Football365’s famous World Cup 2018 ladder

To repeat, as ever, this is not our opinion but our estimation of Gareth Southgate’s thoughts. It’s also not his squad now, but the one he will pick in 12 months to take to Russia (should we qualify). And yes, it is a tad depressing…

 

1 (1) Harry Kane
Twenty-nine goals in 25 games in 2017. Eleven goals in his last five games. Pick whatever statistic you like and you end up in the same place: Harry Kane is the only English player currently playing at a level approaching world class. Forget wrapping him in cotton wool; he might have an allergic reaction. Just keep him in a cave.

 

2 (3) Adam Lallana
One of England’s only impressive players against Scotland but his worry might be that Gareth Southgate does not consider him a perfect fit for games against the highest calibre of opposition because he lacks raw pace. But he is still the most technically proficient and hard-working of all the attacking midfielders available and a fit Lallana is a shoo-in for Russia.

 

3 (7) Jordan Henderson
Absence (and the combined efforts of Eric Dier, Jake Livermore and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain) has made the heart grow fonder of a player who has rarely been more than a 7/10 player for England. But unfortunately, that’s where we are in central midfield right now. And yes, we are sobbing a little.

 

4 (2) Dele Alli
There is literally no chance at all that a fit Dele Alli will drop out of the England equation, and yet we still want so much more from him in an England shirt. He had two poor games against Scotland and then France (barring one cross-field ball and a tumble for a penalty) and we cannot remember the last time he played well for his country, so let’s put talk of a £100m-plus valuation on hold, please. England need him to have a lighter workload next season so he doesn’t look quite so sluggish in June.

 

5 (11) Gary Cahill
The only centre-half to start both against Scotland and France. Oh but he was terrible, we hear you say. Oh but there’s nobody else, we tearfully shout in return. And he has (old) age on his side, in that he is likely to be the only England outfield player with over 50 caps and a cupboard full of medals.

 

6 (6) Raheem Sterling
Came on against Scotland and delivered the cross that Kane converted for the equaliser and was effervescent against France when others were flat. Sterling will never be a tabloid favourite (he bought a house for his mum!) but he is the only English winger who can beat opposition defenders with a burst of pace. We will hold him when the chants start.

 

7 (10) Eric Dier
‘I refuse to learn anything new about Dier or England until a competitive match against a team that causes England problems and won’t allow us to keep the ball,’ wrote Daniel Storey in March. That still hasn’t happened but we have seen the limited worst of Dier against both Scotland and France. And yet he rises up this ladder because you, we and Gareth Southgate all know that he currently heads a very short list of available defensive midfielders.

 

8 (13) Ryan Bertrand
One of the few players to emerge from this week with a massive tick against his name. As a conventional full-back and then as a wing-back, he was one of England’s most creative players, with that overlap of Sterling one of the highlights of 180 pretty depressing minutes. Has edged ahead of the injured Danny Rose.

 

9 (12) Marcus Rashford
Nothing short of rotten against Scotland but we’re laying the blame for that at the feet of Southgate, whose job it is to know that Rashford has always looked nothing short of rotten when attempting to play from the right. But the fact that Southgate considered it “inconceivable” that Rashford be ignored by the senior side and join the Under-21s shows where he sits in his manager’s estimations. Too high, that’s where.

 

10 (5) Joe Hart
The narrative after the Scotland game was that Hart’s race is run, but a) we have been here before and b) Southgate is not a man to throw the giant baby out with the bathwater. Hart will still be England’s No. 1 if he can find a club ready to treat him as such. West Ham? He will certainly get plenty of practice.

 

11 (8) Kyle Walker
Not helped by Kieran Tripper being one of England’s better players against France (after taking his starting spot at Tottenham), but Walker is still England’s first choice right-back until we see clear evidence otherwise. And a potential move to Manchester City can only help.

 

12 (4) John Stones
Southgate opted for the safety-first pairing of Cahill and Chris Smalling against Scotland because Stones had barely played in two months. Against France, he looked like he had barely played in two years. We really do have a situation here.

 

13 (14) Jack Butland
Made one good save against France but it will take more than one good save before he entirely usurps Hart as England’s No. 1. It’s nice to have him back, mind.

 

14 (9) Danny Rose
While Trippier gave Walker a rest on the right against France, it was telling that Southgate stuck with Bertrand; he clearly has little faith in Aaron Cresswell. Right now – at least until Luke Shaw emerges from his hole – this is a two-way fight for the left-back spot.

 

15 (17) Chris Smalling
When push came to shove, it was back to Smalling that Southgate turned. A lot will depend on his next move; a place in an Arsenal back three would almost certainly keep him in contention. Rob Holding would like to think otherwise.

 

16 (27) Phil Jones
England’s best centre-half against France. And yes, that is the definition of damning with faint praise. We are working on the notion that a three-man defence needs at least five options, and Jones is No. 4.

 

17 (24) Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
All kinds of awful against France in central midfield but scored the goal that put England ahead against Scotland and could end up being a utility option if Arsene Wenger continues to develop him as a wing-back. Just don’t ever, ever pair him with Dier again. On pain of actual death.

 

18 (15) Nathaniel Clyne
Under real pressure from Trippier now but Clyne has been a constant in every Southgate squad, so we’re not about to relegate him just yet. Oh and you need to search his name on Twitter to discover just how lowly he is rated by many Liverpool fans.

 

19 (37) Jordan Pickford
And with the move to Everton comes the position of England’s third-choice goalkeeper. Nice bonus.

 

20 (18) Danny Welbeck
As we said in March: ‘The ladder stood by Welbeck through injury and won’t lose faith now. Southgate left him out over fitness issues, but Welbeck’s record of 11 goals in 20 competitive international appearances is the best in the squad with Rooney gone. Add in the ability to play as wide forward, and Dat Guy makes Dis Squad.’ This time around, Arsenal asked nicely that he not be included; they won’t get away with that again.

 

21 (21) Michael Keane
The best of England’s centre-halves this week, in that he was nowhere near either debacle. A summer move (preferably to Everton) will establish him further up this list.

 

22 (19) Jack Wilshere
We’ve obviously gone into this game without Jack (Wilshere), Henderson, Drinkwater, Delph if you are looking at English players playing,” said Southgate this week after staring at a distressing teamsheet featuring Dier and Jake Livermore. He needs a move. And he needs to be playing in central midfield. And he needs to be playing well. But the good news is that he has just about no competition.

 

23 (22) Jamie Vardy
Because England need another striker.

 

24 (16) Ross Barkley
Honestly have no idea why Daniel Storey put him so high in March; he will be severely reprimanded when he gets back from ‘holiday’.

 

25 (NE) Kieran Trippier
“I watched him a lot at Burnley, he’s got a good mentality, his play in the final third of the pitch is of a high quality, he’s one of the best crossers in the league I think and his selection of pass is good,” said Southgate, who justified Trippier’s selection with an encouraging performance against France.

 

26 (34) Jake Livermore
Only there because of absences elsewhere, but you would guess that solid performances have at least put him ahead of the likes of Drinkwater and Delph. Jesus, these are bleak times…

 

27 (25) Jermain Defoe
Came on for a minute against Scotland but it will take a 15-goal season for Bournemouth to get him on the plane to Russia.

 

28 (23) Jesse Lingard
Left on the bench for both games this week, which does not too strongly suggest that Southgate sees him as an integral part of his England squad. And frankly, nor should he.

 

29 (28) Daniel Sturridge
The only way he makes it is if he joins West Ham/Southampton/Newcastle and promptly scores 15 league goals next season. Which really could happen.

 

30 (26) Luke Shaw
Slip sliding away, slip sliding a-way. Another one who needs a transfer, a full body transplant, or both.

 

31 (NE) Rob Holding
Seems the England Under-21 most likely, especially if Arsenal a) stick with that back three and b) don’t sign Chris Smalling.

 

32 (36) Ben Gibson
There again, at least. Though Middlesbrough’s reluctance to sell this summer could smash any dreams of Russia in June.

 

33 (32) Tom Heaton
Had his chance and he palmed it back into the path of the opposition.

 

33 (29) Theo Walcott
It feels like a long way back.

 

34 (30) Wayne Rooney
That is surely that.

 

35 (40) Aaron Cresswell
Played, at least.

 

36 (20) Fraser Forster
Had a season to forget and really does not to be so much better next season or get stuck in Robert Green ‘England’s No. 5’ territory.

 

37 (35) James Ward-Prowse
One brilliant summer tournament could propel him past Livermore at the very least.

 

38 (NE) Dominic Solanke
By far the World Cup winner most likely.

 

39 (33) Nathan Redmond
He will always have a cap. But will he ever get a second?

40 (31) Michail Antonio
Destined to join the ranks of England call-ups who remain uncapped?

 

41 (38) Harry Winks

42 (43) Danny Drinkwater

43 (39) Andy Carroll

44 (44) Tom Davies

45 (46) Harry Maguire

46 (42) Andros Townsend

47 (NE) Tammy Abraham

48 (RE) Calum Chambers

49 (45) Kieran Gibbs

50 (50) Phil Neville

 

Sarah Winterburn