June 12th 2024.
The highly anticipated Euro 2024 is finally here and England is ready to kick-start their campaign against Serbia. Excitement is in the air as fans eagerly await to see if the Three Lions will finally bring home a major trophy after 58 years.
However, there is already some controversy surrounding the team selection for the opening match. Jeff Stelling, a well-known football pundit, has caused quite a stir after suggesting that manager Gareth Southgate should drop Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka from the starting lineup.
Despite a disappointing loss to Iceland in their last warm-up game, England is still considered one of the top contenders in the tournament. With a strong performance at Euro 2020 and impressive runs in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, expectations are high for the team.
As the big day approaches, Southgate is faced with some tough decisions on who to include in the starting lineup. The absence of defender Harry Maguire due to injury has left a gap in the backline, while left-back Luke Shaw's fitness is uncertain. In midfield, Southgate must choose who to partner with Declan Rice, and in attack, he has a plethora of talented forwards to choose from.
Stelling has not been shy about sharing his opinion on who should make the cut. In his ideal lineup, he would leave out Saka and Foden in favor of Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon. He believes that Serbia's physical and aggressive style of play calls for a taller and more dominant backline, thus his choice of Lewis Dunk over John Stones.
In midfield, he opts for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham to support Rice, and his front three includes Kane, Palmer, and Gordon. Stelling acknowledges that his exclusion of Foden may not sit well with some, but points out his lackluster performance for England with only four goals in 34 games.
Despite the criticism he may face, Stelling stands by his choices and trusts that Southgate and his staff are doing their best to get the best out of Foden. As the debate continues, all eyes will be on Southgate as he makes his final selections for the crucial Euros opener.
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