England face Czech Republic in their first Euro 2020 qualifier at Wembley Stadium on Friday night.
Gareth Southgate has been forced into a number of changes from his original squad with Luke Shaw the latest to pull out with injury. Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi has been the chief beneficiary and he couldn’t be happier after being told the news by Under-21s boss Aidy Boothroyd on Monday.
“I thought the manager was joking,” he said. I was shocked and then when I heard that I actually had to go over, I couldn’t believe it. I was delighted.
“It’s a dream come true. Now I’ve got to work hard, enjoy every moment and keep working to just hopefully make an impact when I get the opportunity.
“Everybody here is very humble and they’re very nice. They make sure you’re comfortable, no one has an ego here so hopefully I get to know more of the boys here.”
1/24 Who will make it into England’s squad for Qatar 2022?
The next World Cup is less than four years away and while we don’t yet know how many teams will be there, or if England will be either, let’s take a look who could be pulling on the Three Lions in Qatar
Getty Images
2/24 Jordan Pickford (Goalkeeper, Everton)
The No 1 now and frontrunner for 2022 has time on his side and is the man in possession
REUTERS
3/24 Jack Butland (Goalkeeper, Jack Butland)
In and out the squad Butland remains one of the better keepers in this country and will only be 30 come 2022
Action Images
4/24 Angus Gunn (Goalkeeper, Southampton)
The young wild card option is always hotly-contested but the Saints shotstopper looks best placed to seize a spot on the plane
Action Images via Reuters
5/24 Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Right-back, Crystal Palace)
The 21-year-old has exploded on to the scene and should he keep up that trajectory looks a shoe-in for a squad place if not a starting one
Action Images via Reuters
6/24 Joe Gomez (Centre-back, Liverpool)
If he keeps free of injury the improving Liverpool star could be England’s leading defender come Qatar
Getty Images
7/24 Harry Maguire (Centre-back, Leicester)
The Fixes star man hasn’t shown any regression since Russia and will be a lock to be a key piece again
Action Images via Reuters
8/24 John Stones (Centre-back, Manchester City)
Playing in a record-breaking team under a record-breaking coach is doing him no harm and he will be involved for sure
Getty Images
9/24 Eric Dier (Centre-back, Tottenham)
Dier’s versatility will help his chances and in this squad he could be the fourth centre-back or a back-up holding midfielder
Getty Images
10/24 Ben Chilwell (Left-back, Leicester)
The 22-year-old is one of the Premier League’s rising stars and will be looking to make the England left-back shirt his own over the next couple of years
Getty Images
11/24 Luke Shaw (Left-back, Manchester United)
With his injury problems seemingly behind him Shaw is an almost certainty to be included
Action Images via Reuters
12/24 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Centre midfield, Liverpool)
Is there anything he can’t do? A star at right-back a shift into the holding role could suit both him and England as Southgate looks to evolve his side
Getty Images
13/24 Declan Rice (Centre midfield, West Ham)
Now finally qualified Rice will look to cement a place not only in the squad but in the first-choice XI as perhaps the best pure holding midfield player in the country
REUTERS
14/24 Harry Winks (Centre midfield, Tottenham)
With a run of games Winks is showing the class that he has always shown in flashes. More games at the top level can only see his stock rise
AFP/Getty Images
15/24 Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Centre midfield, Chelsea)
A Southgate favourite a fit and firing Loftus-Cheek could well be starting come 2022. Unfortunately that has long been an issue for the Chelsea man. If he’s healthy, he’s in
REUTERS
16/24 Phil Foden (Centre midfield, Manchester City)
The City starlet was the star of the World Cup-winning U17s side and has more than enough quality to finally break through over the next three years
AFP/Getty Images
17/24 Dele Alli (Centre midfield, Tottenham)
Still one of the stars of this side Alli promises to be an even bigger difference-maker come 2022 when he will be firmly in his prime
AFP/Getty Images
18/24 James Maddison (Centre midfield, Leicester)
Perhaps the best out and out No 10 England has there surely has to be place in the 23 for one of the most creative players around
Getty Images
19/24 Jadon Sancho (Winger, Borussia Dortmund)
Already a star the sky is the limit for Sancho with a consistent starting spot with his country well within his grasp
EPA
20/24 Callum Hudson-Odoi (Winger, Chelsea)
The Chelsea man (for now) has everything and with more games should come the case for him to be a fixture in this squad for years to come. Whether they come in England or elsewhere remains to be seen
AFP/Getty Images
21/24 Raheem Sterling (Winger, Manchester City)
Flourishing under Guardiola’s guidance Sterling has gone from promising player to world-class star. 2022 could be his stage to go even further
Action Images via Reuters
22/24 Jesse Lingard (Winger, Manchester United)
The midfielder-cum-forward-cum-anything you need him to be has never let anyone down and while there are perhaps more talented players available there is no one Southgate trusts more
AFP/Getty Images
23/24 Harry Kane (Striker, Tottenham)
The captain starred in Russia picking up the Golden Boot and will again be the man to lead the line in Qatar
Getty Images
24/24 Marcus Rashford (Striker, Manchester United)
Still only 21 Rashford has potential to grow from one of the outstanding young players in the country to being one of the most feared in world football come 2022
EPA
1/24 Who will make it into England’s squad for Qatar 2022?
The next World Cup is less than four years away and while we don’t yet know how many teams will be there, or if England will be either, let’s take a look who could be pulling on the Three Lions in Qatar
Getty Images
2/24 Jordan Pickford (Goalkeeper, Everton)
The No 1 now and frontrunner for 2022 has time on his side and is the man in possession
REUTERS
3/24 Jack Butland (Goalkeeper, Jack Butland)
In and out the squad Butland remains one of the better keepers in this country and will only be 30 come 2022
Action Images
4/24 Angus Gunn (Goalkeeper, Southampton)
The young wild card option is always hotly-contested but the Saints shotstopper looks best placed to seize a spot on the plane
Action Images via Reuters
5/24 Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Right-back, Crystal Palace)
The 21-year-old has exploded on to the scene and should he keep up that trajectory looks a shoe-in for a squad place if not a starting one
Action Images via Reuters
6/24 Joe Gomez (Centre-back, Liverpool)
If he keeps free of injury the improving Liverpool star could be England’s leading defender come Qatar
Getty Images
7/24 Harry Maguire (Centre-back, Leicester)
The Fixes star man hasn’t shown any regression since Russia and will be a lock to be a key piece again
Action Images via Reuters
8/24 John Stones (Centre-back, Manchester City)
Playing in a record-breaking team under a record-breaking coach is doing him no harm and he will be involved for sure
Getty Images
9/24 Eric Dier (Centre-back, Tottenham)
Dier’s versatility will help his chances and in this squad he could be the fourth centre-back or a back-up holding midfielder
Getty Images
10/24 Ben Chilwell (Left-back, Leicester)
The 22-year-old is one of the Premier League’s rising stars and will be looking to make the England left-back shirt his own over the next couple of years
Getty Images
11/24 Luke Shaw (Left-back, Manchester United)
With his injury problems seemingly behind him Shaw is an almost certainty to be included
Action Images via Reuters
12/24 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Centre midfield, Liverpool)
Is there anything he can’t do? A star at right-back a shift into the holding role could suit both him and England as Southgate looks to evolve his side
Getty Images
13/24 Declan Rice (Centre midfield, West Ham)
Now finally qualified Rice will look to cement a place not only in the squad but in the first-choice XI as perhaps the best pure holding midfield player in the country
REUTERS
14/24 Harry Winks (Centre midfield, Tottenham)
With a run of games Winks is showing the class that he has always shown in flashes. More games at the top level can only see his stock rise
AFP/Getty Images
15/24 Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Centre midfield, Chelsea)
A Southgate favourite a fit and firing Loftus-Cheek could well be starting come 2022. Unfortunately that has long been an issue for the Chelsea man. If he’s healthy, he’s in
REUTERS
16/24 Phil Foden (Centre midfield, Manchester City)
The City starlet was the star of the World Cup-winning U17s side and has more than enough quality to finally break through over the next three years
AFP/Getty Images
17/24 Dele Alli (Centre midfield, Tottenham)
Still one of the stars of this side Alli promises to be an even bigger difference-maker come 2022 when he will be firmly in his prime
AFP/Getty Images
18/24 James Maddison (Centre midfield, Leicester)
Perhaps the best out and out No 10 England has there surely has to be place in the 23 for one of the most creative players around
Getty Images
19/24 Jadon Sancho (Winger, Borussia Dortmund)
Already a star the sky is the limit for Sancho with a consistent starting spot with his country well within his grasp
EPA
20/24 Callum Hudson-Odoi (Winger, Chelsea)
The Chelsea man (for now) has everything and with more games should come the case for him to be a fixture in this squad for years to come. Whether they come in England or elsewhere remains to be seen
AFP/Getty Images
21/24 Raheem Sterling (Winger, Manchester City)
Flourishing under Guardiola’s guidance Sterling has gone from promising player to world-class star. 2022 could be his stage to go even further
Action Images via Reuters
22/24 Jesse Lingard (Winger, Manchester United)
The midfielder-cum-forward-cum-anything you need him to be has never let anyone down and while there are perhaps more talented players available there is no one Southgate trusts more
AFP/Getty Images
23/24 Harry Kane (Striker, Tottenham)
The captain starred in Russia picking up the Golden Boot and will again be the man to lead the line in Qatar
Getty Images
24/24 Marcus Rashford (Striker, Manchester United)
Still only 21 Rashford has potential to grow from one of the outstanding young players in the country to being one of the most feared in world football come 2022
EPA
Here’s everything you need to know:
Who has Gareth Southgate picked?
Here is the squad in full
Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton, Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Chilwell, Michael Keane, Harry Maguire, Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, James Tarkowski
Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse
Forwards: Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Callum Wilson, Callum Hudson-Odoi
Who’s going to play?
Southgate could spring a surprise or two but is likely to go with his strongest-possible team:
Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Walker, Keane, Maguire, Rose, Alli, Dier, Sterling, Rashford, Kane
Where can I watch England vs Czech Republic?
The game will be televised on ITV.
When does it start?
The game kicks off at 19:45 on Friday 22nd March.
Can I still get tickets?
The game is sold out. But you will still be able to follow the game with The Independent‘s live blog.
Form guide
England: WDWWW
Czech Republic: WLWLW
Odds
England: 1/5
Draw: 7/2
Czech Republic: 17/2
Who’s going to win?
England 2-0 Czech Republic
