FOOTBALL pundits have made some big calls after predicting England’s starting XI to face Switzerland on Saturday.
Gary Neville, Harry Redknapp, Jurgen Klinsmann and Alan Shearer are among eight experts to have selected some bold line-ups as the Three Lions prepare for tomorrow’s Euros quarter-final.
Gareth Southgate’s men have been off the pace so far this summer, scraping past Slovakia in the last-16 thanks to Jude Bellingham’s late equaliser and Harry Kane’s extra-time winner.
And reports claim the England boss will switch to a five-man defence to match Switzerland.
It could see the likes of Ezri Konsa get a first start following Marc Guehi’s suspension.
While Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ivan Toney will be hoping to feature again.
However, the above quartet of pundits have all opted to stick with a four-man defence.
And there are some bold selection choices, with Neville arguably boasting the most radical of all.
He has urged Southgate to keep faith with the current 4-2-3-1 system, with Konsa replacing Guehi alongside John Stones.
However, Neville wants a major change at full-back, suggesting Kyle Walker is moved to the left with Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right.
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He also feels Kobbie Mainoo should retain his place in midfield alongside Declan Rice, with Harry Kane and Jordan Pickford also automatic choices.
But Neville believes Southgate must DROP Phil Foden from the side.
He doesn’t seem room for the Man City star with Jude Bellingham filling the No10 slot.
And Neville feels England are best served by deploying Anthony Gordon on the left wing.
Yet he also wants Cole Palmer in as well, insisting the Chelsea man should replace Bukayo Saka on the right.
Meanwhile, SunSport Euros columnist Redknapp also wants England to keep their 4-2-3-1 shape.
And he reckons Luke Shaw must start at left-back despite only just recovering from injury.
Redknapp also wants to see Bellingham deployed as a No8 alongside Rice, allowing Foden to come in as the No10.
He is eager to see Palmer start too, and feels the Chelsea man deserves to get the nod on the left.
That would allow him to drift inside with Shaw providing the width that has so far been missing from England’s left flank.
Fellow SunSport columnist Klinsmann has gone for an even bolder look, advising Southgate to drop his possession tactics and summon the spirits of England teams past with a 4-4-2 system.
The German legend is happy keeping Trippier at left-back, with Foden and Saka either side of Rice and Bellingham in midfield.
But Klinsmann reckons Ivan Toney deserves a start following his brilliant impact against Slovakia.
The Brentford star’s strength and aerial dominance changed the flow of the game while allowing Kane to stay further forward.
And Klinsmann feels England are best served by having the target man in from the start.
Elsewhere, Shearer would like to see a 4-3-3 system with Bellingham and Mainoo playing as No8s either side of Rice.
Like Neville, he also wants to see Palmer and Gordon start, meaning there’s no room for Saka or Foden.
Meanwhile, former England star Ashley Young also wants a 4-3-3 with Foden coming in as a No8 alongside Bellingham, with Gordon moving to the left wing.
He also feels Mainoo deserves to start, which would see Arsenal star man Rice dropped from the side.
Another ex-Three Lions star, Stuart Pearce, believes 5-2-3 is the way to go though.
He wants Saka at right wing-back and Alexander-Arnold on the left, allowing Foden and Bellingham to play off Kane.
Elsewhere, talkSPORT pundit Jason Cundy also wants the same shape and personnel but would prefer Saka and Alexander-Arnold on opposite flanks.
Finally, former England star Chris Waddle has called for a radical back four featuring Walker at centre-back, Alexander-Arnold on the right and Saka on the left.
That would see Palmer move into right wing, with the rest of the team staying the same.
EXPERT football psychologist Professor Geir Jordet has told Gareth Southgate and his players what they can do to give themselves the best chance of victory in any shootouts.
And he has even thrown in a rogue, bold suggestion for the Three Lions manager…
1. START PLANNING LAST YEAR
“It’s about planning for the opposition’s penalty takers but also ‘how do we win the psychological game against each opponent?’
2. SMART SOUTHGATE LEADERSHIP
“Southgate will have two minutes to influence his players as effectively as possible, show he has a plan and get confidence across.”
3. DICTATE AS A TEAM
“A shootout is really a team performance. Have the goalkeeper walk with the penalty taker into the penalty area to basically create a two-versus-one against the other goalkeeper. Dominate the centre circle, support the players who missed.”
4. ‘BULLETPROOF’ INDIVIDUAL ROUTINES
“Have really good, individualised and rehearsed pre-shot routines that are bulletproof and polished so they’re more likely to be able to resist the stress and more likely to score.”
5. SHOOT YOUR SHOT
“Practise the shot itself, trying to simulate penalty shootouts in training. Even recreating 20 per cent of a Euros final penalty shootout is going to have a benefit for your performance.”
AND A JOR DROPPING IDEA…
Jordan Pickford is the No1 but Dean Henderson actually has a far better penalty record – saving 8/22 (36 per cent) compared to Pickford’s 8/62 (13 per cent).
Jordet said: “One could consider making a late substitution for a penalty shootout. I doubt that they dare to do it in case it fails and the pressure is even higher but it would be a very ballsy move.”
