England manager Gareth Southgate has some big calls to make after their lethargic display during their goalless draw with Scotland on Friday.
He has confirmed Harry Kane will start on Tuesday despite the Tottenham striker not yet hitting his stride at Euro 2020. Though there are question marks surrounding the line-up elsewhere on the pitch.
And Sportsmail’s writers have put themselves in Southgate’s shoes and picked the teams they would go with for the final group game.
Gareth Southgate has had a lot to think about after England’s disappointing draw on Friday
Harry Kane will start again but will Raheem Sterling be dropped against the Czech Republic?
Fans are clamouring for Jack Grealish to get his first start of the tournament on Tuesday night
MARTIN SAMUEL
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Maguire, Stones, Trippier; Rice, Bellingham; Sterling, Foden, Grealish; Kane.
This is the team I would have started against Croatia, although I would have picked Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell for Raheem Sterling and Kieran Trippier if they were available.
England didn’t look urgent enough against Scotland, and they need more tempo in their game. I think Jude Bellingham would deliver that, as Billy Gilmour did for Scotland, and I would play Phil Foden in more of a central role, behind Harry Kane.
England need more tempo in their game on Tuesday and Jude Bellingham could deliver that
CHRIS SUTTON
Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Rice; Foden, Phillips, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane.
Listening to the phone-ins, you’d think England had started with two defeats. Apparently Kane is being rewarded for playing rubbish. What a load of bull. It’s too soon to start Harry Maguire, and to drop Tyrone Mings would be harsh.
Kalvin Phillips played well in an advanced position against Croatia, so he goes alongside Bellingham with Declan Rice as the sole sitter. The more direct Marcus Rashford and Foden are on the wings.
Marcus Rashford has not started yet at Euro 2020 but he makes Chris Sutton’s starting XI
Martin Samuel
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Maguire, Stones, Chilwell; Rice, Bellingham; Mount, Foden, Grealish; Kane
It’s the team I would have started with against Croatia which, given that Kalvin Phillips and Raheem Sterling were our best players that day, I wasn’t feeling so certain of by the end.
England didn’t look urgent enough against Scotland, however, and England need more tempo in their game.
I think Bellingham would deliver that, as Billy Gilmour did for Scotland, and I’d play Foden in more of a central role, behind Kane.
Matt Hughes
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Maguire, Stones, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Foden, Grealish, Sterling; Kane
England need a commanding victory to banish the negativity that followed the Scotland stalemate.
Gareth Southgate’s freedom to make wholesale changes is limited with Chilwell and Mount out. Reece James was poor against Scotland so Walker should return, but Luke Shaw did enough to keep his place. Mount’s absence gives Jack Grealish a chance. Foden and Sterling keep their places.
Kyle Walker was left out altogether against Scotland but could return on Tuesday night
IAN LADYMAN
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Sterling Foden, Grealish; Kane.
Whichever team Southgate sends out on Tuesday night is more than good enough to beat a team ranked 40th in the world. I would have selected Chilwell because he is our best left back.
By the same rationale, Kyle Walker gets in my team on the other side, as does Maguire at centre back.
The absence of Mount is a blow but it enables Grealish to start. Foden shuffles infield and plays as a No 10.
MARC PADGETT
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Henderson, Rice; Sancho, Foden, Grealish; Kane.
Jordan Henderson and Maguire must start. Southgate has to discover if they are ready for the intensity and step up in quality of the knockout stages. England have to play with four attacking players who actually play near the opposition penalty area. Kane can’t be isolated so Foden must buzz behind him (in place of Mount), Grealish starts on the left, with Jadon Sancho on the right.
Let’s hope they live up to the hype!
Marc Padgett says Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson ‘must start’ against Czech Republic
STEPH HOUGHTON
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Trippier; Bellingham, Rice; Sancho, Grealish, Rashford; Kane.
Kyle Walker should come back in and I’d keep the John Stones and Mings partnership. I would also bring back Trippier because of the experience he has.
In midfield I’d go with Rice and Bellingham as holding midfielders. Out wide, it’s Sancho and Rashford, whose freshness would be a plus. We know that Kane is going to start – you need your captain and leader. England will want to prove a point and put in a better showing than against Scotland.
SAMI MOKBEL
Starting XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Phillips, Rice, Grealish; Sterling, Kane, Rashford.
It’s unnecessary for Southgate to completely tear up the blueprint after one so-so result. I’ve left out Maguire and Henderson simply because they aren’t going to be match-fit. John Stones and Mings haven’t conceded a goal yet, so they deserve to continue. Shaw should keep his place at left back with Chilwell unavailable. Mount’s absence opens the door to Grealish, with Rashford, Kane and Sterling in attack – just like the old times.
Marcus Rashford would provide England with a direct running threat if he started on Tuesday
MIKE KEEGAN
Starting XI: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Phillips, Rice, Grealish; Foden Kane, Sterling.
It is all about the full backs. Shaw and James’s reluctance to get forward against Scotland killed the front three and made England much easier to defend against. Trippier did nothing wrong against Croatia and offers plenty in attack and defence. On the other side, Walker has a mistake in him but goes on marauding runs which create room for others.
The return of Maguire should give the full backs confidence to get upfield.
