England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who is on the plane to Germany?

With Euro 2024 fast approaching, Gareth Southgate’s England squad is starting to take shape. Ahead of matches against Brazil and Belgium, Telegraph Sport assesses what the squad would look like if it was picked now:

Goalkeepers

Jordan Pickford

Involved in a relegation battle at Everton, but his inclusion as Southgate’s No 1 is in spite of recent form having established himself at the World Cup six years ago. Not being England’s first choice at the Euros is unthinkable.

Sam Johnstone

Roy Hodgson has had two England goalkeepers at his disposal this season, with Sam Johnstone and Dean Henderson battling it out at Crystal Palace. Johnstone did enough to win his place back in Southgate’s squad but also missed matches through injury. He has played Palace’s past four games.

Aaron Ramsdale

If Nick Pope was fit, this would have been a dilemma for Southgate. Ramsdale is an excellent squad member, he trains hard and supports his fellow goalkeepers. While he is the perfect keeper to have in the 23, he is not playing regularly at Arsenal and hardly justifies his place on form.

Defenders

Kyle Walker

Southgate has twice talked Walker out of international retirement, he is that important to his plans. Still among the best right-backs one-v-one and can play as a third centre-back, while Pep Guardiola has “inverted” him to play in central midfield when Manchester City have the ball.

Kieran Trippier

Pulled out of the squad in November due to personal reasons and misses out on the March squad through injury. His form dipped over the Christmas period, but he is an important part of Southgate’s squad with his ability to play on either flank – given Luke Shaw’s injury – and his set-piece threat.

John Stones

The Manchester City centre-back has been at the heart of Southgate’s defence for his most important triumphs. The question this season has been over his fitness but he has made 22 club appearances and will be on the plane providing he stays injury-free.

Harry Maguire

Southgate stayed loyal to Maguire when he was getting jeered by his own supporters, so it is safe to say that he will be in his plans for Germany. The centre-back has forced his way back in at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag after looking set to leave the club in the summer.

Marc Guehi

Currently recovering from injury but, if fit, he is highly rated by Southgate for his cool displays at Crystal Palace, never seeming to get into trouble. He quoted Paolo Maldini recently when talking about going under the radar: “Maldini said if you have to make a tackle, you weren’t in the right position in the first place.”

Ezri Konsa

There will be one remaining centre-back slot up for grabs, and Konsa is making an excellent case for himself ahead of Lewis Dunk, Fikayo Tomori or the versatile Levi Colwill. Konsa suffered a knee injury recently but has been included for the Brazil/Belgium double header.

Ben Chilwell

Returned to action against Leicester at the weekend and has an important role for Southgate as the only recognised left-back currently available. Shaw is due back at the end of the season but cannot be counted on. Trippier can cover on the left, but it will need a specialist in that position.

Midfield

Trent Alexander-Arnold

It looked like it was Trent against Kalvin Phillips for the role alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, with the Liverpool player pulling himself clear in the last months. Yes, he can cover right-back, too, but it should be his ability to control games and his passing range that gets him into this team.

Jordan Henderson

A move to Ajax has cemented his place in the England party and he is expected to be on the plane to Germany. His leadership is very important to the squad dynamic and he is now playing at a better level than during his ill-fated spell in Saudi Arabia.

Jude Bellingham

The top scorer in La Liga and the player England will be pinning their hopes on. All eyes will be on the Real Madrid star over the final games of the season. If he stays fit, he starts for Southgate in an advanced midfield role.

Declan Rice

David Moyes suggested recently that the £105 million paid by Arsenal in the summer would prove to be a bargain. It is hard to disagree with him, with Rice such an important part of Arsenal’s title charge. He can control games and is a better player than at the last Euros.

Forwards

Phil Foden

Now playing well enough to demand a starting place in Southgate’s team after being so unlucky with England. Injury ruled him out of the last Euro final against Italy and earlier in the tournament he was rested as he was a yellow away from suspension. Now looks set to start on the left of the attack.

Harry Kane

When he was injured at the weekend, England fans held their breath. Injury scares for the country’s most prolific goalscorer around the final weeks of the season will prove problematic.

Bukayo Saka

Surely one of Southgate’s starters when the Euros get under way. His direct running from the right will be an important part of England’s attack as they look to go one better this time around.

Jack Grealish

He has suffered a dip in form and injury since winning the treble at Manchester City last season, but he can still draw fouls and commit defenders with his dribbling. If he is playing enough, he should be on the plane to the Euros.

James Maddison

After making his return to the England team last year, his move to Tottenham worked perfectly. It was only injury that put a spanner in the works. But he has done enough to warrant a place, including going to the World Cup and fighting his way back from injury during the tournament.

Marcus Rashford

He was in poor form earlier in the season, but has bounced back in recent weeks and his experience at this level pushes him towards being included.

Eberechi Eze

It could well be Conor Gallagher occupying a sort of ‘wild-card’ spot in the midfield. Gallagher is an excellent tourist and has been playing well. However, Eze has the X-factor that could turn a match off the bench.

Ivan Toney

His penalty-taking ability could be needed in the knockout stage, for starters. He has slipped back into the Brentford team like he never left after serving a ban for betting-rule breaches.

Ollie Watkins

Two back-up strikers for Kane, who is guaranteed to start, may seem too much. But Watkins deserves his place on merit and on sheer weight of goals this season, even if it means a wide player such as Jarrod Bowen misses out.