24 May 2023 , 06:00
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Gareth Southgate will name his squad for two European Championships qualifiers this week, with the Three Lions having won their first two matches of the campaign back in March.
Wins against Italy and Ukraine have left England in a very strong position to progress from their qualifying group, with a 100% record having already faced their hardest fixture on paper. That match was a gritty display away in Italy, with a late red card to Luke Shaw leaving England hanging on after a stunning first-half display took them into a two-goal lead.
Now they face an altogether different challenge, with a trip to the Mediterranean to face Malta on June 16 before a home match against North Macedonia a few days later at Old Trafford on June 19. The Maltese are ranked as the 172nd best side in the world, with Euro 2020 qualifiers North Macedonia ranked at number 67.
Southgate will name a squad accordingly, with some new faces likely to make an appearance due to the nature of the matches and the timing of the fixtures. England's players are nearing the end of a gruelling season, with the Champions League final just a few days before for Manchester City's players.
Trent Alexander-Arnold missed out on a place in the last squad, but there could be a recall for the Liverpool man following his move into midfield. Meanwhile, Ivan Toney's ban could mean a recall for Tammy Abraham, with Dominic Calvert Lewin also in the running, albeit with the Everton man having suffered an injury setback last weekend.
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Other players such as Jude Bellingham and City's players have faced gruelling seasons chasing silverware, with Bellingham in particular having admitted to playing through pain in recent months as he pursues a Bundesliga title with Borussia Dortmund. This could lead to further surprises in the squad.
England got their Euros qualifying campaign off to a perfect start in March ((Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images))Here is everything you need to know about the next England squad announcement.
When is the England squad announcement?
The England manager will announce his squad for the upcoming Euro qualifiers on Wednesday, 24th May with the full announcement expected to get underway at 2pm.
England's upcoming fixtures
Malta v England
- 7.45pm BST, Friday 16 June
- Ta’Qali Stadium
England v North Macedonia
- 7.45pm BST, Monday 19 June
- Old Trafford, Manchester