Who will Southgate select for England's opening World Cup match?

Some notable players were left out of the squad, but the side is more-or-less what England fans will have been expecting with few complaints about the majority of selections.

The likes of Fikayo Tomori (24), Tammy Abraham (25) and Ivan Toney (26) were all excluded from the team - but none of those were guaranteed to start at the tournament.

Here, Flashscore predicts what lineup England manager Gareth Southgate will select for the opening match against Iran on Monday 21st November.

GK - Jordan Pickford (28)

If anything has been learned during Southgate's tenure, it's that he maintains a strong loyalty to a lot of his players and is unlikely to shake things up too much. 

Pickford once fell into this category, with his form wavering at Everton in the past, but he has since returned to his best and will more than likely be England's number one for the World Cup. The keeper is a superb shot-stopper and has good distribution while never really putting a foot wrong for the Three Lions - something that doesn't necessarily apply to many of his predecessors. 

RWB- Kieran Trippier (32)

England are normally synonymous with having a plethora of options at right-back, but this time around Trippier seems the only sensible option to start at the World Cup. Regardless of injuries to Kyle Walker (32) and Reece James (22) - and the major dip in form of Trent Alexander-Arnold (24) - Trippier has been the best-performing English full-back this season. He has been a mainstay in the best defence in the Premier League and provided his usual attacking threat for Newcastle United.

Being a versatile option also helps, with Trippier also comfortable playing on the left-hand side of defence - a position where England are particularly light.

RCB - Ben White (25)

One area Southgate might look to change around is the three central defenders. With Walker still recovering from injury, it makes sense for White to take his place - especially for what should be a relatively straightforward opening match against Iran. 

White has been playing at right-back for Arsenal this season but has been comfortable and established himself as one of the most reliable defenders in the league. His form has been a big contributor to the Gunners' rise to the top of the league and bodes well for England heading into the World Cup.

CB - John Stones (28)

Regarded by many as England's best defender, Stones will likely reprise his role in the middle of the back three. He could be shifted out to the right to make room for Eric Dier (28), who divides opinion among supporters, but either way should feature in the game against Iran.

Stones has started nine times in all competitions for Manchester City this season, often also being deployed at right-back.

LCB - Harry Maguire (29)

Despite barely featuring for Manchester United this season, Maguire is one of the players Southgate has kept an unwavering loyalty to during his tenure - maintaining that he is one of the Three Lions' best defenders.

The manager admitted that he believes Maguire is ahead of the likes of Fikayo Tomori, stating "we don't think the young ones have done quite enough to push the older ones out.

"I'm sure Harry Maguire is one of our best centre-backs."

LWB - Luke Shaw (27)

One of the heroes of England's Euro 2020 campaign, Shaw looked set to kick on after a very promising tournament. Unfortunately, he stalled again last season at Manchester United and looked to have been replaced over the summer by Tyrell Malacia (23).

Thankfully for Shaw, he has been reinstated to his club side just in time for the international tournament, and as England's only natural left-sided full-back, he looks guaranteed to start against Iran.

CM - Jude Bellingham (19)

The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has quickly become one of the most exciting talents in Europe, and offers a good balance in midfield alongside the more defensively-minded Declan Rice (23).

Bellingham is confident going forward and with limited minutes this season for his direct competition - Jordan Henderson (32), Conor Gallagher (22) and Kalvin Phillips (26) - it's hard to imagine the 19-year-old not starting in England's first game.

CM - Declan Rice (23)

Another player that is expected to play the majority of games at the tournament, Rice is England's main defensive midfielder and is almost an irreplaceable part of the starting XI.

Only Phillips can really fit the same role but he has been injured for the majority of the season and has barely played for City since joining from Leeds in the summer.

RW - Bukayo Saka (21)

England's player of the year for 2022 and a personal favourite of Southgate, Saka looks set to start in the Three Lions' attack. 

He has been an integral part of Arsenal's front line this season by starting the majority of games on the right-hand side, scoring four and assisting six. He can also play at left wing-back which could facilitate the inclusion of either Phil Foden (22) or James Maddison (25).

ST - Harry Kane (29)

The first name on the team sheet, Southgate will no doubt look to Kane as the main source of England's goals. He has already scored 11 in the Premier League this season, and is just two goals behind Wayne Rooney's all-time goals record for the Three Lions (51 to 53).

After coming out of the 2018 World Cup as the tournament's top goalscorer, Kane could break yet another record this time around as he is just four strikes behind Gary Lineker for the most goals scored by an England player at the World Cup (six to 10).

LW - Raheem Sterling (27)

Sterling is another player who has struggled for form this season but has performed well for England in the past. He was the standout player at Euro 2020, scoring three goals. 

His move away from City in the summer was in the hopes of getting a more important role on the pitch, but things haven't quite gone to plan at Chelsea so far. Regardless, Southgate likes to stay loyal to those who perform well for England and the winger has done just that over the last few years.