ENGLAND take on Serbia in their opening game of Euro 2024 on Sunday evening, having completed their preparations with a disappointing defeat to Iceland.
With his 26-man squad selected, and the time for talking almost over, what are the key questions facing Gareth Southgate ahead of England’s opener in Gelsenkirchen?
WHAT SHOULD THE FORMATION BE?
Having shut down talk of a switch to a three-man defence in the build-up to the tournament, Southgate appears to be committed to playing with a flat back four on Sunday.
In both of his side’s recent warm-up matches, the England boss began with a 4-2-3-1 formation, which has been his preferred tactical approach for the vast majority of his reign. Given Southgate’s reluctance to make radical changes, there is every chance that will be how England line up at the weekend.
Does that get the best out of the attacking players in the squad though? Or is there an argument that England would be better suited by a 4-3-3 formation, with Declan Rice as the only central-midfield pivot. Playing 4-3-3 would potentially enable Southgate to get more of his attacking midfielders onto the pitch, although he might well claim it would also make his side more open as a result.
WHO PLAYS AT CENTRE-HALF?
With Harry Maguire having failed to make the squad because of injury, England’s central-defensive position was alarming enough without the problems that have afflicted John Stones this week.
First, Stones, who missed a big chunk of the second half of the domestic season through injury, was only able to complete the opening 45 minutes of England’s final warm-up game against Iceland after suffering a knock to his ankle. Then, an illness meant he had to miss training and remain in his room on Wednesday.
Can Southgate afford to risk starting Stones alongside Marc Guehi against Serbia? It would be a gamble on the defender’s match fitness, but the alternative, which would probably involve pairing Guehi with Lewis Dunk is arguably riskier. Guehi and Dunk looked far from assured when paired in the warm-up game against Bosnia at St James’.
AND WHAT ABOUT LEFT-BACK?
Luke Shaw has been able to train with the rest of England’s players this week, but having been sidelined since mid-February with a muscular injury, it has always been felt that the left-back would have to sit out the opening group game with Serbia and potentially return for the following match with Denmark.
Is that still the case? If it is, then Kieran Trippier will almost certainly get the nod to start at left-back, having started there in both of the warm-up games.
Trippier has slotted in at left-back on plenty of occasions before, but having to switch flanks undoubtedly blunts his attacking threat given that he has to turn inside rather than bomb on down the touchline. With Ben Chilwell and Tyrick Mitchell both having failed to make the squad though, Joe Gomez and Ezri Konsa are the only realistic alternatives to Trippier if Shaw is unavailable, and both of them would be playing out of position as well.
WHO PARTNERS RICE IN MIDFIELD?
Assuming Southgate sticks with 4-2-3-1, there is a starting place available alongside Declan Rice. In previous tournaments, it has been filled by Kalvin Phillips and Jordan Henderson, but neither made the cut for Germany.
Southgate has four options to choose from – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kobbie Mainoo, Conor Gallagher and Adam Wharton. All have their pros and cons.
Alexander-Arnold boasts experience and superb passing ability, but is really a full-back. Mainoo has come on in leaps and bounds this season, but is a teenager who failed to impress against Iceland. Gallagher is probably the safest option, but perhaps lacks defensive nous. Wharton is the wildcard, the most rounded of the four, but a player who has only recently stepped out of the Championship. Whichever way Southgate turns, there is an element of risk.
IS SAKA FIT ENOUGH TO SHINE?
Again, assuming England line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the identity of the front four has long felt pretty much nailed on. Harry Kane will lead the line, with Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka lining up behind him.
Foden and Bellingham remain guaranteed starters whatever system Southgate selects, but an element of doubt has crept into the selection of Saka in the last couple of weeks.
The Arsenal forward struggled with injury for the last few weeks of the season, missed England’s first warm-up game and was only a second-half substitute in the second. Is he fully match fit? If so, he starts. But if not, Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon are both viable options to replace him in the starting XI.
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