There are few who would envy the excruciatingly difficult decisions that Gareth Southgate is going to have to make over the next month. But perhaps one of the most testing and the most crucial choices he must make is who to start in England 's midfield in their opening game at Euro 2024 . The England boss certainly has no shortage of options when it comes to that area of the pitch.
Six names have been listed as midfielders in the final 26-man squad, with a number of versatile forwards providing further options. There is a wide consensus that when England open their campaign against Serbia on Sunday 16 June , there are two midfield names who are all but guaranteed to be among the starting XI. With England starlets Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice looking like sure bets to start, as talkSPORT's Jim White explained, it was the third spot that posed the real uncertainty.
"You’ve got to think in central midfield, Declan Rice - a certain starter. Jude Bellingham - a certain starter," he said. "Who else is in there? "Cole Palmer? Maybe.
Conor Gallagher? Maybe. Again, England - powerful in that area. But for former England striker Peter Crouch , the final midfield spot would be better served by a player who is actually listed as a forward.
"I'd love to get (Phil) Foden in centrally," Crouch told talkSPORT. "I just think that's where he is. He's been the best player in the Premier League for me this season in a central position.
"So hard to get them all in. I think Bellingham, as int.
