southgate will pick different players and probably bring Lingard on as a sub despite him not warranting a position in the squad. Qualifying is always routing stuff for England so I'll go 3-0 with two for Kane and Maddison on his debut.
Below is who I would start against Bulgaria.
GOALKEEPER - Jordan Pickford (Everton)
The three 'keepers called up to the squad were Tom Heaton, Nick Pope and, obviously, Jordan Pickford. All of them have been first choice for their clubs at the start of the season which is good from an England perspective as there will be good competition for the no.1 spot. Pickford has been Southgate's main goalie for over a year now and it should stay that way. He was questioned at times last year but the Everton man stepped it up and the end of last season and performed well and has carried that on to this season.
RIGHT BACK - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Kyle Walker was surprisingly left out of the squad, despite playing good for City, and with Wan-Bissaka's withdrawal, that leaves just Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier as the natural right backs. Trippier has also started well at Atletico Madrid with his crossing a tremendous threat down the right flank. The same can be said for Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool and between them two, I think the Scouser is a much better player. Trippier had a poor season last year at Tottenham but his move to Spain seems to have done wonders for him, and I'd probably start him against Kosovo on Tuesday to give both players a go.
CENTRE BACKS - Harry Maguire (Manchester United) & Michael Keane (Everton)
The absence of John Stones has seen Tyrone Mings earn his first international call up. I don't think he should start, so that leaves Maguire, Keane and Joe Gomez to battle it out for the two spots. Naturally Joe Gomez is a better player than Keane but Gomez has been forced out of the Liverpool side, with Joel Matip partnering Virgil van Dijk. It's a question about whether Gomez merits his starting place in the England side as he does not start for Liverpool. Keane does start for Everton and it would be a good chance to see how he performs. Gomez should start on Tuesday, though.
LEFT BACK - Ben Chilwell (Leicester City)
Chilwell has established himself as England's no.1 left back ahead of Danny Rose and Luke Shaw. The Foxes have had a terrific start to the season, finding themselves in 3rd place. Chilwell is a fantastic crosser and is defensively sound. I don't think Rose is as good defensively as Chilwell, who for me should start for England as left back.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER - Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur)
England struggled against the Netherlands playing the ball out from the back, with Declan Rice coming under scrutiny for his performance as the holding midfielder. Southgate wants to try and embed this style of play and to do so he needs a natural passer at the base of his midfield three. Rice is only 20 so can continue to grow and get better at that role but Winks is slightly advanced in his knowledge and understanding of the game and plays a similar role for Tottenham. Again, I think Rice should start against Kosovo.
CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS - James Maddison (Leicester City) & Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Under Southgate, England have been crying out for a creative midfielder. We have struggled against better opposition in the final third as we lack an advanced playmaker. James Maddison could be that guy. He was linked with a move to Spurs in the summer due to his stellar season for Leicester and is not hard to see why. He created the most chances in the Premier League last season and also carries a threat from set pieces with his accuracy from dead balls. With a playmaker already involved, Henderson can complement Maddison well as he is more of a box-to-box midfielder. He will run up and down the field all day long which gives a nice balance in the centre.
WINGERS - Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) & Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
England have three world class players in Alexander-Arnold, Kane and Sterling. The latter two must play every game. The threat Sterling has with his pace, goals and crossing is terrifying to any full back that must mark him. The same can be said for Sancho, who blew on to the scene last year and has continued scoring and assisting for Dortmund again. There's been rumours that Rashford may start instead of Sancho but, in my opinion, that should not happen.
STRIKER - Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
As stated above, Harry Kane is a world class player. He is a natural goalscorer and captain. Kane has 3 goals this season and is practically the first name on the team sheet. Rashford could play on the wing but Wilson is very much an out-and-out striker who will have to keep his goalscoring form up for Bournemouth to stay in the squad with Tammy Abraham close to being picked.
That is my team. No doubt Southgate will pick different players and probably bring Lingard on as a sub despite him not warranting a position in the squad. Qualifying is always routing stuff for England so I'll go 3-0 with two for Kane and Maddison on his debut.
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