Alan Shearer urges Gareth Southgate to drop England star for Euro 2024 quarter-final after experiment ‘didn’t work’
ALAN SHEARER has called on Gareth Southgate to drop Phil Foden for England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.
Reports have emerged the Three Lions boss could switch to a back three for Saturday’s clash, with Kyle Walker joining John Stones in central defence and Ezri Konsa replacing the suspended Marc Guehi.
But Shearer believes a 4-3-3 shape can still produce a positive England display, despite their insipid performance against Slovakia.
However, he feels it is time to drop Premier League Player of the Season Foden, 24, after four underwhelming games on the left-hand side.
And the Newcastle legend, 53, feels Anthony Gordon should come in for the Manchester City man – who had a goal disallowed in the 2-1 win over Slovakia.
Speaking to Betfair, he said: “I can see what Gareth Southgate is trying to do, but I would much prefer if we were more balanced on the left-hand side, hence me wanting Anthony Gordon on that side because I don’t think the Phil Foden thing has worked there.
“I understand they are unbalanced because of Kieran Trippier having to play at left-back, he’s going to have to change again because Guehi is suspended.
“Whether he thinks it is right then to change the system we don’t know. I would be surprised if he did.
“I think Phil Foden has been unlucky, he hasn’t looked comfortable in the system England want to play.
“That left hand side hasn’t looked right, we haven’t got in behind anywhere near enough on that side.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Southgate needs Mainoo to help cure England's fear, says Jack Wilshere
KOBBIE MAINOO has shown he is the player that England need to build their midfield — and their team — around, writes Jack Wilshere.
That’s what I felt as it looked like we were slipping to defeat against Slovakia.
I know he was not on the pitch when our goals went in.
But until that unbelievable comeback, Mainoo was our best player.
He has a fearlessness and an instinct to do the right things at the right times that seemed to be lacking for so much of the game.
Mainoo alongside Declan Rice gives England better structure. In theory, at least, because for so long it didn’t look like that.
You can have any structure you like but if a team, individually and collectively, lacks confidence, you cannot use that structure effectively.
A fear can creep in. A fear of failing. A fear of losing the ball.
It is partly because of his age that Mainoo does not have that, or appears not to have it.
This was his first start in a major tournament. He does not know what it is like to have a bad one.
If we want to win this tournament, starting with the quarter-final against Switzerland, we will need to control games better.
Mainoo is the kind of midfielder England have been crying out for for a long time.
He can be the glue that holds together this team for the rest of the tournament and well into the future.
Read Jack Wilshere’s column in full.
Or check out all of Jack’s Euro 2024 opinions.
“His game is he wants to come inside and someone comes on the overlap. That’s been difficult for England to do with the lack of a left footer in Trippier. So, he has been unlucky.
“But he is going to have to make changes because they haven’t played well. I know they’ve won and they’ve got through but they were lucky.
England must go old-school to shock Switzerland... this formation would be perfect, says Jurgen Klinsmann
IT might be time for England to try something different at these Euros, writes Jurgen Klinsmann.
Maybe Gareth Southgate will want to start the quarter-final against Switzerland in a 4-4-2 formation, with Ivan Toney alongside Harry Kane up front.
I think it might work, and if Gareth feels the same, he should do it.
This is the time when, as a manager at a tournament, you have to trust your gut instinct and never hold back from unpopular decisions.
The quarter-finals are make-or-break time. Win and you’re in the last four and everyone respects you.
Lose and it’s not acceptable for big nations like England, Germany, France and Spain.
England are facing the best Swiss team of all time on Saturday – and it is certain to be another rollercoaster.
I understand there can be snobbery about playing a 4-4-2 but sometimes you have to do something different.
It can still be a fantastic system — two hard-working frontmen like Kane and Toney can be a real threat to the opposition.
I think England need to surprise the Swiss, to try something different.
And that just might be a good old-fashioned 4-4-2.
Read Jurgen Klinsmann’s column in full.
Or check out all of Jurgen’s Euro 2024 opinions.
“England got lucky the other night, they are into the quarter-finals, they haven’t played well. That has to be a positive because I’m sure that things can only get better.”
Shearer, 53, also wants Cole Palmer to play on the right ahead of Bukayo Saka.
Saka was moved to left-back in the extra-time win over Slovenia, while Chelsea talisman Palmer impressed on the right flank.