Not only is it the end of a tournament cycle following the conclusion of Euro 2024, but it is also the end of an era, with Gareth Southgate resigning as England manager.
Both scenarios can make a player’s international future precarious so, combined, this is now a clean slate.
So who did well enough in Germany to warrant inclusion in the new era to be overseen by Southgate’s successor? Who is on shaky ground? And who might be back in favour? The Athletic takes a look…
Whose place is secure?
Bukayo Saka
England’s most consistent attacking threat during the tournament, despite clearly battling fitness and fatigue issues. Saka also showed his versatility by taking up several roles on either flank.
His place in the lineup will not be guaranteed — Phil Foden or Cole Palmer could be better suited to the right-forward role if Southgate’s successor adopts a different style of play — but Saka will be a central figure in England’s future, whoever the new boss is.
Advertisement
Jude Bellingham
Euro 2024 should have been the tournament Bellingham confirmed his status as one of the best players in the world. Instead, he underwhelmed and cut a frustrated figure, forever demanding more from his team-mates and/or his manager.
Like the team, he delivered moments — some of them spectacular — but did not take ownership of matches. Even so, his talent and potential are clear.
Phil Foden
The best player in the country in the 2023-24 season, Foden, like England, played well for 45 minutes against the Netherlands but did little else of note. He was substituted in all four knockout games when England were either drawing or losing, which is telling.
Getting the best from him and Bellingham should be near the top of the new manager’s priority list.
Cole Palmer
How on earth will the new manager get Palmer, Foden, Bellingham and Saka in the same side? Well, hopefully, they won’t try to. Palmer came on to play as an attacking midfielder in a Euros semi-final and final and provided an assist and a goal.
‘Player in best role replicates what he does for his club’ shock! Massive impact, massive future.
Breaking down Cole Palmer’s astonishing season at Chelsea
- An expert’s guide to his all-round brilliance
- Do Manchester City regret letting him go?
- England have a star made for the big moments
- How he proved he was ready for Euro 2024
John Stones
England’s best centre-back by a worryingly large distance. Stones came into the Euros on the back of one Premier League start in two months but, the Slovakia game aside, he set high standards. A guaranteed pick in the new era.
Marc Guehi
The Crystal Palace defender quietly and calmly made the second centre-back spot his own. He was imperious in the group stages, if a little less assured in the later rounds, but there is so much to work with here.
If Southgate was staying, you would imagine he would become a permanent fixture in the side but, while there is emerging competition for Guehi, 24, to stave off, it’s his place to lose.
Jordan Pickford
Pickford was a symbol of the Southgate era in reliability, personality and being very good in major tournaments.
He has his limitations with the ball at his feet, which a new manager may look hard at, but given his status and the lack of competition, it is hard to envisage anyone else in the No 1 jersey at the 2026 World Cup.
Kobbie Mainoo
Watching the way he glided with the ball and broke up play against the Netherlands was glorious. His impact on the final was minimal, but it was his 44th appearance in senior professional football, so let the kid learn, evolve and blossom. He is an incredible talent.
Declan Rice
Of the first-choice XI, he probably had the weakest tournament, lacking composure and rhythm in England’s midfield.
But he will be at the World Cup and, if he or the new manager figure out his best role in the team, he can prove Rafael van der Vaart wrong.
Who has a point to prove?
Harry Kane
Well, this is awkward. England’s captain and record goalscorer who set the Bundesliga alight last season… surely he’s a key figure? Well, not necessarily, and for a couple of reasons.
First, strikers who aren’t quick are not exactly in fashion, so the new manager may prefer to field an alternative centre-forward or a false nine. Second, Kane will be 32 by the time the 2026 World Cup comes around and England’s previous four main strikers — Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker — had all retired from international football by that age.
Advertisement
He had a poor tournament, shared Golden Boot notwithstanding, so there is a question to be asked.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
After 29 caps he remains in the ‘too good to be left out, but we don’t know how to get the best from him’ category.
Was it a failure of Southgate’s not to find a way to showcase Alexander-Arnold’s talent on the international stage, or was the player to blame? We’ll find out soon.
Aaron Ramsdale
Would he have been ready if called upon? Would his team-mates have had confidence in him?
Ramsdale is a great squad player and a big personality to have around the camp, but England should not have a non-playing goalkeeper at his club as their primary backup at a major tournament. He needs to be a No 1 to justify his place.
Ezri Konsa
The Aston Villa defender played really well against Switzerland and should be in England’s next squad no matter who is in charge.
Joe Gomez
His services weren’t required in Germany. As a utility man in a 26-man squad, he probably deserves a place — although that depends on whether he continues to play regularly for Liverpool.
Ivan Toney
He made two telling contributions against Slovakia and Switzerland but you would not say he’s guaranteed to be part of the setup. Then there is the reality that he ended the season goalless in 12 league games for Brentford, where his future is up in the air.
Ollie Watkins
The forward produced one of the best moments in modern English football history when driving home the winner in the semi-final.
Like Toney, he has yet to demand inclusion in the England side, but if he continues to thrive with Villa he will get plenty more opportunities.
Anthony Gordon
Who? Oh yeah, that guy. For seven matches England were crying out for a pacy, creative player comfortable on the left flank to balance the attack, but an 89th-minute appearance against Slovenia was all Gordon got.
If he keeps up his Newcastle form, he’ll surely get more of a chance.
Eberechi Eze
Useful and showed his versatility against Slovakia and Switzerland in particular but, like a few players in the squad, he needed a start to show his capabilities.
Advertisement
His place in the squad feels vulnerable but, if he shines for Palace, he is in the reckoning.
Jarrod Bowen
Bowen made an instant impact as a substitute in the opening game when curling a cross for Kane to head against the bar but, after another late substitute’s role against Denmark, he wasn’t seen again.
Like Eze, he will need to play consistently well in the Premier League to catch the eye of the new manager, as he is far from established at international level.
Adam Wharton
The Palace midfielder did not play a minute in Germany but feels like a very likely candidate to be on that plane to the United States.
He is the kind of gifted, technically proficient midfielder England have been crying out for, but will still have plenty to prove in 2024-25, his first full Premier League campaign.
Conor Gallagher
The Chelsea midfielder began the tournament as Southgate’s first sub in the first two matches, then started against Slovenia and made little impact before being withdrawn at the interval. From the quarter-final onwards, he was only used as a stoppage-time substitute against the Netherlands.
He became a symbol of the manager’s perceived pragmatism, which was unfair. He actually has plenty to offer whoever comes next.
Who could move on?
Luke Shaw
Since breaking into the squad as an 18-year-old in 2014, when he won the PFA Young Player of the Year, he has played just 34 games for England — that’s an average of three and a half caps a year.
It’s a sad truth that he cannot be relied upon to be fit. Expecting him to be first choice hampers England’s plans and, unless he plays regularly for Manchester United over the next couple of years, it may be time to move on.
Kyle Walker
The Manchester City veteran was talked out of international retirement by Southgate after the last two tournaments, but he’ll be 36 when the 2026 World Cup comes around.
He was a mixture of good and bad in Germany, yet was still named in the team of the tournament for the second Euros running.
Kieran Trippier
Trippier is also entering the final phase of his career and will be 35 in 2026.
Like Walker, he has been a great servant for his country and coped well defensively at left-back despite being out of position. But with plenty of younger right-back options playing in the Premier League — including his 21-year-old Newcastle team-mate Tino Livramento — it’s time for fresher legs.
Advertisement
Lewis Dunk
You can see why Southgate took him to Germany given Harry Maguire’s absence but, like Gomez and Wharton, he did not feature at all.
He will be 34 in two years and there are ample options emerging at centre-back — Jarrad Branthwaite, Levi Colwill, Jarell Quansah — so it feels unlikely Dunk will get another call-up.
Dean Henderson
A stopgap third option. Sam Johnstone was injured, James Trafford endured a tough season at Burnley and Nick Pope had just returned for Newcastle. Henderson is likely to drop back down the pecking order now although, at 27, he has plenty of years left.
Who else might get a look in?
Ben White
Yeah, you know, the Arsenal right-back who would have been in most people’s Premier League team of the season for 2023-24 but won the most recent of his four England caps in March 2022?
Probably the player who stands to gain the most from Southgate’s departure, although with Walker, Trippier, Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Livramento and even Rico Lewis, right-back remains England’s most stacked position.
Harvey Elliott
It was a bit of a surprise that he hasn’t been called up yet and there’s a good chance that changes under the new boss, although that also depends if Liverpool’s new manager takes a shine to Elliott.
Jadon Sancho
It’s been three years since Sancho was named in an England squad. As with White, Raheem Sterling and a few others, bridges were burned between him and Southgate, but a new era could well include Sancho if he reproduces his Dortmund form at Manchester United or wherever he plays his football this season.
Ben Chilwell
Southgate never seemed to take a shine to Chilwell, perhaps more for the way he carried himself off the field more than on it. The same can be said for Jack Grealish and James Maddison. A change in management should offer a clean slate for all three players.
England aren’t blessed with many obvious options at left-back and that also could open the door for Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell, perhaps Rico Henry at Brentford, or maybe Leif Davis if he thrives in the Premier League with Ipswich Town.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
