England take on Switzerland on Saturday and Gareth Southgate is set to make a huge decision.
Gareth Southgate is reportedly toying with the idea of making a shock tactical switch for England’s Euro 2024 quarter final with Switzerland.
The Three Lions take on the impressive Swiss side in Dusseldorf on Saturday, with a place in the semi finals up for grabs.
England have yet to convince in any of their performances in Germany and scraped past Slovakia with a late show.
Advert
They will be without centre-back Marc Guehi, arguably their best player in the four games, through suspension.
And it’s been reported by The Telegraph that Southgate is considering switching to a back three to cope with the absence of Guehi.
It’s claimed England have been trialling the system in training sessions before the upcoming clash.
Advert
If fit, John Stones would likely slot in at the heart of the backline, with Kyle Walker coming in as a right centre-back.
Ezri Konsa, Joe Gomez and Lewis Dunk are the options for the final centre-back berth.
Image: Getty
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier could both play as wing-backs on either side, while Bukayo Saka dropped back to the left back for a spell against Slovakia.
Advert
Luke Shaw is in full training but it remains to be seen if he is ready to start a game at the showpiece.
Southgate made the formation his go-to system at the 2018 World Cup, where England reached the semi finals.
He then used it on occasion at Euro 2020, notably against Germany and then Italy in the final.
Southgate did also make the switch as they managed the game in extra time against Slovakia, with Eberechi Eze filling in at left wing-back at one point.
Advert
The tweak could mean Ivan Toney partners Harry Kane in attack after his strong cameo appearance on Sunday.
On his major tournament debut, the Brentford striker registered the assist for Kane’s winner and led the line well.
Hot news:
UEFA make decision over Declan Rice ban as investigation launched into Jude Bellingham gesture (an)
UEFA have reached a decision on Declan Rice.
UEFA have made a decision about a potential ban for Declan Rice after an incident that followed England's victory against Slovakia.
England put in another woeful performance in their Euro 2024 round-of-16 clash with Slovakia on Sunday.
Gareth Southgate's sides were less than two minutes from elimination, but Jude Bellingham produced a spectacular bicycle kick to level the score in the fifth minute of injury-time.
Harry Kane scored early in extra-time and England went on to win 2-1, but there were some bad-tempered scenes at full-time.
Declan Rice clashed with Slovakia manager Francesco Calzona and had to be held back by teammates Ivan Toney, Ezri Konsa and Aaron Ramsdale.
The Italian coach approached the match officials to complain about England's time-wasting, before pushing Rice away when the Arsenal star confronted him. Another member of the Slovakia coaching staff also shoved Rice.
Rice reacted furiously with a stream of abuse. Expert lipreader Jeremy Freeman told Mail Sport that Rice shouted at Calzona: "Shut up, p***y, oi, shut up, you bald c***."
There were fears that Rice could face a suspension following the incident, potentially ruling him out of England's quarter-final clash with Switzerland on Saturday.
Fortunately, according to Mail Sport, UEFA have no plans to charge Rice.
However, Jude Bellingham might not be so lucky.
Rice was involved in a heated moment after England's win over Slovakia (Image: Getty)
On Monday UEFA confirmed that they have opened an investigation into the midfielder's celebration following his late equaliser against Slovakia.
Bellingham made a crotch-grabbing gesture, which he claimed was "an inside-joke gesture towards some close friends who were at the game."
If found guilty the 21-year-old could face a suspension, fine or both.
In 2019, UEFA investigated Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Simeone after both made similar gestures during a Champions League last-16 tie between Juventus and Atletico Madrid.
Both were fined but avoided bans, which could indicate how UEFA decide to punish Bellingham.
One man who will miss England's quarter-final is defender Marc Guehi, who will serve a one-match ban after picking up his second booking of Euro 2024.
Hot news:
Jude Bellingham facing Euro 2024 ban as UEFA perform U-turn over England star's X-rated gesture (an)
Jude Bellingham appeared to make a gesture towards the Slovakia bench in England's win at Euro 2024.
UEFA has performed a U-turn on Jude Bellingham following his apparent gesture aimed at the Slovakia bench in England's dramatic win at Euro 2024.
England beat Slovakia 2-1 on Sunday to book their spot in the next round of the tournament.
Jude Bellingham scored a stunning bicycle kick goal deep, deep into stoppage time to force the last-16 clash into extra-time following Ivan Schranz's opener.
Harry Kane headed home in extra-time to seal England's passage to the quarter-finals.
After the result, Bellingham took to social media to clarify his gesture following his goal.
Initial reports suggested that there were no plans to charge the star midfielder.
But UEFA has now confirmed an investigation into the England player's actions have been launched for potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct.
UEFA ethics and disciplinary inspector 'will conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct by the English FA player, Jude Bellingham'.
In a statement, UEFA said: "The UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) will decide on the matter in due course.
"Furthermore, an UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector will conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the basic rules of decent conduct by the English Football Association player, Jude Bellingham, having allegedly occurred in the scope of this match.
"Information on this matter will be made available in due course."
Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring a goal for England against Slovakia. Image: Getty
The 21-year-old is now at risk of receiving a ban at Euro 2024, which would rule him out of England's game against Switzerland on Saturday.
Any form of suspension would be a major blow to Gareth Southgate, who is already without Marc Guehi for their quarter-final tie in Dusseldorf.
Bellingham has scored two goals for England at Euro 2024, including his winner against Serbia in their tournament opener.
He's been influential for the Three Lions in Germany following a prolific campaign at Real Madrid last season.
News
Gareth Southgate calls urgent England meeting after huge team news leak for Switzerland game (an)
The England manager is furious about the leak. Gareth Southgate has called an emergency meeting to find who in the England camp has ‘betrayed’ him. England manager Gareth Southgate has…
Alan Shearer has ‘no doubt’ that surprise Euro 2024 star will be in the Premier League very soon (an)
The former Newcastle striker had high praise for the forward. Alan Shearer had a lot of praise for Benjamin Sesko after Slovenia’s Euros exit and has said…
The 2024 Golden Boy award voting has been hijacked by fans and a player valued at £5 million is currently in the lead (an)
He is currently in the lead with 33.2 per cent of the vote. A surprise contender is leading the race to lift this year’s Golden Boy Web…
Footballer who played under Arne Slot and Erik ten Hag reveals who is the better manager (an)
The two rivals will both have Dutch managers this season. A footballer who has played under both Erik ten Hag and Arne Slot has revealed who he…
England striker Ollie Watkins bizarrely names ex-Chelsea defender as the most underrated player he’s faced (an)
The Aston Villa forward made a strange selection when picking a player who is ‘underrated.’ Ollie Watkins has strangely named a former Chelsea legend as the most…
What Spain fans did as Toni Kroos left the pitch for one last time is going viral (an)
Toni Kroos finished his 17-year career on Friday night. Spanish fans paid their respects to Toni Kroos after his final match as a professional footballer on Friday….
End of content
No more pages to load
