England take on the Netherlands in the Nations League semi-final this Thursday in Portugal and Gareth Southgate has the chance to pick up a silverware.
The Three Lions have been tipped as the favourites to win this encounter but no one is really willing to write off the Netherlands given that they have made tremendous progress under Ronald Koeman.
Also, the fact that a number of England international played in the UCL final this past weekend could severely affect the team’s performance.
Nations League: England team news
The first and most obvious talking point will be the availability of Harry Kane.
Kane picked up an ankle injury while playing vs Man City and since then he was on a long process of rehab. The England captain did make an appearance for Spurs during the UCL final but that was a really poor show from the frontman.
While reports have claimed that Harry Kane will declare himself fit for the Nations League match on Thursday but there is serious doubt whether Southgate will use him.
There is a big possibility that Man United’s Marcus Rashford might lead the line with Raheem Sterling playing down the left wing while Jadon Sancho operates on the right flank.
Jordan Henderson and Dele Alli both played in the Champions League final and Southgate is expected to name them on the bench.
This means that Declan Rice will get to play in central midfield alongside Ross Barkley who has some a fair bit of promise at Chelsea this season.
Eric Dier came on as a substitute for Spurs last weekend which means he is fit enough and should start as the third midfielder in the Nations League game vs the Netherlands.
Danny Rose and Trent Alexander Arnold both played in Madrid which means Walker and Chilwell should start as the full-back on Thursday.
John Stones and Harry Maguire are expected to be the central defensive partnership vs Ronald Koeman’s men.
Nations League: England’s predicted line-up
First XI: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell, Barkley, Dier, Rice, Sancho, Rashford, Sterling.
