So it’s official- England will be at the 2018 World Cup finals. The next question is who will make the squad. Using the tabloids favourite cliche of airport terminology to illustrate who gets in the squad (or as they say who makes the plane) here’s a quick guide to who’s in, out and maybe
Boarding Pass for Moscow Domodedovo:
If you’re here then barring injury or a dramatic loss of form you will go to the World Cup with England;
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Jack Butland
Fullbacks: Kyle Walker
Centre backs: Gary Cahill, Phil Jones, John Stones
Central midfielders: Eric Dier
Attacking midfield/ wingers: Dele Alli, Adam Lallana,
Forwards: Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jamie Vardy
Sat in the Terminal 5 Departure Lounge:
If you’re here you’re close to going- maybe one good appearance from boarding the plane or perhaps in a 50/50 battle with another player for your place- nobody wants to be 24th man for England- somebody on this list will be;
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Fraser Forster, Tom Heaton
Fullbacks: Nathaniel Clyne, Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Ryan Bertrand, Luke Shaw
Centre backs: Michael Keane, Chris Smalling, Harry Maguire
Central midfielders: Nathaniel Chalobah, Jake Livermore, Fabian Delph, Harry Winks, Jack Wilshere, Jordan Henderson
Attacking midfield/ wingers: Raheem Sterling, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jesse Lingard, Ross Barkley
Forwards: Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Jermain Defoe
Rushing for the Heathrow Express:
If you’re here you might go but you’ve got a lot of work to do. Maybe you’re a young player trying to break through or you’re settling at a new club or returning from injury- it’s a long time until the manager names his 23- at this point in the build up to Euro 2016 Marcus Rashford was still in the Man Utd youth team!
Goalkeepers: Freddie Woodman
Fullbacks: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Aaron Cresswell, Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Chilwell
Centre backs: Jamaal Lascelles, Alfie Mawson
Central midfielders: James Ward-Prowse, Danny Drinkwater, Tom Davies, Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Attacking midfield/ wingers: Theo Walcott, Nathan Redmond, Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden, Demarai Gray
Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dominic Solanke
Boarding the flight to Maui:
If you’re here you ain’t going to the World Cup (this time at least) perhaps you went before on those brief trips to Brazil or South Africa or you’re still young and may spend Christmas 2022 in Qatar. OK the vast majority of English footballers won’t be representing their country next summer in Russia. But if you’re like stars here you are a highly paid well known (and maybe even liked) footballer and Hawaii is lovely in June.
Goalkeepers: Ben Foster
Fullbacks: Glenn Johnson, Leighton Baines, Mason Holgate
Centre backs: Ben Mee, Rob Holding, Callum Chambers
Central midfielders: Lewis Cook, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Jonjo Shelvey, Tom Carroll
Attacking midfield/ wingers: Marc Albrighton, Ademola Lookman, Josh Onamah, Andros Townsend, Scott Sinclair
Forwards: Andy Carroll, Jay Rodriguez, Andre Gray. Saido Berahino
