Leicester midfielder James Maddison has been included in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man England squad for the 2022 World Cup, along with Newcastle striker Callum Wilson.
Neither player has featured for England since 2019, but recent club form has seen them earn a call-up for the Qatar tournament, which begins on November 20.
Maddison last played for England on 14 November 2019 during a 7-0 win against Montenegro during qualification for Euro 2020.
Wilson’s last international cap came exactly a month before on 14 October 2019 in a 6-0 win against Bulgaria, also during Euro 2020 qualification.
Among English players, Maddison has had one of the highest number of goal involvements since August 2021, while Wilson has scored six Premier League goals this season with two assists.
James Maddison has had the most goal involvements of any English player in the Premier League since August 2021
Maddison last played for England on 14 November 2019 during a 7-0 win against Montenegro during qualification for Euro 2020.
Wilson’s last international cap came exactly a month before on 14 October 2019 in a 6-0 win against Bulgaria, also during Euro 2020 qualification.
Among English players, Maddison has had one of the highest number of goal involvements since August 2021, while Wilson has scored six Premier League goals this season with two assists.
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher will also be going to his first senior World Cup, having only earned his first senior cap last November after coming on as a second half substitute against San Marino. He has earned three further caps in 2022.
Conor Gallagher has been included after breaking into the Chelsea first team this season
Arsenal defender Benjamin White is also on the plane, following on from his inclusion during Euro 2020. He did not play for England as they finished as runners-up, but with injuries to full-backs such as Reece James and Ben Chilwell, he has a higher likelihood of featuring in Qatar.
Manchester City pair Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips were included despite a lack of match fitness following recent injuries, while Manchester United captain Harry Maguire has been named in the squad despite his limited game time.
Some notable names that missed out include Ivan Toney, Tammy Abraham, James Ward-Prowse, Jadon Sancho and Jarrod Bowen. Defenders Tyrone Mings, Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi have also not earned a place.
England’s World Cup squad in full…
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Nick Pope (Newcastle).
Defenders: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Benjamin White (Arsenal), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Conor Coady (Everton, on loan from Wolves), Luke Shaw (Man Utd).
Midfielders: Declan Rice (West Ham), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Man City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Mason Mount (Chelsea).
Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Callum Wilson (Newcastle), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), James Maddison (Leicester City).
Analysis: Southgate changes tack to include Maddison
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:
James Maddison’s inclusion represents a departure from Southgate’s usual way of working. The England boss tends to favour international experience and familiarity. Maddison, his solitary senior cap coming back in 2019, does not give him either.
What had become clear, though, is that what he does give him was worth changing tack for. Maddison has excelled not just lately but for a period of over a year, claiming 18 goals and 12 assists in 47 Premier League games since the start of last season.
His numbers are better than those of any of his contemporaries and while there may not be an obvious slot for him in England’s line-up, his creative flair was rightly deemed worth making room for.
Maddison is a difference-maker, whose spontaneity could prove precisely what England need in the tight games of major tournament football, so often decided by individual moments of brilliance.
James Maddison last played for England in 2019
And besides, there is more than enough experience and familiarity elsewhere in Southgate’s squad.
His preference for those qualities can be seen in his decision not to bring in a supplementary left-back to support Luke Shaw following Ben Chilwell’s injury, preferring to rely on Kieran Trippier to cover both sides rather than turn to a Ryan Sessegnon or Dan Burn
It is there, as well, in the decision to select Callum Wilson, a player with four senior caps, ahead of the uncapped Ivan Toney as Harry Kane’s back-up, and in the decision to gamble on the fitness of Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips.
Southgate has generally stayed true to his principles with his selections, although Maddison represents an intriguing exception; a potential wildcard amid the familiarity.
England’s Group B fixtures
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Roy Hodgson questions the use of a larger 26-man squad size at a World Cup and the possibility of players being left on the bench throughout the tournament
Monday November 21 – England vs Iran (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 1pm)
Friday November 25 – England vs USA (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Tuesday November 29 – Wales vs England (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
What is England’s potential route to the final?*
If England/Wales win Group B….
Sunday December 4 – Last 16: England vs Ecuador (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Saturday December 10 – Quarter-final: England vs France (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Wednesday December 14 – Semi-final: England vs Belgium (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Sunday December 18 – Final: England vs Netherlands (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 3pm)
If England/Wales finish second in Group B…
Saturday December 3 – Last 16: Netherlands vs England (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Friday December 9 – Quarter-final: England vs Argentina (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; 7pm)
Tuesday December 13 – Semi-final: England vs Brazil (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Sunday December 18 – Final: England vs France (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 3pm)
*Based on highest FIFA world ranking finishing top of respective groups and winning knock-out games
