England came so close to ending a 50-year wait for a major trophy at the delayed 2020 European Championship and they have the chance to right those wrongs in Germany this summer.

Euro 2024 might be make or break for head coach Gareth Southgate and he has the tough task of picking his best XI.

Ahead of an important summer for the Three Lions, we put together our preferred line-up for the upcoming tournament.

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford

After weathering a storm of debate in the last 12 months, it seems Jordan Pickford has the England No1 spot nailed down.

Aaron Ramsdale's demotion to the bench for Arsenal and Nick Pope's long-term injury means the Everton goalkeeper is a sure starter in Germany — and he has more than earned his place over the years.

Right-back: Kyle Walker

He may be 33, but Kyle Walker remains a reliable asset for Manchester City and has featured in all but two of their Premier League matches so far this season.

The veteran defender has not lost any of his pace and his recovery runs allow others to venture forward.

Centre-back: John Stones

With Walker more than capable of covering at the back, John Stones will have an important role to play for England this summer if he can stay fit.

Under Pep Guardiola, the Treble winner has been pushing on into midfield and Southgate may choose to use him in the same way, especially against weaker opponents.

Centre-back: Levi Colwill

One of our more debatable picks comes in Levi Colwill but there are several suitable partners for Stones.

Marc Guehi, Fikayo Tomori and Harry Maguire all have a case to start but injuries this season may hinder their chances — and Colwill has proven to be a consistent top-flight performer for both Brighton and Chelsea.

Left-back: Kieran Trippier

Luke Shaw would get the nod if he was fit but a potential season-ending injury means Kieran Trippier comes in as his replacement.

Ben Chilwell will feel he deserves the spot but Trippier's quality speaks for itself — no defender in the Premier League has more assists than his 10 so far in 2023-24.

Central midfielder: Declan Rice

Since making the step up to Arsenal last summer, Declan Rice has established himself as an integral part of the Gunners' title charge under Mikel Arteta.

The 25-year-old has proven he can do it all, recording nine goal contributions in the league so far and ranking in the top 10 for interceptions (35), final third passes (490) and touches (2,056).

Central midfielder: Trent Alexander-Arnold

If Southgate is willing to take the risk, Trent Alexander-Arnold should transition into midfield for England.

His range of passing is world class and to ignore it would remove a significant threat from an exciting squad who must play to their strengths if they are to win silverware.

Central midfielder: Jude Bellingham

If things go to plan at Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham could be in with a shout to win the Ballon d'Or in 2024 after lighting up the world stage for club and country.

The 20-year-old is quickly becoming a global icon thanks to his on-pitch efforts with Los Blancos and is one of the first names on Southgate's team sheet.

Right wing: Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka is hitting form at the perfect time for Arsenal, scoring eight goals in his last seven Premier League appearances to ensure the Gunners stay within touching distance of leaders Liverpool.

His contributions for England have also been encouraging ahead of Euro 2024, with 11 goals in 32 appearances.

Striker: Harry Kane

Unsurprisingly, Harry Kane has been firing at a rapid rate for Bayern Munich and needs another 14 goals before the end of the season to match Robert Lewandowski's record of 41 in a single campaign.

Winning silverware is the 30-year-old's biggest priority and after missing a crucial penalty against France in the 2022 World Cup, the England captain will be more determined than ever to lead his nation to glory.

Left wing: Phil Foden

Phil Foden is effective as a winger or in a more central role and his form this term will make it very hard for Southgate to exclude him.

The Manchester City star has 26 goal contributions across 39 appearances in all competitions this season and would be the perfect provider for Kane, Bellingham and Saka.