England's stat-based Euro 2024 squad with shock calls for Luton, Burnley, Everton and Crystal Palace stars

The waiting is all but over and Gareth Southgate has shown his hand as England prepare for their latest attempt to end their long wait for a win at a senior men’s tournament.

Not since 1966, when Moore, Charlton, Banks and Hurst helped write their names in football folklore has England’s men’s national team enjoyed summer success. After 58 years of hurt, could that all be brought to an end when the Three Lions head to the Euro 2024 Finals in Germany next month? Well, frankly, who knows? But there is little doubt Southgate’s side are one of the favourites to win the tournament and become national heroes.

For the current England manager, the first part of his selection process is over after he named a training squad of over 30 players before finalising a 26-man squad that will board the flight to Germany. The likes of Marcus Rashford, Ben Chilwell and Jordan Henderson were all missing and there were some shock call-ups as Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Liverpool’s Jarell Quansah all made the cut.

But how would Southgate’s 26-man squad look if it was purely based on average ratings provided by the stats experts? We take to WhoScored to find out.

Goalkeepers

Pickford (6.71), Trafford (6.65), Johnstone (6.44)

There is little doubt who Southgate views as his number one goalkeeper and Everton stopper Jordan Pickford will head into the tournament in good form after playing an integral role in the Toffees’ successful battle against relegation from the Premier League. What is not so certain is which two goalkeepers will provide the backup for the Three Lions stalwart - although based on this stats-based selection it is Under-21 goalkeeper James Trafford and Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone that should get the nod.

Defenders

Alexander-Arnold (7.12), Tarkowski (7.08), Trippier (7.07), White (6.93), Branthwaite (6.90), Maguire (6.87), Walker (6.85), Doughty (6.83), Colwill (6.82)

Now there are some surprises and this probably tells you all you need to know about where England’s defensive ranks are at heading into the tournament. Of course, there is a question to be answered over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s best position but we have placed him in the defensive selection for this squad. Southgate favourites Kieran Trippier, Harry Maguire and Kyle Walker all make the cut and Levi Colwill and Jarrad Branthwaite also force their way in after recent selections. However, the presence of Everton’s James Tarkowski and Luton Town’s Alfie Doughty may come as a shock to come - although the latter would act as a solution to the left-back issue! Ben White makes the cut despite Southgate claiming the in-form Arsenal man had not made himself available.

Midfielders

Bellingham (7.76), Rice (7.38), Gallagher (7.13), Barkley (7.05)

Jude Bellingham’s versatility may well come into play a bit here given the Real Madrid man has shown he can pretty much do everything during the first season in La Liga. Again, for this selection, he is down as a midfielder, rather than the attacking midfield position he has held for Real - but that is mainly to squeeze every last drop of England creative ranks. Declan Rice and Conor Gallagher take their place in the squad and they are joined by Ross Barkley, who has impressed during the season with Luton Town, despite being unable to prevent the Hatters making an immediate return to the Championship.

Attacking Midfielders

Saka (7.67), Foden (7.55), Palmer (7.48), Eze (7.45), Gordon (7.28), Maddison (7.17), Bowen (7.10)

This is probably England’s strongest area and the stats clearly point to that fact with all seven attacking players averaging over 7.0 throughout the season. It is hard to argue with anyone of this selection given the impact they have made over the course of the campaign.

Strikers

Kane (7.68), Watkins (7.27), Solanke (7.03)

The first two selections here probably mirror how Southgate views his actual squad with Ollie Watkins almost certain to act as the main backup and competition for captain Harry Kane. The Aston Villa frontman has been in stunning form this season as Unai Emery’s side qualified for the Champions League and he will hope to make an impact in Germany. With Anthony Gordon also capable of playing as a striker, it seems likely Southgate will name just one other forward in his squad and that leaves a straight shoot-out between Callum Wilson, Ivan Toney and Dominic Solanke, with the latter taking the honours in this stats-based squad

The stats-based starting eleven

Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Trippier, Bellingham, Rice, Saka, Foden, Palmer, Kane.