There has been a lot of debate about how England should play and line up at Euro 2024.
The first two games saw Gareth Southgate’s side flatter to deceive and receive heavy criticism from pundits and fans alike.
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Although four points from two games have already seen the Three Lions qualify for the last 16 in at least third place following the final results from Groups A and B, performances have been largely out of character.
Southgate’s experiment with Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield appears to be over after leaked team reports revealed that Conor Gallagher was expected to take Liverpool’s star spot.
Otherwise, the starting XI is expected to remain the same.
England face Slovenia in the final Group C game tonight at 8pm at the Cologne Stadium.
Their potential opponents in the next round will be shaped by the result, with all but first place lining up England for a meeting with some of the tournament’s heavyweights.
So this game has a lot to do with that, and experts have revealed how they would go about tackling it.
Wayne Rooney
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Former England goalscorer Wayne Rooney has largely retained the same selected squad, with only Anthony Gordon replacing 25-year-old Alexander-Arnold.
Rooney then decided to move Jude Bellingham deeper to play alongside Declan Rice, with Phil Foden coming in and occupying the number 10 position.
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He said BBC Sport: “Phil and Jude are almost in that position, so it’s hard to find space. So I think we just leave Jude behind a little bit and give Foden that space to go and roam.
“And having Gordon and Saka to maintain width will make a big difference to the team.”
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Jack Wilshere
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SunSport’s Euro 2024 columnist Jack Wilshere also made a change to his team to face Slovenia, but unlike Rooney, he did not change any other positions.
Instead, Wilshere opted to be bold and give 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo a full tournament debut ahead of Alexander-Arnold.
Wilshere said: “I think Kobbie Mainoo would be the best choice to play alongside Declan Rice. Mainoo has proven that he can hold, can play on the break and can advance.
“He also showed great personality. He was the shining light for Manchester United in a difficult season. At 19, Mainoo won’t worry: ‘This could be my last tournament, I don’t want to make mistakes’.”
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Experts and legends arrived in England
ENGLAND’S lifeless display in their 1-1 draw with Denmark left pundits and legends alike queuing up to criticize Gareth Southgate’s side.
Here’s the best of what was said…
ALAN SEARER
“Terrible performance, especially after moving up in the game.
“I don’t think a single English player can look at themselves and say, ‘I did my job tonight’.
“England were all over the place, sloppy in possession, losing the ball too much and getting caught too many times.
“There was no energy, no pace, no guile – Southgate is simply not getting the best out of England’s best players.
“It is worrying and Gareth will be asked some serious questions.
“You saw England players lying on their backs – they looked absolutely devastated, but there’s no excuse for that.”
GARY LINEKER
The BBC presenter called the performance “lifeless and tepid”.
Of Harry Kane he said: “He needs his manager to ask more of him. I would have expected that if I had given that kind of performance.”
RIVER FERDINANDO
“The players don’t look the same as their clubs. It’s a big concern.”
ROY KEANE
“Courage and bravery, we’re not really seeing that.
“There is something wrong with the balance. Bellingham is waving his arms.
“This is a big test for Gareth. It seems like he’s overthinking things.”
JAMIE CARRAGHER
“My big concern watching this and the rest of the tournament?
“England look absolutely exhausted. They can’t get close to the ball.
“The surest sign of fatigue is falling deeply.
“Declan Rice is having to cover a lot of ground. No one can convince me that this is a strategy.”
JACK WILSHERE
“It’s strange that we’ve taken the lead in both games so far, but instead of that calming us down and giving us the confidence to play, we haven’t been able to take control.
“But the most worrying thing was that Denmark had a clear way of playing, while we didn’t.”
Gary Neville
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Gary Neville has announced two changes to his team in positions under most scrutiny, central midfield and left winger.
Neville would bring Gordon on the left for his ability to widen the width of the field and would also place Mainoo in midfield driving alongside Rice, whilst also teasing a possible switch to a back three.
He told ITV: “He talked about a partner for Rice and maybe some early pace alongside Kane. That’s Gordon and that’s Mainoo. Declan Rice should have a partner in midfield who can play and make us play at the back .
“I think the issue of pace is there, we’ve been talking about it for a few days. I think he might even be disruptive enough to do what he did in previous tournaments and go for the three on defense as well. The left-back role is a bit difficult for Gareth.”
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Talking about abandoning Harry Kane is absurd, says Jurgen Klinsmann
NO manager in the world will really care how many touches his striker takes, writes Jurgen Klinsmann.
It is being widely reported that Harry Kane has not seen much of the ball in England’s first two matches, but that in itself will not be a concern for Gareth Southgate.
It’s a good thing for statistics fanatics to talk about it – and obviously there are more and more of them in and outside football.
But not all statistics are useful and this one doesn’t mean much.
Harry scored one goal, and almost two, in two games. It’s not like he wasn’t involved.
Everyone in England needs to calm down a bit about their captain.
Some even suggest he should be dropped or rested for tomorrow’s final group game against Slovenia – but that is completely absurd.
Please stop worrying. He will come well. He always do that.
Read Jurgen Klinsmann’s thoughts on Harry Kane’s fights in full.
Or check out all of Jurgen’s Euro 2024 columns.
Jamie Carragher
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Sky Sports fellow Jamie Carragher has a similar mindset to Neville in selecting Gordon on the left and a new midfield partner in Rice, but has also opted for a formation tweak to 4-3-3.
However, instead of Mainoo in midfield, the former Liverpool defender believes Gallagher is needed to bring energy to the team.
Writing in The telegraphhe said: “Sadly, two of the Premier League’s best footballers – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden – will now have to be sacrificed…
“It has to be a midfielder who brings energy to the whole field, like Conor Gallagher, Adam Wharton or Kobbie Mainoo. This is not a negative move; it is essential.”
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Paulo Scholes
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Paul Scholes opted for the most radical changes of all, two in personnel and one in position.
Scholes asked Southgate to move Alexander-Arnold to left-back, bring Mainoo into midfield and place Cole Palmer on the right wing.
On Instagram, Scholes said: “TAA left-back, midfield Mainoo, Palmer on the right…
“I would give reasons, but there are a lot of squeamish sons of bitches out there.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
