ENGLAND’S starting XI for the World Cup has been a major talking point since the end of the Euros.
But with just a few days to go before the tournament begins, we asked you to tell us your best Three Lions XI for World Cup 2022.
There were some shock inclusions in the team as well as some no-brainers.
And now we will reveal who you want Gareth Southgate to start at the World Cup.
So first of all a quick caveat, we’re going with Southgate’s favourite 5-2-3 – or 3-4-3 depending on how you look at it…
GK: AARON RAMSDALE
To kick us off, you opted to select Arsenal goalie Aaron Ramsdale in favour of Jordan Pickford.
Ramsdale came out with 40.2 per cent of the vote while Pickford managed 32.7 per cent.
CENTRE BACK: JOHN STONES
In defence, John Stones once again marshalls the backline after an overwhelming majority of you voted for him (89.2%).
You selected him ahead of Everton’s Conor Coady, who has been in strong form this season.
CENTRE BACK 2: BEN WHITE
And Stones has been joined by Arsenal star Ben White, who has been in strong form for his club side this season, albeit at right-back.
A whopping 63.4 per cent of you want to see White in the starting lineup, though his position in Southgate’s opinion is still under scrutiny.
CENTRE BACK 3: HARRY MAGUIRE
In contrast to White, Harry Maguire has been in poor form for Manchester United over the last 12 months or so, but also has differing positions of seniority and implicit trust in the England setup.
And despite his form 21.2 per cent wish to see Maguire start for England, making it seem he is still more desirable than the alternative option of Eric Dier (15.5%).
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RIGHT WING-BACK: KIERAN TRIPPIER
Arguably the country’s most in-form player at the moment, Newcastle man Kieran Trippier is having a hell of a season and is out-performing all of his counterparts.
There was an overwhelming majority of 64.8 per cent for Trippier to play at right wing-back ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold or Kyle Walker who has just come back from injury.
LEFT WING-BACK: LUKE SHAW
Luke Shaw at Left wing-back enjoyed an even bigger majority of 76 per cent, though his rival on that side does look to be Trippier.
Following a shaky season following the Euros, Shaw’s form picked up after being dropped for Tyrell Malacia earlier this season.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: DECLAN RICE
There are no surprises that Declan Rice has been selected to play in central midfield for England.
He saw the largest majority of any vote in our list with 90 per cent.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: JUDE BELLINGHAM
And there are even fewer surprises that playing Jude Bellingham alongside him is certainly the favoured partnership for Qatar.
His form and playstyle for club side Borussia Dortmund make him the perfect complement to Rice’s more destructive role.
RIGHT WING: BUKAYO SAKA
The front three is where things get a little more interesting, with another in-form Arsenal star, Bukayo Saka, selected to play on the right flank with 49.1 per cent of the vote.
He beat out the votes from Phil Foden (38.6%) and James Maddison (12.3%).
LEFT WING: RAHEEM STERLING
Left-wing saw by far the tightest results between Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish.
However, it was England’s Euro 2020 player of the tournament who won out with 41.6 per cent of the vote. Man Utd’s Rashford came in with 34.9 per cent of the vote while Grealish received 23.5 per cent.
STRIKER: HARRY KANE
Captain Harry Kane is where that interesting trend ends though, with 88.9 per cent of you voting for him to start in Qatar.
Kane has been crucial to England’s success during the last two tournaments and was the golden boot winner at the 2018 World Cup.
