r/ThreeLions

Thinking this could be staggered

Most of this admittedly comes from it being my first england tournament as an adult, as i'd be 19 when it starts, help me out!

Let’s be realistic, Harry Kane is good for the next Euros, but come the next World Cup we will need a new first choice. Kane may still be around, but I would expect him to be more of an impact option by then.

So on that basis, let’s look at the realistic choices for our future number 9.

For this, I’m ruling out any player who will be over 30 by the 2030 World Cup. I’m also looking right through the England youth setup rather than just picking the obvious Premier League names.

Liam Delap
Probably still the most obvious candidate from the players already established in senior football.

His first season at Chelsea didn’t go to plan, but I wouldn’t write him off based on one season. We already saw what he could do as the focal point of a struggling Ipswich side, and physically he has a lot of the attributes you’d want from an international number 9.

He’ll be right around his prime by 2030.
For me, he’s still the current favourite, but the next couple of seasons are massive for him.

Brian Madjo
Possibly the most interesting wildcard on the list.

He’s a huge centre-forward, already in Aston Villa’s first-team picture and part of the England youth pathway.

He’ll still only be in his early twenties by 2030, so we’re talking almost entirely about potential here.

But if we’re asking who could emerge over the next four years rather than who would start for England tomorrow, he’s one I’m particularly interested in.

Shumaira Mheuka
Another very exciting one.
Chelsea striker, England youth international and a prolific scorer at academy level.

The obvious question is whether that goalscoring translates into senior football. If it does, his age means he could arrive at almost exactly the right time.

He’ll still only be 22 at the next World Cup.

Divin Mubama
Already further along the England pathway than most of the younger names and has senior Championship experience.

He’ll be 25 by the next World Cup, which is a very good age for a striker.

For him I think the question is ceiling. Does he develop into someone scoring regularly in the Premier League, or does he eventually settle a level below that?

The next two seasons should tell us a lot.

Jimmy-Jay Morgan
Another player who perhaps doesn’t get mentioned much when people talk about future England strikers.

He’s already building up senior experience rather than being stuck entirely in academy football and has represented England at youth level.

He’ll only be 24 in 2030.

If he can establish himself as a consistent Championship scorer and then make the jump into the Premier League, he becomes a much more interesting candidate.

Jay Stansfield
Has far more senior football behind him than most of the players on this list and has been through the England U21 setup.

I’m not sure his ceiling is quite as high as some of the younger prospects, but he’s already shown he can score in senior football.
He’ll be 27 in 2030, so age certainly isn’t an issue.

Chizaram Ezenwata
Much more speculative.
Chelsea and England youth striker who has scored heavily at academy level.

He’s still years away from us knowing whether he’s genuinely an England senior prospect, but that’s partly the point of looking beyond the current U21 squad.

He’ll only be in his early twenties in 2030.

Others worth watching
There are also names such as Ethan Wheatley, Dane Scarlett and Reigan Heskey, plus inevitably one or two players currently in the U16/U17 age groups who will develop far quicker than anyone expects.

That’s the interesting part.

England’s starting striker in 2030 might not actually be someone we’re seriously discussing at senior level today.

If I had to rank the candidates right now, combining current ability, pathway and potential, I’d probably have:

1. Liam Delap
2. Brian Madjo
3. Shumaira Mheuka
4. Divin Mubama
5. Jimmy-Jay Morgan
6. Jay Stansfield
7. Chizaram Ezenwata

Delap is the safest prediction because he’s already proven himself at Premier League level.

But the one I’m most intrigued by is Madjo. He’s young enough that his development between now and 2030 could completely change this conversation.

Who am I missing from the England youth teams?

And if you had to pick one player to be England’s starting number 9 at the 2030 World Cup, who would you choose?

Been missing the fun interviews with players, got to see some personality and relationships from them too

Interesting trend developing with the England players… going overseas.

hey!

i’m traveling from the US for work and will be in london for a week during the england vs croatia match, so i’d love to go. i’m looking to get 3 seats together, ideally level 2 or level 2 premium. the ticket sales process seems pretty different from what i’m used to in seattle, so i was wondering for those who bought tickets to the spain or czechia match, how did the different sale windows work?

i also saw there’s a new england+ option for £20 with its own presale window. would it be worth getting that? with how quickly spain sold out, do you think croatia will sell out just as fast?

will be my first time in london and would absolutely love to catch a game while im there, so i’d appreciate any info or advice! thx :)

Trying to secure tickets to the Croatia match. Want to join for early access. Having trouble finding the actual link to sign up for anything but the England plus level. Have they sold out of the 40k memberships already?

Cheers

Hurry up England.