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England: What is Gareth Southgate's best XI? Select yours

By Phil McNultyChief football writer

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments125

England XI

The England national side remains unbeaten in World Cup qualification - but is Gareth Southgate any nearer to knowing his best XI?

He was without star striker Harry Kane, vice-captain Jordan Henderson and defender Gary Cahill against Lithuania on Sunday, but England still managed a comfortable 2-0 win over their Group F rivals.

Their replacements might have given the England manager more food for thought. Scotland are up next for England, in June.

Chief football writer Phil McNulty has selected what he believes is Southgate's best starting XI, explaining his choices below.

Why don't you pick your XI with our selector tool?

My England starting XI

Choose who you would pick in the England starting XI in Russia - and then share it with your friends using our team selector.

Phil McNulty's England XI

Joe Hart
Manchester City's Joe Hart - currently on loan at Torino - has been in two World Cup squads

Joe Hart - Manchester City (goalkeeper)

Still England's undisputed number one but the current lack of serious competition could soon be solved by the return to fitness of Stoke City's Jack Butland and the continued development of Sunderland's Jordan Pickford.

Kyle Walker - Tottenham (right-back)

Has seen off competition from Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne for now and is maturing rapidly as an international right-back.

John Stones - Manchester City (centre-back)

He may not have developed as quickly as some might have hoped under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but still has huge potential and will be a cornerstone of England's defence for years.

Gary Cahill - Chelsea (centre-back)

Experience and the streetwise approach gained from playing in an outstanding Chelsea side under Antonio Conte keeps him in place for now but there is a growing threat from Burnley's Michael Keane, and Chris Smalling will always be fighting for a place.

Danny Rose
Injured Danny Rose did not feature in the friendly defeat against Germany nor the win over Lithuania

Danny Rose - Tottenham (left-back)

Ryan Bertrand has done himself no harm as a stand-in with Rose injured, but the Spurs defender gets the nod.

Eric Dier - Tottenham (holding midfielder)

Establishing himself as a reliable midfield anchor and fast-becoming a fixture in the side.

Jordan Henderson - Liverpool (central midfielder)

Henderson has developed into an industrious and influential player whose experience will be vital as England move towards Russia in 2018. The Liverpool captaincy has given him an extra layer of authority. He is a modern midfield player but should contribute more goals.

Adam Lallana - Liverpool (attacking midfielder)

Lallana is another who is established on the team-sheet and who has made such great strides under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Now looks right at home with England, with the sort of energy and creation manager Gareth Southgate wants.

Raheem Sterling - Manchester City (attacking midfielder)

Sterling is yet to become the player everyone thought he would become when he forced his way into the England team but definite signs of progress under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and still only 23.

Dele Alli - Tottenham (attacking midfielder)

A world-class player in the making who is not fazed by any opposition. He could be the player who brings Wayne Rooney's England career to a close and he currently keeps Everton's Ross Barkley out of the side. He would have licence to roam and get in behind Kane, while Lallana and Sterling provide width.

Harry Kane - Tottenham (striker)

Natural goalscorer, mature individual and a potential future England captain. Has had a dry spell with England but his undoubted class makes him an obvious choice as the main marksman of the next generation.

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125 comments

  • Comment posted by Kanter, at 22:15 26 Mar 2017

    It's a bit silly when you try to select a back 3 formation but then it doesn't let you choose the full backs as wingbacks

  • Comment posted by Yeahbaby, at 07:57 27 Mar 2017

    If Jordan Henderson's 'experience' is going to be vital in Russia then it is early bath time again. He has only ever experienced failure. And he is also not very good at football, only ok

  • Comment posted by D1679108153172, at 23:40 26 Mar 2017

    Sorry.. but I just don't get the hype with John Stones... first and foremost a top class defender needs to defend... in the first half tonight he had a chance to play a ball out to the wing but delayed it to try and take on the striker... which he did but then played the ball he should've played in the first place... becoming 1st choice purely on domestic team he plays for... not performances.

  • Comment posted by Jay74, at 14:52 27 Mar 2017

    We think England have problems, what about Holland? They are in a right mess.

    I see that Danny Blind has been sacked, although to be honest, the writing was on the wall as soon as he started selecting his son Daley for squad.

    It was like the Blind leading the Blind.

    Drum Roll. Cymbal.

    I am here all week.

  • Comment posted by hakuna_matata, at 09:45 27 Mar 2017

    If have Keane in Defence ahead of both Cahill and Stones. Keane did a fantastic job in both game and looked composed. Stones is prone to mistakes. So Keane definitely deserves his place alongside Cahill.

  • Comment posted by Emile Heskey for England Captain, at 11:32 27 Mar 2017

    We definitely need to play with wing backs. Kyle Walker is one of our best attacking threats and is probably a better winger than our actual wingers.

    I'd bring Rooney along in the squad, his experience would be good in the dressing room - but not the starting XI.

    I'd also bring along Carrick. Against the bigger teams he'll be very useful next to Dier in CM.

    Henderson can stay at home.

  • Comment posted by Matt1982, at 22:17 26 Mar 2017

    If you've got John Stones at the back you're always gonna have problems

  • Comment posted by Justanopinion, at 17:17 27 Mar 2017

    Yet you wasted time saying it was a waste of time which seems to me to be even more of a waste of time and now you've wasted my time telling you that you've wasted your time saying this article was a waste of time. What a big waste of time...

    ----------
    68. PragueImp

    Another waste of time and space 'pick your best xyz' article.

  • Comment posted by User0249812757, at 16:07 27 Mar 2017

    Henderson?

    Is he still playing? I thought he retired after the operation to move one off his left feet was unsuccessful

  • Comment posted by On the Contrary, at 22:15 26 Mar 2017

    Yep seems about right to me. Need to have options on the bench for a second striker. In time that will be Rashford on current showing. Also think Barkley is an option to come in for Alli.

  • Comment posted by Tom 1988, at 10:11 27 Mar 2017

    Jordan henderson is a backward step we haven't missed him and his very very limited talent in the last two games. But land over Hart once he's match fit again and Michael keane has to start over cahill who is made to look good in an outstanding cfc team. Stones is too error prone so smalling would get in over him too.
    Whoever we pick I'm sure the Germans etc are not shaking in fear😂 #notgonnawin

  • Comment posted by Spurtle, at 14:31 27 Mar 2017

    Sterling is very overrated to me. He gets by with flashes of good play but a lot of the time he frustrates by being wasteful on the ball and in front of goal. Rarely turns up for the big games either. He has twice the ability of Andros Townsend yet Townsend tends to show him and Walcott up at international level.

  • Comment posted by Jay74, at 14:57 27 Mar 2017

    A pretty good indicator of the apathy around the England national team is that this HYS has been open since 9pm last night and yet there are only 60 posts.

    My pub team would have generated at least 100.

  • Comment posted by User0249812757, at 15:12 28 Mar 2017

    Raheem Sterling - definite signs of progress under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola

    Really?

    1 step forward and then 1 back more like

    ManC are worse off than this time last year (had a cup in the bag and still in CL)

    Their only hope is the FA cup

    Guardiola already planning his summer holidays, then he'll be on to his Agent to get a move to PSG (French version of ManC)

  • Comment posted by U16654406, at 13:15 28 Mar 2017

    Sterling,dump the dude,the only thing sterling is interested in is pounds sterling.

  • Comment posted by Dan Eade, at 22:55 26 Mar 2017

    I'd maybe remove Stones and Sterling, and replace with Keane and The Ox/Antonio, to sure-up the back and provide another goal-scoring threat respectively.

    The only other contentious position is the goalkeeper, given you could make a solid case for all of the options available (though I'd choose Butland as he is usually the most reliable when fit).

    Otherwise, worryingly little competition.

  • Comment posted by User0249812757, at 12:38 28 Mar 2017

    If you play with wing backs there's no need for a winger that can't pas, cross or shoot

    So sterling is only any use if the tactic is run into the area and fall to the ground

    Better off playing somebody with ability than sterling

  • Comment posted by Eddie, at 22:19 26 Mar 2017

    Interesting of 'on the contrary' to pick Barkley ahead of Alli. I think that I would replace the 'Ox'

  • Comment posted by snookerboy80, at 13:09 27 Mar 2017

    Fully agree with @42 BuffaloPhil. Disappointed that Sunderland's Jordan Pickford wasn't an option for GK too, England would be better applying the Chelsea/Spurs formation and finding the players to that fit. It's a team game not a best XI.

  • Comment posted by Alfred Orme, at 14:37 27 Mar 2017

    Sterling is fast becoming the John Barnes of the current era. Barnes gained over 80 caps based on one brilliant performance. Sterling gets picked on potential and not actual talent. Plenty of better players out there.

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