The Race to Face Croatia: Stones mistake was a ‘masterstroke’
Defender shows resilience, while Alexander-Arnold’s ‘brilliant response’ brings him back into England reckoning.
Ahead of the Euros opener against Croatia on June 13, Planet Sport continues its weekly look at England's starting XI, as predicted by the Sky Bet odds.
Goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford (8/13 via Sky Bet to start against Croatia)
Bubbling under
Nick Pope (5/2)
Defenders
Harry Maguire (1/8 via Sky Bet from 1/5)
His open goal miss against AC Milan is consigned to history, Maguire is now a penalty box predator. He's nailed on to start against Croatia.
John Stones (1/5 from 1/3)
Luke Shaw (4/6 from 8/11)
Didn't feature against Poland but contributed to Man United's winning goal against Brighton at the weekend and seems to be timing his run to perfection - if Gareth Southgate opts for four at the back.
Kyle Walker (4/5 from 5/6)
His main contribution against Poland was to show a quick turn of speed to usher the ball out of play after Kamil Grosicki had earned a pocket of space on the left. Grosicki, remember, is a player who can't get a sniff of a game for West Brom (which admittedly sounded a lot before the Baggies tanked Chelsea at the weekend).
Bubbling under
Trent Alexander-Arnold (11/8)
England's fourth choice right-back was back to his marauding best against Arsenal at the weekend, making four key passes and providing an assist in the 3-0 win.
Darren Lewis of the Mirror felt it was a "brilliant response" to his England omission while Nick Ames of the Guardian said it was "an advertisement for his effectiveness at the highest stage".
The Press are certainly in his corner and his club manager is fan. Now it is just a matter of convincing Southgate.
Look at what this assist meant to Trent Alexander-Arnold ❤️
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 5, 2021
(🎥 via @LFC) pic.twitter.com/KrFZCJmxei
Ben Chilwell (6/4 from 11/8)
Chilwell would have been glad to have escaped Chelsea's humbling at the hands of West Brom at the weekend having been confined to a bench role. However, he is drifting in the odds despite having got the nod ahead of Luke Shaw to face Poland.
Midfielders
Mason Mount (1/5 from 8/15 via Sky Bet)
Declan Rice (2/7 from 4/9)
David Moyes said "Bank of England money would be required" to prize Rice from West Ham in the transfer window.
Sorted. Moyes clearly knows that buying anything in England with a Scottish note is pretty much impossible. Rice is going nowhere.
Yes, he may be in a protective knee brace and yes he's been ruled out indefinitely pending doctor's reports. But he posted a pic on Twitter with his thumb up so that's good enough for me.
Rehab has started💪🏼
— Declan Rice (@_DeclanRice) April 5, 2021
Gutted to be missing the game tonight.
Overwhelmed by all the support but I’ll be back in no time.
Come on the boys!🤞🏼⚒ pic.twitter.com/GHr4F2TODu
Phil Foden (6/5 from 5/4)
His Iceland misdemeanours have long since been forgotten. By Southgate at least.
Bubbling under
Jordan Henderson (11/8 from 11/10)
Jurgen Klopp has "no idea" if Henderson will be fit for the Euros. He's not a doctor apparently. I'm cancelling my consultation with J Klopp scheduled for next Monday.
Kalvin Phillips (6/4 from 6/1)
Jack Grealish (7/4)
Still on the sidelines for Aston Villa, he needs a stunning end to the season to force his way back into England's starting XI.
This is the player, remember, who ran the show in England's Nations League defeat to Belgium in November.
Gareth wouldn't not take him. Would he?
"He was the best player on the pitch...
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 15, 2020
"He ran the show..."
Jamie Redknapp and Ashley Cole were full of praise for Jack Grealish after England's defeat to Belgium.
📺 Watch reaction on Sky Sports PL pic.twitter.com/t3qY99dFx3
Forwards
Harry Kane (1/6 via Sky Bet)
Added two to his goal tally against Newcastle at the weekend but worries still remain about his robust challenges.
Harry Kane 🆚 Wojciech Szczesny pic.twitter.com/3ilHnKeJ0A
— Football News (@FootyNews2021) April 3, 2021
Raheem Sterling (1/5 from 1/3)
Marcus Rashford (11/10)
Rashford seems to have sneaked his way into the starting XI on the basis of being less injured than Jadon Sancho.
Bubbling under
Jadon Sancho (9/4 from 10/11)
Sancho looks set to miss both legs of Borussia Dortmund's Champions League clash with Manchester City and hasn't played a full 90 minutes for England since 2019.