The England C team has been revealed today, which is picked from the National League and below.
It’s called England C because, once upon a time, there was an England B team. It wasn’t picked from any division, but it was a selection of players underneath the England setup who were almost ready to become full internationals. Indeed, it was popular in 2006, when the likes of Peter Crouch used it to stake a claim for a place in the World Cup 2006 squad.
It hasn’t been without controversy. Glenn Hoddle wanted to see Chris Sutton in action for England, picking him for a B international against Chile in 1998. Sutton refused, ending his England career. Among the other players who appeared in that game, which Chile won 2-1, were Frank Lampard, Paul Merson, Emile Heskey and Jamie Carragher.
There hasn’t been a B international since 2007, when England defeated Albania 3-1. On that occasion, Gary Neville, Gareth Barry, Aaron Lennon, Michael Owen, Stewart Downing, and Alan Smith all played. There have been calls for the B internationals to return, but it hasn’t yet happened.
It might be interesting if they came back with a proviso that only English players from the Championship could be picked. After all, the Championship is a hugely competitive league. Still, Gareth Southgate seems happier to pick players from the top flight who aren’t getting games rather than those who have played more than 30 in the division below.
What would it look like if we were to pick an England B side from the Championship? We’ve scanned the best performers this season, and if we were picking an England side to play 4-3-3 from the Championship, this is the team we’d pick.
GK: Anthony Patterson (Sunderland)
Patterson would seem like a sensible choice for a keeper – he’s already an England Under 21 and has 80 starts in the Championship to his name. His handling and shot-stopping are superb, and he’d likely edge out Bradley Collins and Alex Palmer.
RB: Perry Ng (Cardiff City)
Ng has been a slow-burner for a few years now, impressing for both Crewe and Cardiff. He’s a great choice for right back, gets up and down the line efficiently, and can join in attacks. He’s also decent in the air, making him a solid choice for right back.
LB: Leif Davis (Ipswich)
The former Leeds man is having an impressive season at Portman Road and would surely benefit from some international exposure. Like Ng, he would certainly chip in with crosses and assists and play a progressive role in our England B side – he’s got 14 assists in the division this season.
CB: Jacob Greaves (Hull City)
What’s not to like about the 6ft 4in centre back, chosen in our England B side? He’s top five in the division for aerial duels and tops the numbers for win percentage (74.36%) and those in his own area (59). He’s only 23, but with almost 200 career appearances, he would bring real experience to the shirt.
CB: Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton)
Okay, Harwood-Bellis is on loan from the Premier League, but we’re going to sneak him in. He’s already been capped up to Under 21 level, and he’s been a huge performer for the Saints this season. He would be a natural to play alongside Greaves and a key man in our team – he’s top three in the division for passes per 90 minutes, the highest-placed English player.
CDM: Dan Neil (Sunderland)
We’re showing a lot of love to Sunderland players in our setup, and why not? Neil, with England Under 20 honours in 2021, is one of the best up-and-coming defensive midfielders in the Championship, with 80 appearances to his name over the last two seasons.
CM: Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland)
Just like there has to be a Bellingham in the senior England team, it’s hard to find a reason not to include the younger brother in our England B team. He’s still only 18 but is capped up to Under 20 level, and he would bring a bit of excitement to our theoretical side. He is also one of the most fouled players in the Championship, meaning players are already unsure how to stop him.
CM: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester City)
It’s hard not to find a place for 25-year-old Dewsbury-Hall. He has top-flight experience with Leicester and would bring a degree of experience to our midfield. He’s also fifth in the Championship for assists (8) and top for second assists (5). With the creative talent we have at our disposal across the rest of the team, it is easy to see where he might fit.
RF: Morgan Whittaker (Plymouth Argyle)
Whittaker simply has to play. Lazio targeted him in the winter window, and he’s been Plymouth’s breakout star this season. He’s top in the division for the number of shots (127) and has 17 goals, 14 from his left foot, which brings. balance to our team. We’ve picked two of the other highest scorers in the division, so why not Whittaker as well?
LF: Jack Clarke (Sunderland)
Clarke is taylor-made for a spot in our team. He’s got big club experience after coming through the ranks at Spurs, and he’s played six times for England at Under 20 level. With 15 goals, he’s having a great season, but he’s a real delight to watch. He’s attempted 409 one-on-one dribbles this season, 97 more than any other player. We’d love to see him doing that for the Three Lions B side.
CF: Adam Armstrong (Southampton)
Is there a better English striker outside the top flight right now? With 18 goals, he’s the second-highest scorer in the division, and he’s outperforming his xG, which is the division’s best at 16.84. He creates as well as scores, with eight assists, and he’s second-highest for touches in the penalty area with 204 – only Jack Clarke (206) has more.
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