Alan Smith’s Expert Analysis: England World Cup Squad Review

Harry Kane – England’s Best Ever Centre Forward

I think he is. I think he is, when you look at it. Obviously, he’s the record scorer by some distance. Not just that, his overall game, he’s such a sophisticated player. He could play as a number 10 easily. I mean, he does quite often drop in, drops even deeper. But you look at the other players, Rooney, brilliant player. I’m not saying Kane is a better all round player than Rooney, but Kane’s got more goals.

Then you look at players of the recent past, Lineker, Shearer, he’s a better all round player than those. Even going back to Jimmy Greaves, Greaves, he was a poacher. So I think Harry Kane, it’s quite often when they’re still playing, you don’t actually appreciate him as much, but I think he’s the best centre forward England have ever had.

Ollie Watkins Omission

I know he’s had a bit of a tough time with Villa, hasn’t he? Hasn’t been in the best of form. Scored a goal the other day. So it’d be interesting whether he does come back in because he’s got that international experience. So, I mean, he’d be gutted for him and the fact he’s brought in Solanke, Calvert-Lewin, I don’t know. I think there’s still a possibility of people outside the 35 coming in. He could score a lot of goals from here on in and maybe he would make the cut.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a Substitute

Difficult one. I mean, he wouldn’t change things, he’s never going to threaten running behind. He would need the right service. You’d probably say Ollie Watkins would be a better sub, to be honest, being able to run in behind and threaten. If you’re trying to get a goal against a deep lying defence that are trying to protect a lead, maybe Calvert-Lewin isn’t the man. So, we’ll wait and see how that develops.

Bukayo Saka’s Form

It’s not been the best, has it, for him? He’s set such high standards. But he’s always done well for England. He knows what it’s about. He’s got great tournament experience and he’s done well in tournaments. So it would take a lot I think for Tuchel to drop him. Plus the fact he hasn’t really got anybody you’d say, oh no, he should be in ahead of him. Jarrod Bowen plays on the right. Noni Madueke, his clubmate. But I still think Saka’s in the box seat comfortably, really.

Max Dowman as a Wild Card

He could be. I don’t think Tuchel would be averse to it if he plays some more games. I think he’s got to play some more games and do well. I remember that World Cup in Germany when Theo Walcott got called up. 16 years of age, wasn’t he? Didn’t kick a ball.

Dowman’s a different proposition altogether. He’s a much better all-round footballer. With all due respect to Walcott. So, that’ll be an interesting one. Because Tuchel is the manager that he is, I don’t think he’d shy away from that.

Declan Rice – Best Central Midfielder in the World

I think he’s competing for it. Quite often, we talk about holding midfield as defensive midfielders and attacking ones. He is an all-rounder. He’s a bit old school in terms of being that Bryan Robson type, if you like, up and down, can score goals.

Rodri, over the years, has been one of the best holding midfielders. Bruno Fernandes at Man United, brilliant attacking midfielder. Maybe Tchouaméni at Real Madrid. He’s had a really good season. I think he’s been Real Madrid’s best player this season. Similar in type. Declan Rice, he does compete for the best one, I think.

Jordan Henderson’s Role

He’d been at Liverpool 12 years, hadn’t he? Maybe he’d run his race there. He sensed it was time. I think sometimes you need these moves. It obviously didn’t suit him in Saudi Arabia. Went to Ajax for 18 months or something like that, and came back to the Premier League and done ever so well at Brentford. 35 years of age.

Again, one of those that I think he can help the other midfielders as well. You wouldn’t see him playing too many, I don’t know, but I think in the dressing room, on the training ground, he could be a big help to the midfielders.

Ben White Return

I know there’s a school of thought that says, well, if you refuse to play for England, you should never play for them again. But there was obviously a personal thing going on. Talk of a fallout with Steve Holland and all the rest of it. Holland’s gone, and now he feels that he can come back. If he makes himself available, it’s up to the manager, and he’s brought him in.

Obviously, a lot of talk about why he hasn’t brought in Alexander-Arnold but Ben White, I mean Ben White’s not been a regular for Arsenal. I think he might just move on in the summer, but he’s a good player, he’s a good defender, and he can do well.

Trent Alexander-Arnold Omission

He’s obviously not Tuchel’s cup of tea. I think defensively that would be the key factor. He’s not a good enough defender. And if you do play him at right back, you’ve got to kind of build your team around him as a right back that drifts into midfield. Liverpool did it very well, but that’s club football. International football is different.

So I’m thinking that’s why he’s not in there. But the last 15-20 minutes of a game as things open up. Maybe you could use him as somebody who can create in general play and set pieces. But managers are there to make the big decisions, and it seems like Tuchel’s made his now.

Harry Maguire’s Starting Role?

No, he’s probably a bit like Henderson now in terms of being there for his experience and his know-how, his ability to pass it on to players. Good, team squad player. So I wouldn’t imagine, I mean, he’s done ever so well coming back into the United team, and he is an option. Again, he knows all about European and international football. So if called upon, I don’t think he’d let you down, but he’s probably a second choice now.

Miles Lewis-Skelly Transfer Talk

I think Arsenal would sell him now. I mean, they could make a good profit given that he’s an academy player. Two players ahead of him at Arsenal are Calafiori and Hincapie, who are better defenders. A bit like Alexander-Arnold, Lewis-Skelly is not such a good defender. So, United buying him, that’ll be interesting. I mean, look, who’s going to be the manager at United? Maybe he’s going to have a say in that.

But Skelly, that’s his best role, coming into that midfield. Luke Shaw has been really steady for United at left-back. He’s had a good season, ever-present. So, it’ll be interesting to see whether United go for him. I think Arsenal would sell him to United, in all fairness.

Starting Left-Back

I mean, Shaw being left out. So, Tuchel’s made up his mind there. I think it’d be Lewis Hall, to be honest with you. He’s had a really good season for Newcastle. Now he’s back in there over his injuries. Really intelligent player, can take a free kick, a set piece. He looks like being in the box seat. Nico O’Reilly, of course, scored a couple of goals in the Carabao final. But I see Lewis Hall just ahead of him.

Jason Steele Call-Up

Whether he’s going to make that final squad is another matter. Being the best number two, maybe Jason Steele probably wouldn’t want to hear that. He’d want to be a number one. It seems that his age now, stage of his career, he’s happy to be back up.

Sometimes you can take a keeper, he can help with the training, it sounds silly but another body when the keepers are doing their work so it’d be great for him but there’s four keepers, three keepers at least ahead of him aren’t there.

Alan Smith’s England Starting XI

Okay. Pickford in goal. So we’re playing a 4-2-1-3. Reece James, hopefully he’ll get over this injury. We don’t know how serious. Another hamstring. Hopefully he’ll be back because he’s a polished player. And I think the central defence will be Ezri Konsa and Guehi. They’ve played together, done well. There’s pace within that, ball playing ability. I think they make a good combination. Lewis Hall, as I said, at left back.

Declan Rice, obviously, on the left of that two at the base, given license to get forward. Probably Elliot Anderson next to him. Again, a really good footballer. Kobbie Mainoo, who’s come back into the fold. He’s another option. Maybe Anderson, though, just ahead.

In the number 10, you’d think it’d be Jude Bellingham. But again, I think that’s up for grabs with Rogers and Palmer both available. Tuchel’s had a bit of a thing with him in the past. Then the front three for me would be Saka, Kane and Anthony Gordon. Probably Gordon is in line to be Kane’s deputy too really. He’s played up front for Newcastle through the middle and done really well.