The arrival of James Maddison is the big news of the 26 players selected this Thursday by coach Gareth Southgate for the 2022 World Cup, with the Leicester footballer returning to the England team three years later.
The Foxes player has only one cap, as a substitute to be used in qualifying for Euro 2020, in a match against Montenegro, in November 2019.
The current season, with six goals and four assists, saw his call-up to the England side, who also brought in Manchester City defender Kyle Walker and Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips after an injury.
In a list that will see Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling take part in the third World Cup of their careers, Chelsea’s big victims Reece James and Ben Chilwell, both injured. Center Tomori (AC MIlan) and striker Abraham (AS Roma) were left out by choice.
Harry Maguire, the Manchester United centre-back who has regularly substituted at his club and has been criticized for his performances, is also among the 26 called up.
In justifying the choices, with Jude Bellingham (Dortmund) being the only player outside England, the coach said that instead of thinking in individual terms, he tried to favor the group issue, as he understands that this is the most important.
“We wanted to make sure we had the right balance in the squad. At this age and today, I think the group is the most important. We want to have different options, for different playing times and phases during the tournament.”rightly Southgate.
In the 26 chosen, also note the expected inclusion of Eric Dier, one of Tottenham’s strong names, who has 47 appearances on the national team and who graduated from Sporting, a team for which he still played on the main team in 2012/13 and 2013/14.
England are part of Group B of the 2022 World Cup, whose finals will take place between November 20 and December 18, making their debut against Iran on November 21 and then against the United States on 25 and Wales on 29.
– Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle) and Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).
– Defense: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Coady (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City) and Ben White (Arsenal).
– Average: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund, Ale), Connor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City) and Declan Rice (West Ham).
– AdvancedPhil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), James Maddison (Leicester), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea) and Callum Wilson (Newcastle) ) ).
Source: DN
