I’m confident that Thomas Tuchel knows his XI quite well – and the way this team is divided tells us even more.
The main question mark for me is who starts as a number 10 – I struggle to understand an England team without Jude Bellingham if I’m fit, but clearly Tuchel prefers Morgan Rodgers after a fantastic season.
However, with Aston Villa out of form and Bellingham back for Real Madrid, he could force Tuchel to reconsider.
In midfield, Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson are two of the first names on the team sheet – Anderson’s emergence this season could be the difference between success and failure this summer and I really think Gareth Southgate is a player who would love to have.
I think it’s time for Harry Kane to replace both sides, although an on-song Bukayo Saka is yet to start, and Anthony Gordon’s numbers are hard to ignore.
Defensively, Lewis Hall’s form for me means he is the current standout option at left-back, and at centre-back had it not been for John Stones to have such an injury-plagued season I would have liked to have him and his experience alongside Manchester City teammate Mark Guhi.
Let’s also hope Reece James is fully fit by June 17 – it would be interesting to see Trent Alexander-Arnold in this team too, just to give us a different option at full-back.
There’s also a notable mention for Nico O’Reilly who is missing mainly because I’m not sure where he’ll play – although performances like the Carabao Cup final would increase his chances of getting in.
