Who should be in the England squad at Euro 2016? Eurosport Roundtable special

Hodgson must stick to his promise of picking only those capable of playing from the very first minute when I name the squad". No fudges, no special exceptions, no mithering about metatarsals (or the equivalent) that we’ve had in previous tournaments. Unfortunately for him, this means discarding some who performed well in qualifying – notably Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson. He must pick Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy to start – 49 top-flight goals cannot be ignored – and Dele Alli at No 10. Throw in Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge and Andy Carroll and you have some varied options in attack. This also means playing either a 4-4-2 diamond or 4-3-1-2 formation and dropping a centre-back, which, given John Stones’ form, is probably a relief for all concerned.

Raheem Sterling and Andros Townsend get the nod as the wingers should Hodgson play a four-man midfield and Theo Walcott scrapes in as their back-up, given the need for speed in wide positions. Jordan Henderson misses out because he is not fit and Hodgson – who voluntarily brought forward his own selection deadline by 19 days – cannot pick the Liverpool captain if he has been missing for a month with a knee injury and was on crutches until last week. Mark Noble – who is in the form of his life and would be ideal in a 3-man midfield – gets the nod. The defence looks shaky but the lack of options makes it a straightforward selection.

Kev’s Euro 2016 squad: Hart, Forster, Foster; Clyne, Walker, Smalling, Cahill, Jagielka, Rose, Bertrand; Dier, Drinkwater, Noble, Alli, Barkley, Sterling, Townsend, Walcott; Rooney, Kane, Vardy, Sturridge, Carroll.

I’m only taking three centre-backs – you seldom need four in a major tournament, and we have Eric Dier in case bubonic plague strikes the defensive ranks. That allows us to pick an extra forward and bring in Andros Townsend, who helps address a lack of width – especially with Danny Welbeck out - and provides a genuinely game-changing option off the bench. He only does one thing, but better a poor man’s Arjen Robben is than a rich man’s Adam Lallana.

I am sorely tempted to take Jermain Defoe instead of Wayne Rooney, but with Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge lining up to spearhead a 4-3-3 it’s hard to imagine Defoe getting any game time. And there’s no Wilshere, obviously.

Alex’s Euro 2016 squad: Hart, Forster, Foster; Clyne, Walker, Smalling, Cahill, Jagielka, Rose, Bertrand; Dier, Drinkwater, Milner, Henderson, Alli, Barkley, Sterling; Rooney, Kane, Vardy, Sturridge, Walcott, Townsend.

Henderson and Wilshere have scarcely earned the right to watch on TV, let alone hop on the Eurostar to France. Milner, Dier and – yes – Danny Drinkwater can be the steady guys in the midfield, allowing the likes of Townsend and Alli around them the chance to set off the fireworks. Up front is the most interesting area for me: Rooney has rightly been criticised for a dreadful season, but he’s got to go simply because he’s the skipper and it’ll be no bad thing for some of the young players in the squad to have an old head around.

As for who else goes? Vardy and Kane have earned their places beyond any doubt, Sturridge as high-quality a player as England have. As for Sterling and Rashford? Both are gambles, but on a good day the former offers genuine threat against any defence in the world, while the latter appears to have that extraordinary knack of upping his game depending on the circumstances. That alone makes him worth a punt.

Toby's Euro 2016 squad: Hart, Forster, Foster; Smalling, Cahill, Baines, Jagielka, Clyne, Walker, Rose, Shawcross; Drinkwater, Townsend, Alli, Barkley, Milner, Dier, Sterling; Rooney, Vardy, Sturridge, Kane, Rashford.

The defence essentially picks itself. The only question is whether to take Leighton Baines or Ryan Bertrand as back-up left-back – a minor quibble easily resolved by Everton’s shocking defensive form. Things are rather more congested in midfield though. Jack Wilshere has only played 74 minutes of football this season and that can’t be enough to win a place UNLESS he impresses in the two friendlies prior to the final squad being announced. Jordan Henderson’s condition is said to be rapidly improving and Danny Drinkwater’s excellent form just about carries him to France as Eric Dier’s deputy. But Danny Welbeck's absence could give Wilshere a way in...

Tom’s Euro 2016 squad: Hart, Forster, Foster; Walker, Smalling, Cahill, Stones, Jagielka, Rose, Bertrand; Alli, Barkley, Dier, Lallana, Drinkwater, Milner, Henderson, Sterling; Rooney, Vardy, Kane, Sturridge, Walcott.

Desperately want to chuck a complete wildcard into the fray, but the bleak reality is there are no deserving candidates. Those clamouring for Jack Wilshere’s inclusion need hounding out. Remember: he’s played just twice all season. Meanwhile, James Milner’s solid but unspectacular showings embody a period from which England are trying to break free. That promotes Fabian Delph, solid for England until injury struck him down, into the ‘gamble’ role. He, unlike Wilshere, has at least shown promise in 2015-16.

There’s no spot for John Stones. Keep nattering all you want about how he’s the ‘next Bobby Moore’, the harsh reality is he’s not currently good enough and is riddled with mistakes. Elsewhere, Wayne Rooney’s spot on the plane is more about harmony than form – if he’s anywhere near the starting XI against Russia, we may as well pack up and go home. Theo Walcott profits from Danny Welbeck’s misfortune to grab the final shirt.

Ben’s Euro 2016 squad: Hart, Forster, Foster; Clyne, Walker, Smalling, Cahill, Jagielka, Rose, Bertrand; Dier, Drinkwater, Henderson, Delph, Alli, Lallana, Barkley, Sterling; Kane, Vardy, Sturridge, Rooney, Walcott.

There does not need to be an all-or-nothing approach to England’s squad when it comes to established stars such as Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere who have not enjoyed auspicious domestic campaigns but still have the quality to add something special. Both players warrant a place at Euro 2016 and are fresh enough to be able to hit form at just the right time – not for their club sides, but crucially for England.

With an abundance of attacking options, Danny Drinkwater has to go to provide a like-for-like back-up for Eric Dier at the base of the England midfield. And yes, Theo Walcott and James Milner should go. Walcott offers much-needed width, while Milner is the classic ‘good tourist’ and gives Roy Hodgson valuable experience and reliability in a youthful squad.

Dan’s Euro 2016 squad: Hart, Forster, Foster; Clyne, Walker, Smalling, Cahill, Jagielka, Rose, Bertrand, Stones; Dier, Drinkwater, Milner, Alli, Barkley, Wilshere, Sterling; Rooney, Kane, Vardy, Sturridge, Walcott.

There's usually controversy, debate and consternation around the naming of an England squad, but this summer's tournament feels like the easiest Roy Hodgson will have had to make. The absence of Danny Welbeck is a huge blow to the way he likes to set his side up, but in attack and wide areas England are fairly blessed at this moment in time.

Jordan Henderson and Jack WIlshere will both go despite their lack of form and proven fitness this season, while in defence Leighton Baines should be the high-profile casualty for a lacklustre season. Hodgson has been here for four years and he knows what he wants from his squad and this set of players. After a faultless qualifying campaign he won't look to change a single thing.

James' Euro 2016 squad: Hart, Forster, Heaton; Clyne, Walker, Rose, Bertrand, Cahill, Jagielka, Smalling, Stones; Dier, Lallana, Milner, Sterling, Henderson, Wilshere, Barkley, Alli; Rooney, Kane, Vardy, Sturridge.

Leicester have provided the blueprint and now England must follow it.

First and foremost, a solid base is a necessity, so it would be remiss not to stock up on holding midfielders - especially considering England’s lack of quality and depth at centre back. Regardless of opposition, Roy Hodgson should start with two holders - hence the inclusion of the industrious Jordan Henderson, Danny Drinkwater, James Milner and Eric Dier.

England can negate their technical weakness at centre-back by sitting deep and driving teams wide - an objective that would be aided by the block provided by the two holders. Cahill and Smalling have proven aerial prowess, so facing up to balls into the box pretty much suits their skill set. Having drawn teams onto them, England have the personnel further forward to break at will. The whole set up leaves Wayne Rooney as a round peg in a square system, but, England’s record goalscorer’s experience could prove crucial from the bench.

Marcus’s Euro 2016 squad: Hart, Forster, Heaton; Walker, Smalling, Cahill, Jagielka, Rose, Bertrand; Alli, Dier, Wilshere, Henderson, Drinkwater, Milner, Barkley; Vardy, Kane, Sturridge, Sterling, Townsend, Rooney.