Starting XI Southampton players capped for England since 00

Notably, can I fashion together eleven Saints players that featured for England since 2000 into a competent team and formation that could even take on some of the smaller countries found in the qualifying stages?

Well, the answer is I’m not really sure. Certainly not without total disregard of the common laws of football shape and tactics.

But anyway, taking into account all players to have represented England whilst at Saints – here is my chosen XI…

How do you think it would fare in international football?

Goalkeeper

Fraser Forster gets the nod over Alex McCarthy, but only because he made it to six caps while McCarthy only featured in an England team for 45 minutes. The man-mountain actually made some very decent saves in the shirt, too.

Goalkeeper Fraser Forster played for England sporadically between 2013-16between

Defence

This is why the team probably would not survive an onslaught from any country with a top national league. Lack of options mean I’m forced to select two left footed centre-backs who are actually full-backs in Wayne Bridge and Ryan Bertrand.

Nathaniel Clyne and Luke Shaw are a good right-back and left-back starter though, in my opinion.

Left-back Luke Shaw scored the opener in the 2020 European Championship final at Wembley

Midfielder

Again, defence hasn’t really been discovered just yet with two centre-midfielders by the name of Adam Lallana and James Ward-Prowse. A great set-piece taker confirmed though, and to be fair both players are definitely international level at the peak of their powers.

The more attacking of the three would be Jay Rodriguez, who only made one England appearance but would have gone to the 2014 World Cup if not for injury.

Adam Lallana has 34 Three Lions caps

Attack

This is where Saints could provide some good quality to England sides, and I’m forced to go for the standard three-striker formation we all know and love.

That includes prolific Saints scorer James Beattie, who deserves another international chance after never really excelling on that stage in five goalless appearances. Danny Ings will flank the other side, with proven finishing nous.

That leaves the main man, Peter Crouch, who has 22 goals in 42 games for his country, although he only spent one season with Saints before relegation from the Premier League.

James Beattie was the 2002-03 Premier League top goalscorer with 23

Super sub

Of course, the super-sub has to be Rickie Lambert. The Saints legend took just two minutes and 43 seconds to score with his first international goal with his first touch against Scotland, after Roy Hodgson turned to him from the bench – I’d back him to do the same again.

Rickie Lambert scored on three occasions for England

Full team