Gareth Southgate has a number of huge selection calls to make for when England kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on Sunday night.
The dismal defeat to Iceland in their final warm-up game left the Three Lions boss with more questions than answers as he mulls over his starting XI for their Group C opener.
With no Harry Maguire, it is hoped John Stones will be fit to start at centre-half after the Manchester City defender was forced off at half-time on Friday. Marc Guehi partnered him at the back that night with Southgate hopeful the two can form an effective partnership at the heart of defence.
Luke Shaw meanwhile has made impressive progress in recovering from the muscle injury that has sidelined him since February but Sunday’s opener may come too soon for him having missed both warm-up games. The Manchester United left-back was back in first-team training on Tuesday, however.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is pushing to come into midfield in a role alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.
It could be a toss-up between him and Chelsea star Conor Gallagher for that starting spot with Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton also hoping for chances in Germany.
Bukayo Saka meanwhile has been almost ever-present in Southgate’s sides since making his senior debut in 2020 but has been recovering from a groin injury, coming off the bench for the final 25 minutes against Iceland.
It remains to be seen if he will be deemed fit enough to start on Sunday with Southgate and his staff carefully managing his training programme ahead of the competition.
Anthony Gordon and Phil Foden are vying to join Saka in attack in support of Harry Kane.
Serbia meanwhile have a number of dangerous options that pose a risk to an untested England backline with Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandr Mitrovic in attack with Sergej Milinković-Savic, now of Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, and Dusan Tadic pulling the strings behind them.
Predicted England XI to take on Serbia: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Kane
England vs Serbia TV channel and kick-off time
England vs Serbia kicks off at 8pm BST on Sunday 16 June. The match will be broadcast live on BBC One with a live stream available through BBC iPlayer.
England vs Serbia H2H record
This will be the first competitive meeting between England and Serbia.
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