90min

England predicted line up vs San Marino - World Cup qualifying

By Matt O'Connor-Simpson

England should seal their place at the 2022 World Cup
England should seal their place at the 2022 World Cup / Clive Rose/GettyImages
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All that England need to do to ensure qualification for the 2022 World Cup is secure a point against lowly San Marino on Monday night.

The part-timers have lost all of their qualifiers so far and only scored once, meaning that anything less than a comprehensive victory from the Three Lions would be pretty embarrassing.

With several absentees leaving Gareth Southgate with some selection dilemmas, here is the starting XI he is most likely to go with on Monday...

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Aaron Ramsdale
Ramsdale should get a maiden cap / Michael Regan/GettyImages

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) - Ramsdale has made a terrific start to the season with Arsenal, proving a lot of doubters wrong. He deserves a maiden Three Lions cap.

Harry Maguire (CB) - After 'silencing his doubters' with a header against the mighty Albania, Maguire is in line for a lap of honour if he keeps a clean sheet against the lowest-ranked FIFA nation in the world.

Conor Coady (CB) - Coady has plenty of experience at the heart of a back three, not that he will be expecting to be particularly busy.

Tyrone Mings (CB) - How Mings has made the squad over Fikayo Tomori is a mystery, if not an outright disgrace to be honest.

2. Wing-backs & Midfielders

Ben Chilwell
Chilwell has been in good form for Chelsea / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

Trent Alexander-Arnold (RWB) - Alexander-Arnold can expect lots of space to whip in his trademark deep crosses on Monday night.

Kalvin Phillips (CM) - Conor Gallagher is pushing for a place after being called up following several withdrawals. However, with qualification still not technically in the bag, the more experienced Phillips should be included.

Jude Bellingham (CM) - Bellingham has made a strong start to the season and that will be enough to see him given the nod.

Ben Chilwell (LWB) - What a turnaround this campaign for Chilwell. The left-back spot is now very much his again.

3. Forwards

Harry Kane
Kane bagged a fine hat-trick against Albania / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages

Bukayo Saka (RW) - Saka did not feature at all in England's last encounter against Albania so he will be raring to go on Monday night.

Harry Kane (ST) - Antonio Conte will not thank him for it but as Southgate will want the game won early, Kane will start - fresh off a hat-trick in his last game.

Phil Foden (LW) - While a promising cameo from Emile Smith Rowe might just have done enough to earn a first England start, Southgate will likely still opt for the safer option in Phil Foden.

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