Friday, July 26, 2024

What if Haaland and Musiala played for England in Euro 2024

This blogger Artur Yanturin of Russia copied many of my blog teams.  This blog was one of them.  It was my Russia All-Time Team here.  His team was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.  I also updated mine periodically.  I made mistakes. He is from Russia.  He should know the topic much more than I do, but he still kept my mistakes. He will copy this Belarus All-Time Team.  Please look at my other teams from the former Soviet Union.  He copied all of them.

His Facebook and Instagram

European Champion Final against Spain
Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.  


In Euro 2024, England managed to reach the final, yet they fell short of securing their first international major trophy since 1966, losing to Spain in the final. This defeat added to a long list of disappointments and heartbreaks in England's football history, further prolonging their agony and their quest for a significant title.

Throughout the tournament, despite fielding a talented squad, England's performance in reaching the final was characterized by uninspired play. Despite the presence of standout players such as Jude Bellingham, who was named La Liga Player of the Year, Phil Foden, who earned both the FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season accolades, and Harry Kane, the Bundesliga Golden Boot winner, the team failed to consistently showcase their true potential on the pitch. 

However, there were active players who had the eligibility to represent the English national team but opted to play for other nations. This choice resulted in England being deprived of their services, even though their inclusion could have further strengthened the team. Erling Haaland who is considered to be the best players in the world was born in Leeds. Jamal Musiala played for England Under 21 team even after he relocated to Germany.  These players could have chosen to play for England leaves a lingering sense of what could have transpired England in the tournament.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane
For this team, I was not looking for English players to challenge Southgate's selection.  Instead, it aimed to showcase players who had the potential to represent England but opted to play for other national teams. By assembling this team, the intention was to emphasize the missed opportunities and the talent that could have bolstered England's squad, potentially resulting in a triumphant campaign in the 2024 European Championship.  It acknowledges that the scenarios presented are highly unlikely but aims to create an enjoyable and engaging experience or fantasy for soccer fans worldwide. 


Players Added
Erling Haaland, Jamal Musiala, Scott McTominay, Antonee Robinson. 

Players Dropped 
Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Ivan Toney and Joe Gomez.

Prediction
Despite displaying uninspired play throughout the tournament, England managed to maintain an undefeated record in the actual tournament, progressing all the way to the Final. Their path to the ultimate showdown was notable for avoiding pre-tournament favorites France and Germany in the knockout stages, as these teams were situated in the opposite side of the bracket. Meanwhile, Spain emerged as a strong contender and arguably the best team in the tournament, also competing in the other bracket. This imaginary team could easily reach the Final and meet Spain.

In the summer of 2024, the best European players in the world were Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham.  In the actual tournament, Jamal Musiala shone brightly until Germany's elimination by Spain in the quarterfinals.  In this alternative universe, they would be all playing for England. On paper, the new look England appeared to possess a stronger lineup than Spain. Meanwhile, Spain, despite being a renowned footballing nation, did not have an abundance of household names in their squad. Players like Nico Williams, Dani Olmo, and Unai Simon were not playing for the more prominent European clubs. Similarly, Lamine Yamal from Barcelona, Fabián Ruiz from PSG, and Rodric from Manchester City were not widely recognized names in the footballing world, even though they hailed from esteemed clubs.  Aymeric Laporte was playing in Saudi Arabia at the time of the European Championship.

In the genuine Final (real world), England also featured well-known players who had established their fame in the football world. However, it was Spain who stole the show, displaying their prowess and outplaying England with a lineup that comprised relatively unknown players to those outside of Spain. Eighteen members of their team played domestic club football at home in Spain, but the best player on the Spanish league namely Jude Bellingham played on the English national team. Many players played for Real Sociedad or Athletic Bilbao in Basque.  The region has a strong football tradition so I create a Basque National Team in Euro 2024.  Nonetheless, Spain did not feature the same talents as their glorious era between 2008 and 2012.  This outcome served as a powerful reminder that football is not solely determined by individual star power but rather by the collective abilities, teamwork, and chemistry of a squad. Spain's victory against a team boasting more famous players underscored the unpredictable nature of the sport and the depth of talent that exists beyond the spotlight.  Furthermore, the new players did not solve England's problem in the midfield. I basically upgraded Harry Kane with Erling Haaland.  I do believe that this reinforced England team could beat Spain, but it is not a bygone conclusion. 

Teams (*** non-English international player)
GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Pickford has previously played for Sunderland's academy, reserve, and senior teams in addition to loan spells at Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City and Preston North End. He signed for Everton for a fee of £25 million in June 2017. Pickford received his first call-up from the full England national team for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovenia in October 2016, making his debut in November 2017 in a friendly against Germany. He helped England to the Final of both Euro 2020 and 2024.
Jordan Pickford
GK: Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Ramsdale began his senior club career playing for Sheffield United and signed for AFC Bournemouth in 2017. He alsp played for Chesterfield, AFC Wimbledon and Sheffield United. In 2021, Ramsdale signed for Arsenal in a club record transfer.  He has represented England at all levels from under-18 to the senior team, and won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2017. He was in the squad that finished as runners-up at both Euro 2020 and 2024, and the squad at the 2022 World Cup.

GK: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
Henderson  made his first-team debut for Manchester United against Luton Town in the EFL Cup in September 2020.  In 2023, he joined Crystal Palace after a series of loan spells in many clubs. Henderson has represented England at under-16, under-17, under-20, under-21 and senior levels. He was a member of the England under-20 squad that won the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and the senior team that were runners-up at UEFA Euro 2020.

RB: Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Walker started with Sheffield United F.C. In 2009, he joined Tottenham Hotspurs. He spent some time on loan before returning to Tottenham Hotspurs.  He established himself as one of England's best fullback. In 2017, he joined Manchester City winning the treble.. Since 2011, he has played for England. He represented England at the Euro 2016, 2020 and 2024 as well as the World Cup Finals in 2018 and 2022.

RB: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United)
Trippier was a youth product at Manchester City, but only spent his time on loan before joining Burnley. He spent three seasons with Burnley before joining Tottenham Hotspurs in 2015.  From 2019 to 2020, he played for Atletico Madrid.  In 2022, he joined Newcastle United.  In 2018, he received his fist callup for England after replacing the injured Walker at the club level. He went to 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals as well as Euro 2020 and 2024.

RB/DM: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Alexander-Arnold made his senior debut in 2016, at age 18, and played in back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2019, winning the latter, and being named in the Champions League Squad of the Season.  He has thrice been named in the PFA Team of the Year, and helped end Liverpool's 30-year league title drought by winning the 2019–20 Premier League. Since 2018, he has played for England. He went to 2018 and 2022 World Cup Finals as well as Euro 2024.
Trent Alexander-Arnold 
CB/RB: Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
Konsa began with Charlton Athletic in 2016. He spent a year with  Championship club Brentford before joining Aston Villa in 2019. Konsa received his first call-up for the England senior team in November 2023 ahead of their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Malta and North Macedonia.  He played in the Finals of Euro 2024 and was a starter in the match against Switzerland.

CB: Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace)
Guéhi came through the youth system at Chelsea and made his senior debut in 2019.  He joined Crystal Palace in 2021, becoming the club's third most expensive signing. Guéhi was a key part of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup winning squad. He made his debut for the senior team in 2022, and was a starting member of the squad that were runners-up at Euro 2024.

CB: Lewis Dunk (Brighton)
Dunk made his debut for Brighton in 2010, and was part of the team that won the League One title in the 2010–11 season. Dunk is uncapped at youth international level, despite being called up to the England under-21 squad in 2011. He made his senior England debut in 2018.  He went to euro 2024 for England. At the time of writing, he had 6 caps.

CB: John Stones (Manchester City)
Stones began his career with Barnsley, making his first-team debut in the Championship in 2012 as a 17-year-old. He joined Premier Everton  in January 2013.  He spent over four seasons at the Merseyside club.  In 2016, he signed for Manchester City.  He was a part of a historic continental treble in the 2022–23 season. With England, he made his debut in 2014.  He went to Euro 2016, 2020 and 2024, and the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and 2022.
John Stones
LB: Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Shaw made his first-team debut for Southampton in 2011. In 2014, Shaw was signed by Manchester United for £30 million, then a world record transfer fee for a teenager. Shaw made his senior international debut for England in 2014. He went to the 2014 World Cup, but did not particpate in a big tournament until Euro 2020. He scored his first international goal in the Euro 2020 final, which was also the fastest scored in a UEFA European Championship final.

LB: Antonee Robinson (Fulham/USA) ***
Previously a youth player with Everton, Robinson went on loan spells to several EFL Championship clubs until signing with Premier League club Fulham in 2020. He won the 2023–24 Fulham Player of the Season award, and was considered one of the best left-backs of the season.  In 2014, he decided to play for the United States internationally.  He started as a youth international and earned his first senior cap in 2018. He went to the 2022 World Cup Finals.

DM/CM: Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Rice began his career at West Ham United.  Rice was signed by Arsenal in 2023 for a club record fee of £100 million, making him the joint-most expensive English player in history. Eligible to play for England or Ireland, Rice represented Ireland internationally at both youth and senior levels prior to 2019. He subsequently changed his national allegiance and made himself available for selection by England. Rice made his England debut in 2019 and has represented the country at Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and Euro 2024.
 Declan Rice 
DM/CM: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
Mainoo is a graduate of Manchester United's youth system and won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 2023. He made his first-team debut in an EFL Cup match in January 2023. Mainoo played for England from under-17 youth level, before making his debut for the senior team in March 2024.

DM/CM/BTB: Scott McTominay (Manchester United/Scotland) ***
McTominay is a graduate of Manchester United's youth academy and made his senior debut for the club in May 2017. He has gone on to make more than 200 appearances for the club, winning the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. Born in England, McTominay qualifies to play for Scotland through his father hailing from Helensburgh. He made his senior international debut in March 2018, and represented the side at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.

CM: Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace)
Beginning his career with Chelsea, Gallagher spent time on loan at Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, between 2019 and 2022. At Crystal Palace, Gallagher was named the club's Player of the Year for the 2021–22 season. He subsequently made his first-team debut at Chelsea during the 2022–23 season. Gallagher made his debut for the national team in 2021. He went to  the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 European Championship.

CM: Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)
Wharton started his football career in the academy at Blackburn Rovers. He made his debut for Blackburn in the EFL Championship in 2022. He signed for Crystal Palace in February 2024. He was praised for his performances for an in-form Palace team, earning him selection for the England squad in UEFA Euro 2024.

CM/AM: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Jude Bellingham started with Birmingham City before he moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2020 making him the most expensive 17 years old in history.  In 2023, he won the Bundesliga Player of the Year.  That summer, he moved to Real Madrid where he had a starring role. At 17 years, 136 days, he became England's third-youngest full international when he played against Republic of Ireland in 2020.  He played in the 2022 World Cup Finals.
Jude Bellingham
RW/AM: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
Palmer made his senior debut for Manchester City in 2020, and was later part of their squad that won a continental treble in 2023. He signed for Chelsea in 2023,  That season, he scored 22 goals and assisted 17,[4] earning him the club's Player of the Season as well as Premier League Young Player of the Season.  In 2023, he earned his first cap for England. He represented them at the 2024 European Championship.

RW/LW/LWB: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Saka has spent his entire first-team club career with Arsenal, where he has won an FA Cup and two FA Community Shields, progressively becoming one of Arsenal's most influential players. Following both the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, he was named as Arsenal's Player of the Season.  He was part of England's squads for UEFA Euro 2020 and 2024, which England finished as runners-up in both, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Bukayo Saka 
LW: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
Between 2017 and 2123, Gordon played for Everton.  In 2023, he moved to Newcastle United.  He helped England to win the 2023 European Under-21 Championship. He was named Player of the Tournament and also chosen in the Team of the Tournament.  In 2024, he earned his first senior cap.  He was a member of England's Euro 2024 team, but he was unused in the Finals.

RW/LW/AM: Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Foden was a key player for Manchester City that won a continental treble in the 2022-23 season. He became the youngest-ever goalscorer for his club in the Champions League in 2019. He was named the Premier League Young Player of the Season and the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2021 and 2022 respectively. In 2024, Foden was honored as the Premier League Player of the Season. Foden was part of the England squads for Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and Euro 2024.

RW/LW/AM: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
Born in Germany, he was raised from the age of seven in England. Musiala has played for both Germany and England at youth level, and eventually pledged his allegiance to the Germany in 2021. He has represented the side at Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup, and  Euro 2024. He was also one of the six players to win the Golden Boot at Euro 2024.  Since 2021, he played for Bayern Munich. He is considered one of the best young players in the world.
Jamal Musiala 
ST/FW: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
Watkins played for Exeter City before departing in 2017 for Brentford. He had a successful three-year spell at the club.  In 2020, he signed for his present club, Aston Villa. In the summer of 2024, he was awarded the honour of the Premier League Playmaker of the Season.  In 2021, he earned his first cap.  In 2024, he scored the winning goal against Netherlands at the semi-final of Euro 2024 in Germany.  

ST: Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Haaland started his career at his hometown club Bryne in 2016, and moved to Molde the following year. He then joined Red Bull Salzburg in 2019. At Salzburg, he won two Austrian Bundesliga titles and one Austrian Cup.  In 2019, he joined Borussia Dortmund, where he is considered one of the best players in the world.  He joined Manchester City in 2022.  Since 2019, he has played for the senior national team.  His father also played for Norway.
Erling Haaland 
ST: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
At the time of writing, Kane has played his entire career with Tottenham Hotspurs, except a few seasons on loan.  Kane made his first-team debut for Tottenham on 25 August 2011.  He finished top scorer of both the 2015–16 and the 2016–17 Premier League seasons, and aided Tottenham in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League on both occasions.  In 2024, he joined Bayern Munich before breaking the Premiership All-Time scoring record.  For England, he has earned over 98 caps since 2015

Squad Explanation
-- For this team, I was not looking for English players to challenge Gareth Southgate's selection.  Instead, it aimed to showcase players who had the potential to represent England but opted to play for other national teams. By assembling this team, the intention was to emphasize the missed opportunities and the talent that could have bolstered England's squad, potentially resulting in a triumphant campaign in the 2024 European Championship. I did not study Emglish players rejected by Southgate/
-- Gareth Southgate is not the manager of this team.  I am the manager of this team, but I used his squad as the basis of this team.
-- This team consisted La Liga Player of the Year Jude Bellingham, and FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season Phil Foden.  Additionally, the team boasted the presence of Harry Kane, the Golden Boot winner in the Bundesliga, and Erling Haaland, who achieved the same feat in the Premier League.
Harry Kane
-- Jamal Musiala would be reunited with his Bayern Munich teammate Harry Kane.  Erling Haaland is playing with Phil Foden in Manchester City, and he was a teammate of Jude Bellingham in Borussia Dortmund.
-- Four players each came from Crystal Palace and Manchester City, three from Manchester United and Arsenal, and two each from Bayern Munich,  Aston Villa, and Newcastle United.
-- I also created a Basque national team in Euro 2024.
Goalkeepers
-- Kasper Schmeichel's extended childhood residence in England would have fulfilled the five-year residential requirement for British citizenship.  However, both he and his father dismissed the possibility of him representing England early on his career. 
-- Joe Hart's last game for England was in November 2017, coinciding with Schmeichel's rise and making him a potential replacement for Hart.  Other goalkeepers who played for England in 2017 and 2018 included Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, John Ruddy, Fraser Forster, Tom Heaton, and Nick Pope. None of them could match Schmeichel's abilities, in which he could have a long career as England starting goalkeeper.  However, by the time of Euro 2024 , Schmeichel, at 37 years old, was playing for Anderlecht in Belgium, while Pickford should be the clear choice as England's number one goalkeeper. So I decided to retain the existing 3 goalkeepers, as Schmeichel's opportunities had passed, and it would be a fresh start to explore new possibilities. 
Defenders
-- Harry Maguire, who had been a crucial player for Gareth Southgate, was unable to make the team due to an injury, leaving England with a significant void in the central defender position.  However, despite his absence, the players who filled the position for England in Germany proved to be capable.  Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarell Quansah were interesting prospects, but I decided not to change the team.
-- Southgate faced a bigger challenge with the left-back position during the tournament. Luke Shaw had been sidelined due to injury for the past 4 months. Ben Chilwell's previous season was also marred by injuries, which limited his availability. Southgate did not consider Levi Colwill or Tyrick Mitchell.  In Germany, he had central defender Joe Gomez who had played as a left-back during his time at Liverpool at his disposal, but Southgate used rightback Kieran Trippier out of position in the left-back role for the initial 6 games of the tournament. 
Luke Shaw
-- England's left-sided attack was consistently underwhelming throughout the tournament. Phil Foden failed to make an impact and seemed almost non-existent. Even when Bukayo Saka was deployed as a left wingback against Switzerland, the attacking prowess did not improve. The blame was placed on Trappier's lack of familiarity with playing out of position, as he struggled to offer adequate support on the left side.  In the Final against Spain, Southgate took a significant gamble by starting Luke Shaw. This decision indicated Southgate's lack of trust in Trippier's abilities as a left-back. It was a bold move to rely on Shaw, considering his recent injury and lack of match fitness. In the match, Shaw had a decent performance overall. Although he was partially responsible for losing his position and allowing Lamine Yamal to cross the ball freely, it was Kyle Walker who left Nico Williams unmarked on the other side, resulting in the first goal for Spain.  The second goal was about a breakdown on the right side.
-- Antonee Robinson could have been the solution to England's problem on the leftback position. He was born and raised in England, but he chose to represent the USA.  Widely recognized as one of the Premier League's finest left-backs, he recorded an impressive 81 interceptions, the highest in the Premier League in the 2023-2024 season, in which he won the Fulham Player of the Season award.  If he os good enough in the Premiership, he is good enough in the Euro 2024. At the time of the Euro 2024, he was representing the United States in the Copa America. In this alternative universe, England was able to bring him back.  I do think that he would be selected by Southgate if he was eligible.
Antonee Robinson 
-- During the Euro 2024 Finals, England had two unused defenders on their roster, namely Lewis Dunk and Joe Gomez. In Liverpool, Gomez had served as a backup for several years, but due to injuries within his club team during this season, he gained significant playing time. His improved performances earned him a recall to the national team in 2024.  Lewis Dunk on the other hand had been with the national team in 2023 during qualifiers.  So I dropped Gomez to make way for Robinson.
Midfielders
-- Declan Rice is highly regarded as a top defensive midfielder when it comes to halting counter attacks and winning possession.  His nickname is "Yorkshire Pirlo", but his passing skills are limited.  In fact, he needed a deep lying playmaker or another "Pirlo" who could complement his game.  Southgate first turned to Trent Alexander-Arnold.  In Liverpool, despite usually being positioned as a right-back, he often drifted into midfield and excel as a deep-lying playmaker. This prompted many to consider him to start in the midfield for England in the Euro 2024 Finals. However, his campaign in Germany ultimately proved to be disastrous. He would be replaced by Conor Gallagher who also failed to ignite England's midfield.  Gallagher was subsequently replaced by Kobbie Mainoo who went on to start all of England's knockout stage matches. Mainoo demonstrated significant improvement overall, but at the age of 19, he was not yet equipped to lead the English midfield.  
-- In the absence of a midfielder capable of setting the game's tempo, Jude Bellingham found himself dropping deeper to retrieve the ball. This deeper role contrasted with his position in Madrid, where he operated between the number 10 and false 9 positions. With Bellingham playing deeper, England looked disconnected in the attack.  Furthermore, Foden had to retreat to the midfield as there was no natural left-back behind him. This led to Kane and Saka becoming isolated. So, England also needed a runner or shuttler who could penetrate and a deep lying midfielder who moved the ball around.
-- James Maddison probably would not have helped much.  He played a more advanced role.  Anyway, at the end of the season, he was not playing well.  
-- The Lancaster-born Scott McTominay who played for Scotland in Euro 2024 could be a great addition to the Three Lions.  Although he may not be considered a playmaker, his true strength lies in his role as a shuttler. He excels in defensive phases, holding his ground against opponents effectively, and displays remarkable versatility by seamlessly transitioning from box to box.  The description provided aligns with the qualities exhibited by Kalvin Phillips in his prime. In Euro 2021, Rice often stayed back as pivot while Philips made his surging runs. Unfortunately, Philips had not been the same since 2021.  If England cannot find a deep lying playmaker, it must include a shuttler who can bring the ball upfield through running.  McTominay also showcased his offensive prowess during the qualifiers. Leading his qualifying group with 7 goals, he outperformed notable attackers like Erling Haaland, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Álvaro Morata.  His goal tally ranked 6th overall in all groups, just one goal behind Harry Kane and two goals behind Kylian Mbappé. Remarkably, all of his goals were scored from open play, without relying on penalties.
Scott McTominay
-- Conor Gallagher can be that runner on the team, but he does not have the same defensive skills as McTominay.  Kobbie Mainoo not only possesses most of the qualities that McTominay brings to England's team, but he might even surpass him in certain areas. Notably, Mainoo excels in the crucial aspect of making intelligent passes, an area where McTominay tends to struggle. So, England did not need McTominay, but I would still gamble with him.
-- Adam Wharton's sideways passes from deep positions address a significant deficiency England faced in Germany. Interestingly, Trent Alexander-Arnold, despite demonstrating this aspect of his game consistently throughout the season with Liverpool, somehow failed to fulfill this role. However, Wharton did not make his debut in the Premiership until February 24.  He was untested at a higher level, but I would still take him because the lack of a deep lying playmaker on the team.  So instead of cutting a midfielder, I decided to release a forward.  The original midfield corps stay intact.
Forwards
-- The forward trio of Phil Foden, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka did not yield the expected results for England, despite not being a new combination. 
-- Harry Kane won the Golden Boot in the Bundesliga.  His ability as a goal scorer was never in doubt. Interestingly, many analysts highlight that Foden's most successful position throughout his Manchester City career has been on the left and center. Due to Bellingham's presence, Foden couldn't be utilized in the center, but the left side still proved effective for him. I already addressed the issue of the leftback position, but it remains a mystery as to why Foden's performance in Germany was lackluster. During England's time in Germany, there was widespread anticipation among English fans for Bukayo Saka to be deployed on the left side. Southgate eventually assigned him to that side in the match against Switzerland. But Saka's performance in that role was not particularly impactful. As a result, Southgate faced significant criticism for his decision, despite the fact that many people had initially called for Saka's inclusion on the left side. Interestingly, Saka began his career on the left before transitioning to the right.  In my opinion, Saka's best position is on the right wing. So, I had no issue of the positioning of the front three.
Phil Foden
-- So, I could not really offer any solution to England's uninspired attack.  I can only add two talented young players to upgrade the overall standard of the team.
--  Erling Haaland was born in Leeds when his father, Alfie, was playing for Leeds United at the time.  His birth right would have given him an UK citizenship.  However, his roots and allegiance firmly lie with Norway, but I would still cut a forward for Haaland. 
-- Ollie Watkins had a remarkable season with Aston Villa in the Premier League.  He won the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award for providing the most assists. He also finished as the 5th top scorer in the league. He also made the Premier League Fan Team of the Season.  He and Cole Palmer were safe from being cut.  Palmer was one of the bright stars in the English league the season before.  Meanwhile, Ivan Toney was banned from football until January 2024.  He only scored 4 goals in the Premiership after his return from suspension.  Of all players on the team, he had the quietest season. Haaland could be seen as a direct replacement for him.
-- Born in Germany, Jamal Musiala grew up in England alongside Jude Bellingham. He continued to play for England Under 21 team even after his family moved back to Germany.  As a result, the possibility of him donning the England jersey at senior level was more realistic, but unfortunately, he opted for Germany in the senior level.
-- Musiala's ability to play as an attacking midfielder or a wide attacker, particularly on the left side turned both Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze into expendable. Gordon was named the European Under-21 Championship Player of the Tournament in 2023.  He also has been an exciting young player in the 2023-2024 season. I had to take him for future development.  On the right, Jarrod Bowen has been great in West Ham, but Cole Palmer was one of the hottest breakthrough players this season. So, I cut both Bowen and Eze.  Foden, Musiala and Saka could cover both sides of the wide positions.  And then, I have Gordon and Palmer covering the right side, making it five players for two positions.

Formation I
4-4-2
This formation will field the best players altogether in the starting lineup.  The idea of Haaland and Harry Kane forming a formidable strike partnership is a tantalizing prospect that should fuels the dreams of every English fans.  However, I am not a big fan of double-striker setup.  I also prefer Bellingham to play in a more advanced role with two midfielders behind him.  I used Alexander-Arnold because he could step in the midfield to play make liked he does in Liverpool.



Formation II
4-3-3
The 4-3-3 formation might be better.  In the first match against Serbia, I would not have known that Alexander-Arnold was not the right player in the midfield until after the match.  Mainoo would replace him in the second or third matches.  Scott McTominay might also serve as a runner on the team if Mainoo does not work out. I put Foden on the right because Musiala is better on the left.  I also would not have known that Foden was out of shape.



Formation III
4-3-3
This lineup marks a significant revolution. Rice showcased his prowess as one of England's finest players in Germany.  Dropping Rice will be controversial, but McTominay and Mainoo bring added dimensions to the game. Mainoo could excel as the deep-lying playmaker, complemented by McTominay's role as the shuttle or runner.  Bellingham would be less isolated with McTominay than Rice. Together, they would give the midfield a better balance. With Foden experiencing a dip in form during the tournament, Saka is likely to step in at some point to fill his shoes.





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