Foden benched, no room for Palmer, but Bellingham in - England's big issue (2024)

There are few who would envy the excruciatingly difficult decisions that Gareth Southgate is going to have to make over the next month.

But perhaps one of the most testing and the most crucial choices he must make is who to start in England's midfield in their opening game at Euro 2024.

The England boss certainly has no shortage of options when it comes to that area of the pitch.

Six names have been listed as midfielders in the final 26-man squad, with a number of versatile forwards providing further options.

There is a wide consensus that when England open their campaign against Serbia on Sunday 16 June, there are two midfield names who are all but guaranteed to be among the starting XI.

With England starlets Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice looking like sure bets to start, as talkSPORT's Jim White explained, it was the third spot that posed the real uncertainty.

Read More in Euro 2024

England hold on to win Euro 2024 opener against dogged Serbia - live reaction

Euro 2024 odds for the outright winner: England among favourites

"You’ve got to think in central midfield, Declan Rice - a certain starter. Jude Bellingham - a certain starter," he said. "Who else is in there?

"Cole Palmer? Maybe. Conor Gallagher? Maybe. Again, England - powerful in that area.

But for former England striker Peter Crouch, the final midfield spot would be better served by a player who is actually listed as a forward.

"I'd love to get (Phil) Foden in centrally," Crouch told talkSPORT. "I just think that's where he is. He's been the best player in the Premier League for me this season in a central position.

"So hard to get them all in. I think Bellingham, as intelligent as he is, I think he can play alongside Declan Rice. There's talk about Trent playing in there, but I think Jude Bellingham can play in there. Gone are the days where we have players playing in a hole that were luxury players, you know, they work as hard as your defensive midfield players so, yeah, I'd like to get Foden in centrally.

"And then I think you've got the width, you'd have to play Saka. I'd love to get Palmer in there but it's not his best position out on the left, so I'd get someone like Anthony Gordon in. But I'd play three behind Kane."

But not everyone is so convinced by Foden's indispensability to the team.

Although the midfielder averages around one goal every three games for his club, that figure falls to nearly one in every ten for his country.

talkSPORT's Darren Bent explained that this international form meant he would not be overly concerned if Foden did not feature within the starting XI for England.

Speaking on talkSPORT Drive, he said: "When Foden has played for England, he has not been on the level as Foden for Manchester City. People talk about this kid and I agree, he's one of the greatest English players we've ever produced. Four goals in 34 games - he's better than that, is he not?

"He's been the best player this season by some distance in a team filled with absolute superstars. If I'm picking my England team, yes, Phil Foden is in it 100%.

"But what I'm saying is, if he wasn't in it, in my head I'm not thinking oh my goodness we've got no chance of winning the Euros."

It is not just the list of forwards that Southgate may look to when it comes to completing his midfield line-up for their opening game.

With the versatile option of Trent Alexander-Arnold among his defenders, the Liverpool star could well be deployed in a midfield role if England are in need of his vision and passing intelligence.

Bent picked Alexander-Arnold as his choice starter for that very reason.

"If it were my opinion, I’d probably go with Trent Alexander Arnold," he said. "I think he’s a fantastic passer of the ball. It’s a little bit in-between. As long as I don’t see two holders in there, I’ll be happy."

And his view was shared by more than one former England international.

"I would probably...go with Trent Alexander Arnold in midfield, alongside Declan Rice, and Bellingham a little bit in advance," Arsenal Invincible and ex-England midfielder Ray Parlour told talkSPORT.

And ex-England defender Stuart Pearce explained why Alexander-Arnold's influence could be crucial for the side in facing teams like Serbia and Slovenia who could attempt to rely on a strong defensive line.

"If teams are playing deep, which the Icelandic did on Friday (in England's 1-0 loss), you find it so difficult to break them down," he told talkSPORT. "So you have to have someone with that range of passing that can unlock a defence from distance, and he can do that. So it wouldn't surprise me if he started for that reason.

"But I think the beauty of it is I think we get tied up a little bit about the starting XI and in the modern game with so many subs, I think as a manager now you can pick a team and after 20 minutes, or 30 minutes, if you don't like what you're seeing because the game plan is slightly different, make a couple of substitutions. I think that will happen in the game as time goes by."

And if the competition to start in the middle was not already great enough, 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo could well present himself as an indisposable option.

After impressing with Manchester United this season, the youngster not only convinced Southgate to hand him a spot in the Euro 2024 squad, he may also have made his case to actually start in England's opener.

"I’d make a spot for Kobbie Mainoo as well," said talkSPORT's Football Correspondent Alex Crook. "I think this boy is a serious generational talent. Get him in the team, Gareth!"

His words were echoed by talkSPORT Early Breakfast host Shebahn Aherne.

"I think (Mainoo's) proven that he’s got it to go all the way and can go to the international stage," she said. "He’s also got good experience next to him with Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice in the midfield."

But whatever one might predict, Southgate has already caused more than few shocks with his Euro 2024 squad decisions to-date.

Read More on talkSPORT

Rashford's agent hits out at England snub, Spain go through, Netherlands vs France tonight

Man United begin the season, it's Chelsea vs Man City and Ipswich host new-look Liverpool

And with remaining midfield options Conor Gallagher, Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton all giving Southgate yet more to think about, we could well be in a few more surprises when England step out to face Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.

talkSPORT will bring you live coverage of every match at Euro 2024 and you can follow all the latest news in ourrolling live daily blog.