July 10th 2024.
Gareth Southgate is once again making some changes to his lineup as England prepares to take on the Netherlands in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 tonight. Despite their rocky start in the group stages, the Three Lions are now just one win away from securing a spot in the final in Berlin, thanks to their thrilling penalty shoot-out win against Switzerland on Saturday.
For their last game, Southgate decided to switch things up by using a back three formation, something that hadn't been done in a competitive match since the Euro 2020 final against Italy. This meant that Bukayo Saka and Kieran Trippier were deployed as wing-backs on the right and left sides respectively. Saka, in particular, stood out with an impressive performance that included a goal and a successful penalty kick. Overall, the team's performance against Switzerland showed improvement from their previous matches in the group stage and the round of 16 against Slovakia.
Despite this success, Southgate is sticking with the same system for the upcoming match. However, he does have a tough decision to make in defense as Marc Guehi, who missed the Switzerland game due to a suspension, is now available again. Ezri Konsa filled in for him and performed admirably alongside John Stones and Kyle Walker. But with Guehi being one of the team's top performers in Germany so far, it's likely that he will reclaim his spot in the starting lineup.
Meanwhile, Luke Shaw, who made his first appearance in the competition as a substitute in the last game, has declared himself ready to start. The Manchester United star had been out of action since February due to a hamstring injury but is now eager to contribute to the team's success. He is the only true left-back in the squad and his natural abilities on the left side have been sorely missed by England in this tournament. However, his lack of game time may lead to Southgate sticking with Trippier as the left wing-back for now, as reported by Sky Sports.
In the midfield, Kobbie Mainoo has proven himself as a valuable asset to the team and is expected to keep his place alongside Declan Rice. Phil Foden, who has also been a consistent performer for England, is likely to retain his spot as well. And despite facing criticism, Harry Kane will once again lead the team as they face the Dutch. The captain was taken off during extra time in the last game after a hard landing, but he is expected to start and make an impact on the field. The pressure is high for England, but with Southgate's strategic changes and the players' determination, they are ready to take on the challenge and secure a spot in the final.
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