Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon, Manchester United pair Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo as well as Chelsea starlet Cole Palmer are among England’s Euro 2024 squad members pushing for starting slots if manager Gareth Southgate emerges out of his risk averse shell when the Three Lions lock horns with Slovakia for a place in the quarter finals tomorrow.
England have struggled for traction against teams that assemble a low block due to uncoordinated movement in the midfield creative engine room, absence of proper width and lack of genuine pace to stretch defenses. Only already eliminated Scotland and Serbia have had fewer attempts on goal.
Southgate discarded the Trent Alexander Arnold experiment in the final group C clash with Slovenia by deploying Conor Gallagher but the Chelsea midfielder failed to distinguish himself as part of a double pivot alongside Declan Rice. Kobbie Mainoo’s ability to operate in tight spaces is the most plausible solution to this tactical conundrum.
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.thekampalareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Italy-v-Switzerland2.jpeg?resize=1200%2C778&ssl=1)
Gordon’s chances of starting at the Schalke Arena in Gelsenkirchen took a hit when he fell off a motor bike midweek but he still presents Southgate with an outlet for rapid counterattacks if the Three Lions abandon the slow, turgid build up that’s been a hallmark of their blunt displays to date.
An alternative would be to take a gamble on Shaw’s health by starting him in place of Kieran Trippier to give the Three Lions natural width. An even more revolutionary option would be to deploy Bukayo Saka at left back where he begun his career and ask Foden to attack the inside right channel.
Southgate has been accused of trying to put all of England’s best players in the starting XI at the expense of assembling a winning unit. This is because Liga Santander player of the season Jude Bellingham and Premier League player of the year Phil Foden have been running into each other’s paths. Pulling Bellingham into a deeper role alongside Rice could be a better option than dropping him.
Round of 16 action commences with champions Italy taking on Switzerland at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Azzuri coach Luciano Spalletti would be hard pressed not to hand starts to Gianluca Scamacca and Mattia Zaccagni after they starred in brief cameos in Italy’s 1-1 draw with Croatia. Breel Embolo, Dan Ndoye and the outstanding Granit Xhaka are the men to watch in Murat Yakin’s Switzerland.
Waldemar Anton, Robert Koch and Nico Schlotterbeck are vying for two central defensive slots vacated by suspended Jonathan Tah and injured Antonio Rudiger when Germany face Denmark in a repeat of the Euro1992 final which the Danes won in Copenhagen. Die Mannschaft boss Julian Nagelsmann’s only other conundrum is whether to start powerful forward Niklas Fulkrug ahead of false nine Kai Havertz.
TODAY
Italy v Switzerland,
Germany v Denmark
SUNDAY
Spain v Georgia
England v Slovakia,