There were surprises and backlash as Gareth Southgate names England’s 26-man squad for this winter’s Qatar World Cup on Thursday.
With just a gap of a week between the Premier League‘s enforced break and the start of the World Cup, the chances of each squad picking up injuries are significantly higher than the standard summer tournament, leaving many players gutted.
FIFA have ruled that, either due to Covid or injury, nations will be able to replace players up to 24 hours before their opening match.
Where previous tournaments have seen a maximum of 23 players in each squad, it has also been increased to 26 this year.
We’ve already seen the Three Lions face several injury blows in the build-up, with players such as Reece James a significant doubt after injuring his knee last month.
So without further ado, it’s time to find out who makes the England squad for the 2022 World Cup…
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Nick Pope (Newcastle).
Defenders: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Benjamin White (Arsenal), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Conor Coady (Everton, on loan from Wolves), Luke Shaw (Man Utd).
Midfielders: Declan Rice (West Ham), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Man City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Mason Mount (Chelsea).
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Callum Wilson (Newcastle), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), James Maddison (Leicester City).
The wait is over.
It’s the official #ThreeLions squad announcement for the @FIFAWorldCup! 🏴 pic.twitter.com/XKJFbaDM0t
— England (@England) November 10, 2022
England will play on the second day of the World Cup after being drawn in Group B.
Qatar, as hosts, will have the customary honour of opening the 2022 World Cup finals on the 20th of November when they play Ecuador in Group A.
The opening match has been brought forward by a day to allow Qatar to kick off the tournament.
Here is the confirmed fixture list in full, right the way up to the final on the 18th of December. All kick-off times are GMT.
Group stage fixtures
Sunday, November 20
Qatar v Ecuador: Al Bayt Stadium, 4pm (GMT) 7pm local time
Monday, November 21
England v Iran: Khalifa International Stadium, 1pm (GMT), 4pm local time
Senegal v Holland: Al Thumama Stadium, 4pm (GMT), 7pm local time
USA v Wales: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, 7pm
Tuesday, November 22
Argentina v Saudi Arabia: Lusail Stadium, 10am (GMT). 1pm local time
Denmark v Tunisia: Education City Stadium, 1pm (GMT), 4pm local time
Mexico v Poland: Stadium 974, 4pm (GMT), 7pm local time
France v Australia: Al Janoub Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Wednesday, November 23
Morocco v Croatia: Al Bayt Stadium, 10am (GMT), 1pm local time
Germany v Japan: Khalifa International Stadium, 1pm (GMT), 4pm local time
Spain v Costa Rica: Al Thumama Stadium, 4pm (GMT), 7pm local time
Belgium v Canada: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Thursday, November 24
Switzerland v Cameroon: Al Janoub Stadium, 10am (GMT), 1pm local time
Uruguay v South Korea: Education City Stadium, 1pm (GMT) 4pm local time
Portugal v Ghana: Stadium 974, 4pm (GMT), 7pm local time
Brazil v Serbia: Lusail Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Friday, November 25
Wales v Iran: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, 10am (GMT), 1pm local time
Qatar v Senegal: Al Thumama Stadium, 1pm (GMT), 4pm local time
Holland v Ecuador: Khalifa International Stadium, 4pm (GMT), 7pm local time
England v USA: Al Bayt Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Saturday, November 26
Tunisia v Australia: Al Janoub Stadium, 10am (GMT), 1pm local time
Poland v Saudi Arabia: Education City Stadium, 1pm (GMT), 4pm local time
France v Denmark: Stadium 974, 4pm (GMT), 7pm local time
Argentina v Mexico: Lusail Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Sunday, November 27
Japan v Costa Rica: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, 10am (GMT), 1pm local time
Belgium v Morocco: Al Thumama Stadium, 1pm (GMT), 4pm local time
Croatia v Canada: Khalifa International Stadium, 4pm (GMT), 7pm local time
Spain v Germany: Al Bayt Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Monday, November 28
Cameroon v Serbia : Al Janoub Stadium, 10am (GMT), 1pm local time
South Korea v Ghana: Education City Stadium, 1pm (GMT), 4pm local time
Brazil v Switzerland: Stadium 974, 4pm (GMT), 7pm local time
Portugal v Uruguay: Lusail Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Tuesday, November 29
Holland v Qatar: Al Bayt Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Ecuador v Senegal: Khalifa International Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Iran v USA: Al Thumama Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Wales v England: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, 7pm
Wednesday, November 30
Australia v Denmark: Al Janoub Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Tunisia v France: Education City Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Poland v Argentina: Stadium 974, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Saudi Arabia v Mexico: Lusail Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Thursday, December 1
Croatia v Belgium: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Canada v Morocco: Al Thumama Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Japan v Spain: Khalifa International Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Costa Rica v Germany: Al Bayt Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Friday, December 2
Ghana v Uruguay: Al Janoub Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
South Korea v Portugal: Education City Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Serbia v Switzerland: Stadium 974, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Cameroon v Brazil: Lusail Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Last 16 fixtures
Saturday, December 3
Match 49 – 1A v 2B – Khalifa International Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Match 50 – 1C v 2D – Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Sunday, December 4
Match 52 – 1D v 2C – Al Thumama Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Match 51 – 1B v 2A – Al Bayt Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Monday, December 5
Match 53 – 1E v 2F – Al Janoub Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Match 54 – 1G v 2H – Stadium 947, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Tuesday, December 6
Match 55 – 1F v 2E – Education City Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Match 56 – 1H v 2G – Lusail Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Quarter-finals
Friday, December 9
Match 57 – Winner of Match 49 v Winner Match 50 – Lusail Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Match 58 – Winner of Match 53 v Winner Match 54 – Education City Stadium, 3pm
Saturday, December 10
Match 59 – Winner Match 51 v Winner Match 52 – Al Bayt Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Match 60 – Winner Match 55 v Winner Match 56 – Al Thumama Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
Semi-finals
Tuesday, December 13
Match 61 – Winner Match 57 v Winner Match 58 – Lusail Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Wednesday, December 14
Match 62 – Winner Match 59 v Winner Match 60 – Al Bayt Stadium, 7pm (GMT), 10pm local time
Third-place play-off
Saturday, December 17
Match 63 – Khalifa International Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
World Cup final
Sunday, December 18
Match 64 – Lusail Stadium, 3pm (GMT), 6pm local time
This is how Twitter users reacted with surprises and backlash as Gareth Southgate names England’s 26-man squad for Qatar World Cup…
@georgeIufc: southgate out and tuchel in
@joeythorpe96L Buzzing for White, Maddison and Wilson! Fully deserved they’ve all been class this season 👏🏻
@DC_LFC_: Southgate got bullied into calling up Maddison 🤣 he won’t play 60 mins in the tournament.
@TheImmortalKop: Coady & Gallagher? 😂😂😂
@Jungs_Shadow_: What message does this send to players who want to test themselves abroad? Tomori has arguably been the top performing English CB over the past 12 months but misses out because Southgate has picked players based off of previous squads.
@2sentencefilms: You could flip that though … Sancho can’t cut it in the premier league so far…. Was in every England squad when he was playing in Germany
@WorkTheSpace: Callum Wilson is about to bring it home and score every game like he does in Football Manager.
@EIiasCPFC: WHERE THE FUCK IS SCOTT DANN
@roche_81: Eric Dier not only nicking a living but also nicking a seat on the plane to the World Cup. He’s shite, just ask Spurs fans. #ThreeLions
@JordanSBrooks:
Not bad – but definitely not picking players on form alone then!
Short on cover at left back it seems!
I don’t want to hear Trippier is cover as he’s crap at LB and should be 1st choice RB on form #ThreeLions
@JayAVFCJohno: Someone please tell me how the fuck conor gallagher and kalvin phillips are in the england squad? The faster southgate is gone the better! Bloke is fucking useless #ThreeLions
@_JamesCowell: Listen. I’d have liked to have seen Mings in there with his recent form and im not overly keen on Maguire, Philips and Hendo in there when they’ve not played. But hey! Decent team and i’m excited to see it all under way now! #england #threelions #WorldCup
@trevor_jordy: Pick up Callum Wilson over Ivan Toney and Conor Coady over Tomori it’s shameful, totally disgrace well done Gareth Soughtgate, I hope u get out past this World Cup!! #England #ThreeLions
WE’RE WINNING THE WORLD CUPPP pic.twitter.com/GvucVyK0he
— george (@StokeyyG2) November 10, 2022
— Dave (@Dave_C90) November 10, 2022
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