Gareth Southgate is expected to name an unchanged starting 11 for England’s Euro 2024 match against Denmark today.
There have been question marks over Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden’s spot in the XI but they’re set to retain their places for the crunch clash in Frankfurt, kicking off at 5pm.
Alexander-Arnold and Foden were selected by Three Lions boss Southgate to start in their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia in which they won 1-0.
Alexander-Arnold, who normally plays as a defender for Liverpool, played alongside Declan Rice at the Arena AufSchalke.
Manchester City sar Foden started on the left of the attack but struggled to make an impact on Sunday night.
Despite the victory and Alexander-Arnold already previously playing in midfield for England, his performance in that role against Serbia came under the spotlight.
Manchester United legend Roy Keane said he would be fine in the group stages but ‘ripped to shreds’ playing against a top nation.
Rio Ferdinand also shared such concerns and said that the 25-year-old is not a ‘specialised midfielder’.
Foden arrived in Germany with England off the back of an excellent season with City in which he scored 27 goals and assisted another 12.
However, his qualities appeared limited out on the left against Serbia, with Jude Bellingham the man chosen to play in attacking midfield.
Southgate, though, insisted Foden did what he had to do for the team, and launched a staunch defence of the 2023/24 Premier League Player of the Season.
“I thought Phil did an incredible job for the team on Sunday,” Southgate said.
“You know, sometimes the bits with the ball are obvious and they catch the eye, but the amount of ground he covered, the angles of pressing, the filling in for people who were further forward.
“I thought without Phil’s contribution without the ball – and I know that’s not the sexy bit and everybody wants to see him on the ball – I don’t think we win the game.
“So then later in the game when we needed somebody to retain the ball and take the pressure, I thought he did that really well for us.”
Southgate also insisted the experiment with Alexander-Arnold in central midfield can pay off for England if given time.
“I think he’s less likely to be a player who dictates tempo,” Southgate explained. “That’s a different type and probably midfield players who have been in there forever and really understand the flow of a game.
“What I do see is that range of passing and that ability to open up a defence that might be blocking spaces, defending low. He’s somebody that’s going to cause opposition players to be aware that we can play balls in behind them at any point with fantastic accuracy.
“His understanding of the game is good. All the defensive responsibilities we’ve asked of him, it’s not necessarily been where he’s played for many years but he’s been really diligent and open to wanting to take that on board. So, look, we know it’s a work in progress.
“We know it’s something that’s going to get a lot of attention as it’s not been the norm. But we feel it’s something that can add to what we’ve got.”
Luke Shaw remains absent as the Manchester United defender battles to recover full fitness, with Kieran Trippier again playing out of position on the left.
Southgate, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, said: “Luke won’t be involved tomorrow, he’s on track for what we thought originally. He needs a bit more work. There are days when he needs to do more than the rest and needs to recover.
“He’s still in and out with the others and operating on his own programme as well.”
England’s clash against the Danes will be a repeat of their Euro 2020 semi-final match.
The Three Lions won 2-1 in extra-time to secure their spot in the final but lost to Italy following a penalty shootout.
Victory on Thursday at the Deutsche Bank Park will send England into the Euro 2024 knockout stage before they face Slovenia in their final Group C match on Tuesday.
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