What time is England’s squad announcement? When Euro 2020 team is announced – and who Southgate could pick
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Gareth Southgate had 270 minutes of World Cup qualifiers from which to cast a final glance over his England squad ahead of the summer’s European Championship.
The jury is out on how much can be gleaned from facing San Marino, Fifa’s lowest-ranked nation, or even a Robert Lewandowski-less Poland in April.
There has also been the small matter of the rest of the domestic season, where form will have gone some way to deciding the squad that faces off against Europe’s best.
Southgate does not have to officially confirm his squad to Uefa until after the end of the Premier League season on 1 June, and he is expected to name a provisional player list a few days earlier than that. Uefa has expanded the number of players who can be selected from 23 to 26.
When is England’s squad announced? 
Southgate will name a provisional England squad for Euro 2020 at 1pm on Tuesday 25 May.
That leaves just three weeks between the public announcement and England’s first Euro 2020 fixture, which takes place at Wembley on 13 June against Croatia in a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final.
The announcement will be made at St George’s Park where Southgate will face questions from the media.
England’s squad will then meet up in Middlesbrough four days after the announcement ahead of warm-up fixtures against Austria (Wednesday 2 June, kick-off 8pm) and Romania (Sunday 6 June, kick-off 5pm) at the Riverside Stadium.
In the meantime, Southgate will be required to trim down his squad to 26 by Uefa’s deadline on 1 June.
England’s Euro 2020 fixtures and dates
Warm-up fixtures:
Group stage:
If England top Group D, they will play enter the knockout rounds in line with the following schedule:
While Southgate no doubt has a good idea of the bread and butter of his squad, there are still a number of selection dilemmas which could go down to the wire.
Who will make the squad? 
Does Alexander-Arnold make the cut?
The absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold was the biggest talking point from the most recent round of internationals, with Jurgen Klopp speaking out to defend the Liverpool right-back.
The 22-year-old is competing with the likes of Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Reece James, and even Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Even if the Three Lions operate with one of them as a wing-back, allowing two to be selected in each starting XI, it is still a position in which there are more options than spaces on the bus.
Typically, Alexander-Arnold’s attacking contribution would see him stand head-and-shoulders above his competitors, but he struggled for form in the Premier League at times this season.
Who partners Maguire?
John Stones’ error against Poland will have planted a seed of doubt. The Manchester City centre-back has returned to his best form this season, but Conor Coady, Eric Dier, Tyrone Mings and Michael Keane are all in contention.
It is hardly a recipe for success – even the above mediocre England sides of the mid 2000s had a regular centre-back partnership upon which they could call – and Southgate does not yet appear to have decided on Harry Maguire’s partner.
That may be all the more reason to persevere with Stones in spite of his gaffe. It is doubtful whether Dier will be included in the squad at all, having been in and out of favour under Jose Mourinho at Tottenham, but he does offer versatility that is invaluable at a major tournament, filling in at centre-back, right-back and in central midfield.
Can Southgate leave out Lingard now?
The familiar battle between Mason Mount and Jack Grealish in attacking midfield now has another dimension as on current form, it would be almost unthinkable to leave Jesse Lingard at home.
The playmaker scored nine league goals after joining West Ham on loan from Manchester United, spearheading David Moyes’ men’s European push.
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