England National Football Team Vs Australia National Football Team Lineups
On Friday, England hosted Australia in a friendly match at Wembley Stadium. Australia have proven a formidable foe in recent times and must not be underestimated as Gareth Southgate must not underestimate them!
Marcus Rashford of Manchester United could make his England debut against the team that scored on his initial England outing. At the same time, Phil Foden, Levi Colwill, and Eddie Nketiah are also likely to feature for them.
Goalkeepers
Gareth Southgate hopes to fend off Australia at Wembley Stadium with England vs Australia in a friendly match. Fikayo Tomori from AC Milan and Levi Colwill from Chelsea could make their England debuts, as could West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen.
Sam Johnstone will aim for his first international clean sheet when he teams up with Lewis Dunk, Tomori, Gallagher, and Henderson as his back four players.
Australia will rely on Awer Mabil to provide pace on the right wing, while Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe will serve as central attacking midfielders. Martin Boyle and Riley McGree are expected to feature for England, although Australia won their most recent meeting 2-1 in 2022. Furthermore, Australia was unbeaten during their final group game at the World Cup, earning them an unassailable record with an unblemished 2-0 win against France, further strengthening their chances of reaching the knockout rounds.
Midfielders
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal pulled out with a hamstring injury and joined fellow first-teamers Ben Chilwell, Luke Shaw, and Reece James on the sidelines. Gareth Southgate may debut Levi Colwill alongside Kieran Trippier for a four-person back-line formation.
England’s midfield was solid but without creativity or cutting edge. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Lewis Dunk stood out, while James Maddison, Jarrod Bowen, and Ollie Watkins showed promise but could not spark decisive moves.
Massimo Luongo and Keanu Baccus will provide Australia with protection in midfield, while Jackson Irvine is an essential link between defense and attack. Awer Mabil scored for Grasshopper this week, while Martin Boyle is expected to start. Ipswich Town midfielder Mitchell Duke could even debut late as a substitute substitute.
Forwards
England and Australia are both widely acclaimed for their powerful attacking talents, so this matchup should provide plenty of exciting moments. Multiple key player matchups should shape its outcome; one anticipated contest that should prove particularly engaging will be possession vs possession battles.
Gareth Southgate will likely give starts to several fringe players in this match as his regular starters recover ahead of next week’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy. West Ham United’s James Ward-Prowse and Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah may bid for starting roles alongside Harry Kane.
Jude Bellingham of AC Milan could make his England debut this Friday against Switzerland. The youngster has excelled this season in the alternative European top flight, and his presence could prove crucial in midfield for England. At 198 cm tall, he provides physical dominance and is an equally dangerous threat with the ball in hand.
Defenders
England defenders must be on top of their game against an unpredictable Australia squad, including its deadly attacking midfielders such as Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil. Jackson Irvine will likely play an instrumental role here.
Gareth Southgate has chosen to give starts to fringe squad members ahead of Tuesday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against New Zealand to give regulars time off. Middlesbrough goalkeeper Tom Glover could earn their debut cap, while Lewis Miller from Hibernian FC and Alessandro Circati from Parma could also play.
Given their lack of natural left-back options, Liverpool’s Levi Colwill could be cut as one of England’s back three options. A robust aerial presence will prove invaluable during early possession phases; Ajdin Hrustic and Harry Souttar possess good ball control skills while offering potential threats from set pieces.
