England’s World Cup campaign threw up as many questions as answers after the self-inflicted nature of the semi-final defeat by Argentina.
One of those is which players will have survived by the time Thomas Tuchel’s side kick off the European Championship on home soil in two years’ time.
Here, our chief football reporter, Craig Hope, runs through the contenders for England’s XI in 2028…
GOALKEEPER
Jordan Pickford should have one more tournament in him. Playing for Everton, who were last in Europe in 2017, means he has relatively low mileage compared to some outfield team-mates. He again proved he can be England’s man for the big moments in North America. The goals conceded against Argentina were not his fault.
However, the danger to Pickford’s place is James Trafford, who was an unused reserve. Trafford is set to move out of Manchester City this summer and there is a strong chance that his next destination will be Newcastle.
The 23-year-old needs to play, because if he does there is a top-class goalkeeper who will one day be England’s No 1. Don’t rule out that elevation coming in the next two years.
Jordan Pickford lets Enzo Fernandez’s late shot fly past him in the semi-final – but the England goalkeeper has proved time and again he is the man for the big moments at the World Cup
James Trafford needs to play regularly and if he does there is a top-class goalkeeper in there who will one day be England’s No 1
RIGHT BACK
This is tricky, as was evident at the World Cup. England’s best right back, Reece James, cannot stay fit. Jarell Quansah and Ezri Konsa are more comfortable at centre back, while Djed Spence plays on the left for Tottenham. Lewis Miley was excellent at right back for a period for Newcastle last season, but he is a midfielder.
James will be 28 years old come the Euros, and the hope must be that he can find a consistent level of form and fitness with Chelsea. Tino Livramento has the ability to become England’s starting right back, but he too has issues around availability.
LEFT BACK
There is competition here. Spence was fantastic as this World Cup wore on, but that felt like a moment in time. Still, he deserves to stay around the squad.
Nico O’Reilly should be the obvious choice but he does not convince as a left back. He did OK in North America, but England need better than that to take the next step. Another two years in Manchester City’s first team will aid that development, but he could be a better bet in midfield.
Lewis Hall, 21, is the one who needs to put the disappointment of missing out this time behind him. His form at Newcastle until the final six weeks of the season had you believe he would be starting the World Cup.
There is an England left back in there – on the ball he is brave and, crucially, he knows how to keep it – but his defensive game must improve.
Lewis Hall is an England left back in the waiting – on the ball he is brave and, crucially, he knows how to keep it
CENTRE BACK
Of all those at this World Cup, you suspect only Marc Guehi will be close to the starting XI come Euro 28. The centre backs were a big part of the problem in England retreating to their own penalty area when taking a lead. They were not aggressive enough in keeping the team up the field.
Two players who could have made the squad if not for injury-disrupted seasons were Levi Colwill and Jarrad Branthwaite.
At 23 and 24 respectively, they are well placed to mature and compete with Guehi for a starting jersey. It feels like centre back is a position in which Tuchel must try something new. Colwill and Branthwaite have huge questions to answer over fitness, however.
Jarrad Branthwaite (left) has all the attributes to become an England regular if he can stay fit
CENTRAL MIDFIELD
Elliot Anderson is a lock, he just needs more help. That should be Declan Rice, but here was another major tournament in which the Arsenal star did not rise to the level of his club performances.
Also, this World Cup showed that England need to do something different on the ball in midfield. They are too much action, too little control. Several candidates come into the frame in this regard, including Adam Wharton and Alex Scott.
But keep an eye out for Lewis Miley’s development this season. The staff at Newcastle are convinced he is going to be a superstar and the 20-year-old ticks the box of technique and courage in possession.
Keep an eye out for Lewis Miley’s development this season. If he tracks as Newcastle expect, he can be challenging for an England spot
RIGHT WING
Despite scoring a hat-trick in the third-place play-off win over France, Bukayo Saka’s place as England’s starter on the right no longer feels as assured as it once did.
The 24-year-old has played a lot of games – 312 for Arsenal – and there is now some doubt about his ability to operate at his very best over a sustained period. Factor in another two years and Saka will have serious competition for his jersey.
Rio Ngumoha showed during his pre-camp involvement why he has skill to inject fresh excitement into the England XI. He needs a big breakthrough campaign with Liverpool, but the 17-year-old is going to be a star.
Tuchel likes him a lot and don’t be surprised if he starts one of the autumn internationals.
Expect Rio Ngumoha (above) to be challenging Bukayo Saka for a starting spot in the England XI come the Euros
LEFT WING
For Ngumoha on the right, see Max Dowman on the left. There is every chance he will be too good to ignore in two years’ time, even if he will be only 18 by then.
But the Arsenal prodigy has Anthony Gordon ahead of him. He is a Tuchel favourite and, after a slow start, he showed his worth at the World Cup. If his Barcelona adventure goes as Gordon expects it to, he should be an even better player for that exposure to the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha.
No 10
This conversation starts and ends with Jude Bellingham. However, here is a thought – if Harry Kane is injured or is no longer a guaranteed starter after the passage of two years, Bellingham as a false nine would be the best replacement.
That would bring Morgan Gibbs-White back into the equation at No 10 – he should have gone to this World Cup – and hopefully a rejuvenated Cole Palmer. Morgan Rogers is an option across the front four positions.
Jude Bellingham is a shoo-in for the England team for years to come as a No 10 – but could also play as a false nine if needed
STRIKER
Harry Kane faded from the last eight onwards at the World Cup, and perhaps that told us his load needed to be shared more than it was. The problem for Tuchel is that there is no alternative anywhere near Kane in terms of quality.
If Liam Delap is the next cab off the rank, England need more taxis. Kane, who will be 34, can still be England’s talisman for the home Euros – even if it is his last tournament as a starter.
MANAGER
The criticism of Thomas Tuchel in the isolation of how he managed the second half against Argentina was justified, but that does not mean he’s not the best man to take England into the European Championship.
If anything, here was the real-life learning experience of a problem he knew existed but could not correct in real time. The German has two years to change the mindset of his squad, and the opinion of his doubters.
