Which Spots Are Still up for Grabs in England’s World Cup Starting XI?

Wembley, 1-1 against Uruguay, deep into stoppage time: a penalty conceded by the man who had just nudged England in front, a goal-line clearance from a defender who had spent the autumn in the treatment room, and a manager left with more questions than answers. Thomas T, the FA’s German head coach, now has one more friendly—Japan next week—before he names his final 23 for the United States. The clock is ticking, and several places in the XI that will kick off against Croatia on 17 June remain in flux.

The centre of the defence is the most volatile zone. Marc G, the former Crystal Palace captain, has been anointed as the left-centre starter; the only thing that could change that is a “catastrophic injury,” according to sources close to the camp. His partner, however, is anyone’s guess. Ezri K of Aston Villa has nudged ahead of Chelsea’s Trevor C, while John S and Harry M, the stalwarts of the last seven years, must prove they can still handle the tempo after injury-hit seasons. Newcastle’s Dan B, the tallest of the quintet, is the outsider but remains in the frame.

The left-back slot is equally fluid. Myles L-S, the Arsenal teenager, has logged more minutes under T than any other specialist, yet a lack of club football has kept him out of the current camp. Newcastle’s Lewis H and Tottenham’s Djed S both auditioned against Uruguay without seizing the shirt, but H’s consistent form for a Champions League-chasing side keeps him marginally ahead.

Further forward, the competition behind Harry K is the fiercest. Jude B, the poster boy of Euro 4, has managed only a handful of games for Real Madrid this season, and T has privately admitted concern over his sharpness. Morgan R, Villa’s 10-goal, seven-assist midfielder, has the momentum, while Cole P, fresh from a Club World Cup-winning brace at MetLife Stadium, has drifted after a winter of niggling injuries. T could yet start Rogers in the No 10 role, a direct swap for the man who once seemed untouchable.

The Japan friendly will not decide the squad, but it will decide who enters the summer with a swagger and who carries a question mark. With the bookmakers already listing England as 11/2 second-favourites, the stakes could scarcely be higher.