Wednesday 28 March 2018 07:50, UK
England continued their World Cup preparations with a 1-1 draw against Italy on Tuesday, but who will be in Gareth Southgate's 23-man squad in Russia?
All nations need to submit their 30-man preliminary squad by May 14 and then have until June 4 to name a final 23-man squad for the World Cup. England play friendlies against Nigeria on June 2 and then Costa Rica on June 7.
Who will England take to the World Cup? Former Three Lions midfielder Danny Murphy picked his squad on The Debate on Sky Sports and explained his choices…
Goalkeepers - Hart, Pickford, Butland
"Pickford is very good with his feet and we want to play out, so people are saying he might be No 1 because of that. I would go with Butland because I like goalkeepers to be goalkeepers first. I love his presence and he comes for stuff. They are both quality and potentially very good but I like a goalkeeper who dominates and can control things and I think Butland is better at that than Pickford.
"I think with Hart the experience he would offer is fantastic and he seems like the type of lad who is a good pro and will help out. If one of the young lads started and struggled would you then go with another inexperienced player or would you go for experience? I'd take Hart."
Defenders - Gomez, Stones, Maguire, Smalling, Tarkowski, Walker, Trippier, Bertrand, Rose
"Smalling might not be everyone's cup of tea but he is quick, he has been there before and plays under pressure at Manchester United, so it won't phase him. At least have him there.
"I like three at the back and the flexibility it gives them. I am not sure Gareth is completely set on what he is going to do ahead of the three but it looks like he will play the three and I like that. We are controlling the tempo of the play more.
"I like to see them trying to play out and I hope they have the same courage at the tournament and don't try to play percentages. I don't think this group will because they are young and most of them don't have the burden of going to a tournament with previous failures and that does become difficult. The ultimate test will be the back three or back five against the best players in the world because we are inexperienced at the back."
Midfielders - Henderson, Dier, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lallana, Wilshere, Lingard, Sterling, Alli
"I think there are still shirts up for grabs in the middle of the pitch and Jack is the one; if he plays the next seven or eight games for Arsenal he will start the first game at the World Cup.
"The middle of the park will be crucial in how he sets up and who he puts in there.
"I was disappointed after seeing Harry Winks get injured earlier in the season. He was terrific and had some unbelievable performances in big games and then he had an injury and didn't quite come back the same. He had a good mix in his game of being able to spray it about and get stuck in, so it's a shame he probably isn't going to make it."
Forwards - Rashford, Kane, Vardy
"Who is your best player? It's Kane. If he is fit play him in a role he plays for his club. If you played two up front then you are giving Kane something new. I would play him up top on his own.
"You could play Alli and Sterling either side of him as a three. Against Italy they played Lingard in a midfield position on paper with Ox ahead of Dier. But Lingard is very clever at making runs from deep and you could argue that he would be close because he is such an intelligent player and scores big goals. He is showing a real confidence on the ball."
