Now we get to the important stuff
And there we have it. Gareth Southgate has named his final 26-man England squad for Euro 2020 – with all four right-backs from the provisional squad retained for the tournament.
But the big announcement you’ve actually been waiting to hear is of course what squad numbers they will all be wearing on their backs.
For the shirt fanatics, the pedants, the modern fans who think 6 should be for midfielders and 4 should be for midfielders, this news is for you.
Here are England’s squad numbers for Euro 2020:
#1 Jordan Pickford, #2 Kyle Walker, #3 Luke Shaw, #4 Declan Rice, #5 John Stones, #6 Harry Maguire, #7 Jack Grealish, #8 Jordan Henderson, #9 Harry Kane, #10 Raheem Sterling #11 Marcus Rashford, #12 Kieran Trippier, #13 Dean Henderson, #14 Kalvin Phillips, #15 Tyrone Mings, #16 Conor Coady, #17 Jadon Sancho, #18 Dominic Calvert-Lewin, #19 Mason Mount, #20 Phil Foden, #21 Ben Chilwell, #22 Trent Alexander-Arnold, #23 Sam Johnstone, #24 Reece James, #25 Bukayo Saka, #26 Jude Bellingham.
Our #EURO2020 squad numbers have been confirmed! 🔢
— England (@England) June 1, 2021
Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion came as a late surprise, especially as it came at the expense of James Ward-Prowse, an orthodox midfielder.
Walker, Stones, Maguire, Kane, Sterling, and Trippier keep their squad numbers that they wore at the 2018 World Cup, while Rashford takes the number 11 shirt having previously worn number 19.
You can only read so much into squad numbers, but Grealish taking number 7 could indicate that he is in line to be a nailed on starter.
Shaw taking the number 3 shirt over Chilwell could also suggest the Manchester United man will start over his Chelsea counterpart at left-back.
