It's been almost ten months since England got a warm welcome in Kosovo and smashed them 4-0. Nobody had heard of this coronavirus. Along that came and the friendlies in March and, more importantly, the Euros were cancelled.
International football has now returned and England face Iceland, which will always been met with a reminder of English football's most embarrassing night. There's been a lot of withdrawals from the England squad due to injuries and players quarantining after going on holiday so it will be a new look side.
Below is who I think should start for England.
GOALKEEPER - Nick Pope (Burnley)
This is quite a straight forward decision. Jordan Pickford hasn't been worthy of the number one jersey for two years and Dean Henderson looks set to be the back-up 'keeper at Manchester United so doesn't deserve to play for England. Pope was in terrific form for Burnley last season, just losing out to Manchester City's Ederson for the Golden Glove. People suggest Pickford may still get the nod due to his distribution but he continually makes mistakes which, as a goalkeeper, normally leads to goals.
RIGHT BACK - Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Southgate picked a number of right backs in his squad with Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker all included. England are lacking a plethora of key players with Ben Chilwell, Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire missing out so it's important that where the first choice players are available, they are played. Alexander-Arnold missed Liverpool's Community Shield defeat through injury but he has recovered.
CENTRAL DEFENCE - Joe Gomez (Liverpool) and Michael Keane (Everton)
Gomez is England's best centre back so will start and it could then be any of the others between Michael Keane, Tyrone Mings and Conor Coady, who has been called up for the first time. Keane has that little bit of experience over the other two which could push him ahead. On a separate point, the idea that Coady's call up suggests Southgate could be switching back to three central defenders is nonsensical. The future of England is 4-3-3.
LEFT BACK - Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
The biggest mystery of Southgate's squad was that he had no left backs, and with the subsequent withdrawals a natural left back still hasn't been called up. Mings used to play on the left but has seen his career progress to the centre and Maitland-Niles has operated at left-wing back for Arsenal despite wanting to be a central midfielder. Realistically, it could be anyone at left back.
DEFENSIVE MIDFIELD - Declan Rice (West Ham United)
Despite Kalvin Phillips never playing a Premier League game, and Southgate saying he wouldn't call Championship players up, he's in the squad. Rice is the holding midfielder and, on Southgate's basis, has played Premier League football so is above Phillips and Eric Dier is, to me, not a good midfielder - he's much better suited to central defence.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD - Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) and Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Jordan Henderson will be a big miss in the middle of the park as his off the ball work is integral to providing balance in midfield. It was bizarre for Southgate to leave Grealish out in the first place and I think his belief that he is in contention with wingers like Marcus Rashford or Raheem Sterling is incorrect. He, or James Maddison, should be operating in the centre and dictating the tempo, taking on the opposition with their dribbling ability. Foden began to establish himself in the Manchester City side post-lockdown and David Silva's exit could cement his place further for his club and national team if he keeps his form up.
RIGHT WINGER - Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
Whether he ends up at Manchester United or decides to stay in Germany, one thing is for sure that Sancho should be one of the first names on the England team sheet. He's only 20 years old but will be a feature for at least a decade.
LEFT WINGER - Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
The switch to 4-3-3 two years ago reinvigorated Sterling in an England shirt as he finally applying his club form to the national team. He's only 25 years old but with 56 caps is the most experienced player in the squad and has matured into a leader in recent years.
CENTRE FORWARD - Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
It would be cool to see Mason Greenwood (or Danny Ings) start, and I have no doubt he'll be involved from the bench, but Kane is the captain and without Henderson, there's a lack of another leader on the pitch so Kane's inclusion is vital. He was scoring goals towards the end of the season and looking much fitter after the injury problems he suffers every season. He benefitted from the Euros being postponed and will hopefully be injury free come June.
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