Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dele Alli has missed out on an England squad recall despite finding improved form for Tottenham of late.
Gareth Southgate has a variety of options to choose from in the attacking areas, and Alli’s injury issues over the summer, combined with a slow start to the season, have seen him overlooked once more.
The 23-year-old was omitted from the national team squads in September and October too, with his last call-up being for the Nations League semi-finals and third-place games, back at the end of last season.
After featuring infrequently at club level at the beginning of this campaign, he has won a spot back in the team and scored against Watford and Everton in the Premier League over the last couple of weeks.
England boss Southgate noted Alli’s improvement, but pointed to the strength in depth at his disposal in that area of the pitch and explained how the squad is selected based on consistency and productivity.
1/31 How far will England go?
We size up the qualifying candidates for the European Championships so far.
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2/31 30. Kosovo
If they manage to fall short of the Czechs in Group A, then Kosovo should make the cut through the play-offs. A potential surprise package in the making.
Action Images via Reuters
3/31 29. Albania
A team with great spirit who, if they make it, can bless the Euros with impressive performances but will be outclassed by the bigger sides.
REUTERS
4/31 28. Northern Ireland
After matching Germany in qualification, they are on route to being the underdogs of 2020 and you can expect them to take the opportunity to impress with both hands.
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5/31 27. Finland
Everyone wants to see Teemu Pukki in the finals. It would be a great accolade for a country with the population of only five million people.
AFP/Getty Images
6/31 26. Norway
They are challenging to accompany Spain out of Group F, but it doesn’t look likely their claim to be included in the finals will be taken seriously. The play-offs are their only hope.
Getty Images
7/31 25. Iceland
Who doesn’t want the famous clap at Euro 2020? They are still defeating the odds, and could sneak their way into 2020 and bring their undying spirit with them.
REUTERS
8/31 24. Hungary
Another team on the periphery of qualification. Just making the cut would be a huge achievement.
REUTERS
9/31 23. Czech Republic
They are favourites to accompany England out of Group A, but their defensive woes could be exploited if they make it to the finals.
REUTERS
10/31 22. Bosnia & Herzegovina
Having never qualified for the Euros, it would be a recreation of the 2014 World Cup if they do end up qualifying. The odds are stacked against them, but they have a solid chance through the play-offs.
Getty
11/31 21. Slovenia
If they scrape into the finals, it is clear it would only be a result of fortuitously being placed in Group G in qualifying.
AFP/Getty Images
12/31 20. Republic of Ireland
Martin O’Neil’s men have a chance of reaching the finals in 2020, and if they do I am sure their manager has a defensive masterclass up his sleeve to see them into the knockout stages.
Action Images via Reuters
13/31 19. Wales
If they get their act together, Wales could imitate their 2016 heroics. However, they have to turn things around quickly in qualifying if they are to do so.
Getty Images
14/31 18. Turkey
They always do well against the teams within their remit, but when exposed to quality they crumble. It all depends on who they are matched with in the group stage.
REUTERS
15/31 17. Sweden
The post-Ibra era has looked promising as they reached the World Cup quarter-finals, but it clear from qualifying that it was their peak.
Getty Images
16/31 16. Serbia
Their mental resolute gives them a chance. They have a few good individuals in their ranks and if they perform they will have a chance of reaching the knockout stages.
REUTERS
17/31 15. Austria
They are not stacked with quality but have a blueprint which allows them to do well. They will be a tough opponent to whoever shares a group with them.
Getty Images
18/31 14. Ukraine
Another team who thrive off team spirit. They have taken Group B by the scuff of the neck and should repeat more of the same in 2020.
REUTERS
19/31 13. Switzerland
They are still to find momentum in qualifying, but if they scrape through their experience trumps their recent form.
Getty Images
20/31 12. Denmark
The Danes are not stacked with quality but they do possess a great team spirit which should see them through to the knockout stages.
AP
21/31 11. Poland
Lewandowski’s goals will certainly help them along the way, but the lack of quality elsewhere on the field does not see them past the last 16.
Getty Images
22/31 10. Russia
The dark horses. They shocked many in the World Cup, and have followed that up with an outstanding qualifying campaign. Don’t be surprised if they do it again.
Sergei Bobylev/TASS
23/31 9. Croatia
Their 2018 heroics seemed to have the sucked the life out of them in qualifying. It would be rare if such feat is replicated in in 2020.
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24/31 8. Portugal
The defending champions have built on their success by winning the Nations League and you would not rebuff the possibility of them scraping their way to the final again.
AP
25/31 7. Italy
The robust defence Italy possess stand them in good stead to go far. It is just the scoring goals part of the game which they need to brush up on.
Getty Images
26/31 6. Netherlands
Ronald Koeman has spear headed Holland’s redemption, and any team with van Dijk in their ranks has a chance of winning anything.
EPA
27/31 5. Germany
After Low’s clear out, Germany’s young squad could follow the Die Mannschaft blueprint of reaching finals if they can recapture that winning formula.
Getty Images
28/31 4. Spain
After an embarrassing World Cup, the Spaniards will be looking to show a break from the past in the Euros as a refreshed squad and a new manager will take the competition head on.
Getty Images
29/31 3. Belgium
Belgium’s star studded squad will be hoping that their golden generation take their final chance of attaining silverware before age starts to take its toll.
EPA
30/31 2. England
England find themselves in great shape headlining into 2020. Their stars will be reaching their peak while their young guns will be looking to showcase their raw talent.
Southampton FC via Getty Images
31/31 1. France
Being World champions, Les Blues head into Euro 2020 being firm favourites with a roster of talent for Didier Deschamps to choose from.
Getty Images
1/31 How far will England go?
We size up the qualifying candidates for the European Championships so far.
Getty Images
2/31 30. Kosovo
If they manage to fall short of the Czechs in Group A, then Kosovo should make the cut through the play-offs. A potential surprise package in the making.
Action Images via Reuters
3/31 29. Albania
A team with great spirit who, if they make it, can bless the Euros with impressive performances but will be outclassed by the bigger sides.
REUTERS
4/31 28. Northern Ireland
After matching Germany in qualification, they are on route to being the underdogs of 2020 and you can expect them to take the opportunity to impress with both hands.
Getty Images
5/31 27. Finland
Everyone wants to see Teemu Pukki in the finals. It would be a great accolade for a country with the population of only five million people.
AFP/Getty Images
6/31 26. Norway
They are challenging to accompany Spain out of Group F, but it doesn’t look likely their claim to be included in the finals will be taken seriously. The play-offs are their only hope.
Getty Images
7/31 25. Iceland
Who doesn’t want the famous clap at Euro 2020? They are still defeating the odds, and could sneak their way into 2020 and bring their undying spirit with them.
REUTERS
8/31 24. Hungary
Another team on the periphery of qualification. Just making the cut would be a huge achievement.
REUTERS
9/31 23. Czech Republic
They are favourites to accompany England out of Group A, but their defensive woes could be exploited if they make it to the finals.
REUTERS
10/31 22. Bosnia & Herzegovina
Having never qualified for the Euros, it would be a recreation of the 2014 World Cup if they do end up qualifying. The odds are stacked against them, but they have a solid chance through the play-offs.
Getty
11/31 21. Slovenia
If they scrape into the finals, it is clear it would only be a result of fortuitously being placed in Group G in qualifying.
AFP/Getty Images
12/31 20. Republic of Ireland
Martin O’Neil’s men have a chance of reaching the finals in 2020, and if they do I am sure their manager has a defensive masterclass up his sleeve to see them into the knockout stages.
Action Images via Reuters
13/31 19. Wales
If they get their act together, Wales could imitate their 2016 heroics. However, they have to turn things around quickly in qualifying if they are to do so.
Getty Images
14/31 18. Turkey
They always do well against the teams within their remit, but when exposed to quality they crumble. It all depends on who they are matched with in the group stage.
REUTERS
15/31 17. Sweden
The post-Ibra era has looked promising as they reached the World Cup quarter-finals, but it clear from qualifying that it was their peak.
Getty Images
16/31 16. Serbia
Their mental resolute gives them a chance. They have a few good individuals in their ranks and if they perform they will have a chance of reaching the knockout stages.
REUTERS
17/31 15. Austria
They are not stacked with quality but have a blueprint which allows them to do well. They will be a tough opponent to whoever shares a group with them.
Getty Images
18/31 14. Ukraine
Another team who thrive off team spirit. They have taken Group B by the scuff of the neck and should repeat more of the same in 2020.
REUTERS
19/31 13. Switzerland
They are still to find momentum in qualifying, but if they scrape through their experience trumps their recent form.
Getty Images
20/31 12. Denmark
The Danes are not stacked with quality but they do possess a great team spirit which should see them through to the knockout stages.
AP
21/31 11. Poland
Lewandowski’s goals will certainly help them along the way, but the lack of quality elsewhere on the field does not see them past the last 16.
Getty Images
22/31 10. Russia
The dark horses. They shocked many in the World Cup, and have followed that up with an outstanding qualifying campaign. Don’t be surprised if they do it again.
Sergei Bobylev/TASS
23/31 9. Croatia
Their 2018 heroics seemed to have the sucked the life out of them in qualifying. It would be rare if such feat is replicated in in 2020.
Getty Images
24/31 8. Portugal
The defending champions have built on their success by winning the Nations League and you would not rebuff the possibility of them scraping their way to the final again.
AP
25/31 7. Italy
The robust defence Italy possess stand them in good stead to go far. It is just the scoring goals part of the game which they need to brush up on.
Getty Images
26/31 6. Netherlands
Ronald Koeman has spear headed Holland’s redemption, and any team with van Dijk in their ranks has a chance of winning anything.
EPA
27/31 5. Germany
After Low’s clear out, Germany’s young squad could follow the Die Mannschaft blueprint of reaching finals if they can recapture that winning formula.
Getty Images
28/31 4. Spain
After an embarrassing World Cup, the Spaniards will be looking to show a break from the past in the Euros as a refreshed squad and a new manager will take the competition head on.
Getty Images
29/31 3. Belgium
Belgium’s star studded squad will be hoping that their golden generation take their final chance of attaining silverware before age starts to take its toll.
EPA
30/31 2. England
England find themselves in great shape headlining into 2020. Their stars will be reaching their peak while their young guns will be looking to showcase their raw talent.
Southampton FC via Getty Images
31/31 1. France
Being World champions, Les Blues head into Euro 2020 being firm favourites with a roster of talent for Didier Deschamps to choose from.
Getty Images
“Dele’s back, he’s on a better path in the last couple of games, for sure,” he said.
“But within those No. 8 positions, [Ross] Barkley has played very well for us over the last 12 months, is now scoring for Chelsea and is playing in that position very well.
“[Leicester’s James] Maddison is probably in that sort of area of the pitch, if we’re looking at how we want to play. [Liverpool’s Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain [is] playing exceptionally well and has the athleticism and speed that’s different to all of those others.
“It’s just a consequence of the competition for places. We watch every game. We think we’ve got a very, very good picture of all of the players and exactly what they’ve done in every game and we can only pick honestly on what we’ve seen.”
Southgate also revealed he had maintained an open dialogue with Dele Alli as he searched for an England recall, just as had been the case with defender Michael Keane this time around
And, as with Jamie Vardy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and any other player hoping to win a spot in future, the door remains open for involvement depending on performance levels ahead of Euro 2020.
“I spoke to Dele in the two previous months and there are only so many times they’re going to want to have that conversation really.
“Whenever I don’t select a player who has been with us for a period [of time], I always talk them through the rationale of the initial decision and then try to pick it up as we go through.
“Because I think they need feedback – it’s important for players. I’ve done that with Michael Keane this time because they want to go away and improve and try to get back in the squad. And all of those guys are capable of getting back in the squad.”
