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With less than two months to go ahead of the World Cup in November, England boss Gareth Southgate still looks unsure of his best side.
Five successive games without a win has hardly eased the pressure on his shoulders, as a nation braces for a first major tournament outing since the heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss against Italy in the final of Euro 2020.
Here, Sportsmail's football experts pick their own best teams as the Three Lions continue to prepare for their tournament opener against Iran on November 21.
Several places in Gareth Southgate's starting XI are still up for grabs ahead of the World Cup
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Tomori, Chilwell; Rice, Bellingham; Foden, Maddison, Sterling; Kane
This would be my team to bring a bit of life to England. I’d start Fikayo Tomori in a back four because he has pace and by all accounts he’s doing brilliantly at AC Milan.
I can’t see Southgate switching to a back four but in the opening game against Iran — when England will be strong favourites — it would be the perfect sign of positivity.
In Jude Bellingham, there’s a confident young lad in terrific form who they must make the most out of and James Maddison would inject a bit of creativity into the side.
Since the start of last season only Harry Kane has more goals and assists than James Maddison
(4-3-3): Pickford; James, Maguire, Stones, Chilwell; Bellingham, Rice, Mount; Sterling, Kane, Foden
Southgate’s preference for a back five against the best teams is a move driven by caution and he
