talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham, Alex Crook and Darren Bent are playing Gareth Southgate ahead of England’s Euro 2024 clash this weekend.
The Three Lions finished top of Group C, despite struggling at points in their first three fixtures, and will now face Slovakia in the last 16 on Sunday, live on talkSPORT.
Fans have been left feeling concerned over their country’s performances, with only two goals scored so far courtesy of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane.
As a result, their run in the tournament so far has been surrounded by heavy debate between fans and pundits over who should make up the Three Lions’ line-up to fix their lack of firepower.
Gareth Southgate may not have fully decided on his best XI, with Conor Gallagher most recently coming in for Trent Alexander-Arnold against Slovenia.
A whole array of substitutes have appeared too as the England boss experimented with his numerous new talents called up for the tournament for the first time, including Kobbie Mainoo, who talkSPORT understands may get the nod on Sunday, and Cole Palmer.
Now, Durham, Crook and Bent have revealed what they would do if they were in the dugout in Gelsenkirchen.
Luke Shaw has stated he deems himself fit enough to play in England’s round of 16 clash.
But should the Manchester United left-back – who has been out of action since February due to injury – not be involved, here’s how talkSPORT’s hosts out in Germany think the Three Lions should shape up.
And if any of them had it their way, there’s some big names that would miss out.
Adrian Durham
Defence
The talkSPORT Game Day Live host said: “A big debate before the tournament was whether our defence was any good and they’ve been brilliant!
“So Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier if they’re all fit. That back five picks itself.”
Many fans have pointed to Trippier and Phil Foden, who has been deployed on the left-wing so far, struggling to link up.
When asked if he’d be tempted to switch someone else in for Trippier, Durham said: “I think it’s ok. In the knockouts when we’re playing better opposition, a more defensive left-back will be needed.
“I don’t think it was a mistake taking [Luke] Shaw because it’s a 26-man squad. So who knows. He could’ve been fit, but he isn’t, but it’s not a big loss. It’s like taking one place in the squad.
“The mistake was not taking another orthodox left-back. That was the big mistake. I appreciate Joe Gomez can play there, but you need a proper left-back.
“I’m a big [Ben] Chilwell fan. Although, he has never done it for England I am a big Chilwell fan. The issue is with his fitness as well. You’d have to look at Tyrick Mitchell, played for England before and ended the season well albeit as a wing-back.
“[Alfie] Doughty was a wing-back as well, but his numbers are insane. I think people would be shocked if they looked at his numbers.
He added: “It’s not often that a player from a relegated team could make a big difference to an England XI. It sounds elitist and snobby but it’s the reality!”
Midfield
“In front of them, Kobbie Mainoo did enough to start so, he was excellent when he came on and he was my Man of the Match.
“Declan Rice can’t be left out I don’t think, he’s too good. I would have Phil Foden in the 10 because he was drifting around and I think he was largely in a 10 position last night [against Slovenia] and played really well.
“I’m actually leaving out Jude Bellingham. It’s not to say Bellingham can’t come back because he’s just so good. But the last two games, and certainly last night [against Slovenia] he didn’t look himself at all. In fact it looked like he was in a mood.
“So yeah, a bit weird. Just give him a break and take him out of the firing line, he’s had a long old season hasn’t he?”
Attack
“I’ve not actually been a huge, committed Cole Palmer fan, but he really made things happen the other night. So if he did that from the off, hopefully that will make a difference.
“I’d also go with [Anthony] Gordon the other side, so I’m leaving out [Bukayo] Saka on the right and playing Palmer there.
“Gordon goes in on the left and Foden goes inside. I’d keep [Harry] Kane up front.
“But Kane’s pretty lucky as he’s been pretty poor. The caveat with that is if Kane isn’t doing it on the hour, we’ve got loads of goals sitting on the bench.
“We know what Ivan Toney has done in the past, but this season, [Ollie] Watkins, [Jarrod] Bowen, scored tons of goals. Get them on the bloody pitch!
“But I would stick with Kane because his record has been so good.”
Alex Crook
Defence
“In goal, it’s a no-brainer. Jordan Pickford is having an excellent tournament so far. He will start. I will keep with the back four, despite suggestions in some quarters that maybe a back three is needed.
“Kyle Walker can do a little bit more going forward than he has been, but he is world class. You simply can’t drop him. No real problems with the two centre-backs either. John Stones and Mark Guehi have formed a pretty decent partnership in the absence of Harry Maguire, so I’d stick with both of those as well.
“At left-back, Luke Shaw is still not fully fit. Will he be fully fit at all this tournament? I think that’s a decision that could well come back to haunt Gareth Southgate.
“Kieran Trippier hasn’t looked fully match sharp either and it’s no real surprise because his form at the end of the season with Newcastle had fallen off a cliff, so I would make a change there.
“We’re short of options. With Southgate having opted not to bring any other recognised left-back other than the injured Shaw, I’d give Joe Gomez a go.
“He played a lot of games at left-back for Liverpool last season and let’s be honest, he can’t do any worse than Tripper has so far.”
Midfield
“In terms of the midfield you simply have to play Declan Rice, despite the fact he’s underwhelmed so far in this tournament. But you need to find a way to get him to stop sitting so deep. He’s virtually an extra centre-back at times.
“We need the Declan Rice that has been marauding up and down the pitch for Arsenal. And maybe the best way to do that is to move Jude Bellingham back to that holding midfield role. Bellingham was brilliant in the first game of the tournament against Serbia for the first hour, then I think he just absolutely ran himself into the ground and has never really recovered.
“But I’ve said before a ball was kicked that Rice and Bellingham in front of the back four is the way to go. That’s because you can then get Phil Foden in his preferred no.10 role.
“Yes, he was better in the last game against Slovenia but we have still not seen the same Phil Foden that tore it up in the Premier League for Manchester City last season and was head and shoulders above anybody else in the division.”
Attack
“Anthony Gordon on the left-hand side. Cole Palmer did really well in his cameo against Slovenia, but I think Gordon just brings that X Factor. He’s going to take players on, he’s going to get crosses into the penalty area, and I think he’s got that arrogance as well to believe he belongs on the international stage.
“No issue really with Bukayo Saka in terms of the right wing position. Yes, he’s not been at his best, and maybe still feeling the effects of a long season for Arsenal, but I think on his day, he’s a quality player, and he deserves to keep the shirt.
“There has been a lot of talk about whether we should drop Harry Kane and bring in Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney. How can you really drop someone who scored 50 goals this season for club and country? And it’s not unlike Harry Kane to start slowly in the tournament and then really come to the party once the knockout stages begin.
“I’d stick with Harry Kane and Southgate will stick with Harry Kane. He’s the captain. He’s the talisman. He’s the main goal-getter.”
Darren Bent
Defence
“So my goalkeeper is going to be Jordan Pickford. Mr Reliable, he’s never let England down.
“I’m going to go Kyle Walker at right-back, John Stones, Marc Guehi. For me, Marc Guehi has been England’s best player so far in this tournament. I’m going to go Kieran Trippier at left-back.”
Midfield
“My three in midfield I’m going to go with Declan Rice holding, Jude Bellingham dropping back into that number eight and Phil Foden as the 10.”
When asked if he thinks Southgate will make that change, he said: “No. I think he’ll still deploy Foden off the left and I think it might be Bellingham, Mainoo and Rice.”
Attack
“On the left I’m going to go Cole Palmer, Saka on the right and Harry Kane down the middle.”
When quizzed on why he chose Palmer instead of Gordon, he said: “I think Palmer, the season he’s had, I know Gordon came on and only had a couple of minutes but was direct.
“But Cole Palmer just has a bit of X Factor. When he drops his shoulder, comes inside. He can play off Harry Kane and I think Harry Kane will quite like that.
“I think he likes balls going into his feet so he can manipulate it. Little through passes so he can get on the half-turn and shoot. I think Cole Palmer is better at that than Anthony Gordon.
“Gordon is brilliant don’t get me wrong, but I think Palmer is a bit cuter.”
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