July 12th 2024.
It's no surprise that Gareth Southgate, the manager of England's national football team, has been under a lot of pressure to make changes to his starting line-up for the Euro 2024 final against Spain. However, according to former England captain and striker Alan Shearer, Southgate has remained steadfast in his decisions, making only three changes throughout the entire tournament.
Despite some criticism, the formula seems to be working for the Three Lions, with their performance against the Netherlands in the semi-finals being their best yet. But Shearer believes that Southgate may still make one big change for the final in Berlin on Sunday, based on what he saw in the match against the Dutch.
Shearer points out that there were a few occasions where right-back Kieran Trippier had the opportunity to make a dangerous cross from the left-hand side, but opted to pass it back instead. Shearer suggests that this could be a potential weakness in England's attack and believes that Southgate may switch things up by starting left-back Luke Shaw, who has been a key player in the team's recent matches.
Shaw has only played 87 minutes in the tournament so far, but his return from injury in the quarter-finals has coincided with a more cohesive team performance. Shearer acknowledges that it would be a bold move to start Shaw, but believes it could pay off for England in the final.
Another decision for Southgate to make is whether to stick with the 3-4-3 formation that has been successful in the last two games or revert back to the 4-2-3-1 used at the beginning of the Euros. Shearer believes that the former is the better choice, especially against Spain's style of play.
He also points out that England could benefit from Spain's left-winger, Lamine Yamal, who tends to cut inside onto his left foot rather than taking the ball down the wing. With England's potential three at the back, Shearer believes that this could create opportunities for England to capitalize on.
As the much-anticipated final approaches, fans are eager to see what changes, if any, Southgate will make to his starting line-up. But one thing is for sure, England will need to be at their best if they want to defeat the Spanish team and claim the Euro 2024 title.
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