Gareth Southgate's underperforming team has no margin for error in the knockout stage, so he must make changes.
England's Euro 2024 can finally start in the knockout stage after an incredibly dull group-stage campaign. Slovakia, ranked 40 places lower in FIFA than them and has never won a knockout game at a major tournament, could not have been a more comfortable opponent in the last 16.
With only one lineup change in England's three games, Gareth Southgate has confused fans and commentators by mainly adhering to a strategy that has yet to succeed in the tournament. Now that there is no room for error, he must juggle things. After all, a further tie would expose England to a penalty shootout, which has so frequently proved to be their undoing in important championships following their stalemates with Slovenia and Denmark.
Thankfully, Southgate has an attacking-heavy squad and many options to attempt to turn around his rusty team.
Sporty3600 selects the England manager's starting lineup that will, at last, inspire his side to victory and guarantee that they progress to the quarterfinals with the least amount of drama...
: Jordan Picker
With only one shot on target against Serbia and Slovenia, the goalie has had a relatively quiet tournament. Even though he was kept busy against Denmark, Marton Hjulmand's brilliant equalizer was hardly his fault. He retains his spot for the opening knockout match with ease.
Kyle Walker, RB
Walker's club form carried over to the Euros, where he masterfully marshaled the defense and assisted England in scoring their goals. He remains the first choice even with England's great right-back options.
CB: John Stones Stones has returned to playing center back first and foremost, adopting a cautious stance and refraining from making daring rushes forward. However, that is what Southgate is asking of him, and at this point, there is no justification for leaving him off the squad.
CB: Marc Guehi
After Harry Maguire's departure, the Crystal Palace defender has been England's most reliable player in Germany, continuing his great experience. On the court, he consistently demonstrates bravery and composure while anticipating danger and acting quickly to avoid it.
LB: Saka Bukayo
Luke Shaw is coming closer to being healthy again, but he is still not fit enough to start; thus, this unconventional decision makes sense in the situation. Playing the left-footed Saka, who had experience playing at left-back early in his career, is an intriguing option for England's too-predictable left-hand side.
Given that Peter Pekarik, the right-back, is 37 years old and Juraj Kucka and Ivan Schranz are hardly the most formidable wingers, England could just about escape with it against Slovakia. Additionally, Southgate could unleash Cole Palmer on the right wing, where he prefers to play.
Declan Rice, CM
Although Rice has found it difficult to duplicate his stellar performance for Arsenal in Germany, he did contribute to England's offensive in the second half against Slovenia thanks to a stronger rapport with Kobbie Mainoo. He is still the best candidate for the job but needs to improve.
CM: Kobbie Mainoo
The Manchester United youngster's incredible displays should have earned him at least one start throughout the competition, but when he replaced Slovenia at halftime, he improved England. Furthermore, Mainoo is the clear pick in the future because Southgate appears to have given up on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher already.
AM: Jude Bellingham
Bellingham's concerning decline after his brilliant display against Serbia has been accompanied by an improvement in Phil Foden's play, highlighting the difficulty in lining up the two playmakers.
Although Foden has already returned to the England camp following his flight home for his third child's birth, Southgate has good reason to leave him out of the starting lineup to assess Bellingham's independence after missing two training days. After the emotional rollercoaster of becoming a father for the third time, Foden also deserves some time off.
Cole Palmer, RW
When he entered the game against Slovenia, the Chelsea forward gave the team some much-needed guile and inventiveness, and his audacity was just what the group needed to boost morale. Palmer can play in various forward positions, but he should be allowed to play in his preferred position after being benched for the first three games.
Harry Kane, CF
Of all the England players, Kane has drawn the most criticism for his lack of mobility and back injury, which he sustained near the season's conclusion. However, he is the guy you would want the ball to drop to in the box, and these adjustments should help England get the ball to him where it will kill them the most.
Anthony Gordon, LW
Like Palmer, Gordon has been underutilized during the tournament following his stellar Newcastle season. This is especially true given that Gordon is a classic left winger, and England has severely needed balance on that side. Despite playing only one minute of the match plus stoppage time against Slovenia, he contributed to creating the team's finest opportunity. He ought to be given the chance to demonstrate his abilities right away.
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