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How The BBC Predicted England Would Line Up At Euro 2020 In 2015

How The BBC Predicted England Would Line Up At Euro 2020 In 2015

Gareth Southgate's team will look very different to the predicted side when they take to the Wembley pitch next summer.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

The BBC attempted to predict England's Euro 2020 starting eleven back in 2015 and it features some truly appalling calls.

England boss Gareth Southgate should have been gearing up for his England side to take on Croatia at Wembley this weekend but instead he's getting ready to watch the remaining Premier League fixtures, with thoughts on who he will pick when the tournament is held next summer.

The BBC attempted to predict how the Three Lions would line up and there are a few unexpected names in the list.

Check out the predicted team below.

Up front sees regulars Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling who were young upstarts back in 2015.

The third man? Nathan Redmond. Despite often being Southampton's saving grace the 26-year-old has only won one cap for the national team and is unlikely to add to that anytime soon.

That said someone would have had to borrow the Delorean to have predicted the inclusions of either Marcus Rashford or Jadon Sancho in the side, with the pair being 17 and 15, respectively, at the time.

Some comments on the article ask for players such as Andy Carroll to be included, and it's fair to say that even with a year until the tournament he's not going to be included.

Saido Berahino was another who fans wanted to see included but the former West Brom striker now represent Burundi on the international scene.

Joe Hart was England's undisputed number one for over half a decade so it wasn't crazy to think he'd be between the sticks.

But Pep Guardiola's arrival at Manchester City saw Hart slip down the pecking order at the Etihad.

He is now second choice at Burnley after underwhelming loan spells at Torino in Serie A as well as West Ham United.

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PA

The only defender who regularly features is John Stones.

Eric Dier was in England's World Cup squad in 2018 but saw himself utilised as a midfielder.

Luke Shaw and Nathaniel Clyne have seen their careers ravaged by injury, though the Manchester United left back had returned to somewhere near his best before the lockdown.

Jordan Henderson is likely to be an integral part of Southgate's squad next summer, barring injuries, but Jack Wilshere certainly won't be, and Ross Barkley might have a fight on his hands, despite featuring regularly for the England boss in recent times.

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PA

One comment did tip Dele Alli for the England squad which was a superb prediction.

Alli had just signed for Tottenham Hotspur from MK Dons for a fee of £5 million and would join Spurs in the coming summer.

Who would make your squad for next summer? Let us know in the comments.

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Topics: Football News, Euro 2020, International Football, Premier League, England, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Gareth Southgate, Euros, Harry Kane