England’s World Cup 2018 squad – ranked: Who’s on the plane to Russia?

THE build-up to England’s attempts to end 52 years of hurt in Russia this summer is well and truly on.

Gareth Southgate’s men will walk out in Volgograd to face Tunisia in their opening game at the 2018 World Cup on June 18 with the hopes and expectations of a nation weighing heavy on their shoulders.

30. Adam Lallana – May not play again this season, but Southgate will give him as long as possible to recover from the hamstring injury that has side-lined him. If fit, he is crucial to England, but it’s a big ‘if’.

29. Michael Keane – Keane’s England chances have actually slimmed since his £30M summer move to Everton, who have leaked goals freely all season. His omission from the latest squad could be telling.

28. Jake Livermore – So reliable and getting more game time of late. A player Southgate trusts, but he will never set the world alight.

27. Alfie Mawson – England are well-stocked in central defence, but Mawson’s reputation is growing with every passing week. He is comfortable on the ball and boasts an exceptional passing range, but still remains an outsider for the squad.

26. Gary Cahill – Is playing for Chelsea again after a spell out of the team but in an underperforming team. Cahill will need a run of games where he plays well to get back into the England squad.

25. Joe Gomez – An exciting youngster who can play anywhere across the backline. Gomez suffered an unfortunate injury during the last international break. If he makes a swift recovery, as is currently predicted, he has a decent chance of making the squad.

24. Nick Pope – Pope has had an outstanding season, but the fact he didn’t get a minute on the pitch in either of England’s recent friendlies after his first call-up may tell us a lot about his chances. Southgate has his two favoured goalkeepers and Pope has nothing on Joe Hart’s experience.

23. Joe Hart – Bags of experience, but he has been way off his best this season and Southgate was there to see yet another mistake as he handed Peter Crouch a goal in the 1-1 draw against Stoke. The manager will value his experience, though, and that could tip the balance in his favour over Pope.

22. Danny Welbeck – Is back in the Arsenal team again and playing something like his best football. If he stays injury-free he might just slip into the squad as a versatile attacking option who can pop up with a crucial goal.

21. Ashley Young – Has played at left-back in the main this season but England have plenty of options there, so Young could be included as one of few wingers available to Southgate.

20. Fabian Delph – Has improved markedly under the Premier League’s best manager and provides a good option at both left-back and in central midfield.

19. Harry Maguire – A man mountain of a defender who is comfortable on the ball and whom Southgate likes. Maguire is still improving but as things stand he is making the cut.

18. Phil Jones – Injuries are once again the main concern for Jones. If he is fit, he will go to the World Cup.

17. Jack Wilshere – Has done brilliantly to work his way back to fitness and play consistently for the best part of a season, but all that game time seems to be catching up on him now. He has lost form, but does, just about, have enough time to rediscover his best ahead of the summer.

16. Danny Rose – Just can’t displace Ben Davies as Spurs’ left-back and every time he does play he looks off the pace. It doesn’t bode well for this summer, but given how well we know he can play, he will still make the squad, and could even start for England.

15. Ryan Bertrand – Missed the last two friendlies through injury but should still make the squad. He has been the most consistent English left-back over the past season.

14. John Stones – Stones will hope for a bit more game time for City in the lead-up to the World Cup, having not played for his club since early March. Now, with the league wrapped up and nothing left to play for, he will hope to play enough to retain his place in the England team.

13. Marcus Rashford – Every time it seems like Rashford is going to get a run in the United side, Mourinho drops him again, and it now looks too late for him to get back into the team. That could seriously hinder his World Cup hopes, though he remains a great option from the bench.

12. Kieran Trippier – The main potential beneficiary of Southgate’s decision to play Kyle Walker on the right side of a three-man defence, Trippier could be in the starting line-up in Volgograd. Few would have predicted that 12 months ago.

11. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Oxlade has really come into his own in the last few weeks and is showing at Liverpool why he has always remained so adamant that he should play in central midfield. Could start there for England this summer.

10. Jesse Lingard – He gets a lot of criticism but it is largely unwarranted, and he showed his worth – and booked his seat on the plane – in the recent friendly win in Holland; could even sneak into the starting line-up.

9. Jack Butland – In a duel with Pickford for the No 1 jersey. Both will certainly be on the plane to Russia.

8. Jordan Pickford

7. Jordan Henderson – Not an inspiring selection but a model professional that managers consistently love. Another leader and potentially England captain next summer, so it will take something drastic for Henderson not to make the squad.

6. Jamie Vardy – England don’t have too many options up front and Vardy, who frequently scores in big games, will be an important player – if only from the bench – in Russia.

5. Dele Alli – His stock fell a little during a little lull in his form, but he is at his best when criticised and he showed that in Tottenham’s win at Chelsea. Lingard is pushing him for a starting spot, but his place on the plane isn’t in doubt.

4. Eric Dier – His versatility means the position he will play at the World Cup is still up in the air. He will definitely be on the plane.

3. Kyle Walker – Even better at City than he was at Spurs, Walker actually looks like something resembling a £50M player. The only question is whether he plays as a wing-back or in the new right-sided central defender role Southgate played him in recently.

2. Raheem Sterling – During a difficult time for Manchester City, Sterling was one of the few positives. Still needs to add goals to his game but he is a senior member of the squad these days and there’s no reason he couldn’t play a key role in England’s attack.

1. Harry Kane – Something pretty major would have to happen for Kane not to be in Russia this summer. His claim for that goal at Stoke has turned much of the public against him, but this would be his chance to redeem himself.

The final 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, Joe Hart. Defenders: Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Ryan Bertrand, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, John Stones, Phil Jones, Harry Maguire.

Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, Jesse Lingard, Fabian Delph, Ashley Young Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck