It's the question on everyone's lips: What is Gareth Southgate's best starting XI as England boss?
The debate has gone up a notch since the three Lions were beaten 1-0 by Italy last Friday; a result that confirmed their relegation from their Nations League top-tier group. Now Southgate turns his attention to their final World Cup warm-up match against Germany tonight.
So, will the boss experiment with a new formation? Does he even know his best starting XI? And, more importantly, what is his best line-up? Our Mirror Football team give their thoughts on their best team for the opening game against Iran.
Andy Dunn
It riles so many pundits and fans but Southgate’s conservative approach has taken England to the semi-finals of a World Cup and a final of a European Championship. But for the group stages of Qatar 2022, he can surely let the handbrake off.
Let’s go 4-3-3, for a start. Jordan Pickford is a shoo-in and, in the great right-back debate, I’m going for Kieran Trippier. John Stones and the in-form Eric Dier get the nod in the middle of defence with Ben Chilwell an adventurous choice on the left.
Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham pick themselves and while he does not seem to be in the greatest club form, Mason Mount’s industry and creativity gets him a slot. Phil Foden, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling will click as a front three - it’s just a matter of time.
(4-3-3): Pickford, Trippier, Dier, Stones, Chilwell; Rice, Bellingham, Mount; Foden, Kane, Sterling
John Cross
This is who I would pick, not who I think Southgate would pick because he’s embedded into the back-three system which I think is ugly and too defensive.
Go with the four, get more midfielders in, get more creativity and that has to start with Trent Alexander-Arnold. Yes, he’s got defensive frailties but he’s got such an attacking, creative threat.
Eric Dier and John Stones are the best centre-halves on form as Harry Maguire is not playing and Trippier at left back is because Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell are not playing. Jude Bellingham is the future, Mason Mount has huge talent plus a great work ethic. Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane are untouchable and Foden has been superb this season.
I feel this team is cavalier, attacking but it plays to England’s strengths. And if England play to their strengths then they can still enjoy a good World Cup.
(4-3-3): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Dier, Trippier; Rice, Bellingham, Mount; Sterling, Foden, Kane
Mike Walters
There are marked differences between England's best XI and the starting line-up Southgate is likely to choose against Iran on November 21. Southgate has become a hostage to his own loyalty, standing by players who can't get a game for their clubs.
On that basis, Maguire looks certain to start the tournament, despite his brittle form for Manchester United, and I expect Southgate to keep picking Sterling – despite his declining influence since the Euros last year.
There is no time left to experiment with systems, personnel or hunches, so don't expect a wild card to emerge from the pack like Paul Gascoigne in 1990. And for a team supposedly overflowing with creativity and flair in 2021, it is a worry that the position where England are best-stocked is at right-back, where Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier are all viable alternatives.
But Southgate isn't going to pick a squad with four right-backs... is he?
My best XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Maguire, Stones, Chilwell; Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Foden, Grealish; Kane.
For more width: (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Maguire, Dier, Stones; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Bellingham, Chilwell; Foden, Grealish; Kane.
For more pace up front: (4-4-1-1): Pickford; James, Maguire, Stones, Chilwell; Saka, Rice, Bellingham, Foden; Kane; Rashford.
See you at the ticker-tape parade in London in December. But that's enough about the darts at Ally Pally.
James Nursey
Gareth Southgate must ditch his persistence with 3-4-3 which has clearly served its purpose as the team's poor form underlines. Many of the top Premier League teams like Manchester City are playing 4-3-3 these days and it is time to be bold ahead of the World Cup.
My preference would be a 4-2-3-1 , which Arsenal have used to good effect recently, to utilise our clutch of extremely talented attacking options behind captain Harry Kane.
I still rue how we had Italy trailing 1-0 at Wembley on the backfoot in the Euro 2020 final before the Italians clawed their back into the game and denied England a historic win. So let’s get back to a two-man central defence to give us more men in midfield to help us control possession better.
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Tomori, Chilwell; Bellingham, Rice; Foden, Grealish, Sterling; Kane
David Anderson
Given England’s recent woeful form, I have gone with my least worst rather than strongest XI. It is based on players who are playing regularly and well for their clubs, so that means no Shaw and Maguire, but in comes Jadon Sancho.
Centre-half is a real issue because there are no stand-out players, but Eric Dier gets my nod because of his renaissance under Antonio Conte, while John Stones is a solid performer.
Despite his poor domestic form, I’ve gone with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, just because someone with his passing ability needs to play. I’ve gone with Raheem Sterling on the left and he has been in good form since joining Chelsea.
I think Jordan Pickford, provided he is fully fit, Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice pick themselves.
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Dier, Chilwell; Bellingham, Rice; Sancho, Foden, Sterling; Kane
Jeremy Cross
Southgate needs to ditch the three-at-the-back plan and revert to a back four, with two holding midfielders for protection ahead of what we hope will be some crucial knockout games against leading nations in the World Cup.
Eric Dier has done enough to replace Harry Maguire, while Trent Alexander-Arnold's sumptuous right foot needs exploiting in an advanced role.
Phil Foden can pull the strings in the No.10 position and Harry Kane is more than capable of operating as the lone striker.
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Dier, Trippier; Bellingham, Rice; Alexander-Arnold, Foden, Saka; Kane
Thomas Bristow
England's line-up changes based on formation. If you play three at the back, Dier and Alexander-Arnold come in. But with that limits a certain amount of attacking potency. A 4-3-3, as adopted in the Euros last summer, brings in a better attack.
James is a more solid option at right-back in a four-man defence and a trio of Rice, Bellingham and Foden in midfield is, dare I say it, quite exciting.
Sterling has shown good form at Chelsea but Saka's displays this season should be rewarded with a start on the right flank. And, even though he's got work to do to get into Southgate's plans, Sancho is a superb option on the left.
Kane, of course, keeps his place in attack and the weight of England's hopes with him.
(4-3-3): Pickford; James, Tomori, Stones, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Foden; Saka, Kane, Sancho
Ben Husband
The first issue is whether to ditch the back-three. With the strength of this team in forward areas, I'd say yes. Kyle Walker offers the most defensively to start at right back, with Kieran Trippier on the opposite flank. John Stones is a definite starter and on form alone, Eric Dier starts next to him.
In midfield, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham offer the kind of one-two punch every nation would take. Ahead of them, Phil Foden can link the midfield and a front three which is built around Kane.
England need to get the best out of their captain and that seems to come when there are players running off him. To that end, Sterling and Rashford start either side, with plenty of options to come off the bench.
(4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Dier, Tripper; Bellingham, Rice, Foden; Sterling, Kane, Rashford
Nathan Ridley
With only 90 minutes of competitive football to go before England face Iran in Doha, there's no time for Southgate to experiment. Question his in-game decisions all you like, but the Three Lions boss has consistently been vindicated in his starting selections throughout the two major tournaments which he's taken charge of.
Therefore, while it may seem conservative, Southgate should stick with his tentpole players and three-at-the-back system to ensure that England make it out of the group stage with a solid foundation - even it would be exciting to see the in-form Fikayo Tomori or a wildcard like Ivan Toney on the team sheet.
Opposition teams will smell blood after this year's Nations League fiasco and it's naive to expect that the Three Lions' talented attackers will all-of-a-sudden click when the pressure is on.
Stopping the rot should be priority number one.
(3-4-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; James, Rice, Bellingham, Trippier; Saka, Kane, Sterling
Tom Victor
Southgate hasn’t been helped by recent results, but the lack of game time in the league for certain players only adds to his problems going into the World Cup.
The conservatism of the manager is no secret, and he appears to still believe it's important to protect his defence through a safety-in-numbers approach. With the key attacking partnerships falling flat, though, it might be time for a change.
With the most viable left-back options either out of favour or out of form for their clubs, it's time to abandon the back five - Kieran Trippier can do a job on the left of a four but is not a left wing-back by anyone's definition.
Losing one defensive spot means Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka, two of the form players, can feature in positions more in line with their club roles rather than being forced into the roles they occupied against Italy, meaning there are more avenues for attack beyond the tried and tested Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling link-up.
(4-3-3): Pickford; James, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Rice, Henderson, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Sterling
Darren Wells
Given Southgate is unlikely to veer away from his 5-2-3 system so close to the World Cup, there isn't much I'd change about his current lineup.
Regardless of who you think is the better right-back, Alexander-Arnold simply doesn't get in this team at present, therefore James keeps his place with Walker, Stones and Maguire as the back three. Shaw was solid at Euro 2020 and remains arguably our best option on the left. I'd then select the same front five of Rice, Bellingham, Foden, Sterling and Kane.
Were Southgate to revert to a back four like we've seen previously, James could make way for Saka to come in on the right.
Grealish still hasn't done enough to warrant a starting berth, but England can build their team around Foden in an advanced central midfield role to pull the strings behind Kane.
Southgate's best XI (5-2-3): Pickford; James, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice; Foden, Sterling, Kane
Ideal best XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice, Foden; Saka, Sterling, Kane
Josh O'Brien
Gareth Southgate's unwavering loyalty to players who have helped guide England to the latter stages of the last two major tournaments means we are likely to see many of the usual suspects line up against Iran.
The Three Lions boss is one of the few public supporters Harry Maguire has left, which in turn means the much-maligned centre-back is almost certain to feature - but that doesn't mean he should.
Southgate has a plethora of young, technically-astute talent at his disposal at both ends of the pitch and it is about time he started using it - here's how England SHOULD take to the pitch on November 21 for their World Cup opener...
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Dier, Stones, Chilwell; Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Foden, Grealish; Kane
