June 11th 2024.
The final warm-up game before England's Euro 2024 campaign was a tough one for Stones, who was forced to leave the field due to an injury. This has left manager Gareth Southgate with some major decisions to make as they prepare to take on Serbia on Sunday night. The disappointing loss to Iceland has left Southgate with more doubts than certainties about his starting lineup for their Group C opener. With Harry Maguire unavailable, all eyes are on Stones' recovery as he is expected to play a crucial role as center-back for Manchester City. Southgate is hoping that Stones and his partner Marc Guehi will be able to form a solid defensive duo.
Meanwhile, Luke Shaw has made significant progress in his recovery from a muscle injury that has kept him out of action since February. Although he returned to training with the first team on Tuesday, it's uncertain if he will be fit enough to start on Sunday. This could open up opportunities for Trent Alexander-Arnold to play in midfield alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham. The talented Chelsea star Conor Gallagher is also in the mix for that position, with Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton also pushing for a chance in Germany.
Bukayo Saka has been a regular presence in Southgate's squads ever since his senior debut in 2020. However, he has been dealing with a groin injury and only made a brief appearance as a substitute in the game against Iceland. It remains to be seen if he will be deemed fit enough to start on Sunday, as Southgate and his team carefully manage his training to ensure he is ready for the competition. In attack, the competition is between Anthony Gordon and Phil Foden to join Saka in supporting the captain Harry Kane.
Serbia has a strong lineup, with Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandr Mitrovic leading the attack, and Sergej Milinković-Savic and Dusan Tadic controlling the midfield. They pose a threat to England's untested backline, making this a challenging match for Southgate's team. The predicted starting lineup for England against Serbia is Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Saka, Bellingham, Foden, and Kane.
For those looking to catch the game, it will be broadcast live on BBC One and can also be streamed on BBC iPlayer. This will be the first competitive meeting between England and Serbia, adding an extra level of excitement to the match. With both teams eager to start their Euro 2024 campaign on a high note, it's sure to be an intense and thrilling game.
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