Can you guess England's World Cup squad as kids?
One is rocking a blonde quiff, others are sporting dungarees… and who had the St George’s flag painted on his face? As Gareth Southgate names his 26-man England squad for the World Cup – can you guess what they looked like as kids?
- Gareth Southgate has confirmed his 26-man England squad for the World Cup
- The Three Lions get their campaign underway in Qatar vs Iran on November 21
- But can you pick out 20 members of Southgate’s squad when they were kids?
- Sportsmail has pulled out photos of young England stars before the tournament
- One is donning face paint, while some have completely different hairstyles…
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
The excitement is building as England prepare for their World Cup open against Iran on Monday.
Gareth Southgate thought long and hard before selecting the 26 men he believes are best placed to guide the Three Lions to long-overdue glory.
James Maddison, Marcus Rashford and Callum Wilson were the headline inclusions, with all three earning recalls to the side after significant periods out of contention.
Gareth Southgate and his England team are making final preparations for the World Cup
Conor Gallagher and Conor Coady are also perhaps surprise members of the 26-man list for the Qatar tournament, which begins on Sunday.
But Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi, Ivan Toney, Tammy Abraham, Ryan Sessegnon, James Ward-Prowse and Jarrod Bowen all missed out on a spot.
For those selected, representing their nation at the World Cup is something they would have dreamed about since they were a child.
England’s stars train in the heat of Doha as they prepare for Monday’s opener against Iran
In light of that, Sportsmail has pulled out photos of several of England’s stars when they were kids.
One is donning face paint, while some have completely different hairstyles, but can you guess what each player looked like as kids?
Read our clues below, have your guess and then scroll to the bottom to see if you were correct.
1.
This player has shined for a top six Premier League club so far this season and went for big money after Euro 2020.
He is a versatile player, able to play in different positions including in midfield.
However, this member of the squad was not a certainty for the World Cup after being left out of Gareth Southgate’s group for last international break in September.
This player was being left out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the last international break
2.
This player is a fan favourite, but only half of his 24 England caps have come from the start.
He previously represented another nation at youth level, but pledged his allegiance to England back in 2015.
This member of the squad also holds the unwanted record of being the first player to lose 20 straight Premier League matches in a row.
This player represented a different nation at youth level, before committing to England
3.
This player is one of only three in the squad to have not played in the Football League or made their debut in an EFL competition.
He has also scored more than 100 goals for the club he plays for but he hasn’t represented his nation in over a year.
This player has four Premier league goals so far this season.
The player in this photo has scored more than 100 goals for the club he currently plays for
4.
This player was a surprise inclusion, having earned just four England caps so far in his career.
He enjoyed impressive loan spells with Charlton, Swansea City and West Brom, before a fruitful stint in the Premier League with another London club last season.
He is joined by only two club teammates in Southgate’s squad.
This player is one of only three members from his club to make Gareth Southgate’s final squad
5.
This player was not a popular choice for Jose Mourinho when he played under the Portuguese manager.
He has three England goals to his name, but has only won 23 England caps in eight years.
He was also once the most expensive teenager in world football.
This player once had the tag of being the most expensive teenager in world football
6.
This player returned to the England fold in September, two years on from his last international cap.
He represented the Three Lions in a different position at the last World Cup to the one he is expected to play if he features in Qatar.
This player also spent a period of his career on loan at Everton, but failed to make an appearance for the first team.
This player (R) is expected to represent England in a different position to the last World Cup
7.
This player now plays for the rivals of his boyhood club where he came through the academy.
He was a member of the England Under-17 side that won the Euros in 2010, while he has a winning medal in the Championship.
When he made his debut for England in 2020, he was the first player from his club to play for England in 30 years.
This player became the first player from his club to represent England in 30 years
8.
This player has already experienced two Premier League relegations in his relatively short career.
He has won three England caps but hasn’t featured for his national team since June of this year.
He is highly-regarded but isn’t expected to play much for Gareth Southgate in Qatar.
This member of Gareth Southgate’s squad isn’t expected to play much for England in Qatar
9.
This player has been a mainstay of the England team since Gareth Southgate took over.
He has often been criticised for his performances but there is now little debate over his position.
He played a huge role in both the run to the semi-finals at the World Cup in 2018, and also the final of Euro 2020 last year.
This player has been a mainstay of the England team since Gareth Southgate took over in 2016
10.
This player is competing at his fourth major tournament for England.
He made his debut back in 2014 but is still just 28-years-old and has won 59 England caps.
This squad member has developed an impressive partnership in his position for the Three Lions with a player from the rivals of his club team.
This player is competing at his fourth major tournament for England and has won 59 caps
11.
This player’s friendship with a member of Gareth Southgate’s starting XI is well-publicised after they played together in the same youth team.
He is playing at his first World Cup but he represented the Three Lions at Euro 2020.
This member of the squad has won a Champions League final but lost in the Championship play-off final.
This player has won a Champions League final but lost in the Championship play-off final
12.
This player won his last and only England cap all the way back in 2019.
He is only behind Harry Kane on goal involvements from Englishmen in the Premier League so far this season.
When announcing his squad, Gareth Southgate described this player as ‘able to give us something slightly different to our other attacking players’.
This player won his last and only England cap three years ago in November 2019
13.
This player has been a mainstay of Gareth Southgate’s side over recent years and will be expected to start all the games he is available for in Qatar.
He is one of only five outfield players in the Premier League to have played every minute of every game this season.
This player also won three full caps for a country other than England, before pledging his allegiance to the Three Lions.
This player won three full caps for a country other than England, before pledging his allegiance to the Three Lions
14.
This player has played just one minute of Premier League football so far this season.
He has won 20 England caps since making his debut back in 2020.
He was voted England Men’s Player of the Year in 2021 after his superb performances at Euro 2020.
This squad member was voted England Men’s Player of the Year in 2021, following his exploits at Euro 2020.
15.
This player has long been tipped for stardom and won the under-17 World Cup back in 2017.
He has already won four Premier League titles despite being aged just 22.
This member of the squad has scored twice in 18 England caps and we are perhaps yet to see the best of him in a Three Lions shirt.
We are yet to see this player in his best form in an England shirt, but he has 18 caps to his name
16.
This player has helped to give many England fans the best moment they have experienced when following their country.
He has been voted into the PFA’s Championship Team of the Year on two occasions but he has only won one trophy – a trophy that was won outside of England.
He counts Manchester City among his former clubs but never made a first team appearance for them.
This member of the squad played for Manchester City but never appeared for the first team
17.
This player is the second former Sunderland youth product to be a part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
He was runner-up in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2020.
This squad member has won both the Premier League and Champions League, while he is the third most-capped player in Southgate’s 26.
He is the third most-capped player in Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man squad
18.
This player was recently voted as England Men’s Player of the Year for 2022.
He has been involved in 10 goals so far this season in the Premier League.
This member of the squad is a fan favourite for both his club and country but missed a key penalty in the Euro 2020 final.
This player has been involved in 10 goals so far this season in the Premier League for his side
19.
This player is expected to start England’s group opener against Iran, but he has never played in the Premier League.
He made his England debut in 2020 and has already won 17 caps.
This member of the squad had his shirt number retired when he left his previous club.
This member of Southgate’s squad has never played a minute of Premier League football
20.
The inclusion of this player in the squad was far from certain.
Despite excelling for his club, he has not always been a preferred choice of Southgate and has won just 17 caps since his debut four years ago.
This player has already won a Champions League and Premier League despite only being 24.
After making his debut in 2018, this player has only won 17 caps for the Three Lions
ANSWERS – How many did you get?
1. Ben White
2. Jack Grealish
3. Marcus Rashford
4. Conor Gallagher
5. Luke Shaw
6. Eric Dier
7. Conor Coady
8. Aaron Ramsdale
9. Jordan Pickford
10. John Stones
11. Mason Mount
12. James Maddison
13. Declan Rice
14. Kalvin Phillips
15. Phil Foden
16. Kieran Trippier
17. Jordan Henderson
18. Bukayo Saka
19. Jude Bellingham
20. Trent Alexander-Arnold
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