England manager Gareth Southgate receives a helping hand from Football Manager 2023 as he selects his side for the World Cup opener against Iran.England manager Gareth Southgate receives a helping hand from Football Manager 2023 as he selects his side for the World Cup opener against Iran.
England manager Gareth Southgate receives a helping hand from Football Manager 2023 as he selects his side for the World Cup opener against Iran.

England’s starting eleven for their World Cup opener against Iran - according to Football Manager

Gareth Southgate has plenty of options available as he leads the Three Lions in the Finals for the second time.

Everyone has an opinion when it comes to who should start in England’s World Cup Finals opener against Iran on Monday week.

Some say Kieran Trippier’s fine form for Newcastle United should see his see off challenges from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker to secure the right-back spot. Others want John Stones and Conor Coady partnered at the heart of the back-four and James Maddison to claim a shock start in midfield. There are those who insist Raheem Sterling’s underwhelming start to life at Chelsea should see him excluded.

Whether opinion or stats-based, the arguements are aplenty. So we thought we would take another route by using the world’s great management simulation to help Gareth Southgate select an England side capable of getting the tournament off to a winning start in a historic first meeting with Iran.

3 Added Minutes delves into our wardrobe to dig out our virtual waistcoat, fires up the laptop and steps into the imaginary team meeting room to deliver the good and bad news to a squad made up of figments of our imagination - all with the aid of Football Manager 2023.

Whether opinion or stats-based, the arguements are aplenty. So we thought we would take another route by using the world’s great management simulation to help Gareth Southgate select an England side capable of getting the tournament off to a winning start in a historic first meeting with Iran.