July 3rd 2024.
As Saturday's Euro 2024 quarter-final approaches, Gareth Southgate is considering a major tactical change for England's game against Switzerland. The Three Lions may switch to a three at the back formation, as their performances in the competition have been lackluster so far.
Last Sunday, England narrowly avoided a humiliating defeat against Slovakia thanks to late goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. This has left fans and pundits feeling that a change is necessary for the upcoming match against the Swiss, who impressively knocked out defending champions Italy in the previous round.
According to multiple reports, Southgate has been trialing a three at the back system in training this week. This formation has been successful for England in recent major competitions, with the team reaching the final of the last Euros and the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup while playing with three at the back.
Southgate is now strongly considering bringing back this formation for the game against Switzerland. However, he will be forced to make at least one change due to Marc Guehi's suspension. It is likely that Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi will be replaced by Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa in a back three alongside John Stones, with Kyle Walker on the right.
If Southgate does decide to switch to a three at the back, he will need to choose who will play as wing-backs. Trent Alexander-Arnold may be hoping to reclaim his spot on the right, while Bukayo Saka could also be considered. Kieran Trippier has been playing at left-back so far, but Luke Shaw is still working his way back to full fitness after not playing since February.
During the Slovakia game, Southgate did experiment with a three at the back system towards the end. This could be a sign that he is seriously considering using it against Switzerland, who also play with a back three including Manchester City's Manuel Akanji and Newcastle's Fabian Schar. The final decision will be revealed when Southgate announces his predicted starting XI for the game.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
