Euro 2016 is less than a month away and in the coming days and weeks the 24 participants will begin releasing their final 23-man squads for the tournament.
Iceland have already named their squad heading to France, which includes Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurðsson and 37-year-old EiðurGuðjohnsen.
Much excitement is being made of who will be in Roy Hodgson’s squad at the Euro Championships this summer, with the manager set to name his stars on Monday.
Here’s our predictions for who we think will be representing England, Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland this summer:
England
Roy Hodgson’s side were the only nation to come through qualifying with a 100% winning record – 10/10. Though aside from Switzerland there wasn’t exactly much of a challenge. With a group that includes Russia, Wales and Slovakia the minimum expectation is quarter-finals as they should be due a favourable second round tie.
Goalkeepers
Joe Hart (Manchester City)
Fraser Forster (Southampton)
Tom Heaton (Burnley)
An injury to Jack Butland in March has ruled him out of contention this summer meaning that Championship winner Tom Heaton will be drafted into the England team as third choice.
Defenders
Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool)
Chris Smalling (Manchester United)
John Stones (Everton)
Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
Phil Jagielka (Everton)
Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur)
Ryan Bertrand (Southampton)
Nathaniel Clyne will compete with Kyle Walker for the right-back spot and we’re leaning towards the Liverpool man to get the call. Hodgson took seven defenders to Brazil two years ago and as both John Stones and Chris Smalling can cover at right-back we think Walker will miss out. Two left-backs need to go as none of the centre-backs or wingers can slot in that role sufficiently if needed.
Midfielders
Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur)
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
James Milner (Liverpool)
Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)
Ross Barkley (Everton)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
Adam Lallana (Liverpool)
Jordan Henderson is due to be back in sufficient time and has been a popular choice under Roy Hodgson. Likewise, the manager loves Jack Wilshere and despite the Arsenal centre midfielder barely having a chance to play for his club due to injury this season, we’re confident he’ll get selected too. We’d love to see Dele Alli in the number 10 role but we’ve stuck captain Wayne Rooney among the midfielders as no doubt that’s where he’ll start the opening game versus Russia. James Milner adds a lot of experience and versatility in the midfield.
Strikers
Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)
Jermain Defoe (Sunderland)
Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy have been the best two English strikers in the Premier League this season and are a shoe-in to be on board the flight to France. The Leicester City hitman even scored a cheeky flick versus Germany in a friendly. Danny Welbeck has been ruled out for a couple of months which opens up the door for Jermain Defoe who has been on fire since the turn of the year. Bookmaker’s Paddy Power are offering 5/1 that he makes the squad – we’d much rather see him than Andy Carroll, whilst we think Marcus Rashford will be overlooked for his inexperience. Hodgson likes Daniel Sturridge.
Republic of Ireland
Martin O’Neill’s side qualified through the playoffs with a comfortable second leg win over Bosnia & Herzegovina. This was after taking four points off the World Champions in their group. Unfortunately for Republic of Ireland they were handed a tough group – Belgium, Italy and Sweden.
Goalkeepers
Shay Given (Stoke City)
Darren Randolph (West Ham United)
David Forde (Millwall)
40-year-old Shay Given has had a couple of disastrous Premier League games in the few opportunities he’s had this season but should be competing with West Ham’s Darren Randolph to start this summer. All-in-all not a bright prospect for the Irish.
Defenders
Séamus Coleman (Everton)
Cyrus Christie (Derby County)
Ciaran Clark (Aston Villa)
Richard Keogh (Derby County)
John O’Shea (Sunderland)
Alex Pearce (Derby County)
Stephen Ward (Burnley)
Robbie Brady (Norwich City)
Ireland are sweating over the fitness of Everton right-back Séamus Coleman who has been out since mid-April and not expected to be back by the end of the season. We’re hopeful he will be fit, otherwise Derby County’s Cyrus Christie is the backup option. The experienced John O’Shea captains the side, usually alongside Essex-born Richard Keogh. Alex Pearce didn’t get too much action this season and Paul McShane, Shane Duffy and Marc Wilson are other options O’Neill could call up.
Midfielders
Jonathan Walters (Stoke City)
Aiden McGeady (Sheffield Wednesday)
Glenn Whelan (Stoke City)
James McCarthy (Everton)
Stephen Quinn (Reading)
Alan Judge (Brentford)
Jeff Hendrick (Derby County)
Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City)
James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)
Martin O’Neill has plenty of options to choose from in centre midfield, so much so we couldn’t find space for David Meyler or Darron Gibson in the squad. Alan Judge has been on fire with Brentford in the Championship this season but with only one cap to his name it will be interesting to see if he makes the trip to France. Jeff Hendrick and Wes Hoolahan were regulars in qualifying.
Strikers
Shane Long (Southampton)
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Daryl Murphy (Ipswich Town)
The experienced Robbie Keane should be competing with Shane Long for the starting role this summer. No doubt both will see game time. Daryl Murphy wasn’t the most productive in qualifying but should make the cut. Jonathan Walters is an option on the right wing and up front if need be.
Wales
Chris Coleman’s side caused a surprise in qualifying when they took four points off World Cup quarter-finalists Belgium to help finish comfortably ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The result is an appearance at their first-ever European Championships where they will meet rivals England and should have a fair amount of confidence in progressing out of the group with Russia and Slovakia the other nations.
Goalkeepers
Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace)
OwainFôn Williams (Inverness Caledonian Thistle)
Danny Ward (Liverpool)
Wayne Hennessey was the number one throughout qualifying for Wales whilst youngster Danny Ward has impressed in the handful of games he’s played for Liverpool this season so should make the cut.
Defenders
Chris Gunter (Reading)
Jazz Richards (Fulham)
James Chester (West Bromwich Albion)
Ashley Williams (Swansea City)
James Collins (West Ham United)
Neil Taylor (Swansea City)
Ben Davies (Tottenham Hotspur)
Ashley Williams is the rock in the Welsh defence and has plenty of Premier League experience around him. Neil Taylor should be the starting left-back as he’s a regular at Swansea whilst Ben Davies has played backup to Danny Rose for much of this season. Right-back may be their weakest point with Chris Gunter previously struggling badly in the Premier League some years ago and Jazz Richards dropping down to the Championship.
Midfielders
Tom Lawrence (Leicester City)
David Cotteril (Birmingham City)
Joe Allen (Liverpool)
David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace)
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal)
Andy King (Leicester City)
David Vaughan (Nottingham Forest)
Emyr Huws (Huddersfield Town)
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading)
George Williams (Fulham)
Gareth Bale is the standout name in a midfield that largely plies its football in the English Championship. The Real Madrid forward should be Wales’ best attacking threat this summer, whilst Aaron Ramsey makes some excellent runs from the centre of midfield. Joe Allen has had a fairly solid season at Liverpool in the middle of the park and there is a lot of competition to start alongside him.
Strikers
Sam Vokes (Burnley)
Simon Church (MK Dons)
Sam Vokes and Simon Church scored a goal each in qualifying as Bale contributed seven of Wales’ 11 goals. Hal Robson-Kanu and Tom Lawrence are options to play on the right wing and up front Coleman.
Northern Ireland
Michael O’Neill took full advantage of Greece’s shocking qualifying campaign in guiding Northern Ireland to their first-ever European Championship finals. They won their group, losing only one game, in Romania. Drawn with Germany, Poland and Ukraine, aside from the World Champions there is some reason for belief that the minnows can make it out of their group.
Goalkeepers
Michael McGovern (Hamilton Academical)
Roy Carroll (Notts County)
Alan Mannus (St Johnstone)
Yes, Roy Carroll is still playing football and all three of Northern Ireland’s goalkeepers are in their 30s now. Hamilton Academical’sMichael McGovern ended the successful qualifying campaign as the first choice.
Defence
Conor McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town)
Paddy McNair (Manchester United)
Aaron Hughes (Melbourne City)
Gareth McAuley (West Bromwich Albion)
Jonny Evans (West Bromwich Albion)
Craig Cathcart (Watford)
Daniel Lafferty (Burnley)
Ryan McGivern (Port Vale)
Paddy McNair may start at right-back with West Bromwich Albion duo Gareth McAuley and Jonny Evans competing with Watford’s Craig Cathcart and the experienced Aaron Hughes in the middle. McAuley was actually their second top scorer in qualifying with three goals. Daniel Lafferty should start at left-back off the back of a successful campaign in winning the Championship with Burnley.
Midfielders
Chris Baird (Derby County)
Corry Evans (Blackburn Rovers)
Oliver Norwood (Reading)
Stuart Dallas (Leeds United)
Steven Davis (Southampton)
Niall McGinn (Aberdeen)
Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest)
Shane Ferguson (Millwall)
Chris Baird was a regular in Northern Ireland’s qualifiers as a defensive midfielder despite being Derby County’s backup right-back this season. Oliver Norwood is a solid player for them alongside Baird whilst there isn’t a lot of creativity going forward among the players.
Strikers
Kyle Lafferty (Birmingham City)
Josh Magennis (Kilmarnock)
Billy Mckay (Wigan Athletic)
Liam Boyce (Ross County)
Kyle Lafferty is the key man for goals in this Northern Ireland side, scoring seven of their 16 goals. The Birmingham City striker is the obvious starter for O’Neill’s side in France with Southampton’s Steven Davis likely to offer close support.
