If the England team was picked on form alone there'd be no need for a manager.
Why bother with Gareth Southgate or anyone else when you could just pick it based on Opta stats? But there’s more to it than that. So much more. A dynamic to consider. The way players train, the way they work together, the things you see behind the scenes that supporters, journalists and pundits don’t.
I promise you, it isn’t just about the eleven who are most in-form. It’s about trust, partnerships and experience. For example, I expect Harry Maguire to be in ahead of Arsenal’s Ben White because Harry’s been one of our best players in two major tournaments under Southgate.
He's played without match fitness and he's played with trauma coming back from an injury. All this is experience. He's a rock at the back for this England - and he’s been one of the only ever presidents. Whatever has happened at club level, Gareth knows that he can rely on him at a major tournament.
These are the things that the England manager considers when he’s picking the team - not just who is playing at the best at that moment in time. Personally, I would go with Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in the wide forward areas because they actually are on a hot streak in terms or creating goals and scoring goals at the moment.
But I expect Gareth to stick with Raheem Sterling - another player who was one of our best at the Euros after struggling to play regularly for his club. When you play for England, you have to be able to deal with criticism - the team belongs to the nation.
But what Harry has received over the last year or so has crossed the line at times. Yes, he’s not in the greatest form. But he’s still a top player. Again, he has helped England get to the semi final of a World Cup and the final of the Euros.
If we're going to get to the business end of another major tournament again, we're going to need a fully confident Harry Maguire. Not knocking the ball out of play when he’d normally bring it down and stride out from the back.
We need Harry to feel like as though he has the support of the Great British nation, the English fans again. It’s so tough when you know as a player that the supporters are not having you. It’s tough to be relaxed and to play your normal game.
You’re always thinking: if I get if I give away a foul here, or if I bring this down and they score, I'm going to get destroyed. Let’s not have that for Harry.
Let’s get behind him and the team. We have a fantastic squad and a manager in Gareth who has helped us to learn to love the England team again. We don’t go out in first or second rounds any more. We can have that confidence of reaching the latter stages. Let’s back our boys to do it again.
Andros Townsend's XI vs Iran
GK: Jordan Pickford
The public perception of Pickford is great for England, terrible with Everton. I've been at Everton now for almost 18 months and that has not been the case. He's probably been our best player over the course in my time at the club.
If it wasn't for him Everton would probably be in the Championship now. As for England his experience, his reading of the game and his ability to pull off top saves at crucial points was vital in helping us to get to within touching distance of the Final in 2018. Then within a penalty kick of winning the Euros last year.
Right wing-back: Trent Alexander Arnold
In an ideal world Reece James would be there. But with him being injured and Kyle Walker being doubtful, especially in the group stages, I’d go for Trent.
With the added protection of the back three, the asset of him going forward would be massive for England and helping England to be more creative.
They haven’t been that creative going forward in the last few games but to have Trent’s ability to deliver balls into the box will definitely be useful.
Left wing-back: Luke Shaw
To be honest, another process of elimination. Unfortunately, Ben Chilwell is injured. But our strength in depth means Luke is a natural choice to fill in again.
He excelled in the Euros when his inclusion was questioned and I'm sure that both he and Gareth will be full of confidence going into this tournament. Erik ten Hag has helped with that with Manchester United’s improved form and now it’s there for Luke.
Centre-back: Ben White
He’d have been out of the side if Kyle Walker was fit because Kyle has the speed and the experience to cope with any opponent. But with Kyle out he deserves his chance.
He’s been terrific for Arsenal this season at right back but I’d have Trent there. Ben has already shown though that he is versatile enough to do a good job on the right of a three
Centre-back: Harry Maguire
It’s got to be. He’s a player that's had a load of stick but people talk about game time - going into the last Euros he was out for for six weeks. He didn't play any of the warm-up games and didn't play the first two group games.
He came in for the third game and ended up being in a team at tournament. So we know he can do it without being match fit. It's just whether the public get behind him and back him like they have done in the last two major tournaments, even though they probably wouldn't have picked him to start either one of them.
Hopefully, once the tournament starts, if he is backed again he can show everyone what he can do.
Centre-back: John Stones
This is a tight one. I’d probably go for John. But having watched Eric Dier for the last two games. I’d say he's close - really close. If Kyle Walker isn’t fit then Eric could easily fill in.
But I'd go with John stones based on previous experience at major tournaments
Midfield: Bellingham:
Initially I was worried that Jude and Declan could be too attacking when you need to out and out holders - either a Henderson or a Phillips.
But watching Bellingham and Rice together in the last few games, Bellingham to can do it all.
He can defend if he needs to, he can attack if he needs to.
He can press, he can tackle, he’s got it all. So he might be just 19 but I'd have no problems going into a major tournament with Bellingham in the starting line-up.
Midfield: Rice
He’s an automatic pick, no doubt about it.
He's grown as a player over the last few years and he is one of the first names on the team sheet for England.
Left wide forward: Foden
I like them both on the right but I’d probably go with Foden off the left because he can come into pockets. He scores goals, creates space for himself superbly well and knows how to win tournament and titles.
Right wide forward: Saka
He can also roam more whereas Saka on the right, coming in onto his left foot is just lethal. When you play with Arsenal, you play with pressure every week and he just relishes it. He makes goals, he scores goals and he’d be in for me ahead of Raheem Sterling on current form. Raheem has just dipped at the wrong time while the others have been unbelievable.
Striker: Kane
We need to work harder - much harder - on a way to get the best out of Harry Kane in an England shirt. That means bodies closer to him who can supply him or pull defenders out of position. We need Foden closer to him, we need Saka closer to him.
If we are going to win the World Cup (yep, I’ve said it!), then we really need runners off Harry when he drops deep. We can’t have him getting to the second round like we did in the Euros without scoring.
We need the right combination of artists behind him to unlock the doors he will face in the group. It could well be Sterling and Grealish. It could be Rashford. We are blessed with options. We need the right combination to get Harry firing in an England shirt because we already know that if he does get the ammunition, he will score.
