Southgate Faces Dilemma: Will Man City's Treble Winners Make the Cut for Malta Clash?

Gareth Southgate, the England manager, has stated that the Manchester City treble-winning players are eligible to participate in the upcoming match against Malta. However, he has not made a final decision regarding their inclusion in the team. The likes of Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Kalvin Phillips joined the squad only on Tuesday following their triumph over Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday.

Southgate is pleased to consider the potential of the group for selection in the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifier, despite Grealish's recent celebratory antics making headlines. However, he emphasizes the importance of assessing each player's readiness individually and taking a cautious approach to their availability for tomorrow's match.

Upon their arrival, I commended them on their remarkable accomplishment. However, I also acknowledged that we were venturing into uncharted territory, with no certainty about how each individual would fare after experiencing such intense circumstances.

Fortunately, everyone is physically prepared. However, we must take into account the players who joined us later, as they are still riding the wave of emotions from their weekend game.

Making decisions is never easy, especially when it comes to leading a team. Fortunately, our squad has been training exceptionally well with a great level of focus, and we're eager for the upcoming game.

As for monitoring our players, I constantly keep tabs on their progress no matter where they are. We're no strangers to managing the challenges of Champions League matches. However, it was more complex when Tottenham faced Liverpool in 2019, as we had a Nations League semi-final to prepare for just three days later.

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As head coach of the English national football team, Gareth Southgate faces the challenge of making critical decisions. Despite the constant changes, Southgate and his team have developed a deep understanding of their players. The team's current focus is on the collective, and Southgate has made it clear to his players that he will push them to achieve the desired results.

"The responsibility lies with them, they have to drive the team and get the performance we want."

Chelsea's Levi Colwill has travelled with the squad after Lewis Dunk pulled out.

"We're looking forward to seeing how he gets on with us. He's a player we know well from our Under-21s, and he's been playing regularly for his club. It's a great opportunity for him to come in and work with the senior players and see how he can adapt to the level."

"He has done really well, we know he is a good player. We have been really impressed with his mentality and his ability."

Southgate urges players not to cross line

Southgate acknowledges the importance of setting boundaries for his players, especially after Grealish's exuberant post-match festivities made headlines. While the manager refrained from reprimanding the forward, he emphasized the need for moderation in all celebrations, making it clear that excessive behavior will not be tolerated.

"We discussed the importance of sticking to our game plan and executing it to the best of our abilities. We recognize the level of competition we are facing, but we are confident in our abilities as a team. My job as the manager is to guide and manage the players and ensure that we stay focused on our goals and objectives."

Some of our players choose to refrain from drinking alcohol. However, what sets us apart is our transparency - everything is shared amongst the team. Personally, I wouldn't have been comfortable with some of my past nights out being made public. It's safe to say that my generation would have faced more challenges in this regard.

We've had conversations with players like Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, and Kieran Trippier, who have all expressed how physically and mentally demanding the game can be.

The occasion was monumental and we wanted to ensure the new members had ample time to absorb everything. However, it was remarkable that they all wanted to join the group right away.

Our approach to integrating them back into the team was seamless and I believe they didn't feel any discomfort or unease in the process.

Eze eyes Three Lions debut

Furthermore, there is a certain dynamic at play where our team is ecstatic about their victory, but there are others who feel resentful that they lost out. It's important to be mindful of these emotions and reactions.

Upon arrival in Malta, Southgate's press conference at the Ta' Qali National Stadium was postponed due to technical difficulties, causing his squad to wait on the tarmac. The squad includes Eberechi Eze, who is set to make his debut on Friday, and Colwill, an England Under-21s international who recently joined the group for training.

Despite having to interrupt their post-season break due to international duty, Kieran Trippier assures that the team is completely concentrated. As a Newcastle right-back, he acknowledges the significance of taking some time off before returning to the England set-up, which is always a source of pride for all players involved.

As players, there's no greater honor than representing our country, even if it means enduring a long and grueling season. Despite the challenges, we remain focused on our ultimate goal of qualifying for the Euros, and have spent the past week training hard to ensure we're ready for this critical match."

"The lads are playing really well. We know it's going to be a challenge tomorrow, but it's one I'm ready for."

England talking points: City players to feature? Will Southgate experiment?

England has already defeated two of the toughest opponents in their group, Italy and Ukraine. However, Southgate hasn't allowed any of his star players to rest just yet. Despite the belief that qualifying for the next round is now straightforward, there is still work to be done. Southgate recently commented on the deployment of Trent Alexander Arnold and John Stones as inverted full backs, describing it as "interesting." It will be intriguing to see if he decides to use this tactic in upcoming matches.

I believe Eze should be given more playing time in the upcoming week. With his versatility to play in midfield and a front three, he could potentially fit in alongside Phillips and Declan Rice in Malta. Additionally, James Maddison had a promising debut against Ukraine and should be given the opportunity to continue building on that performance. Our reporters, Tom Driscoll and Mark McAdam, are currently in Malta covering England and speculating on Gareth Southgate's plans for the Euros qualifier.

Who should start for England at Euro 2024? Sky Sports writers have their say

Who should Gareth Southgate pick if England's opening game at Euro 2024 was tomorrow?

The countdown is well and truly on with the opening game of Euro 2024 in Munich just one year away.

As England leads the way in qualifying Group C, they are determined to secure their place in the upcoming tournament in Germany by facing Malta (Friday, June 16; kick-off 7.45pm) and North Macedonia (Monday, June 19; kick-off 7.45pm). After finishing as runners-up in Euro 2020, the team is eager to clinch the top spot this time around. While there is ample time for players to prove themselves over the next year, it begs the question: if the tournament began tomorrow, who would be selected by Gareth Southgate?

The We football writers have had their say...