England vs Italy: Kalvin Phillips Surpasses Jordan Henderson, Set to Star in Euro 2024 Qualifier

Jordan Henderson is set to start on the bench for England in their Euro 2024 Qualifier against Italy tonight. Kalvin Phillips, on the other hand, is anticipated to make his first competitive start for his country since March. In the previous fixture in Naples, Phillips was part of the starting lineup, contributing to England's victorious 2-1 result and signaling a promising beginning to their qualifying journey.

Despite his limited game time for Manchester City, it is the midfielder's exceptional defensive abilities that have convinced Gareth Southgate to once again give him a starting position. Since joining the club in the summer of 2022, Phillips has only started two league matches and has not appeared as a starter in a Premier League game since May.

Controversy has surrounded Henderson since his decision in the summer to move to Saudi Arabia, where same-sex relationships are illegal.

The ex-Liverpool captain had previously expressed strong support for the LGBTQ+ community. However, during the match against Australia at Wembley on Friday, he faced boos from certain England fans when he was substituted.

Southgate firmly defended the midfielder, whom he had appointed as captain at Wembley, stating that he would unequivocally keep selecting him, regardless of the relentless jeering from the stands.

The decision to remove him from the firing line against Italy is believed to be a strategic choice rather than a means to shield him from more distress. Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice will form part of the England midfield trio against Italy.

Two out of three locked in - but midfield selection is Southgate's key call

According to senior football journalist Peter Smith, England will secure their place in next summer's tournament in Germany by either winning or drawing against Italy, the current reigning European champions, at Wembley.

Southgate laughed in the mixed zone following England's victory over Australia, acknowledging that it would require a courageous individual to exclude Rice and Bellingham from the first-choice XI currently. These two midfielders are certain starters and will play a vital role in the upcoming Euros next summer.

However, the midfield continues to be Southgate's most pressing dilemma, as the type of player he selects to complement this duo will determine England's style of play and profoundly influence their success in Germany.

Henderson emerged as a surprise choice at the World Cup, proving his doubters wrong by contributing significantly to the midfield and enabling Bellingham to excel in his own creative position. Despite criticism surrounding his decision to join the Saudi Arabian team, Southgate has consistently selected Henderson as captain, particularly in the qualifiers against Ukraine this year, even when Rice and Bellingham have been available.

However, Southgate chose to include Phillips on the team that traveled to Italy in March. Despite his limited playing time at the club level, the Manchester City player was considered an option to provide additional defensive stability alongside Rice in challenging matches against strong opponents. In a recent match against Arsenal, Pep Guardiola decided to play Bernardo Silva in an unfamiliar position, which suggests that he still holds Southgate's admiration due to his contributions in the previous Euros.

Additionally, it is important to consider the Trent Alexander-Arnold situation. In the past, he excelled in a traditional midfield position while playing against Malta and North Macedonia during the summer. During Friday's game, he also finished playing in that role, although his attempts to replicate his hybrid right-back position from Liverpool earlier in the game had mixed results.

One noteworthy aspect is his previous successful partnership with Bukayo Saka, which will likely influence Southgate's decision making when the tournament arrives. However, the absence of Saka against Italy on Tuesday, coupled with Alexander-Arnold's full 90-minute performance against Australia, may result in him being placed on the bench.

Conor Gallagher, a regular player for Chelsea, seems to be lower in priority. James Maddison, who is behind Bellingham for the No10 position, may have to rely on a wide forward role. Therefore, Southgate's decision seems to be between the reliable choices of Henderson and Phillips (both with their own limitations) or placing his trust in Alexander-Arnold's creativity and assessing the need for a restructuring of the team to accommodate him.

How can England qualify?

England's upcoming match against Italy at Wembley on Tuesday is a crucial one, as it presents Southgate with the challenging task of making the right decisions to ensure England's success in the upcoming European Championship next summer. With limited opportunities remaining, Tuesday night's match serves as one of the final chances to determine the winning formula when competing against top-level teams. A victory or even a draw would secure England's spot at Euro 2024.

The Three Lions lead Group C, boasting a three-point advantage over Italy and Ukraine. Gareth Southgate's team will wrap up their qualification campaign with a match at home against Malta on November 17, followed by a visit to North Macedonia three days later.