ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ddd9/live/c251c9f0-e0b0-11ee-860f-4b0b053e4cd0.jpgOK, it's time to bring in BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty, who will be fielding your questions in a Q&A on this page.
ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/3/25/533d7dec-8949-4235-a469-6975fa3d5e15.jpgAnna: What do you think is England's biggest area of concern ahead of the Euros?
Phil McNulty: Hello, Anna. I think there are three major areas of concern for me.
I am not convinced by Harry Maguire in central defence against high-quality opposition, although he will rightly counter that by stating his record at major tournaments. I think, given his struggles at Manchester United, that he has been very fortunate no-one has yet stated a compelling case to replace him.
There is a concern at left-back where Luke Shaw, who has developed into a top-class player for club and country, is racing to be fit for Euro 2024. If he is missing there is a real drop off, as seen when Ben Chilwell played against Brazil. Will Gareth Southgate turn to old campaigner Kieran Trippier at left-back if Shaw is not ready?
Southgate needs Shaw to be fit but there is no guarantee at this stage.
And – this is a very obvious one – what would England do if anything happened to captain and all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane? He is quite simply irreplaceable. Full stop.
Ollie Watkins is a good Premier League striker and we will see what Ivan Toney can do against Belgium but in that position, as a leader, striker and all-round footballer, there is simply no-one to touch Kane. We have seen how blunt England can look without him.
SD in Stoke: Hi Phil, my question/observation is the same as it was going into the last Euros. When will the FA realise that Gareth and his coaching team are not up to this? With the embarrassment of riches (squad-wise) we have, we should be going into the next Euros as reigning European and world champions. For what it’s worth then, here’s my prediction. We’ll limp through the group stages, get a fairly winnable round of 16 game. Then when/if we get through that, we’ll go out in the quarter-finals. Rinse and repeat.
Phil McNulty: Morning SD. I think that "not up to this" is a harsh overall assessment given England’s track record in major tournaments, but I do think Gareth Southgate’s "legacy" will now be largely shaped by what happens in the Euros. He has done well enough in those tournaments without winning but with this squad, at this time, if England do not win then he will be undoubtedly viewed by many as a nearly man with a squad who could not get over the line when it mattered.
I would say semi-finals is the minimum requirement and even defeat there, where England could meet France, would be viewed as a disappointment.
When (or if) Southgate goes, he will have done so much that was good but now is the time to cross that frontier and win a major tournament.
Dave: Hi Phil. I was wondering about your thoughts on Gareth Southgate's critics, belittling what he has achieved considering England's strength "on paper". Would you agree that he has actually done a great job and, as proven many times over England's history, that the best on paper doesn't even guarantee progression from the group stages?
Phil McNulty: I think Gareth Southgate has done a very good job up to a point. He has made the latter stages of big tournaments and let’s not forget the shambles of the Roy Hodgson era when England could not even get out of the group stage at the Brazil World Cup in 2014 then the humiliating exit to Iceland in the last 16 at Euro 2016.
He has also made players want to play for England again, when it almost seemed a burden before.
I certainly do not think he should be belittled in any way at all and his track record at major tournaments is better than anyone’s since Sir Alf Ramsey won the World Cup in 1966.
To do a "great" job, then he needs to win Euro 2024. That will be the difference. He needs to be remembered as a winner to be regarded as having done a "great" job, but Gareth Southgate deserves complete respect as a person and a manager.
ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/3/25/1f3468d5-d60c-4d62-86ab-f7c66ac1ed99.jpgVicky Gaskin, West Kirby: Are you surprised at just how loyal Gareth Southgate is to Harry Maguire? He looked shaky again against Brazil on Saturday and he’s had limited game time at Manchester United this season.
Phil McNulty: No, I’m not surprised, Vicky because Gareth Southgate is very loyal to those he believes have delivered for him – although I am still unconvinced by Maguire for this summer’s Euros.
Maguire made a passionate defence of his England record last week and he has every right to do that seeing as he played in a team that reached the World Cup semi-final in 2018, the final of Euro 2020 and then the 2022 World Cup quarter-final.
I do feel that area might be a weak link at Euro 2024 but at the moment no big alternative jumps out and Southgate is a big fan of Maguire’s partnership with John Stones. He also feels Maguire has never let him down for England and sees no need, at this stage, to consider replacing him.
ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/3/25/66b46cd8-3e57-4287-8db1-0549b0441790.jpgTom in London: Hi Phil. It seems that nobody is really talking about England’s biggest problem position - goalkeeper. Jordan Pickford is solid but below him there’s a real lack of depth - Nick Pope is injured, Aaron Ramsdale is not playing, James Trafford has got potential but clearly struggled this season and not ready for that step up yet. Am I missing something? Are there other decent youth keepers coming up?
Phil McNulty: Morning, Tom. I think there are other problem positions but take your point on this one. I’ll disagree with your description of Jordan Pickford as “solid”. I think he has been outstanding for both Everton and England for a long time but you’re right to point out there is a problem behind him.
I would say Aaron Ramsdale would be second choice, the problem being he now fills the same role at Arsenal with David Raya ahead of him. The call-up for James Trafford, who has had his struggles at Burnley this season, shows the current lack of alternatives after Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone pulled out of the current squad with an elbow injury and with Newcastle’s Nick Pope out with a long-term injury.
I was surprised Trafford was selected ahead of Jack Butland, who has played for England before and has had an excellent season at Rangers.
As with Harry Kane, Gareth Southgate will have everything crossed nothing happens to Jordan Pickford.
Good youth keepers? I watch a fair bit of Oxford United and was really impressed with James Beadle, who has played for England up to under-20 level when he was on loan at The Kassam. He is now on loan at Sheffield Wednesday. He is just 19, looks a real prospect, and I know Brighton have very high hopes for him.
