Raheem Sterling expecting to start England’s first game of Euros

By Josh Barker


Published: June 12, 2021 11:45 am

Last Updated: June 12, 2021 11:46 am

Some insight into the personnel and system we could see England play vs Croatia has now been provided.

England vs Croatia

Euro 2020 got underway on Friday evening as Italy asserted their dominance over Group A by smashing Turkey 3-0.

England will kick off their tournament in around 24 hours time, facing off with World Cup 2018 opponents, Croatia.

The Three Lions have been drawn in Group D alongside their upcoming opponents, along Southgate’s side also facing Scotland and the Czech Republic.

On paper, it looks as though Croatia, who beat England in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, are the nation’s toughest group stage opponent.

So, earning all three points this weekend would set Gareth Southgate and co. up nicely to go on to top the table.

Sterling expecting a to start vs Croatia

Ahead of the game, much of the chatter has surrounded who and how England will play vs Croatia.

With Harry Maguire, England’s best centre-back, likely to miss out, will Gareth Southgate instead opt for a back-three for more defensive solidity?

Then, further forward, who do England start alongside/ behind Harry Kane.

Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Mason Mount are arguably competing for just two/three spots this summer.

Now, the Telegraph have provided some potential insight into the Three Lions’ plans for Sunday.

Firstly, they report that Raheem Sterling is expecting to start England’s clash with Croatia.

Then, in turns of system, they add that Southgate is considering sticking with a back four.

Some potential insight into Sterling starting, despite his poor recent form, appears to be provided later in the article:

With fitness doubts hanging over Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire, 26-year-old Sterling is also one of the more experienced members of Southgate’s squad.

Raheem Sterling poised to start England’s Euro 2020 opener against Croatia | @Matt_Law_DT

Plus: @JBurtTelegraph on why Southgate retains so much faith in the winger despite his underwhelming form at Manchester City https://t.co/FtW4fwV9ER

— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) June 11, 2021

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Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Manchester City FC	38	51	86
2	Manchester United FC	38	29	74
3	Liverpool FC	38	26	69
4	Chelsea FC	38	22	67
5	Leicester City FC	38	18	66
6	West Ham United FC	38	15	65
7	Tottenham Hotspur FC	38	23	62
8	Arsenal FC	38	16	61
9	Leeds United	38	8	59
10	Everton FC	38	-1	59
11	Aston Villa FC	38	9	55
12	Newcastle United FC	38	-16	45
13	Wolverhampton Wanderers FC	38	-16	45
14	Crystal Palace FC	38	-25	44
15	Southampton FC	38	-21	43
16	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	38	-6	41
17	Burnley FC	38	-22	39
18	Fulham FC	38	-26	28
19	West Bromwich Albion	38	-41	26
20	Sheffield United FC	38	-43	23

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Player	Team	Goals
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur FC	23
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	22
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United FC	17
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur FC	17
Bamford, Patrick	Leeds United	17
Calvert-Lewin, Dominic	Everton FC	16
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City FC	15
Watkins, Ollie	Aston Villa FC	14
Gundogan, Ilkay	Manchester City FC	13
Lacazette, Alexandre	Arsenal FC	13
Wilson, Callum	Newcastle United FC	12
Ings, Danny	Southampton FC	12
Wood, Chris	Burnley FC	12
Iheanacho, Kelechi	Leicester City FC	12
Rashford, Marcus	Manchester United FC	11
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	11
Pereira, Matheus	West Bromwich Albion	11
Bale, Gareth	Tottenham Hotspur FC	11
Zaha, Wilfried	Crystal Palace FC	11
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City FC	10

Player	Team	Red Cards	Yellow Cards
McGinn, John	Aston Villa FC	0	12
Gallagher, Conor	West Bromwich Albion	0	11
Maguire, Harry	Manchester United FC	0	11
Phillips, Kalvin	Leeds United	0	10
Hojbjerg, Pierre	Tottenham Hotspur FC	0	9
Milivojevic, Luka	Crystal Palace FC	1	8
Lundstram, John	Sheffield United FC	1	8
Luiz, Douglas	Aston Villa FC	0	8
Holgate, Mason	Everton FC	0	9
Bissouma, Yves	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	1	8
Soucek, Tomas	West Ham United FC	1	7
Shaw, Luke	Manchester United FC	0	8
Xhaka, Granit	Arsenal FC	1	7
Bellerin, Hector	Arsenal FC	0	8
Andersen, Joachim	Fulham FC	1	7
Egan, John	Sheffield United FC	1	7
Hayden, Isaac	Newcastle United FC	0	8
Dallas, Stuart	Leeds United	0	7
McGoldrick, David	Sheffield United FC	0	7
Reid, Bobby	Fulham FC	0	7

Player	Team	Assists
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur FC	14
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United FC	12
De Bruyne, Kevin	Manchester City FC	11
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur FC	10
Grealish, Jack	Aston Villa FC	10
Rashford, Marcus	Manchester United FC	9
Raphinha	Leeds United	9
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City FC	8
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	8
Harrison, Jack	Leeds United	8
Werner, Timo	Chelsea FC	8
Gross, Pascal	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	8
Cresswell, Aaron	West Ham United FC	8
Pereira, Matheus	West Bromwich Albion	7
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City FC	7
Firmino, Roberto	Liverpool FC	7
Ward-Prowse, James	Southampton FC	7
Eze, Eberechi	Crystal Palace FC	7
Alexander-Arnold, Trent	Liverpool FC	7
Robertson, Andrew	Liverpool FC	7

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