Nineteen of the 26 players that Gareth Southgate has chosen to travel to Germany have experience in the EFL; their totals range from 273 games for Ivan Toney to 11 for Anthony Gordon.
The team consists of representatives from about 25 active EFL clubs.
Sport looks back at the Football League careers of the England players most likely to start against the Netherlands on Wednesday in the round of 64. Everton goalkeeper Pickford, who was waiting for his big opportunity at Sunderland, spent four stints on loan at EFL clubs.
He spent stints in non-league baseball with Darlington and Alfreton prior to that.
Going abroad on loan at a young age and developing was, in my opinion, the finest thing I could have done, he told the EFL, external in 2022.
As a player, you have to get in headfirst and discover a lot about yourself as a person.
My dream would be to play for England, Everton, and Sunderland. Though it’s an incredible feeling, I couldn’t have achieved it if I hadn’t gone to the EFL to play on loan for these teams.
