Opinion: Who England should take to Euro 2016

A confidence-swelling victory over world champions Germany in their own back yard had many Three Lions fans daring to dream of Euro 2016 glory.

Then the plucky Dutch showed up at Wembley and rather rained on that parade as they dished out a 2-1 defeat.

That’s the last we will see of Roy’s boys, until Mr Hodgson names his 23-man squad for France on May 12.

So who has booked their seat on the plane, or should that be the Eurotunnel?

There are a few spots nailed down, so I will look at the more contentious selection problems.

Firstly, I expect Burnley’s Tom Heaton to earn the least relevant place in the squad as third keeper.

In all honesty, I would like to leave him behind but it’s just too risky.

In defence, I would scrap the idea of taking four centre-backs.

I’d drop Phil Jagielka, with defensive midfielder Eric Dier able to drop back in an unlikely injury emergency.

That frees up an extra midfield place which is where I’d take a punt on the fitness of Jack Wilshere. He is too good a player to rule out.

Crocked Luke Shaw is also included, provided he returns to action before the season’s end but Danny Rose has the starting berth at left-back.

Fabian Delph gets the nod ahead of recent debutant Danny Drinkwater but there is no place for James Milner as Jordan Henderson pips him to the post.

Don’t worry, though, the latter isn’t in my starting XI.

Up top Wayne Rooney is included, it’s embarrassing to suggest otherwise.

But Theo Walcott who has never fulfilled his potential, misses out.

My 23-man England squad for Euro 2016: Hart, Forster, Heaton; Clyne, Walker, Stones, Smalling, Cahill, Rose, Shaw; Dier, Wilshere, Delph, Henderson, Alli, Barkley, Lallana, Sterling; Rooney, Vardy, Kane, Sturridge, Welbeck

My starting XI (4-4-2, diamond): Hart, Clyne, Smalling, Stones, Rose; Dier, Alli, Barkley/Wilshere (if 100 per-cent fit), Rooney, Vardy, Kane