Shocking that only Neville chose Ben White and no one mentioned it or discussed White

Ben White is Englands most in form defender.. virtually plays as a RCB/inverted RB for Arsenal. Extremely versatile, solid all round player Nobody has gotten past him this season. If England seriously want clean sheets he’s gotto start with Stones.

I 100% agree with Redknapp on the Foden point - in this England side he doesn’t get the ball enough playing out wide as he does for City, he needs to play in the 10 not just for his technical ability but he is a very intelligent presser and can take the ball when we are under pressure and either win free kicks or slow the game down before bringing others in

not only is Saka our best winger in form for England, but he also has played well in almost every England game. Direct and technical and makes things happen. Had most successful dribbles as an England player in a game since Michael Owen

Saka has to play. He’s the only one that actually plays RW. He makes things happen in those wide areas

sterling and grealish over saka would be criminal. Saka has been arguably one of the best attackers so far in the prem this season.

4-4-2 against Iran with our fastest back 4. I think Redknapp's comment about playing Foden in an advanced central midfield position is insightful. Saka as RW based on this season's performance.

How Fikayo Tomori is not in this squad and in place of Maguire is insane. Yes he hasn't featured a whole lot for England in big games, but he's in excellent form and a proven CB internationally.

How Dier or Maguire is picked ahead of Ben White is beyond me. He’s been miles ahead of these two this season!

Carragher: '....we could use the Iran game almost as a warm up to play Maguire...' I really think that this sort of mindset will come back to haunt England. The group is tougher than many of these 'expert' pundits seem to think.

Not starting Saka on the right is crazy. He’s so inform rn and so creative. Can create soooo many chances for Kane and others

Saka not in those teams picked is criminal. Grealish & Sterling both done next to nothing all season. But ultimately I'm not suprised, that's why they're pundits and not managers.

Everyone said that Maddison needs to be at the world cup but none of them chose him. He has the most goal contributions for any English player since the start of last season besides Harry Kane.

Looking back on this now it’s absolutely criminal that Saka wasn’t chose to start by Carney and Neville. Was England’s most in form player at the time and is comfortably their second best player with Kane.

White and Stones at centre back for me. White is an intelligent player and his decision making will be vital in the knockout stages

Ben White disrespect is insane. One of the best defenders in the league all season. These people are so clueless

It’s unbelievable that Tomori wasn’t picked for that squad.

Ben White has to be the most underrated player in the PL

⚽️ Gary Neville’s selected team and his statements make more sense than the others, with all due respect to them (a Liverpool fan) 🍻

Imagine choosing Sterling over Saka this season

How is it possible to have sterling or grealish above saka when looking at their respective form. Absolutely crazy.

pope is a great shot stopper, but from what ive seen, he is absolutely shocking on the ball. Against Chelsea he had the ball and at least a good 7 seconds to take a couple of touches and pick his pass and he just volleyed it first time out for a throw in. Ramsdale's distribution in comparison could literally be the difference between winning and losing a game

Redknapp's my favourite team, though the only worry is if Dier is solid enough playing in a two. Saka has to play, and while Sterling has had his moments for England he's unpredictable - you don't know if he'll score a curler or scuff an easy chance in front of goal. I'd like to see England actually utilise the technical talent at their disposal. Redknapp is right in saying that the reason Foden hasn't shown his City form for England is because they don't hold onto the ball, and having him in midfield does solve that problem. Alternatively, another option would be to insert Maddison with Foden on the left (though I like Graelish, I think having Maddison in there would help England dominate the ball better). Rice, Bellingham, Foden, Maddison, and Saka is a very, very solid, technical and energetic midfield and you can also rely on all of them to put a defensive shift in (moreso than Sterling and Graelish). In any event a midfield three is necessary, whether you play Maddison, Foden, or Phillips (who we shouldn't forget in all this - he would really free up Bellingham, is solid defensively and had a good partnership with Rice in the Euros). While I think Rice and Bellingham are good enough that they won't be overrun if they play in a two, they'll still be on the back foot and it would be a waste of Bellingham in particular to play that deep. Don't see why Mount is being chosen in most of the teams, besides him generally being favoured in the past by Southgate. I was a big fan of Mount when he came onto the scene but right now he doesn't strike me as being creative enough to exclude someone like Maddison/Graelish, or enough of a goal threat to play him as a number ten ahead of the likes of Bellingham or Foden. Neville's formation is the boring and least adventurous one, but probably also the most solid one for the more difficult matches. White, Stones, and Dier strikes me as a potentially solid unit that can paper over England's otherwise obvious defensive fralities.

I'm amazed none of them have picked Maddison. I'd have him over Mount in a heartbeat.

This just shows that Chris Smalling has become England's most underrated player. Nobody is happy with the center backs they have picked. They are picking players that has performed bad this season or not getting minutes for their club over a player that has had a great season in Serie A.

I like Neville's back 3 (or rather having White and Trent on the right) because I reckon it's a good shout in both an attacking and defensive sense.

Anyone starting Maguire is simply insane. Not basing this on his previous errors or what ever. He hasn’t played anywhere near enough to be a starter for a WORLD CUP squad. That’s just insane.

I agree with Redknapp that I think that Foden can offer England a lot of solutions playing in midfield with his creativity. A midfield of Bellingham - Rice - Foden looks very nice and balanced where the pieces fit well on paper at least.

At this point i feel Arsenal is invisible to everyone lol They dont even show up on the Premier League table at this point 😂😂

Wouldn't trust Neville to pick any England team after Euro 2016. No doubt as England coach he will have Kane on corners again.

I think Redknapp is onto something when he talks about Foden's role. England need to get him properly involved. He's the profile of player England haven't produced too much.

I would play Saka and I like Jamie's idea of putting Foden in midfield, I think that would be interesting.

So many people writing about Tomori who haven't watched AC Milan once this season for 90 minutes.

The ones that didn't pick saka haven't got a clue. The form he's in it should be a no brainer. He is the one player we've got that has pace, takes players on and has an end product. Without him we'll get boxed in with no out ball when we'll be under pressure in the later stages.

As a Forest fan the formation debate around stopping counter attacks is really interesting. We started this season playing 3 at the back and found we were overrun in midfield which meant we couldn't deal with the oppositions transitions, it also left the back 3 exposed to defend 1 v 1 a lot of the time, hence why we leaked so many goals. Since Leicester battered us we switched to 4-3-3 and teams struggle to break us down, we've played 8 since then, winning 3 and only losing 2, with 4 clean sheets. I'm not sure 3 at the back is always more defensive....

Actually agree with Redknapp that Foden is best just behind the striker. Get him on the ball and let him make things happen in the final third not stuck out on the wing. Spain didn't concede a knockout goal for years and they didn't play 3 CBs. They let their midfield do the talking. For some reason English pundits don't seem to understand the importance of midfield and using the ball.

The fact he didn't take Toney and Tomori is ridiculous to me. Toney is a really good striker and Tomori is like the best young English CB we've got.

"Blessed is he who expects nothing for he shall never be disappointed" This is how I'm going into this tournament with the English team.

Excellent analysis from Gary Neville regarding 5 in the back. Trent would be amazing as RWB

I have to say i think Gary has the most suitable team which would also work for the later stages....You think of allowing bellingham forward...allowing trent to also go forward...so then ben white is perfect for that...cuz he will become the RB in a defensive transition...and he is soo good at delaying the counter from his side allowing players to get back....so that ben white trent combination is what i would love to see, could really unlock trent imo !

CB would've never been an issue if Tomori would've been picked

The fact that they don't even acknowledge White and Tomori is a summation of England and their issues at the major tourneys.

Some solid logic from most of the panel tbf. I was most drawn to Redknapp's optimistic and I think realistic approach of trying to push England in the direction of being a team that has more control in the game. Our defence is on the decline in recent years, playing defensive invites pressure and makes it hard to suddenly change things and score on demand when you're in trouble. It makes even less sense when we do have players who can control games and do well in attacking positions. Unfortunately, Southgate will stick with what he knows rather than adapt to what suits the strength of the current team best.

How has Ben White not been mentioned once in that whole discussion??

TBH I actually agree with Gary's points about the less time to have the squad together in the run up to the tournament so stick with a system that everyone is familiar with. In an ideal world I would go 4-3-3 (where I also agree with Redknapp about Foden being a #10 for England) but I think Gary is right so mine would be Pickford Trippier White Coady Stones Shaw Rice Bellingham Saka Kane Foden. Rashford and Grealish being the attacking subs, Maddison and Mount being the midfield subs.

How can u not have saka on the right he’s one of the first names on the team sheet

The fact that none of them chose maddison says alot he's by far the best playmaker/number 10 in that squad

Putting Stirling, Mount, Pickford and Maguire in is criminal for me on current form

You have to play Saka. Englands best winger in te past 2 seasons...

Sterling/ Grealish over saka is pure madness

Neville has got it spot on. Especially for these fast, difficult games like Wales and USA

I agree with GN about White. He's gone massively under the radar and has been really good for the Gunners. TAA can run forward and White can protect....

. Ramsdale Trent White Stones Trippier Rice Bellingham Mount Saka Kane Foden I'd also Swap Mount for Henderson or Phillips if he's fit, when we need to be more solid in midfield.

How saka isn't in everyone's team is terrible and ramsdale, white and maddison looking down upon they are the inform players

Nearly all players play in teams that set up 4-2-3-1 and so hope England play that formation. I know historically it’s a 5-3-2 but let’s play players who play in systems they do for their clubs and are in form

Still can’t believe Ivan Toney isn’t going madness

Foden as a 10 I agree with Redknapp. They wont do that as Southgate is too defensive but Foden did actually play there against a really crap side, a couple years back and was amazing. I think its something if he doesnt do from the start that he could try in a second half if england not doing great or foden not getting much of the ball.

Saka is the best English player now

i am still shocked they are not even considering Maddison

Good discussion. I agree with Carragher about James Maddison. He is the most creative player England have, and can change games. If England go deep in the tournament, he could have a big role to play.

Kane Foden Maddison Saka Bellingham Rice Tripper White Stones Walker Pope They will certainly miss: * TONEY (not just scoring but crucial in penaltes shoot-out) *You also have WARD-PROWSE who is a very decent deadball specialist that can help the squad in set-pieces. *TOMORI who was a defensive rock for Milan

Fair play to carra coming from Brighton to London as quickly as he did 😂😂😂

Saka and Sterling must start based on form and experience respectively. Gary’s lineup looks solid across the board, Trent and Shaw bolstered by 3 CB gives the team more attack to unlock Kane up front. Rashford, Foden, Mount, Grealish off the bench will be deadly

With the players we've got and their specific versatilities/weaknesses the 3/5 at the back makes too much sense to not utilise. You look at a player like Dier's form in the central spot in a 3, White's ability to be a CB or a RB, Shaw the same, and Walker too. Trent being a RB that's probably more suited to WB with cover in a system not tailored to him as Liverpool's is, and Maguire not really having the recovery pace to play high without people either side of him. Declan Rice can comfortably exhange with a central CB allowing either Maguire/Dier to charge forward. Even Saka as a wildcard LWB option to really overload the left side with an additional LW on the pitch. It just seems like there's about a hundred different reasons to be playing with 3 CBs right now.

England should start: Ramsdale Trippier, white, stones, Shaw Rice, Bellingham, Saka, Maddison, Foden Kane

Saka 100% needs to be in the team

For all the formation, I think Gary Na is the most safe and the one I trust more. Playing 433 like Jamie suggested is a risk, it may be able to score but it will be to fragile at the back, especially with Harry Mc in the back 4

Surprised nobody took a shot for Madders to start. Can understand the idea of a safer midfield but I reckon if there is any game to try, it would be the first game. I'm actually starting to warm up to the World 🏆 even though it's in November

Foden as a 10 with Kane, Saka and a third in front of him might actually be the answer to our attack there

G Nev got served up in this

Redknapp has convinced me. At least he is being bold and going after it!! Foden, Saka, Kane , Jude HAVE TO PLAY!

Picking the starting 11 is easier to start with who we don’t want, we surely can’t start; Maguire, Dier, Sterling, Grealish, all 4 have had a terrible season. Id love to see Maddison in for Bellingham adding experience and bang on form with Rice. Foden Kane and Saka up front, Tripper White Stones and Shaw at the back are the inform players lets start with that and see what’s lacking in if any partnerships don’t work.

Stones is the best centre back we have got This sends shivers down my spine.

All the 3 lineups are good but not good enough to win tough matches. For me, I'll go Keeper: Pickford or Ramsdale Defence: Trippier, Ben White, Stones, Shaw Midfield: Maddison, Declan Rice & Jude Bellingham Front: Saka, Harry Kane and Foden/Jack Grealish

Grealish hasn't got the numbers to back it up but he has been on really good form recently, created the majority of City's chances against Chelsea the other night

if Rice is going to play in a midfield 3, he has to be box-box-box cdm, not the holding midfielder. His best attibute is as a ball carrier. Double pivot probably suits here more, as Kalvin Philips is the only holding midfielder that England currently has. Well, unless you are planning to push Dier up as Holding midfielder, he used to play there some ages ago for spurs. 🤪

Sterling ahead of Saka 😂

If you’re picking Saka surely you play Ben white at RB they got a mad relationship

Jamie Carraghers first eleven is what i think also that will be the best one for the first game. Alot of things will change after. Is about momentum and fitnes and how ready are players mentaly

Saka and white have got to start if its on current form :)

Saka has to be the first person on that team sheet. Anything else is diabolical.

can’t believe there’s so much centre half debate in a situation where Stones, Tomori, White and Smalling all have English passports. also; 18:58 is the best opinion on Trent’s strengths and liabilities that’s been offered this season.

Tomori has had a fantastic couple of seasons and I know there has to be a player where everyone needs to jump on the bandwagon of dismay, but because of the limited preparation time and zero time Tomori has played with the squad, it's not realistic to think he'd be in the first XI. Even if Southgate put him in the squad, he'd not be in the team based on the lack of experience playing for England and the other defenders here. The question should be why didn't Southgate bring him in earlier, a year ago in all the Nations League games to form a partnership? There will be a reason for this which maybe only Gareth knows but for whatever reason he didn't, but for now and this world cup, it must be the defenders he knows and who have played together who are selected. I don't know why everyone is so dazed and confused about this, it's not remotely a surprise.

‘He’s got 4 days, he’s got 4 days’ everyone’s in same boat Gary

“he can’t be changing systems this close to the tournament” every single player in england’s defence plays in a 4 back bar dier for their club, if anything it’s harder for them to play in a back 5 for england since they train all year round in a different system

Love it how these guys were protesting to have Maddison in the team, yet none of them pick him. If you’re going on form alone, then he gets in over golden if you want to play with a number 10. Mason mount shouldnt be anywhere near the starting lineup.

Having any other winger over saka on the right is mind blowing and in not even a arsenal fan

Pickford, Trippier, White, Stones, Shaw, Rice, Bellingham, Maddison, Foden, Saka, Kane. I'm not even English but that team, while it might concede a few, could cause havoc against any team if allowed to play.

I am very sure southgate will pick his favourites like Maguire, sterling, foden over saka and will not be surprised if they crashed out early.they are lucky to have a very easy group but I feel they will make it harder. Madison, white (all inform players) are there to make numbers

I agree with Carra.. Maddison can bring that character, leadership and aggression needed at the important moments in a stage like World Cupp hope he gets his chances and takes them well

Some really insightful points

Please im not even an arsenal fan, but why would someone pick eric dier over ben white, please explain it to me, im here to read your answers!

How mount in front of Maddison 🤯

It's a sad day when the unanimous and only option for left back is the one dimensional Luke Shaw.

Ramsdale, White and Saka should all be starting.

Why do so many of them have Mount in? Ask any Chelsea fan what they think of him at the minute

Her team choice was as poor as Southgate's probably will be.

White hasn’t put a foot wrong all season and Saka has been one of the best wide forwards in the league. Picking Dier, Maguire, Grealish and Sterling before these two, is just straight up disrespect!

Pickford in net shaw left back stones and white centre backs trippier right back rice holding mid Bellingham and Maddison rashford on the left sterling on the right kane up top that’s the team I’d go for in the group stage

I totally understand Pickford for his communication, passion and his shot stopping ability. But Ramsdale’s ability in sweeping through balls and catching crosses could end up being vital for us with the defence we have. Agree that he is being too overlooked.