Gareth Southgate faces several selection dilemmas as he strives to guide England to European Championship glory for the first time in their history. With quality in-depth at his disposal, Southgate is spoilt for options in numerous positions across the pitch, particularly in the middle of the park.
With the Three Lions operating a 4-2-3-1 formation, there are three spots up for grabs in the midfield, two central midfielders and a number 10.
Thanks to his fine form for club and country, Declan Rice has established himself as a nailed-on starter for England, occupying one of the two central midfield spots.
Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham is also a nailed-on starter in Southgate’s side, having emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in the world in a dazzling first season in La Liga.
However, some fans have been debating which role Bellingham should play in the England side. In the first two games of the tournament against Serbia and Denmark, the former Birmingham City man operated in the number 10 role behind Harry Kane. This gave him freedom to get forward and threaten the opposition backline, even netting the match-winning goal against Serbia with a superb header from inside the box.
Despite playing most of his career in midfield for Birmingham City, Borussia Dortmund and England, Bellingham has been deployed as a false nine by La Liga giants Real Madrid at times this season, showing clinical finishing in front of goal to score 23 times in all competitions despite missing a month through injury.
After a quiet performance from Harry Kane against the Serbs, and despite scoring, failing to make much of an impact against Denmark, some fans have called for Harry Kane to be dropped to the bench, to allow Bellingham to play upfront, making room for Phil Foden to slot into his favoured number 10 role, which he often played this season as he picked up the Premier League Player of the Season award.
However, Southgate deciding to move away from his captain, who has been pivotal for England in recent years, and has had a fantastic 44-goal season playing in the Bundesliga, looks very unlikely.
Foden was another player who failed to get a foothold on the game against Serbia, failing to make an impact operating on the left flank. Despite being able to play out wide, it can be argued that Foden is more effective in central areas, picking up balls in the pockets and threading passes through to wide players, or the striker ahead of him.
The Manchester City midfielder showed glimpses of this against Denmark, drifting in-field and causing the Danes some problems, however he did not do it often enough.
Playing centrally allows Foden to get on the ball more, therefore some fans are keen to see him start in the number ten role for England. However, this would likely require either Harry Kane to be dropped and Bellingham pushed as a false nine, as mentioned above, or for Bellingham to play as one of the two number eights.
This has its drawbacks, restricting Bellingham from being able to make lots of darting runs into the box to score goals. By pushing Bellingham deeper, Southgate would also be losing a bit of defensive cover in midfield, as we know attacking is where Bellingham excels.
Assuming Southgate sticks with Bellingham in the advanced midfield role throughout the tournament following his fantastic performance in the opening fixture, which looks likely, the big debate is who should partner Rice behind him. The main contenders are Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kobbie Mainoo, Conor Gallagher and Adam Wharton.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
So far throughout the tournament, the Liverpudlian has been given the nod to start in central midfield, despite it not being a role that comes naturally to him, having spent his career so far playing as a right-back.
Alexander-Arnold insists he is “prepared” to play in midfield. The 25-year-old told the media after the opening game against Serbia: “The manager and (assistant manager) Steve Holland have worked very hard over the past year for me to understand and know the role that I’m being asked to do,” suggesting Southgate and his staff have envisioned Alexander-Arnold taking on a role in the England midfield for a while now.
There is no doubt Alexander-Arnold is brilliant technically, and one of the best passers of the ball in the England squad. It could be argued that his passing capabilities are wasted at right-back.
However, Alexander-Arnold excels at firing long-range passes over the opposition defences for teammates to run onto. This is something he can do fairly easily from right-back, with long, cross-field balls. However, this may be difficult from a central midfield position, where precise threaded through balls are needed, rather than longer passes.
Although defending is not his main strength, he is capable defensively. However, he has not looked comfortable in midfield, particularly against Denmark last night. As England reach the latter stages of the competition, and potentially go on to play sides with quality attacking players such as France and Germany, I would not be surprised if Southgate opts for a player with more experience playing in midfield to partner Rice.
Alexander-Arnold, like most of his teammates, has failed to impress in the two opening fixtures, and after his withdrawal in the 54th minute against Denmark, his time playing in the England midfield could well be over.
Kobbie Mainoo
After coming off the bench in England’s first game of the tournament against Serbia, Mainoo will be hoping to get more minutes under his belt throughout the tournament.
The Manchester United youngster has emerged as a promising talent, playing an important role for his club since breaking into the first team back in November and scoring in vital moments, such as against Liverpool as well as in the FA Cup final win against Manchester City.
The 19-year-old is an all-action midfielder. In possession, he is excellent, capable of playing intricate passes to pick out teammates, but also possessing the ability to drive forward into space and break lines.
He is also solid out of possession, making important tackles at times. Most importantly, his in-game decision-making is usually top-notch, and he exudes a calmness and confidence that is very rarely seen in older players, let alone a 19-year-old.
The only drawback with Mainoo is his lack of international experience. Having made just four senior England appearances, the midfielder is new to the international scene.
Conor Gallagher
Gallagher is another midfield option Southgate has at his disposal. Having featured in both games so far off the bench, the Chelsea midfielder is clearly rated by Southgate. The 24-year-old was the first substitute to come on in yesterday’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Denmark, replacing Alexander-Arnold.
Gallagher’s high work rate, box-to-box play, and relentless energy could benefit England, if he is given the nod to start in future games. The midfielder is capable of contributing both offensively and defensively, and his ability to press opponents, disrupt their play, and his ability to score crucial goals could be valuable for England’s midfield.
Despite not being the most exciting, talented player in the England squad his overall impact and tenacity provide a well-rounded option that complements the strengths of Rice and Bellingham.
Given Gareth Southgate's preference for a balanced and pragmatic approach, Gallagher's inclusion could enhance England's ability to control the midfield, maintain defensive solidity, and transition effectively into attack if he is given the nod in future matches.
Adam Wharton
After breaking into the Crystal Palace side with some excellent performances, Wharton is another option for Southgate in the middle of the park.
Wharton possesses impressive composure on the ball, making him a promising talent for England. His ability to control the game's tempo, as well as his defensive awareness, makes him an interesting option for Southgate.
However, similarly to Mainoo, his lack of experience at the senior international level could be a significant disadvantage. Although Wharton's maturity and technical skills are notable, Gareth Southgate may want to gradually introduce him to the squad to allow him to gain valuable experience without the immediate pressure of a starting role.
Therefore, while Wharton is unquestionably a talent to watch, starting him alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham at this stage might be premature, and it seems unlikely he will rack up many minutes at this tournament despite an impressive breakthrough season in the Premier League.
Southgate is spoilt for options in the centre of midfield, but who do you think should start in midfield for the Three Lions?
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