Two years ago,
England seemed to have a collection of full-backs that were the envy of almost every country in the world. On Saturday night, England finished their friendly against
Brazil with Ezri Konsa and Joe Gomez as the two full-backs against Brazil. This is, very obviously, a suboptimal situation. So what happened? Since the European Championship final against
Italy in July 2021, England have started 14 different players at full-back or wing-back in less than three years for myriad reasons. We rank those 15 options as it stands now, and try to work out how Gareth Southgate can work through what has become one of the national team’s biggest issues . Read Next Conor Gallagher sums up everything wrong with Gareth Southgate's England 1. Kyle Walker Walker is shoo-in for both a place on the plane and a starting berth at right-back, presuming that his injury on Saturday evening is not serious. He captained England ahead of Harry Maguire, suggesting that he is now deputy behind Harry Kane. Walker is one of the world’s best right-backs, has been crucial for
Manchester City at home and in Europe and provides the overlapping width that allows Bukayo Saka to drift infield. Cross your fingers that Walker will be fine for
Germany, because boy do we need him. 2. Luke Shaw Scored England’s goal in the Euro 2020 final and started every game at the World Cup. Blotted his copybook slightly with the red card in Naples, but the bigger issue is that Shaw has been available to start only three games since Qatar and is injured again now. Shaw is not perfect, but he’s a far better option than Ben Chilwell and other natural fits are thin on the ground. 3. Kieran Trippier Is likely a certainty for the squad because of his form for Newcastle over the last 18 months and his ability to play at left-back if England need him to. Also offers experience and a threat from set-piece delivery. Played at left-back against Italy and
Scotland – both 3-1 wins – in 2023, but picked an unfortunate time to get injured before this break. It probably won’t harm him if he gets fit soon enough, given he’s already shown what he can offer. 4. Ben Chilwell Who knows if Chilwell would have started over Trippier if the latter had been fit, but was England’s only obvious starter against Brazil due to other absentees. Unfortunately for Chilwell, he was England’s weakest player on Saturday night; the wastage from crosses and shots was of significant concern. Whether Chelsea’s struggles have caused a lot of confidence or that this was just an off night is open to interpretation, but there must be doubts about a squad place if Trippier and/or Shaw are fit. 5. Levi Colwill Colwill is very highly regarded by England’s coaches, and he has been playing at left-back at
Chelsea this season when Chilwell was injured. But there are a few caveats to all this: a) Colwill has only started one game for England (it was at left-back), and he was booked against Australia, b) he’s now playing at centre-back for Chelsea and c) England would surely also prefer him in that position as back-up for Stones and Maguire – particularly after Lewis Dunk’s mistake against Brazil. Read Next England fail to impress as teenage prodigy gives Brazil Wembley win 6. Trent Alexander-Arnold It is a huge shame that Trent Alexander-Arnold missed this international break, but we’re not even sure if we should be including him as a full-back given his new role for
Liverpool and Southgate’s use of him in central midfield (which makes sense given his passing range and ability to cover Walker when he pushes forward). The sensible strategy would be to take Alexander-Arnold to Germany, use him in midfield (if that’s the plan) but also have him as the reserve right-back in a 23-man squad. 7. Reece James Oh Reece. We know that Southgate is a big fan and it’s not that long since supporters were demanding that the Chelsea right-back should start over Kyle Walker. But James has made one England appearance since the
World Cup and that was as a late substitute against Italy in Naples. Still only 24, but having started five
Premier League games this season, how can you ever be sure that a mid-tournament injury isn’t in the post? A sad situation. 8. Tyrick Mitchell Suddenly a long way down the pecking order, despite being a regular at Premier League level. Still only 24 and a natural left-footer, but Mitchell has played two games for England the last of those was against Ivory Coast at Wembley in March 2022. He’s nowhere near, right now. 9. Ben White Hard to know where to put White. He would have been selected (and would surely have come off the bench against Brazil when Walker was injured), but chose to make himself unavailable and there are few signs that he fancies a summer trip to Germany. We don’t need to make it a thing, but he’s also dropping down this list quickly. 10. Rico Lewis Was in England’s last squad before this break and actually started against North Macedonia in Skopje. But with
Pep Guardiola preferring to play with a natural central defender at left-back, Lewis’ minutes at club level have been stymied and so there’s no way you can pick him for the senior squad until that situation improves or he moves club. Read Next Every time England have played in kits with non-traditional St George's Cross 11. Fikayo Tomori Played 45 minutes for England as an emergency left-back against Malta in November 2023, got booked and was then taken off at half-time. He’s not getting in the squad as a centre-back and it’s even less likely that he plays for England at full-back again. Sorry, pal. 12. Kyle Walker-Peters Will one day be a quiz answer you fail to get when asked to name every full-back picked to start by Southgate during his tenure. Played 62 minutes as wing-back against Switzerland in March 2022 and came on as a substitute at right-back a week later against Ivory Coast. Still, he’ll probably retire with a 100 per cent England record, so that’s nice. 13. Bukayo Saka The evolution of Bukayo Saka. Started his club and international career as a left wing-back and actually did the same for England in a 10-0 win in San Marino and 1-0 defeat to Italy as recently as September 2022. Still, he’s now a brilliant right-sided attacker and that’s not going to change when he’s back fit. Automatic starter at the Euros, all being well. 14. James Justin Started at left wing-back for the 1-0 Nations League defeat in Hungary and came off injured at half-time. Has started 23 Championship games for Leicester City this season, so don’t hold your breath on an international recall.