Why Trippier?
Trippier started the warm-up game against Austria in the left-back and then played the last 24 minutes of the second warm-up game against Romania in the same position.
At that time, the unusual position for Trippier was accepted because both Manchester United’s Luke Shaw and Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell were not available for selection after their club efforts in the finals of the Europa League and the Champions League respectively.
Shaw played 66 minutes of the 1-0 win against Romania, but Chilwell, along with all the Chelsea and Manchester City players, missed the two warm-ups after giving him more time to recover.
Though Shaw and Chilwell join the group, Trippier is expected to start on the left side of a back four, with Manchester City’s Kyle Walker being preferred over Chelsea’s Reece James on right and Aston Villas Tyrone Mings as partner of City’s John Stones at heart on defense .
What about the rest of the defense?
Mings’ starting position had been questioned after his performance against Romania and Ben White’s impressive performance.
In addition, England reportedly focused on a three-man defense in some sessions, with either Connor Coady or Shaw being favored by the Wolves as part of a chain of three in the absence of Harry Maguire due to injury.
It should, of course, be said that preparation does not always correspond to the final selection of the day. Southgate’s squad could change if the manager decides otherwise this morning or injuries come up.
What about further ahead?
Much of the anticipation has focused on how Southgate intends to use its attack options. It appears the manager will start with Phil Foden, Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling, who play behind Harry Kane.
Sterling’s starting spot means Marcus Rashford, who captained England against Romania and scored the winning goal, is expected to sit on the bench with Jadon Sancho.
Rashford had missed the last two training camps in England due to injury before joining the Southgate squad earlier this month. The only game he has played for England in a major tournament so far was the 1-0 loss to Belgium in Kaliningrad at the 2018 World Cup.
One of the most talked about calls will be about Grealish, who has dazzled in recent England appearances. However, Southgate’s caution in his defense appears to have led him to pick two midfielders as West Ham’s Declan Rice prepares to work with Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the middle. Jordan Henderson, who won a few minutes against Romania, is not yet ready to start.
(Photo: Von Visionhaus / Getty Images)
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