Topics: England, Football, Euro 2024, Gareth Southgate, James Maddison, Leicester City
England fans are excited by Gareth Southgate's team selection for Sunday's game with Ukraine, after it was leaked James Maddison will start.
Southgate can't ever name a squad or team without coming under criticism for something or other, whether it's players he has picked or ones he hasn't
Jack Grealish's reputation in England grew the longer that Southgate didn't pick him, either in his squads or his starting line ups, before eventually becoming a key player.
Earlier in the week, the Three Lions boss came under fire for picking Kalvin Phillips in the starting line up against Italy in the opening Euro 2024 qualifier.
Advert
The move worked however, with the out of match practice Manchester City midfielder performing well as the Euro 2020 finalists got revenge over the champions in Italy, thanks to Harry Kane's record breaking goal.
On Sunday, the national team return to Wembley, for the first time since before the World Cup, as they take on Ukraine in the second game of the qualifiers.
The manager might have considered keeping the same starting line up, other than the suspended Luke Shaw, but that isn't expected to be the case.
According to Sky Sports, Leicester City attacking midfielder Maddison is set to finally get his first start as an England player, after making his debut off the bench.
"Long time coming. No doubt he is going to impress. Madas and Saka on the right! It’s going to be a good one," said one hopeful fan.
"FINALLY, now the world will understand why Leicester loves him and value him as one of the best players in the Premier League," added a second.
"At last class player, good luck England," replied a third.
One very happy supporter tweeted, "My first time seeing them live and Maddison is starting," before adding some love eyes emojis.
Another shouted, "MY PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED PLS LET THIS BE TRUE."
And a sixth could barely believe it, questioning, "Are you sure have you been hacked?"
Since Grealish broke through, Maddison has been the next exciting attacking player that England fans wanted to see break through.
He was included in the World Cup squad, after a three year absence from the team, but injury stopped him from making a single appearance in Qatar.
His only game for England so far came as a substitute for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a Euro 2020 qualifying game against Montenegro.
Whilst many were excited by the news, others were criticial of the fact the Leicester star will be playing on the left, rather than at number 10 where he is more familiar.
