It's finally here. England's 2022 World Cup campaign gets under way today and the Three Lions find themselves as one of the favourites to lift the famous trophy.
Gareth Southgate's side will meet former Manchester United assistant Carlos Quieroz's Iran in Doha at 1pm today as they look to get off to the perfect start in Group B. The game is the first of three games they will play, with USA (Friday, November 25) and Wales (Tuesday, November 29) following today's clash.
Talk amongst supporters over who should start, what formation should be used and who will steer the country to glory has intensified since the Premier League came to a halt last weekend. However, the final decision lies with Southgate and his track record in his previous two major tournaments warrants complete trust in his squad selection.
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After forcing himself as the country's number one, Jordan Pickford is expected to continue as Southgate's preferred man in between the sticks after playing every minute of the 2018 World Cup and 2020 European Championships. Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope remain in reserve for now, with both very capable to fill in for the Everton man should they be required.
The wing-back positions have been key areas for Southgate in previous tournaments and it's expected that the tradition remains in Qatar. It's likely that Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw will take up the right-back and left-back slot of a back four alongside Harry Maguire and John Stones, with all four familiar with each other following the success last summer in the Euros.
Further up the field in midfield, Southgate possesses an array of talent and the area of the field provides possibly the toughest decision to make. Declan Rice is perfectly suited to sit in a deep role just in front of the back four with two more offensive players ahead of him to progress the ball further. Jude Bellingham, who has scored nine goals for Borussia Dortmund this season, is almost certain to be rewarded for his form in Germany and may partner Mason Mount to complete the midfield trio.
We already know that Harry Kane will lead the line. The skipper has scored six World Cup goals for the Three Lions and will be hoping to overtake Gary Lineker (10 goals) as England's all-time goalscorer in the tournament. But the big question mark in attack is who will flank the Tottenham striker?
Reports have stated that Arsenal star Bukayo Saka will be rewarded for his form for Mikel Arteta's side to start on the right whilst Raheem Sterling is a perfect candidate on the left. Like the Euros in 2020, many will be calling for Sterling to be dropped after his club form, but the Chelsea forward has remained reliable for his country, with vital goals last summer against Croatia, Czech Republic and Germany.
Predicted England XI: Pickford; Tripper, Maguire, Stones, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Mount; Saka, Sterling, Kane.
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