Euro 2024 news: Southgate considering a back three for England vs Switzerland clash
Gareth Southgate is reportedly considering switching to a back three for England’s quarter-final clash with Switzerland at Euro 2024 on Saturday.
The England manager has stubbornly stuck to his guns on team selection in the tournament so far, despite the Three Lions turning in four underwhelming displays.
But the suspension of Mark Guehi means Southgate needs to make a change - and with Luke Shaw back in training, there is talk of England lining up in a 5-3-2 formation following the impact of Ivan Toney’s role from the bench in Sunday’s dramatic win over Slovakia.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Johnny Jones selects the starting XI he thinks will take to the field against the Swiss in Dusseldorf on Saturday evening.
England (5-3-2)
Jordan Pickford: England’s No 1 would surely welcome the introduction of a more solid defensive unit, similar to those used by Southgate in the 2018 World Cup and 2020 European Championships, with the 10 men in front of him conceding more shots than their opponents in three from four games so far this tournament.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: The Liverpool man has found it difficult to cement himself as a core element of England’s best XI since he announced himself on the scene, despite being hailed as a unique talent.
His fortunes changed this summer, with Southgate willing to shoehorn the right-back into midfield, just to fit him in the team.
What was seen as an “experiment” was quickly cut short after two group stage matches, with Alexander-Arnold's inexperience of playing in midfield supposedly holding his team back and being a major reason for collectively underwhelming performances against Serbia and Denmark.
Some suggested he was hung out to dry by the England manager, by being played in a position he was mostly unfamiliar with.
A switch to a back three with wing-backs would fit him to a tee. Being deployed at right wing-back would mean him being given the license to create from his preferred territory, optimising his elite chance production, something England need desperately after registering only two shots on target in over 120 minutes of football, albeit rather decisive, against Slovakia.
Kyle Walker: Gareth Southgate has long been a fan of the 34-year-old, seeing his explosive pace almost as a get-out-of-jail-free card for when his defence is caught cold with runners in behind or an individual error.
Although serving England well, and as a third-centre-back, Walker finds himself with a point to prove after a poor performance in the last-16 clash against Slovakia, where Sparta Prague’s Lukàs Haraslín got the better of him on more than one occasion, leading some fans to question whether the defensive capabilities that Southgate has trusted him for, for so long, are fading away.
Hopefully the Manchester City captain is able to deliver an improved performance, wherever he is to play, to help his side advance to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
John Stones: Kyle Walker’s club team-mate’s performance last Sunday also undoubtedly left something to be desired, but he should also benefit from the introduction of Southgate’s old defensive system, with more support required to strengthen England’s defence.
At the centre of the Three Lions’ back unit, he must lead by example, especially with possibly first starts of the tournament for the likes of Ezri Konsa and Luke Shaw.
Ezri Konsa: After a short cameo at left-back against Slovakia, Konsa appears the most likely candidate to step in for the suspended Marc Guéhi, whether that will be on the left side of a centre-back pairing or trio remains to be seen.
Unai Emery has used Konsa primarily as a right-back or right-sided centre-back, raising questions regarding why the England manager will reportedly opt for the Villa man over Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, who played the majority of last season as the Reds’ starting left-back.
Luke Shaw: Having been sidelined since February with a hamstring issue, Shaw is reportedly ready to start his tournament following his return to full team training over a week ago.
This would be a huge boost for England, with the absence of a left-footer at left-back causing clear problems with the whole team’s width, balance and fluidity.
Shaw’s performances in the European Championships in 2021 also provide encouragement, as he emerged as a brilliant attacking threat, providing three assists in six appearances, as well as scoring the opening goal in the final, which England of course went on to lose on penalties.
He was unlucky to not be named in the Team of the Tournament.
Kobbie Mainoo: The 19-year-old deserves to be included in the starting XI to face Switzerland after impressing in his first major tournament start against Slovakia, at times being the only bright spark going forward for his team.
A change to a 5-3-2 set-up for England would also provide him with more support in the middle, where the only criticism of him could be made, that he and Declan Rice did not protect the defence adequately, especially in the first half.
Jude Bellingham would drop deeper to add extra midfield cover, and with an extra defender behind him, Mainoo would have more freedom to test Switzerland with his silky feet.
Declan Rice: Despite improving as the last-16 tie against Slovakia wore on, Arsenal’s £100m midfielder must up his level of performance if he is to give his team the best chance of overcoming Switzerland.
With his predecessor Granit Xhaka, the Swiss captain, orchestrating his side to a comfortable 2-0 win over European champions Italy, Rice has a battle on his hands.
He must regain his form of last season that helped Arsenal to an incredible second half of the campaign for England to make it to Dortmund.
Jude Bellingham: Despite a mostly quiet performance last Sunday, Bellingham managed to produce something straight out of the top drawer to keep England’s hopes alive.
Clearly feeling invincible at the moment, he should ensure that he doesn’t have to wait until the fifth minute of injury time to make his mark.
Expectations of others and indeed himself mean he feels he cannot fail and will do everything possible to drag his team through.
Possibly playing as a third central midfielder, he will be in a less advanced role, but given the opportunity to in fact influence the game more, as some felt he went missing against Denmark, Slovenia and no less Slovakia, until his moment of brilliance.
READ MORE: Soccer news: Jude Bellingham’s goal up with best overhead kicks of all time
Ivan Toney: A hugely impressive cameo last time out means the Brentford striker has reportedly earned a place in England’s starting XI to face Switzerland.
Such a physical weapon will be difficult to contain for the likes of Manuel Akanji and Fabian Schär, especially with the prospect of deliveries from both flanks from Shaw and Alexander-Arnold which Toney could feast on.
He, like Bellingham, has an enviable amount of self-belief that doesn’t exactly hinder a number nine in front of goal under such immense pressure.
Harry Kane: The England skipper will be hoping to build on his winning goal after being largely starved of service by a combination of poor final-third play from his team-mates and astute Slovakian defending - however he could be blamed for a couple of poor misses.
Thankfully, he couldn’t miss the chance that fell to him from Toney’s flick-on in the first minute of extra time, and it was enough to see Southgate’s men through to the last eight.
Having never consistently played as half of a striking partnership, it will be uncharted territory for Kane going into Saturday’s quarter-final, although it functioned well in the few moments we saw it against Slovakia.
Possible substitutes: With this system unthinkably omitting the likes of Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, what would the plan be if things go pear-shaped for England yet again?
Firstly, a switch to a 5-2-3 could be made, with Toney and probably Mainoo making way for these two, who would be deployed on each wing, although this would entail Foden on the left, where he clearly is not at his best. Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer and Jarrod Bowen are other possible actions to save the game from the wing.
A simpler approach would be a straight swap between Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins, although the Villa man’s pace would likely not be utilised if England are facing a low block.
What would probably be the most popular approach would involve Phil Foden being brought in for Toney and played as a No 10 alongside Jude Bellingham, something which England fans have been crying out for, following his incredible season for Manchester City, where he was named as the Premier League’s Player of the Season, playing in a similar role.
To go even more attacking, an introduction of Cole Palmer as the second attacking midfielder would mean Bellingham drop deeper and Mainoo make way.
Furthermore, for an even further daring approach, Bukayo Saka could be played as a left-wing back and Shaw be extracted.
Although Southgate may never go quite this far, he may have to go all-guns-blazing to save England and himself, in what he said will be his last tournament if football doesn’t come home.
READ MORE: Liverpool news: Ten fixtures for Reds fans to relish in 2024/25 season
