- England’s clash with Switzerland is Southgate’s 100th game as Three Lions boss
- Southgate heads into the game under-fire following four lacklustre displays
- LISTEN: Join us as we debate the BIGGEST talking points on It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY. Available wherever you get your podcasts
Harry Kane believes England owe manager Gareth Southgate a big performance in Saturday’s crunch Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.
Head coach Southgate, who is considering deploying forward Bukayo Saka as a wing-back ahead of a possible switch to a three-at-the-back for the clash, will take charge of England for the 100th time but heads into the game under-fire following four lacklustre performances.
And captain Kane has issued a rallying cry, saying: ‘I know the boss at times will come under criticism and come under stick. But, ultimately, it’s us on the pitch, to make the difference in vital moments.
‘We feel like the coach has given us so much and been one of our most successful managers in England’s history. So we need to go out there and repay him with that.
‘It’s an incredible achievement (for Southgate to reach 100 games). In terms of doing something for him, I think all he will want is a win so hopefully we can win and that will be the best present he could ask for.’
Southgate looks set to gamble on a change of system in his efforts to reach a third major tournament semi-final in charge of the national team.
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England have started all four of his side’s matches here in Germany with a conventional four-man defence, but as Mail Sport revealed on Wednesday he is ready to use a three-at-the-back formation against the Swiss.
And Saka, who has been used as a right winger for the vast majority of the tournament, is in line to be used in a deeper wide role.
The tactical switch also opens up the possibility of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden being used as advanced central midfielders behind lone striker Harry Kane.
Kobbie Mainoo is hopeful of retaining his spot alongside Declan Rice in the deeper central midfield roles, while Kieran Trippier is in line to keep his place on the opposite flank to Saka.
Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ezri Konsa are set to make up England’s back-three. Centre-back Marc Guehi, who has started all four of England’s games here in Germany, is suspended.
As reported on Friday, Luke Shaw is finally ready to play a part in the tournament having missed the first four matches with the hamstring problem that hasn’t seen him play for 140 days.
‘There’s been some difficult days for him on his own through the last few weeks but I’m really pleased for him that he’s now an option for us,’ confirmed the England boss.
‘We’re not concerned that he would break down but there’s obviously a decision regarding match sharpness and how quickly you can adjust back into that intensity of the cauldron of the tournament.’
Meanwhile, Kane has warned his team-mates about the quality of the pitches in Germany amid concerns over players footing in matches.
Kane plays his club football in Germany with Bayern Munich and added: ‘It was something I spoke to the guys here about before the tournament because I experienced very similar in the Bundesliga. Coming from the Premier League, that was probably one of the surprises I had with Bayern last season, the standard of the pitches.
‘It’s not digging anyone out, everyone’s trying to do their best job, the groundsmen are trying to do their best job possible. For one reason or other they’re not quite up to the quality we see in different competitions or different leagues.
‘It’s not an excuse because everyone has to deal with it. But that is just the reality of this tournament.’
England (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Konsa; Trippier, Rice, Mainoo, Saka; Bellingham, Foden; Kane