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Alan Shearer has named his England side to face Switzerland in their Euro 2024 quarter-final clash on Saturday.
Gareth Southgate‘s side are ying for a spot in the semi-finals of a tournament they have struggled in throughout having narrowly made it past Slovakia in the last round.
The Three Lions needed a Jude Bellingham stunner just seconds from time to force extra time, with captain Harry Kane heading in at the start of extra time to send England on their way to the last-eight.
Southgate will have to make at least one chance to the team from the last-16 tie with defender Marc Guehi suspended, though Kieran Trippier has been declared fit after being withdrawn due to injury against Slovakia.
Speaking to Betfair, Shearer named his side for the game on Saturday, making three changes from the game on Sunday.
The former England forward changed just one player in defence, with Guehi dropping out and Ezri Konsa the man chosen to replace him.
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Konsa came off the bench to play in defence during the win over Slovakia, though has naturally played on the right side, be that at right back or right-sided centre back.
If he is the man to deputise for Guehi, he will likely play on the left of John Stones.
That means that Trippier keeps his place in Shearer’s team, despite his injury concerns and the fact that he is playing on his lesser-favoured side of defence, normally featuring at right back.
Jordan Pickford remains in goal, while Kyle Walker and Stones keep their places in Shearer’s side.
Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo and Jude Bellingham are also picked again by Shearer in midfield, with Mainoo chosen to partner Rice in the last game following experiments of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher.
Changes have been made by Shearer out wide, however. So far, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden have been the men to flank Bellingham, though have both struggled in the tournament.
Saka went to left back and then right wing back during the win over Slovakia, and there have been calls for him to play on the left of defence again to provide a naturally left-footed option on that side, which England have not had so far this tournament.
Though Shearer has taken Saka out of his side in attack, he decided against putting him in at left back, instead opting for the consistent selection of Trippier.
Saka’s replacement in attack, according to the BBC pundit, should be Cole Palmer, who has been used as a substitute in the last two matches.
Having shone for Chelsea in his debut season with the Blues, the forward has found it hard to break into the England side, but has impressed in his brief cameos so far and, according to Shearer, deserves a start.
On the other side of attack, Foden has come under criticism for his performances and thought he had scored against Slovenia, but for it to be ruled out for offside. England then scored moments after he came off the pitch.
Crystal Palace‘s Eberechi Eze has been the man chosen to replace the Premier League player of the season on the left when Southgate has looked to change it up, but Shearer has suggested another man should play there.
That is Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon, who has played just one minute at the tournament so far after being introduced last on in the 0-0 draw with Slovenia in the group stage.
Elsewhere, captain Kane is expected to line up as the forward in the team, a decision Shearer has backed as Gareth Southgate takes charge of his 100th game as manager.
Speaking on his selection, Shearer said: ‘I think Gareth will go with a pretty similar line-up , I don’t think he’ll go away from what he’s used in the past, albeit he’ll be looking for a big improvement in the performance.
‘This is the time where you have to step up. The Netherlands did it in their last-16 game, Turkey were absolutely outstanding as well. There are some huge games coming up in the quarter-finals, so it’s something to look forward to.’
Southgate has been considering a swap to a back three for the game, a system that served him well at the World Cup in 2018 and has been used sparingly since.
It would be the first time he has started with the stystem out in Germany, though his side did finish that way at the end of extra time against Slovakia.
A move could see the likes of Alexander-Arnold, Trippier, Gordon or Saka line up at wing back, while it is unclear how the team would look in attack.Â