GARETH SOUTHGATE has switched to a back-three for England’s quarter-final showdown with Switzerland.
With Marc Guehi suspended, the Three Lions boss is expected to change formation for the first time this tournament for the game in Dusseldorf.
Ezri Konsa replaces Guehi and will make his full tournament debut alongside Manchester City pair John Stones and Kyle Walker, who is set to start at right centre-back.
Despite injury concerns, Kieran Trippier keeps his place, but will move over to right wing-back, meaning Trent Alexander-Arnold once again misses out.
Elsewhere, Bukayo Saka has been moved to left wing-back after ending the 2-1 victory over Slovakia there, with Luke Shaw still not yet fit enough to start.
Into midfield, Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo will once again partner Declan Rice following his impressive showing in the last-16.
Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham, whose stunning overhead kick forced extra-time last Sunday, will support Harry Kane in attack.
The formation change was expected after the Three Lions trained in the shape earlier this week.
England used the formation with great success at both the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020, making the semi-finals and final of those tournaments respectively.
Many pundits did not expect Southgate to make the change.
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However, the new line-up is almost exactly what TalkSPORT’s Jason Cundy called for, with the exception of Trippier at right wing-back over Alexander-Arnold.
Meanwhile, Saka’s position on the left side of defence will echo his time there previously with Arsenal.
When he first broke into the Gunners’ set-up he was used in that position.
However, he won’t be a massive fan of playing there.
When Ian Wright mooted the idea earlier in the tournament, Saka said: “Obviously I love Ian Wright and he says so many great things about me but I don’t think putting me out of position is the solution.
“But at the end of the day, I think we can we can talk about this but it’s in Gareth’s hands so we will just have to trust whoever Gareth selects on the day.”
Bellingham has been cleared to play after picking up a suspended one-match ban by Uefa for a crude gesture he made while celebrating his goal against Slovakia.
He appeared to feign grabbing his crotch in a move that signalled he has what it takes in a crisis.
Match officials made no mention of the gesture in their match reports but Uefa still intervened.
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.”
The 21-year-old was also hit with a £25,000 fine, while the ban is suspended for 12 months.
The Real Madrid star defended his controversial gesture, stating it was aimed at close friends at the game and not towards the opposition.
He added: “Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight.”
KOBBIE MAINOO has shown he is the player that England need to build their midfield — and their team — around, writes Jack Wilshere.
That’s what I felt as it looked like we were slipping to defeat against Slovakia.
I know he was not on the pitch when our goals went in.
But until that unbelievable comeback, Mainoo was our best player.
He has a fearlessness and an instinct to do the right things at the right times that seemed to be lacking for so much of the game.
Mainoo alongside Declan Rice gives England better structure. In theory, at least, because for so long it didn’t look like that.
You can have any structure you like but if a team, individually and collectively, lacks confidence, you cannot use that structure effectively.
A fear can creep in. A fear of failing. A fear of losing the ball.
It is partly because of his age that Mainoo does not have that, or appears not to have it.
This was his first start in a major tournament. He does not know what it is like to have a bad one.
If we want to win this tournament, starting with the quarter-final against Switzerland, we will need to control games better.
Mainoo is the kind of midfielder England have been crying out for for a long time.
He can be the glue that holds together this team for the rest of the tournament and well into the future.
Read Jack Wilshere’s column in full.
Or check out all of Jack’s Euro 2024 opinions.
