10 October 2023 , 17:24
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It's official - England, Scotland, Wales Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will jointly host Euro 2028, and attention has begun to turn to how each national side might line up for the tournament.
Cast your mind back to 2017. Who, at that stage, would have made your England squad for the 2022 World Cup, and how many of those players actually made it? There are no dead certs, and making these predictions is a thankless task as times, but some players seem more likely than others to make the cut.
Of course, five years is the gap between now and the opening fixture of the home Euros. There's no accounting for injuries or loss of form, but that won't stop us attempting to see into the future.
As the long lead-up to Euro 2028 begins, Mirror Football's writers have made an attempt to predict that first starting XI. It's a blend of current regulars, those just making their way into the international picture, and one or two more speculative picks.
We've also taken a closer look at the tournament itself. There are still some unanswered questions, but plenty of time to find some clarity.
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Andy Dunn
Considering the chaos and carnage at the Euro 2020 final - in 2021 - at Wembley, Rishi Sunak was stretching credulity a touch when he said: “We host tournaments better than anyone else.”
No, we don’t. And let’s hope the English authorities, in particular, do not go into Euro 2028 with the sort of complacency that led to the disgraceful scenes at Wembley a couple of years ago.
Scenes outside Wembley in 2021 attracted plenty of attention (AFP via Getty Images)In all likelihood, both semi-finals and the final will be held at Wembley but wouldn’t it be better if one semi was held elsewhere in the UK or in Ireland? The great thing about this successful - albeit uncontested - bid is that it will bring great football not just to England and Wembley (which stages enough football already) but to Wales, Scotland, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The Principality Stadium in Cardiff would be a fantastic venue for the tournament opener. And let’s hope all five nations qualify for Euro 2028.
The format for qualification has yet to be decided but it is clear all five will not be handed an automatic spot in the finals. Nor should they be. But even if one or two fail to make it, they will still make great hosts.
Gareth Southgate might no longer be England manager in 2028 (STEVE BOND/PPAUK/REX/Shutterstock)England, though, will stage the majority of the games … let’s just hope they are not as complacent as the Prime Minister. It might be almost five years away but English authorities, in particular, should always bear the lessons of the last Euro final in mind.
England XI: James Trafford; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrell Quansah, Marc Guehi, Levi Colwill; Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden; James McAtee, Bukayo Saka, Kai Rooney. Manager: Graham Potter
John Cross
It's coming home - again. We will never have it as good again as England football fans have got it now.
That is partly because the Football Association - generally speaking - do know how to put on a good tournament. And so they should… they have had enough practice in recent years.
Wembley hosted the Euro 2020 final among other big recent matches (Getty Images)The Euro 2028 final will be at Wembley with England enjoying a glorious time with the best generation of players for many years. But also they hosted the Euro 2020 final, the women’s Euros final last year and they have even got the Champions League final at Wembley next June.
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Why? Because this country has a buzz, energy and enthusiasm for football which is unrivalled. The atmosphere at Wembley and throughout the UK and Ireland for Euro 2028 will be sensational. Guaranteed.
We have not had much since Euro 96 but now we have final after final at Wembley. Of course no-one can forget the nightmare of the Euro 2020 final and the horrific crowd violence outside and inside the stadium.
The FA had to ensure they made improvements and got their house in order after the shocking scenes down Wembley Way. It would have been easy to move Euro 2028 elsewhere and punish the FA further. They probably deserved it.
But UEFA have clearly looked at what the FA have done, the unique circumstances around the occasion, just coming out of Covid and so on. This is not just England of course. It is a joint UK and Ireland bid and that sits well because for all the nations to join together and be as one is also worth celebrating.
England XI: James Trafford; Reece James, Ben White, Marc Guehi, Levi Colwill; Declan Rice, Trent Alexander-Arnold; Bukayo Saka Jude Bellingham Phil Foden, Harry Kane. Manager: Eddie Howe