England coach Gareth Southgate making a list and checking it twice as Euro 2020 squad takes shape

With discipline having been an issue for certain Three Lions players in recent months, the coach’s plans could change…

Gareth Southgate says he knows his best XI and preferred 23-man squad if Euro 2020 were to start tomorrow. The England manager added that there are natural contingency plans given there are still six months until the competition starts, but says he and his staff will be “observing” the behaviour of players since discipline has been such a big issue in picking his squad.

Given the times, it could even be said Southgate is making a list, and checking it twice…

He maintains, however, that he knows his first-choice line-ups.

“We know now the team we would play if we were playing tomorrow,” Southgate said after a World Cup qualifying draw that pitted England against Poland, Hungary, Andorra, San Marino and Albania. 

READ MORE: England face Poland in World Cup qualifying

“But we have got 20 league matches before we see the players again and that’s an enormous number of games for players to change where they are form-wise, to come back from injury. We will potentially lose some to injury. So there is still such a lot of the season to be played and that’s why we constantly track the players and even those who are on the fringes of the squad. 

“By the time we hit March we are probably only five weeks away from naming a final squad, six weeks to go, so you hope that’s what you will have for the summer but again there will be another six, seven games. So history tells us that unfortunately you might lose a couple in that spell. We are pretty clear on what our long list would be and what that would look like if we had to name 23 tomorrow and what that would look like if we had to name our XI.”

England’s Nations League campaign was beset by disciplinary issues, from Harry Maguire’s arrest in Greece to the expulsion of Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden in Iceland, to Jack Grealish’s recent appearance in court pleading guilty to careless driving. Southgate has made it clear that behaviour will be a factor in selection, but said there is no specific “line” he has set.

“Well, first and foremost, I would think every club is going to want to minimise the problems they will face, because I'm assuming if there are issues, they are going to be club issues in the first place. On a broader level, I mentioned the responsibilities of being an England player. That carries a lot of weight. 

“If I read a headline, it's normally somebody is an England and whatever player, rather than the club the predominant name on that list. So that shows the change of landscape for any players involved with us, and as I said earlier: When you’re going towards a tournament, you want as little noise as possible around the group.

“We want the public to connect with the team, we want the country to feel excited by the team but also proud of the team and that they’re good ambassadors for everything we’re trying to do. So, of course we look at reliability at being part of the criteria, on-field decision-making – often that can be reflected in some off-field decision-making. 

“I’m not going to say ‘this is the line,’ and anybody who crosses it, we don't consider, because there are so many nuances to having to deal with different issues. But we’re always observing, we’re always observing how players look after themselves, how professional they are, how will they be if they're away with us for 35-40 days next summer. All of these things have to come into our thinking when you’re taking a squad away.”

England coach and former Three Lions midfielder Gareth Southgate (Getty Images)

Southgate did, however, praise Greenwood for his upturn in form after a recent drop-off.

“I think with all of the young players we have got there is huge competition for places. But what you have seen with Mason, the finish at the weekend epitomises his biggest strength for me. One chance, really, and a fantastic touch to put himself in the position and a brilliant finish. That was what we saw at the end of last season, which is why we called him into the squad in September. So with any young player they are going to have moments when they are really flying and it’s going well and then they are going to be little dips. 

“He’s got great support at his football club, he’s got people that care for him there and will bring him into the team and out of the team at the right times. Hopefully he will get a run of games now and at a club like Manchester United every game is important, so you are always having to perform under pressure, you are always having to perform with high expectations – which is great for their young players, because they already have to deal with everything you have to deal with with England.”