Meet England’s new leadership team: The four stars tasked with being Gareth Southgate’s generals… after he AXED three players who policed the dressing room

England captain Harry Kane is joined by Kyle Walker, Declan Rice and Kieran Trippier in Gareth Southgate’s new unofficial leadership group.

Head coach Southgate, who is believed to have expressed his anger at players immediately after Friday’s loss to Iceland, appointed a leadership committee upon his appointment in 2016.

Former vice-captain Jordan Henderson, Harry Maguire and Raheem Sterling were all part of the senior squad, but the trio were all left out of the squad for Euro 2024.

Instead of choosing a formal leadership committee for the European Championships, Southgate has called on his squad to share responsibility.

But it is understood that in the event of Kane being injured or rested, Southgate will choose Walker, Trippier or Rice to wear the armband here in Germany in the absence of Henderson, Maguire and Sterling – as well as Marcus Rashford – in a clear indication that the quartet form the group of players Southgate relies on to lead his young side.

Seasoned veterans like Jordan Henderson (left) and Raheem Sterling (right) have been suspended

In their wake, players like Kieran Trippier (left) and Kyle Walker (right) will go a step further

Rice’s emergence as one of the side’s strong players was highlighted by Mail Sport on Monday, with sources suggesting Southgate has been increasingly drawn to the Arsenal star ahead of the tournament.

But the question is: can others follow Rice’s example?

Indeed, it will be interesting to see how England fare at a major tournament without the core of a squad that led the national team’s sharp improvements under Southgate.

The lack of experience and perhaps most worryingly of goals in Southgate’s 26-man side is glaring.

Eleven of the selected players are in single figures for caps won. Twelve of them have not experienced tournament football.

Kane and Saka are the only two players to post double figures for goals.

Even then, Saka’s 11 to Kane’s 64 is a drop.

England were announced as favorites for this tournament, but somehow the team goes into Euro 20204 with several unknowns.

The talent is undeniable. But the temperament? We’re about to find out.

The team Southgate had built was within touching distance of greatness.

Bukayo Saka is the player with the second highest number of international goals in the squad

England fans only have to wait a few days before they can see Southgate’s 2.0 side for the first time

There are no guarantees that Southgate’s England 2.0 will finish the job here in Germany.

The narrative that this tournament can provide the perfect platform for the team to grow ahead of World 2026 is credible.

They will be stronger, succeed or fail, because of their experience here. But all this has been said: it is now surely time for England and Southgate?

In the absence of Henderson and Co, Southgate will rely – more than ever – on his seasoned stars.

Although the squad is short on caps, there is enough big-match experience in what is likely to be Southgate’s starting XI to ease the burden on the younger players.

Former England technical director Dan Ashworth placed great importance on selecting players who were used to high-pressure club matches, especially deep into the knockout rounds of the Champions League.

Despite the youthful complexion of the team, there remains sufficient experience at the top level to provide stability to this English team.

Apart from Jordan Pickford and Marc Guehi, who are expected to play against Serbia, they all have, to varying degrees, a Champions League background.

However, uncertainty lurks beneath the surface. Kane, Henderson and Maguire in particular formed such a formidable triumvirate, overseeing the dressing room so Southgate didn’t have to.

Jude Bellingham (centre) is one of a number of young players with significant European experience

The defeat to Iceland in England’s final warm-up match before heading to Germany left the camp with a sticky atmosphere

No one can be quite sure how this group will respond to the rigors of tournament football.

There has been an emphasis this week on fostering a positive atmosphere – which is very different to the atmosphere in the aftermath of the loss to Iceland.

Southgate made his disapproval of the performance crystal clear to his players after the match, with the England boss particularly annoyed by his team’s effort without the ball.

Above all, there was recognition from the England dressing room that they had put unnecessary pressure on themselves ahead of Sunday’s opening match against Serbia.

If you win in Gelsenkirchen this weekend, the self-imposed tension will of course disappear.

On Tuesday, during the team’s first full day in Germany, there were clear signs that the team was overcoming their disappointment.

The players performed their green screen duties for the broadcasters on Tuesday morning – a procedure that always creates a friendly atmosphere.

Tuesday’s open training at the Jena Stadium was also the first time the team trained together as a full contingent of 26 players, a development that suggests the physical problems that dogged England’s preparations are gradually subsiding.

The fact that hundreds of schoolchildren were in the stands added a relaxed touch to the session before the real work starts behind closed doors at their base in Weimar on Wednesday.

Kane, Trippier, Rice and Walker will lead from the front. Who will follow?

But spirits are high as England settle into their base – before the real work begins

The atmosphere during the open practice on Tuesday for hundreds of children was remarkably relaxed

Meanwhile, England players will turn a blind eye to their social media accounts during Euro 2024 to avoid distractions during the tournament, amid the ongoing problem of online abuse targeting footballers.

The Football Association has not given the team any official guidance on how to access their social accounts during their time in Germany, but some players have already chosen to leave their pages inactive during the European Championship.

Southgate has given his players the opportunity to make their own choices and will stand in his team’s way if they want to engage on social media.

It emerged that England players received 1,546 abusive tweets during the World Cup group stages.

Kane and Rice are among the players who have removed themselves from social media during tournaments.