With another dramatic Premier League season having drawn to a close, the attention has switched to international football after Gareth Southgate named his England squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League games.
The England manager has picked West Ham's Jarrod Bowen and Leicester City's James Justin, while dropping Manchester United's Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho. The full squad for next month's Nations League games is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Pope, Ramsdale
Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Coady, Guehi, James, Justin, Maguire, Stones, Tomori, Trippier, Walker, White
Midfielders: Bellingham, Gallagher, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse
Forwards: Abraham, Bowen, Foden, Grealish, Kane, Saka, Sterling
England are expected to do well in the World Cup this November, having made it to the final of Euro 2020 last year - losing on penalties to Italy - and the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
England’s run in the 2018 World Cup enthralled the country and fans will be hoping the team can go all the way this time around. But what happened to the members of England’s 2018 squad?
Jordan Pickford
Still England’s number one, Pickford now has 43 international caps to his name.
The 28-year-old also played a prominent role in keeping his domestic side, Everton, in the Premier League after a tough relegation battle this season.
Kyle Walker
Manchester City ’s Kyle Walker remains a mainstay of the England national team, with 138 caps and three goals at international level.
His performances in Euro 2020 saw Walker included in the Team of the Tournament.
Danny Rose
Despite being included in England’s 2018 World Cup squad, Danny Rose has struggled since.
The left-back - formerly of Tottenham Hotspur - joined Watford in June 2021 on a free transfer after a frustrating loan spell at Newcastle, where opportunities were limited.
Rose also struggled to hold down a place in the Watford side, however, and fell out of favour at Vicarage Road. The Hornets have now been relegated from the Premier League.
Eric Dier
Renowned for his versatility, Eric Dier - who can play as a midfielder, centre-back or right-back - has re-established himself as a key player in the Tottenham side.
However, he missed out on a place on the England squad in March’s international friendlies, which raised questions about whether Southgate would include him for the World Cup.
John Stones
John Stones was a regular fixture in England’s run to the Euro 2020 final last year, but has had a more frustrating season for Manchester City.
Stones found his first-team opportunities limited at City, with Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte establishing themselves as Pep Guardiola’s first-choice centre-back pairing.
Harry Maguire
It’s also been a highly frustrating season for Harry Maguire, who’s been the butt of much of the criticism for Manchester United ’s disappointing campaign.
Maguire remains United’s club captain, though it remains to be seen whether new boss Erik ten Hag will let him retain the armband - and whether he’s in ten Hag’s plans at all.
Jesse Lingard
Jesse Lingard is set to leave Manchester United on a free transfer this summer, with West Ham believed to be in pole position to secure his signature.
Lingard has never been universally popular with Man Utd fans, but had a good loan spell at West Ham in the 2020-21 season and is still well regarded there.
He’ll be hoping that a return to regular first-team Premier League football will boost his chances of securing a spot in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad.
Jordan Henderson
One player who appears guaranteed a berth in the England World Cup squad is Jordan Henderson, who has had an impressive campaign for Liverpool in the Premier League.
The Reds narrowly missed out on the Premier League title to Man City, but will be hoping to put that disappointment right by beating Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
Harry Kane
With 17 Premier League goals this season, Harry Kane played a vital role in helping Tottenham secure an all-important spot in next season’s Champions League.
The 28-year-old, who’s scored 49 goals in 69 England games, was the subject of intense interest from Manchester City last summer, but ultimately stayed at Spurs.
Kane won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup, topping the scoring with six goals.
Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling has been linked with a move away from Manchester City this summer, with Arsenal and Spurs both believed to be interested in securing his signature.
Despite adding another Premier League winner’s medal to his collection, Sterling is reported to be looking for a more regular starting berth in club football.
Jamie Vardy
Veteran striker Jamie Vardy remains a key player for Leicester City, bagging 15 goals in this season’s Premier League.
But the 35-year-old told The Guardian in 2018 that he was stepping back from international duties, saying he wanted to make way for younger players.
Vardy did not feature in England’s Euro 2020 squad, despite attempts to coax him out of retirement for the tournament.
Kieran Trippier
After a successful spell at Atletico Madrid, Kieran Trippier returned to English football by joining Newcastle United in January this year.
Trippier will be hoping that returning to England will boost his chances of being included in the World Cup squad for Qatar.
Jack Butland
Butland joined Crystal Palace in October 2020, but has struggled to displace Vicente Guaita as the Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper.
He was not included in the England squad for Euro 2020, with Manchester United's Dean Henderson and Aaron Ramsdale - now Arsenal’s first choice - named ahead of him.
Danny Welbeck
Former Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck has re-established himself at Brighton and Hove Albion under Graham Potter, after a frustrating spell at Watford.
The 31-year-old, also formerly of Arsenal, was omitted from the England squad for Euro 2020 by Gareth Southgate.
Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill will leave AFC Bournemouth this summer when his contract expires. He previously retired from international football in 2018.
The 37-year-old was displaced in the Bournemouth side by Nathaniel Phillips, who was brought in on loan from Liverpool in January.
Phil Jones
Another player expected to be looking for a new club this summer is Phil Jones, who has endured a torrid time at Manchester United in recent seasons.
Jones’ time at the Old Trafford club has been marred by a succession of injuries. The 30-year-old, who has 27 England caps, has also spoken of his mental health struggles.
Fabian Delph
Midfielder Fabian Delph has been a regular in the Everton side this season, helping the Goodison Park club retain their Premier League status.
However, since being named in England’s 2018 World Cup squad, Delph has fallen out of favour at international level. He was not included in the Euro 2020 squad.
Ashley Young
Ashley Young has been plying his trade at Aston Villa, having returned to Villa Park from Inter Milan in 2021, but his contract expires this summer.
The former Manchester United man has not featured for England since 2018. He has 39 caps and seven goals to his name at international level.
Marcus Rashford
While Marcus Rashford has earned plaudits for his work off the pitch in recent years - campaigning against child hunger - he has struggled for form on it.
The 24-year-old, who has scored 12 goals in 46 games for England, has had a hard time finding both form and fitness. Reports suggest he could leave Old Trafford this summer.
Dele Alli
Dele Alli joined Everton on loan in the January transfer window this year, after a long period struggling to regain the form he showed in his earlier years at Tottenham.
Alli put in an impressive performance from the substitutes’ bench in the 3-2 win against Crystal Palace, which saw the Toffees beat the drop and secure their top-flight spot.
It is unclear, however, whether manager Frank Lampard will keep Alli at Goodison Park next season.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek hasn’t featured for England since 2018, with his opportunities limited by the emergence of Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka.
Loftus-Cheek returned to Stamford Bridge this season after a loan spell at Fulham, becoming a more consistent performer under manager Thomas Tuchel.
The 26-year-old will be hoping that his more regular performances in the Premier League will have put him in contention for an England squad berth.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold looks likely to feature in England’s World Cup squad, having been a mainstay of the Anfield club’s Premier League campaign.
But the 23-year-old has so far struggled to establish himself as an England starter. He was ruled out of Euro 2020 after sustaining a thigh strain in the run-up to the tournament.
Nick Pope
Despite Burnley ’s relegation to the EFL Championship, goalkeeper Nick Pope has been widely acclaimed for his performances between the sticks for the club.
So much so, in fact, that the 30-year-old has been linked with a move to either West Ham United or Fulham.
If they can’t hang on to him, it seems Burnley are at least determined to drive a hard bargain. The Turf Moor club have reportedly slapped a £40 million price tag on their number one.
