Gareth Southgate has to make at least one change to his England side for their Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland on Saturday.
Marc Guehi is suspended, while there are concerns over the fitness of Kieran Trippier following his early withdrawal due to injury in the win over Slovakia on Sunday night.
Elsewhere, there may be some non-enforced changes to be made. The Three Lions failed to click in attack once again, and Southgate may opt to change his four-man front line for the first time in Germany.
Be that Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, or even Harry Kane or Jude Bellingham, a number of squad players are knocking on the door for their opportunity to impress at the tournament.
On the back of the Slovakia result and ahead of Switzerland, Mail Sport‘s football experts have picked their sides for the quarter-final tie…
Gareth Southgate is set to make changes to his England side for their Euro 2024 quarter-final
Changes will at least have to be made in defence, with Marc Guehi (right) now suspended
There could also be a new-look attack, with Phil Foden (left) and Bukayo Saka (right) struggling
OLIVER HOLT – Stop papering over the cracks
(4-2-3-1) Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Walker, Stones, Saka; Rice, Bellingham; Palmer, Foden, Gordon; Kane
I’m tired of hoping something is going to click magically with England and that they can win the tournament without making important changes.
It’s time to stop papering over the cracks. Recall Alexander-Arnold and play him in his best position. Saka doesn’t want to play left back and I don’t blame him but the team looks so unbalanced with a right-footed left back and he would help to fix that.
Play Bellingham alongside Rice. Let him rampage from there. Pick Gordon to stretch the opposition defence and give Foden space to work his magic in his best position.
Number of changes: Four
IAN LADYMAN – Play the back three
(3-4-2-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Shaw; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Mainoo, Saka; Bellingham, Palmer; Kane
So here is a team that absolutely won’t happen but I am putting it out there as an alternative.
Southgate abandoned his three-man defence some time ago but the fact is that it did used to work for him. Here it would help him cover for the absence of Marc Guehi, who is suspended, and would allow him to get Trent Alexander-Arnold back into the team as a right wing back.
Further up the field it would be fascinating to see if Bellingham and Palmer could dove tail to find a way to do the one thing England haven’t managed this tournament – create chances!
Number of changes: Three
Mail Sport’s Oliver Holt and Ian Ladyman have both called for Trent Alexander-Arnold to be put back into the side, but on the right of defence
Six of our football experts, meanwhile, have suggested that Cole Palmer (right) should start
CRAIG HOPE – Time to drop Foden
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Konsa, Trippier; Rice, Mainoo; Palmer, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
I have said it since the opening game, Southgate has to play Palmer AND Gordon.
The front four feels stale and does not work as a collective. Gordon brings pace and widens the pitch, while Palmer is so evidently a better option than Saka on form and fitness.
Foden and Bellingham are the 2024 version of Lampard and Gerrard, albeit 30 yards further forward. Foden should make way now, because there is more chance of Bellingham producing a moment of inspiration.
Elsewhere, get Alexander-Arnold in at right back to offer a creativity from defence that has been absent. Walker looks tired anyway.
They should go out and take the game to Switzerland – and TAA, Gordon and Palmer (in their correct positions) would help achieve that.
Number of changes: Five
Foden’s place may be in danger – Craig Hope suggests he should be dropped, while Mike Keegan is of the view that he should play centrally
Luke Shaw, meanwhile, ‘has to start’, according to Mike Keegan as he looks to prove his fitness
MIKE KEEGAN – Move Foden into the middle
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Walker, Stones, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham; Palmer, Foden, Saka; Kane
As the song goes, you can’t start a fire without a spark and England’s boss can provide that by playing Phil Foden in the middle.
Bring Jude Bellingham back alongside Declan Rice, start Cole Palmer and get on the front foot. It will mean serious heavy lifting for Rice but he is more than capable of it. If he tires, Kobbie Mainoo can come on and finish the job.
Marc Guehi is a huge loss but switching Kyle Walker to centre-half, where he is more than competent, brings Trent Alexander-Arnold and his much-needed creativity into the side.
The concern would be a defensive vulnerability on the right, but the positives outweigh the negatives. Luke Shaw has to start.
Number of changes: Three
BRYAN ROBSON – Focus on wingers
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Konsa, Stones, Shaw; Mainoo, Rice; Palmer, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Switzerland’s full-backs were outstanding against Italy so it’s important we select our most dangerous wide players to keep them occupied.
Anthony Gordon is more direct with great pace so I would go with him to keep them stretched then we can always use Phil Foden from the bench. I’d bring in Ezri Konsa for Marc Guehi because of his mobility and Luke Shaw at left back.
I like Kieran Trippier as a player, he has a great attitude also, but he hasn’t had a good tournament. At least he could come on if Shaw struggles with fitness to last the match.
Number of changes: Four
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SAMI MOKBEL – Stick with what you know
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Konsa, Walker; Rice, Mainoo; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Southgate spoke very pointedly about maintaining continuity after Sunday’s great escape against Slovakia. There’s a lot to be said for that. Tearing up the masterplan now would make little sense in my opinion despite the clear deficiencies.
So switching to three-at-the-back now, when you’ve spent the last six weeks preparing a back-four, seems a leap. But I would, however, find a way to bring Alexander-Arnold back into the team at right-back.
His delivery from wide and passing execution is wasted on the bench. Walker is experienced enough to deal with playing at left-back.
Number of changes: Two
CHRIS SUTTON – Change on the right
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Konsa, Trippier; Mainoo, Rice; Palmer, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
We know Southgate needs to make at least one change to replace the suspended Guehi, and his bringing on of Ezri Konsa towards the end of the Slovakia comeback over Lewis Dunk and Joe Gomez was telling.
But there is one other tweak that I want to see made to the England team. That is bringing in Cole Palmer for Bukayo Saka on the right wing. Saka is not the only one who’s had a limited impact at Euro 2024.
Phil Foden needs to step up on the other side, too. But Palmer is a ready-made replacement on the right and he deserves his chance for his cameo appearances.
Number of changes: Two
Chris Sutton has called for Palmer to replace Bukayo Saka on the right of the Three Lions attack on Saturday
GRAEME SOUNESS – Who knows?!
I’ve no idea what Gareth Southgate will do. With the decisions he has made and the selections so far, I would not want to second-guess his choices. I would find it impossible.
Going on what we have witnessed, Switzerland will win. If this is England’s level then you’d have to think their issues are psychological because they are not showing the form we know they can produce.
