Southgate has 4 England winners and 6 losers as questions loom ahead of Euros
Got your breath back yet?
After two truly thrilling qualifying fixtures this month against Malta and North Macedonia, England have claimed top seeding at Euro 2024. Okay, it wasn't quite as exciting as that but nevertheless, 2023 has been a good year for the Three Lions.
Starting with their first win away to Italy in more than 60 years, Gareth Southgate's side have done well to recover from a gut-wrenching World Cup exit and have gone unbeaten in qualifying for the next major tournament. With Southgate given the FA's backing to see out his contract - which notably expires in November next year, six games after the Euros - he's stuck with largely the same squad and had the favouritism tag thrown at him.
But the results speak for themselves; six wins, two draws and zero losses as well as a statement-like 3-1 victory over in-form Scotland at a raucous Hampden Park and seeing off Australia at Wembley. Unspectacular or underrated? That's for you to decide, but there are plenty of players who've had an important year in or out of the England setup and that's what we're looking at.
Mirror Football is here to four winners and six losers from England's 2023.
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Winner: Jude Bellingham
There's only man to start: Jude Bellingham. The mature midfield marvel has been England's standout player this calendar year and his heroics were personified in the game that sealed England's ticket to Germany next summer, as he orchestrated October's 3-1 win at home to Italy with another fabulous performance.
The Real Madrid youngster, whose 13 goals in his first 14 appearances have elevated him to superstar status within a matter of weeks, has cemented his place in Southgate's starting XI and will be among his first names on the team sheet. Bellingham has already shone in Germany with Borussia Dortmund so long as he stays injury free, he's bound to pick up where he left off once when he returns in June.
Get involved! How should England line up at Euro 2024? Join the debate in the comments section.
Jude Bellingham has been England's standout player in 2023 (Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)Loser: Raheem Sterling
A staple of Southgate's pre-World Cup side, there was once a stage where fans and pundits were clamouring for Raheem Sterling to come out of the team in place of a Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka or Jadon Sancho. Now we're witnessing outcry when he isn't selected, just like for November's double-header.
The Chelsea winger looks rejuvenated this season but since asking not to be called up for England's fixtures in June, he hasn't been picked by Southgate for the last three camps. Sterling's World Cup campaign was splintered after he had to return home following a home robbery and while his manager insist that there's no personal issue, the fact Sterling was still left out after five withdrawals before the Malta game spoke volumes.
Southgate will only name one more squad before the Euros, as the Three Lions host Brazil and Belgium for friendly matches in March, and Sterling doesn't make that, could we see a tournament without him?
Raheem Sterling has missed the last five England squads (Visionhaus/Getty Images)Winner: Harry Maguire
Ah, Harry Maguire. No England star's place in the squad has been discussed more than the Manchester United defender's has in 2023. Despite ending last season as fifth-choice centre-back at Old Trafford, Maguire decided to stay put and fight for his place, a decision which has now paid off.
Southgate always stuck by him, though, giving him valuable minutes between sitting on the bench at club level. Even after Erik ten Hag stripped him of the United captaincy, Maguire didn't let his head drop and is now playing his best football for more than two years. He's a certain starter should he stay fit.
Harry Maguire has regained his place at Manchester United (Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)Loser: Fikayo Tomori
With all the clamour for Maguire dropped, the question was who'd replace him? One centre-back among Southgate's options stood out, Fikayo Tomori. Having won Serie A in his first full season with AC Milan, the former Chelsea ace's stock couldn't have been much higher, yet his international boss seemed reluctant to trust him.
With Milan having surrendered the Italian crown last term and currently on a dismal run of form, Tomori is no longer the likely backup for Maguire and John Stones. Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi started both November fixtures and looks set to retain his place when Southgate names his 23-man squad some time next May. Tomori, meanwhile, could be on the chopping block, especially if defenders like Levi Colwill and Ezri Konsa keep their places.
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Fikayo Tomori will have a hard time earning minutes at centre-back for England (Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)Winner: Jordan Henderson
When it sank in that Liverpool captain and club legend Jordan Henderson, a man who lifted every trophy available at Anfield, was really going to be playing his football in Saudi Arabia, many wrote his international career off. Southgate was initially coy on whether the 33-year-old would remain in his squad but that's been emphatically answered this autumn.
By selecting Henderson to start the 1-1 draw with Ukraine in September, it became obvious just how highly the Three Lions boss rates him. Although not a guaranteed starter, Southgate will almost certainly take him on the plane to Germany regardless of how his Saudi venture goes. He's evidently that important - despite the boos.
Jordan Henderso's move to Saudi Arabia hasn't dented his England hopes (Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)Loser: James Ward-Prowse
A midfielder who'll have hoped to take Henderson's place in the England squad was James Ward-Prowse, now starring for West Ham after a £30million summer transfer following relegation with Southampton. But somehow, the set-piece specialist's last Three Lions call-up came over a year ago.
With two goals and five assists in the Premier League so far this season, it's hard to imagine what more Ward-Prowse could go to earn another call-up. Southgate instead prefers Chelsea star Conor Gallagher, as he made clear ahead of the World Cup. "With James, he is really competing profile-wise with Bellingham and Henderson, maybe to a lesser degree Gallagher," the 53-year-old explained.
"I don't see him in the same profile at (Declan) Rice or (Kalvin) Phillips, they are different types of players. He is just behind those guys, frankly. It's as simple as that."
James Ward-Prowse was last called up to an England squad before the World Cup (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)Winner: Ollie Watkins
He's had to be patient but it'd now be a surprise to Ollie Watkins miss out on England squad. Revitalised under Aston Villa boss Unai Emery, the 27-year-old - considered a model professional by all of his coaches past and present - has been nothing short of superb this term.
With six goals and five assists in 12 Premier League games and a couple of strikes in the Europa League, Watkins has taken his game to another level and made himself Kane's closest competitor. Callum Wilson is also among the candidates if England's captain was ever to miss a game, but with the Newcastle marksman's injury woes persisting, the door is well and truly open for Watkins, who made it three goals on his eighth England cap in the 1-0 victory over Australia.
Ollie Watkins wants to take Harry Kane's No.9 shirt for good (James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)Loser: Mason Mount
Manager's pet, they used to call him. Now Mason Mount can't seem to get a start for anyone. Having chosen to leave boyhood club Chelsea over the summer following his a disastrously injury-hit season in a Blues shirt, the 24-year-old's career has continued to stagnate up north.
A favourite for Southgate until just prior to the World Cup, Mount's introduction from the bench in England's quarter-final defeat to France won the Three Lions a penalty. But he hasn't represented his country since, having been forced to drop out of the March squad due to injury. These days it's purely down to form and the Champions League-winning stars needs to up his game - fast.
Like Sterling, there's a feeling that Mount could find his way back into the starting XI relatively easily thanks to Southgate's past loyalty. But in both of their cases, who drops out?
Mason Mount has failed to rekindle his career after leaving Chelsea (Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)Loser: Nick Pope
While there's no question that Jordan Pickford is England's undisputed No.1, there is a battle going on behind him. Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has recently been dropped but remains in the Three Lions' squad, unlike Nick Pope.
The Newcastle shot-stopper was last called up in March before pulling out through injury. Even Tottenham deputy Fraser Forster has been included in matchday squad more recently than Pope, with Sam Johnstone currently third choice behind Pickford and Ramsdale. The former Burnley star may be a favourite at St James' Park, but it's a different story at St George's.
Nick Pope's England career is fading (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)Loser: Ivan Toney
Finally, Ivan Toney has more than likely had a tougher year than anyone in the England squad. Banned for eight months in May, the Brentford talisman remains unable to play football until January. That might be enough time for him to impress Southgate and he even name-checked Toney last week, but it'd take some doing to be on the plane to Germany.
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