Defence
Carl Jenkinson (Arsenal – on loan at West Ham United)
The West Ham United loanee got the nod over Arsenal teammate Calum Chambers throughout the tournament and was one of England’s best players. He got up and down the right flank and provided more crosses than any of the wingers.
John Stones (Everton)
The highly-rated Everton star is Southgate’s first choice in defence, but a training-ground concussion limited him to just one appearance. Ironically, it came in the defeat to Italy in which England’s back four looked all at sea as they shipped three.
Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Tottenham Hotspur centre-back was a surprise omission from the final squad, having been named in the provisional 27-man party, and would have been a better option to lead the defence in the absence of Stones than Liam Moore or Ben Gibson.
Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
Southgate made a commitment to show loyalty to those who had helped England qualify, but overlooking Manchester United’s Shaw – the world’s most expensive teenager- in favour of Everton’s Luke Garbutt was perhaps ill-advised stubbornness. Louis van Gaal’s pressure for Shaw to be rested after an injury-plagued season probably played a part.
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