July 6th 2024.
Bukayo Saka, the talented young footballer, is set to take on the role of left wing-back for England in their upcoming match against Switzerland. This decision has raised some eyebrows, with Ian Wright, a former player for Arsenal, criticizing the coach Gareth Southgate for not having enough backup options for Luke Shaw until Euro 2024. Saka's potential start at the left wing-back position is a result of Shaw's uncertain fitness status and his absence from the second half of the season due to a muscle injury. Even though Shaw has been seen training with the team, it has been decided that he is not yet ready to take on a starting role in the crucial game against Switzerland.
In Shaw's absence, Kieran Trippier has been filling in at left-back, but this has left the team lacking in pace and creativity on that side of the field. This has resulted in criticism of the team's performance in the tournament so far. With Marc Guehi suspended for the quarter-final match, Southgate is expected to change up the formation and play with a back-three against Switzerland. This will give Saka the opportunity to start as the left wing-back, a solution that Wright had previously suggested.
Wright, speaking on his show The Overlap, expressed his disappointment at the lack of a backup for Shaw and how Saka's potential start at left wing-back could have been avoided. He also addressed the criticism he received from Arsenal fans for suggesting Saka's versatility earlier in the tournament, stating that he was more concerned about finding a solution for the team's left side rather than the opinions of others.
Wright is confident that Saka will do well in his makeshift position against Switzerland, but he also believes that it is a "crazy" decision on Southgate's part to not have enough cover for Shaw in the squad. He also expressed his satisfaction with the team's progress so far and believes that they have the ability to come out on top against a tough Swiss team in the quarter-final.
As for the match itself, Wright predicts an exciting game with a high scoreline. He believes that Saka, along with players like Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham, can cause problems for the Swiss team and help England secure a spot in the semi-finals. He predicts a close 2-1 victory for the Three Lions, but wouldn't be surprised if they end up winning 3-2 due to their attacking potential.
In other news, Wright also discussed the latest updates and analysis on Arsenal, a club close to his heart. Interested readers can sign up for exclusive content and analysis on the team, protected by reCAPTCHA and Google's privacy policy and terms of service.
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