July 4th 2024.
Former England striker Alan Shearer believes that the national team needs to make some changes ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final match against Switzerland. Shearer has specifically called for the dropping of Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in favor of Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer.
England has had a rocky road in the tournament so far, with underwhelming performances in the group stage and a narrow victory over Slovakia in the round of 16. Shearer acknowledges that the team will need to improve in order to defeat a strong Switzerland side, who knocked out European champions Italy in their last game.
In terms of the starting lineup, Shearer suggests that England should focus on being more balanced on the left side, which he believes has been an issue due to Kieran Trippier having to play at left-back. Shearer also mentions that with defender Marc Guehi suspended, manager Gareth Southgate will have to make some changes. However, he does not expect Southgate to change the team's overall system.
Shearer also expresses his sympathy for Foden, who he believes has been unlucky in the current system and has not looked comfortable playing on the left side. He notes that England has struggled to get in behind the opposition on the left and suggests that Foden's game of cutting inside and relying on an overlap from a left-footer has been difficult to execute with Trippier on that side.
Looking at the upcoming match against Switzerland, Shearer acknowledges that they are a well-organized team with talented players. He suggests that an open game may work in their favor due to their pace and attacking talent. Shearer also praises former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka for his performance against Italy and notes that Switzerland will likely press high, which could benefit England if they can break their press.
While Shearer believes that a couple of changes are necessary, he expects Southgate to stick with a similar lineup. However, there have been reports that Southgate is considering a formation change, which Shearer finds surprising. He emphasizes that this is a crucial point in the tournament where England needs to step up their game and perform at their best.
In conclusion, Shearer is hopeful for England's chances in the quarter-finals and believes that the team can only improve from their previous performances. He also points out that there are other strong teams in the tournament, such as the Netherlands and Turkey, who have already shown their quality in the knockout stages.
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