England's 2022 World Cup defenders

Caps: 17 (1 goal)

Born: 7 October 1998 in Liverpool

Debut: Costa Rica (friendly) on 7 June 2018

A permanent fixture for club side Liverpool but yet to fully convince Gareth Southgate he is worthy of a regular spot for his country, Alexander-Arnold is one of the enigmas of English football.

He made his international debut four years ago, but has been handed just 16 caps since, few of them in what can be considered key games. Only one of his appearances came at a major tournament finals, in the 1-0 group-game loss to Belgium at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Injured prevented him appearing at the 2020 European Championship finals.

Supremely talented, with a wand of a right foot, he has demonstrated countless times in recent seasons that he is one of the best attacking full-backs in world football, providing 37 Premier League assists in his past three seasons.

He has been criticised, though, for his defending, which many have suggested is the reason Southgate has favoured one of the many other top-class right-backs at his disposal.

With the England boss' options at full-back diminished by injuries to Chelsea duo Ben Chilwell and Reece James, Alexander-Arnold has a huge opportunity to finally prove himself in a Three Lions shirt.

Like much of a struggling Liverpool side this Premier League season he has not been at his best, but if Southgate is looking for creativity from out wide, Alexander-Arnold can provide it.

Caps: 10 (1 goal)

Born: 25 February 1993 in St Helens

Debut: Denmark (Nations League) on 8 September 2020

Coady was considered surplus to requirements at Wolves in the summer, but Southgate continues to see him as a useful man to have in the England squad.

A vocal, dogged and disciplined central defender, he is unlikely to start for his country in Qatar but is someone the England boss knows he can call upon if he needs to shore things up at the back.

Most accustomed to playing in the middle of a back three, Coady has shown versatility to operate well in a four with new club Everton, who play to the kind of stubborn, solid methods for which the defender is best suited. Despite sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table, the Toffees have one of the best defensive records and Coady has been key to that.

An international since September 2020, he has not started against the biggest opponents, but he has acquitted himself well in the games in which he has featured. He also netted a rare goal in just his second cap - a 3-0 friendly win over Wales in October 2020.

Caps: 47 (3 goals)

Born: 15 January 1994 in Cheltenham

Debut: Spain (friendly) on 13 November 2015

Handed his debut by Roy Hodgson seven years ago, Dier was a regular fixture in the England side for the next three years. Under Southgate, he featured in the centre of defence for his country at the 2018 World Cup. It was in the former that he scored the decisive penalty against Colombia to seal his country's first ever shootout victory at a World Cup finals.

Such was his prominence in the side during this time, he took the captain's armband for a friendly with Germany at Wembley in November 2017.

A combination of inconsistent form and other options for Southgate to choose at centre-back saw his involvement tail off in 2019 and despite a run of Nations League games the following year, he was not involved at all in 2021.

His selection for the Nations League games against Italy and Germany in September 2022 were his first caps in 18 months - something he could now build on in Qatar.

Spurs manager Antonio Conte has put his faith in the player this season, starting him regularly in the middle of three centre-backs - a system Southgate himself has utilised throughout his tenure.

In selecting the versatile Dier, the England boss also gets extra cover for Declan Rice in the centre of midfield.

Caps: 48 (7 goals)

Born: 5 March 1993 in Sheffield

Debut: Lithuania (World Cup qualifier) on 8 October 2017

Few players available to Gareth Southgate have Maguire's international experience. He has been a regular starter for his country during their recent renaissance on the global stage, playing a big role in helping them reach the World Cup last four in 2018 and the Euros final three summers later.

At his best, he is a stubborn, solid presence in defence and a threat from set-pieces at the other end of the field. Now England's highest-scoring defender, his most memorable moments in a Three Lions shirt have been headed goals in quarter-finals - against Sweden in Russia and Ukraine in Rome in the Euros. He also put in a stellar performance in the latter to help keep Germany at bay in the last 16.

Many will tell you, though, that Maguire has not been at his best for a while. A mainstay in the Manchester United side in the first three seasons following his £80m move from Leicester, he has seen his playing time limited this campaign because of a combination of injury and poor form.

This has not stopped Southgate sticking staunchly by one of his main men.

Maguire has remained a regular in the national side throughout 2021 and 2022 and played 90 minutes in five of this year's six Nations League games. However, his performance in the last of those – the 3-3 draw with Germany – prompted BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty to state the player is a "big problem" for Southgate.

Caps: 23 (3 goals)

Born: 12 July 1995 in London

Debut: Denmark (friendly) on 5 March 2014

Shaw has been around the England senior set-up since 2014 but has only 23 caps, which is an indication of some of the issues he has had with consistency in his career.

When performing at his best, he is an energetic and industrious full-back, capable of providing both solidity and attacking flair on the left.

His best run of form and undoubtedly his highlight in a Three Lions shirt came during the summer of 2021, when he was Southgate's first-choice left-back during the delayed European Championship finals. It was his opening goal in the final against Italy that raised hopes of England's first major trophy since 1966.

He also started and scored in England's Nations League draw with Germany in September.

Shaw is enjoying a run in the Manchester United side, having initially lost his place to new signing Tyrell Malacia. It is a timely return to form for Southgate, who lost another option at left-back, Ben Chilwell, to injury a few weeks before the start of the World Cup.

Caps: 59 (3 goals)

Born: 28 May 1994 in Barnsley

Debut: Peru (friendly) on 30 May 2014

"You don't quite appreciate John until you are playing alongside him. He rarely gets beaten, he is great on the ball and he is very calm and level-headed."

Such praise, handed out on that occasion by Stones' club and international team-mate Kyle Walker is not unusual. Stones is regarded by many as one of the most technically proficient ball-playing centre-backs around.

Both Roy Hodgson and now Gareth Southgate have sought to tap into this ability throughout their tenures as England manager, with the latter starting Stones throughout the last two major tournaments.

He has, however, been an England international for more than eight years and is only just closing in on 60 caps, which is an indication of his regular injuries.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola remains a fan, not least because Stones is versatile enough to play at right-back too if required. A hamstring injury has interrupted his season, but he recently returned to action and featured in back-to-back Premier League games.

Caps: 37 (1 goals)

Born: 19 September 1990 in Bury

Debut: France (friendly) on 13 June 2017

Few England players have seen their stock fluctuate as Trippier’s has. In a career that began without making a senior appearance for Manchester City before moving to Burnley, it was as a Tottenham player that he made his Three Lions debut.

He made the right-back spot his own before and during the 2018 World Cup in Russia and scored England's opening goal in the semi-final defeat to Croatia.

A surprise move to Atletico Madrid followed, as did a period of him being in and out of the national side – as well as occasionally being required to operate at left-back when selected.

Now back in England, Trippier is excelling at Newcastle, not least with his accurate delivery from set-pieces. He is England's in-form right-back.

With injury ruling out left-back Ben Chilwell, his ability to play on the opposite flank is another key attraction for Southgate in Qatar.

Caps: 70 (0 goals)

Born: 28 May 1990 in Sheffield

Debut: Spain (friendly) on 20 November 2011

It is testament to his enduring ability and experience that Southgate has selected Walker despite the defender not featuring for Manchester City since early October.

With 70 caps, he has seen more international action than any other defender in the squad and has played in each of the last three major tournaments. His performances during the European Championship finals last summer earned him a place in Uefa's team of the tournament.

Now into his 30s, his speed remains largely unmatched, giving the side a potent weapon in both attack and defence whether he plays right-back or on the right of a back three.

He has made more than 340 Premier League and played in 69 club games in Europe - numbers only a handful of other England players can match.

Prior to his injury, he was operating largely as a right-back for City in the Premier League.

There may be questions about his fitness, but at full speed he is a shoo-in for the starting team in Qatar.

Caps: 4 (0 goals)

Born: 8 October 1997 in Poole

Debut: Austria (friendly) on 2 June 2021

There is an argument that White's versatility could count against him in these fledgling days of his international career. An extremely talented centre-back by trade, he has spent much of this season operating very effectively at right-back for Arsenal as they mount a Premier League title challenge.

Undoubtedly, his ability to play well in multiple positions helps him earn a place in the Three Lions squad. It may not assist him in trying to force his way into the side in his preferred spot, though.

White is potentially an England starter not just going forward but right now, in Qatar. He is the kind of composed, intelligent ball-playing centre-back who heads off danger before it develops rather than putting out fires when it does.

A series of loan spells in the lower leagues prepared him well to excel in the Premier League for Brighton and now the Gunners.

He has just four England caps to date, the last of which came in March of this year in the friendly with Ivory Coast.