A semi-final date with the Netherlands awaits England on Wednesday after the Three Lions put on a penalty-taking clinic against Switzerland.
Gareth Southgate changed shape against the Swiss in the wake of England’s underwhelming start to Euro 2024 and was rewarded with an improved performance, although his team once again didn’t fully convince and failed to put Switzerland away in 120 minutes.
Ahead of Wednesday night’s match against the Dutch in Dortmund, Southgate once again has plenty to ponder. Cole Palmer and others made an impact from the bench for the second game running, while questions continue to be asked over big names like Harry Kane and Phil Foden, both of whom were replaced before the penalty shootout. Much was made of the decision to keep Kieran Trippier on the left but with Bukayo Saka producing a man-of-the-match performance on the right and Luke Shaw back in the fold, does Southgate stick or twist?
We asked the Mirror Football team how they think England should line up ahead of the big match…
Daniel Orme
Harry Kane is England captain and the Three Lions’ record goalscorer – but that does not mean he is immune from being dropped. Kane has offered very little throughout the Euros and now might be the time for him to make way.
Ivan Toney has impressed in his brief cameos – and clearly has the confidence and quality to lead the line for Gareth Southgate’s men. He was far more dynamic than Kane against Switzerland so should definitely be under consideration.
Ezri Konsa also caught the eye but Marc Guehi should be drafted back in for the Three Lions after his performances so far. Elsewhere in defence, Luke Shaw is finally fit and given he is a natural left-sided defender, should open up that flank for England.
Southgate’s side enjoyed more control in midfield against Switzerland so should leave Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in the team. There is a question over Phil Foden but given the formation England are now using, he should also remain.
England XI vs the Netherlands: Pickford; Guehi, Stones, Walker; Shaw, Rice, Mainoo, Saka Bellingham, Foden; Toney.
Simon Mullock
In any normal circumstances, dropping your country’s captain and record goalscorer would be an act of treason – but in five games so far, Harry Kane has been a shadow of himself.
Physically, Kane looked shot from day one against Serbia. As the tournament has progressed, it is clear that has taken a toll on his confidence. It was a miracle he lasted 109 minutes in the quarter-final win over Switzerland when the only reason for trying to keep him on the pitch could have been to have him available for the penalty shoot-out.
England’s attacking players have struggled to find space at these championships. One of the reasons has been the lack of mobility and pace to stretch opposition teams at the top of the pitch. Ollie Watkins should come in to Gareth Southgate’s plans to start – but he won’t.
There’s also an argument to replace Phil Foden with Cole Palmer. I am a huge Foden fan, but he has been disappointing at this tournament and Palmer has shown that he’s ready to step up.
With Marc Guehi available again, it’s probable that Southgate will revert to 4-2-3-1. But I would love to see the England manager go 3-4-2-1 with this team: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Shaw; Alexander-Arnold, Mainoo, Rice, Saka; Palmer, Bellingham; Watkins. But that’s a pipe dream.
Alan Smith
Two changes but keep the shape, which in itself looked rather fluid in the quarter-final. Marc Guehi should come back in for Ezri Konsa and, presuming he is fit enough, Luke Shaw for Kieran Trippier. Before the Switzerland game Southgate made it clear that he values Trippier so highly because of his ability to talk a team not possessing many loud leaders through the match. Yet his reliance on his right foot has been problematic throughout the tournament and Shaw will open up the options.
Kane has been below the standard expected of him but to drop one of the game’s most clinical goalscorers, not to mention the captain, makes little sense. A low bar but one goal would have him sharing the golden boot.
England XI vs the Netherlands: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane.
Nathan Ridley
When England kicked off against Switzerland, there was a collective realisation among fans as Bukayo Saka actually lined up on the right and Kieran Trippier stayed on the left. The Three Lions’ left flank didn’t improve as Gareth Southgate would’ve hoped for with the change of shape but keeping Saka on the right, so he was able to cut inside on his favoured left foot, proved a masterstroke to get England level on 80 minutes.
I’d keep the Arsenal star there and replace Trippier with Luke Shaw, who returned against Switzerland and, aside from his obvious qualities, offers tactical flexibility both in an attacking and defensive sense. Also, sorry Ezri Konsa, I’m going for Marc Guehi after his four solid displays prior to suspension.
Phil Foden would be out of my XI, too, as Cole Palmer has shown more than enough to get the nod over his former team-mate. Ivan Toney has also impressed me coming off the bench but he’s been shown to be impactful late in games and having him on for penalties would obviously be a boost. And yes, Harry Kane should start.
England XI vs the Netherlands: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Palmer, Bellingham; Kane
Ben Husband
One of the biggest plus points of England’s dramatic penalty win over Switzerland was the return of Luke Shaw. His inclusion in the squad was beginning to appear a gross error of judgement, but if he can contribute over the next week, it will have been a masterstroke.
If – and that is a big if – he is fit to start, he must do so in place of Trippier. Shaw’s arrival immediately added extra balance so desperately lacking throughout the tournament.
Guehi should be put straight back into the XI following his suspension, and there’s an argument it should be in place of Kyle Walker. That feels extremely unlikely though, with Ezri Konsa set to be the unlucky odd man out.
And how to solve a problem like Harry?
Well, asking him to stick in his position would be a start. Regardless of how much he wants to help the team by dropping deep, he is actually hindering it. There’s no doubt he isn’t fully fit, so stay where he is most dangerous. He will start, but the leash should be significantly shorter, thanks to Ivan Toney’s cameos.
England XI vs the Netherlands: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Shaw; Foden, Bellingham; Kane.
John Cross
England were better against Switzerland – and will need to step up again to beat Holland.
Part of that improvement comes down to the shape of England’s team and a back three provided more balance and options for Gareth Southgate. I think Southgate should stick with a winning formula – albeit on penalties – with perhaps Marc Guehi in for Ezri Konsa the only change. Guehi is available for selection.
Harry Kane is a huge dilemma for England. England’s talisman, captain and record scorer is not playing well.
But I do think Kane is a leader, has scored two goals in this tournament and sometimes dynamic is vital. It is what he brings to the party not just as a player but as a captain. That is why I think Southgate sticks with Kane. There are often back stories that we cannot see. There’s been much dismay from Newcastle fans about Anthony Gordon’s lack of game time.
Eberechi Eze is coming on before him and always does a solid job and has clearly jumped ahead of Gordon in the substitute pecking order. Sometimes they are judged from training rather than games.
Gordon has clearly not done enough to get a place. You cannot doubt Southgate now after reaching another semi final.
England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Trippier; Bellingham, Foden; Kane.
David McDonnell
England looked better against Switzerland, playing with greater purpose, energy and pressing higher, with three at the back, and looking more comfortable than in previous games.
Given that, they should stick with that system against the Netherlands, rather than reverting to a back four. The system allows England to push higher up the pitch and enables Phil Foden to play more centrally, where he can be more influential, rather than being shoved out on the left, where he is a peripheral figure, as he was at the start of the tournament.
There is an argument for playing Luke Shaw at left wing-back, given his lively cameo against Switzerland, but given that was his first appearance since February, when he last played for Manchester United, it is surely too much of a gamble to play him from the start, so Kieran Trippier and Bukayo Saka should remain in the wing-back roles.
As for Harry Kane, his poor form in the tournament does not warrant his continued inclusion, but his reputation and goalscoring record does. Gareth Southgate is not about to drop his captain and England’s record goalscorer, but must be bold and replace him early against the Dutch if Kane is struggling, with Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins having looked impressive when they have been given an opportunity.
Andy Dunn
On current form, Harry Kane would struggle to make this 26-man squad, never mind the starting lineup, but solely on the basis that he has been England’s goalscoring talisman for so long, it is right that he is given another crack at rediscovering some semblance of attacking threat.
And he will start, so there is no real debate, but let’s hope Gareth Southgate has the bottle to take him off early if he is as ineffective as he was against the Swiss.
Luke Shaw got more than 40 minutes into his legs in Dusseldorf, which means he is fit to start a match and should come in for Kieran Trippier to bring better balance to the team.
Every time Cole Palmer has left the bench, he has made an impact and deserves a starting place ahead of Phil Foden. The Footballer of the Year has worked hard to try and make things happen in Germany but, let’s be honest, very little has.
At this tournament – and in modern football in general – the five-substitute rule is a get-out-of-jail card for managers and the likes of Foden and Kane would be useful players to call on if needed.
England XI vs the Netherlands: Pickford – Walker, Stones, Guehi, Shaw – Rice, Mainoo – Saka, Bellingham, Palmer – Kane
Neil McLeman
Pep Guardiola reckoned Phil Foden and Cole Palmer couldn’t play in the same team – and not even the Catalan genius would make it work with Jude Bellingham as well.
Gareth Southgate has to make a big call. Palmer was my Premier League Player of the Year – he made the difference between Chelsea finishing sixth or in the bottom half of the table – and every time he gets on the ball he looks forward and things happen. He has to start against the Dutch and with Bellingham untouchable, Foden should sit out.
Harry Kane has not looked fit and the Bayern Munich striker does not combine with the Real Madrid star. He is still the man you would want through on goal one-on-one with the keeper but that just hasn’t looked like happening. Give him 55 minutes and then bring on Ivan Toney who has been a better focal point of the attack during his brief appearances. Luke Shaw has to start on the left with Bukayo Saka to the right. This team can easily switch to 4-3-3 to counter the Dutch.
England (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Shaw; Palmer, Bellingham; Kane.
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