Katie Zelem: My favourite England XI

‘Ooo you could have warned me this was coming, then I would have got prepped for it!’ That was Katie Zelem’s response when she was first asked for her favourite England XI.

It is a debate which dominates conversations in pubs and sitting rooms around the country and the good thing with this feature is they can’t be ‘wrong’ because it is all down to their personal opinion and personal preference.

This is not their perceived ‘best England XI’. It is about their ‘favourite England line-up’, so those players they grew up idolising, maybe it is their mates in the squad or maybe current players whose talent they appreciate.

In the end, Zelem’s favourite XI contained a nice mix of men’s and women’s players and a blend of those whose title as ‘England legend’ is already secure and several who are well on their way to potentially one day claiming the status.

Zelem was speaking several months ago and before the Lionesses headed to Australia for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Formation: 4-3-3

Goalkeeper: Mary Earps 

I'm going to have to go for Mary. She has been unbelievable for Man United in recent seasons and obviously winning the EURO was an incredible achievement. She had a tough few years with the national team and deserves every bit of praise she is now getting. Mary is actually one of my closest friends in football and we spend time together outside of football too, and we like our little brunch dates and lunch dates, so that is another reason to include her!

Right-back: Reece James 

Right back I am going to go for Reece James. He's obviously a machine defensively but attacking he plays a bit like a midfielder at right back. His crosses are unbelievable and with me taking set piece, I really admire how he takes set pieces, so that is a big plus for me.

Centre-back: Rio Ferdinand 

I just like everything Rio Ferdinand brings as a player, like his on-the-ball quality. He is very much my era of Man United, with him and Vidic, one's battling, one's playing. He also owns a lovely Italian in Manchester which gets him some brownie points as well!

Centre-back: Leah Williamson

Leah is an unbelievable centre-back. Her qualities really suit her playing at centre-back, where she can step out and play. She is a lifelong friend as me, Leah and Keira have come through the ages together and gone through all sorts of mad stuff, like the penalty at the Under-19s EURO. It is unbelievable the way she captains her country at such a young age.

Left-back: Alex Greenwood

I really like having left-footed players on the pitch and especially at centre-back. I wanted to have her at centre-back but will put her at left-back so I can fit some other people into the side. When I play with Alex, I really appreciate how calm she is on the ball and how much she finds the midfield. She never looks under pressure ever. I played with her at Manchester United too and when she made that move to Lyon, when she came back, that first season at Manchester City was one of the best of her career.

Defensive midfield: Keira Walsh 

I've grown up playing with Keira since I was 12 or 13. Our families are really close and we would go to the park together, playing football over the tennis nets or park and not come home until it was dark. So not only is she a lifelong friend of mine, she's an unbelievable footballer. Playing in a similar position to Keira, I appreciate everything she does when maybe sometimes not everyone else does. She makes it look so simple and I think that might be why before the EURO she didn’t receive the praise she is getting now. She is now playing at an unbelievable club and I think we will see the best of her in the coming years.

Centre midfield: Jude Bellingham 

I’ve only ever heard good things about him, so that fills me with confidence. He's still only 19 (has since turned 20) and has already been captaining his club side. It's just crazy. I became captain at 22 or 23 and I thought that was young. It brings a lot of responsibility and a lot of people don’t realise everything you do behind the scenes when you are a captain. He has taken it in his stride like it is nothing and is still banging in the goals.

Centre midfield: Fara Williams 

Fara was a player I looked up to growing up and was one of the first women's players I ever really knew when I was growing up, at a time when it was men’s football everywhere. She was the first player I saw on the TV and she is the most capped England player. I was actually lucky enough to play with her at Liverpool so it was a bit crazy that I'd looked up to someone and then was playing alongside them and won the league with them. It was amazing.

Number 10: Kelly Smith 

I never got the chance to play with Kelly, but from everything I hear I really wish I did. When I speak to Leah Williamson and Caroline Weir, who one of my best friends, she says Kelly was unbelievable. Kelly is someone I wish I could have seen more of. I played against her – she came on and scored, putting one in top bins – so I saw the quality but I would have loved to have seen more of her up close.

Number 10: Phil Foden 

I think he is exciting, he brings something new and he's left-footed. I don't know why I love left-footed players so much but I do!

Striker: Wayne Rooney 

Growing up he was my all-time favourite player. I was going to play him as a No. 10 but I need to fit Kelly Smith in so sorry Harry Kane, you are going to have to miss out this time. He was the first men's player I ever loved. I remember in English class we had to write a little assignment on somebody that we looked up to and admired and everyone else just had normal people basically and mine was Wayne Rooney. I was Googling all the goals he scored and all sorts.