England mailbag and writers' XIs: Bellingham's role? Left-back issues? Shootout line-up? (2024)

Gareth Southgate named his provisional England squad for Euro 2024 on Tuesday.

Long-time Southgate servants Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford were left out while Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton and Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Lewis Dunk were surprise inclusions.

There remain questions over how to get the best out of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Declan Rice, who to play at left-back and whether there is enough backup in defensive midfield.

Two of our England writers, Jack Pitt-Brooke and Rob Tanner, joined readers for a live Q&A shortly after Southgate announced his squad to answer these questions and more.

We also have some writers’ starting XIs to face Serbia in England’s Euro 2024 group C opener on June 16. Leave your line-ups below in the comments section.

Luke E asked: Do you see Jude Bellingham’s position in this team as a No 8? With him playing next to Declan Rice? Or will he be advanced to No 10 like he does for Real Madrid? Which means we need a second centre-midfielder like Kobbie Mainoo?

Rob Tanner said: Interesting question, Luke. If Southgate plays with two deeper midfielders, as he has in the past, then definitely. If he only goes with Rice he will want two No 8s on either side, so you could see Bellingham and Conor Gallagher in those roles. Another factor is Foden, who has done so well as a No 10 himself this season at Manchester City, but Southgate said today Foden can play off the left and have the freedom to drift inside. The problem could be Foden and Bellingham getting in each other’s way, or it could be a hugely dangerous combination as well.

Jack Pitt-Brooke said: Great question and one that England coaches have been thinking about since he was an under-15! Southgate sees him further forward as a 10 — a bit like Ancelotti does — meaning Rice and one other, probably Gallagher, alongside them. Although I’m sure the fans would rather see Bellingham and Rice in the middle and then Foden as a 10, allowing one more forward (Cole Palmer?)

Oliver C asked: Rather than try and fit Bellingham, Foden and Palmer all in the same team, would we be better off playing Anthony Gordon on the left wing, rather than wasting Foden or Palmer playing out wide? I’m concerned England could lack width on the left if certain players start who like to drift centrally.

RT said: I think you will see Palmer competing with Bukayo Saka for that right flank, coming inside for Kyle Walker to overlap.

Foden will start the first game, it is just a question of where. Southgate said today that Foden can have the freedom to come inside so that does leave space on the left and if it is Kieran Trippier playing left-back he will sit deeper than Walker.

Whoever is the left-sided eight may have to be disciplined and step over — that could be Gallagher or even Mainoo.

David L asked: Lewis Dunk has been uninspiring for Brighton and was catastrophic against Belgium, while Eric Dier, who is two years younger, has been superb for Bayern Munich. Does that make any sense?

JPB said: I don’t get it at all.

I asked Southgate about Dier in the press conference and he said Dier was doing well for Bayern but I thought he’d make it in, given his experience and club form.

Jim G asked: Is it a clear message from Southgate that if you want to play for England you better stay in the Premier League (or if not you’d better be a Ballon d’Or contender)? No Dier, Jason Sancho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fikayo Tomori etc

RT said: Yes, it is interesting he hasn’t chosen some of the boys playing overseas, even if they have had a good season. Jadon Sancho certainly has at Borussia Dortmund, but perhaps his failures at Manchester United have made Southgate move on and he has so many options in attacking positions now.

Dier offers versatility so I was surprised he wasn’t in. He was consistent at Bayern. Then again, it hasn’t affected Kane’s selection.

Our Italian football writer, James Horncastle, has been praising Loftus-Cheek this season, but Southgate has good options there.

Monkee H asked: OK, when we get to the inevitable penalty shootout, who takes the first five: Kane, Palmer, Foden, Bellingham and Ivan Toney (brought on on 119min)? That looks quite formidable!

RT said: I would take that list. Fingers crossed.

JPB said: Trippier and Harry Maguire too!

RT said: Dominic Solanke must be thinking he has no future at international level. He couldn’t have done much more to get into the side. He scored 19 league goals and played in every game, showing he is robust and in form.

Southgate likes three for every position and said today that you can take too many strikers to a tournament. If fit, Kane will play every game. Watkins is the backup striker after his excellent season, and Toney is good at penalties, and we all know how handy that could be in a tournament.

Mark H asked: With Luke Shaw being touch-and-go and Ben Chilwell and Rico Lewis missing out, who do you see being the starting left-back should Shaw not be 100 per cent?

Julian C asked: I don’t understand why Tyrick Mitchell didn’t get called up. If your left-winger is coming inside, then you need a natural left-footer on that side surely?

RT said: Trippier will start on the left if Shaw isn’t available. While Southgate likes youth around the squad, he prefers experience in defence and a four of Walker, John Stones, Maguire and Trippier have played together before.

Joe Gomez will cover both flanks. Southgate could also change shape and have a full-back who drifts inside, such as Trent Alexander Arnold, so they would go to a back three in possession.

He should have had a look at Mitchell sooner, though. Lewis is also one for the future.

Tom B asked: Do Adam Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo offer enough defensively to help anchor our midfield? Does Curtis Jones compare to prime Jordan Henderson?

RT: There doesn’t appear to be an obvious second defensive midfielder, which may force Southgate to be a little braver in his midfield three.

Rice will do that role and Bellingham is a certainty to play further advanced, but Mainoo may get an opportunity in the friendlies. Gallagher has matured at Chelsea this season so he could also be an option as a hybrid between the two.

Fionn R asked: Why has Wharton been selected over Harvey Elliott, given that Elliott has now had three seasons at a Premier League level while Wharton’s been playing Premier League football for only four months?

RT said: Wharton was a big surprise. I saw him live earlier in the season, playing for Blackburn Rovers vs Leicester City. Leicester won 4-1 so it was probably not the best game to judge him on, but he was still neat and tidy. Elliott offers more going forward, and has bags of energy. Jurgen Klopp has been championing him for England.

Catherine S asked: I don’t see Gordon as being superior to our other wingers, but do you think Southgate included him to add more dynamism as besides Saka and Foden, we don’t have many quick options?

RT said: Gordon’s had a good season and is in form (until his injury) and confident. He brings something a little different too.

He is decent defensively as he works so hard and with doubts at full-back, he could help in that regard. But I don’t think he will be first choice. Foden and Saka will probably start the tournament.

Iain W asked: The squad is refreshing. For the most part, form has been prioritised over past glory. Has there ever been a time with more players in genuine contention for a place?

RT said: Southgate did stress that, Iain. He said today that he was looking at who had been in form, who was fit and ready to go. The youngsters are in for training experience but it still presents them with an opportunity to impress.

I am excited to see how Palmer does. He has been a revelation at Chelsea this season.

Zac B asked: What do you think the impact will be of so many young, new players being added to the dressing room in contrast to Southgate’s former strategy of keeping a key group of experienced players?

RT said: There is still plenty of experience in this squad. Interestingly, Southgate spoke about how they were moving away from having a leadership group because he wants more players to have the opportunity to lead and feel a part of the group.

If there is a small, vocal and dominant group it can have a detrimental impact on the rest of the squad.

The Athletic writers’ England XIs to face Serbia at Euro 2024

Rob Tanner’s XI (4-3-3): Jordan Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Rice, Bellingham, James Maddison; Saka, Kane, Foden.

Injuries have robbed Southgate of some players who would have been pushing to start the opening game against Serbia, but England still have strength in depth and their starting line-up remains one that can go deep into the tournament.

Whether they can live up to the billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites depends on keeping those who do remain fit and firing. Southgate has lost players who had great experience from past tournaments but, as his squad evolves, there are still individuals who know what it takes to win trophies and do well in tournaments at his disposal.

Jack Pitt-Brooke’s XI (4-3-2-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Rice, Gallagher, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Foden.

Most of this team is obvious. Left-back is an issue but with Shaw struggling to get fit in time, I have gone for Trippier, who Southgate has trusted there plenty of times in the past. (I would have gone for Rico Lewis but that ship has sailed now.)

Rice and Bellingham are nailed-on starters in the middle and partnering them, I went for Gallagher, who has finished the season strongly and in a deeper No 6 role. He could be important in freeing up not just Bellingham but Rice too. None of the other options there has equivalent experience. The front three picks itself and while there will be plenty of clamour for Palmer to start, for me he is still an impact substitute, at least for the first few games.

Ben Burrows’ XI: (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Gallagher, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane

The back four pretty much picks itself with Shaw’s fitness, or lack thereof, making Trippier the safer selection. Gallagher’s energy pairs well next to Rice, even if Mainoo would be an easy call too. Palmer could barely have done more to get in this team, but give Saka the nod from the start and bring Palmer on if you need to change it. I’d prefer Foden in the middle rather than wide but Bellingham needs to be as close to the goal as possible, so get him nearest to Kane.

Steve Madeley’s XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Marc Guehi, Trippier; Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Foden, Palmer; Kane

The debate over how to accommodate Bellingham and Foden is being overcomplicated in many quarters. Both are world-class No 10s but Bellingham can be a world-class No 8 too. Play him with Rice sitting deeper, and England can benefit from the strengths of both. If we assume Shaw will not be fit, at least for the opening game, Trippier is the only option at left-back while Marc Guehi is the least risky of several risky options to partner Stones in central defence. And on the back of the season he has had, Palmer has to play and that left-sided attacking berth is the only slot left for him.

Ed Mackay’s XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Rice, Mainoo; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane.

A very obvious first-choice back four picks itself; Trippier fills in with Shaw’s lack of fitness. Then slight curveball in midfield. Mainoo was impressive in England’s March friendly against Belgium and has been all season for Manchester United. His inclusion allows England to take the safety off more offensively, and means Bellingham can push into the No 10 position he has excelled in for Real Madrid. Foden gets a bit of a free role, but starts on the left as he still does for Manchester City fairly regularly. Palmer has been excellent for Chelsea, but playing him out wide is sub-optimal and there are so many cautionary England tales about forcing square pegs into round holes.

Max Mathews’ XI (4-2-3-1):Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane.

The goalkeeper and most of the back four picks itself, with Trippier (or Gomez) a short-term option at left-back if Shaw isn’t fully fit. Maybe, as a Crystal Palace fan, I’m biased, but I’ve also added Guehi, a quick, agile and intelligent defender comfortable playing as a left-sided centre-back. He is the future of England’s defence alongside Stones. But who to play alongside Rice? A double pivot — possibly with one of the exciting youngsters, Wharton or Mainoo — is tempting, but feels a bit too defensive against a stodgy Serbia side first up. So I’ve picked Alexander-Arnold, one of the most talented players in the country, who can ping passes from deep like a superstar NFL quarterback.

The front four, with Bellingham in his most dangerous position at No 10 and Foden allowed the freedom to roam from the left, picks itself.

Jordan Halford’s XI: (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Mainoo, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Kane.

Nine of the 11 are nailed on, with left-back and the holding role the two problem positions. Shaw would be the obvious choice at left-back while Chilwell’s lack of form and fitness means he hasn’t made the 33-man provisional squad. That leaves Trippier.

The holding midfield role is a dilemma given Rice’s impressive form for Arsenal slightly further forward. Mainoo would get the nod. That leaves Bellingham as the No 10 (or him and Rice as the two No 8s) meaning Foden has to play off the left, despite an incredible season inside for Manchester City with 27 goals and 11 assists in 52 games. He will need to be disciplined out of possession to ensure Trippier doesn’t get exposed at left-back.

Key dates:

• June 4: vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (friendly)
• June 7: vs Iceland (friendly)
• June 7: Final Euro 2024 squad submitted
• June 16: vs Serbia (Euro 2024 group C)
• June 20: vs Denmark (Euro 2024 group C)
• June 25: vs Slovenia (Euro 2024 group C)

(Top photos: Julian Finney; Catherine Ivill; Ryan Pierse – all Getty Images)