England are one of nine nations to have already qualified for next summer’s European Championship in Germany and conclude their qualification campaign against Malta and North Macedonia.
Gareth Southgate’s team booked their place at the tournament with an impressive 3-1 victory over Italy in October’s international break, and can now start planning for the finals in earnest.
Such a convincing win over the Euro 2020 winners and the outstanding form of Jude Bellingham is raising hopes that England’s men can win their first major silverware since 1966.
Southgate has named his squad, and once again there is no place for Raheem Sterling. The 25-man squad in full can be found here.
When is England vs Malta?
England play Malta on Friday November 17.
What time is kick off?
The match will get under way at 7.45pm.
Where is it?
England are playing at Wembley.
How can I watch England vs Malta on TV?
You can watch the match live on Channel 4, who have broadcast all of England’s Euro 2024 qualifiers. Coverage starts at 7pm.
What is the team news for the game?
Raheem Sterling has been left out again by Southgate. Sterling, once an automatic pick, has now missed five successive England squads and time is running out for him to force his way back into the reckoning for Euro 2024.
Newcastle United forward Callum Wilson was included in the squad along with Aston Villa’s in-form Ollie Watkins.
Manchester City’s John Stones misses out because of injury while Chelsea’s Reece James is also not included despite recently returning from a lengthy injury lay-off.
James Maddison was included despite going off injured during Tottenham’s defeat by Chelsea on Monday.
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders: Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)
What is Southgate saying?
Southgate expressed his disappointment that Stones had sustained another injury and revealed Reece James asked not to be included in the squad after only recently returning to action after a hamstring issue. “I am really disappointed for John,” Southgate admitted.
“The quality of his play is outstanding. He’s having a difficult time injury-wise at the moment, but it gives others an opportunity and we do need to know a little bit more about other players in that area of the pitch.”
On James, Southgate revealed: “I was hoping to call Reece James, but he doesn’t feel he is quite ready and I understand that.”
There are injury doubts over Maddison, Bellingham, Saka and Wilson.
Southgate acknowledged: “You would be amazed at how complicated it is picking a squad because all clubs are sensitive to information. I couldn’t be certain that everyone in that squad will be there on Sunday night and Callum Wilson is the biggest doubt, but equally I am pretty confident the others can get through.”