Watkins, Shaw Palmer? – Southgate’s selection headache ahead of Euro 2024 final

Only 1 crippled remains successful Euro 2024, nan expansive finale successful Berlin betwixt England and Spain.

It has been 2 very different paths for nan remaining nations, pinch Luis de la Fuente’s broadside overcoming nan likes of Italy, Croatia, Germany and France.

Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate’s men person only faced 1 squad wrong nan apical 10 of nan FIFA rankings, nan Netherlands successful nan semi-finals.

But nan Three Lions were 1 of nan favourites heading into nan tourney and will still fancy themselves to get nan occupation done pursuing nan heartbreak of nan Euro 2020 final.

Southgate has had to chop and alteration aspects of his squad arsenic he looks to find a spark pursuing immoderate mediocre performances.

And he has a fewer last large decisions to make pinch his starting XI up of nan showdown successful Berlin.

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Defensive stability

Most of nan defence selects itself, while Jordan Pickford will undoubtedly stay successful extremity for England.

Following 2 much encouraging performances against Switzerland and nan Netherlands, nan Three Lions are not expected to waver from their 3-4-2-1 formation.

Spain 🆚 England

Berlin. Sunday.#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/f1NqmQfOpO

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 10, 2024

Kyle Walker will run erstwhile again connected nan right-hand broadside of a backmost three, pinch John Stones and Marc Guehi filling nan different 2 spaces.

Stones has been softly superb successful a achromatic garment this summertime aft missing a prolonged play of nan play done injury.

Guehi was drafted successful to switch nan absent Harry Maguire and has arguably been 1 of England’s Players of nan Tournament.

With nan 3 established internationals successful defence, Southgate’s men guidelines nan champion chance of going toe-to-toe pinch Spain.

Wing-back worries

Kieran Trippier has had nan honour of starting astatine left-wing backmost for his state this summer, contempt it not being his favoured position.

On nan different side, Bukayo Saka has been doing an fantabulous occupation some defensively and offensively.

But Luke Shaw has been slow phased backmost into nan team, coming disconnected nan chair successful nan past 2 games and for nan full 2nd half against nan Dutch.

This is arguably Southgate’s biggest dilemma up of nan lucifer successful nan German capital.

Shaw gives much width and possibly value connected nan left, but Trippier whitethorn beryllium amended equipped to woody pinch nan threat of Lamine Yamal.

The left-footed winger will beryllium wished to trim successful connected his stronger foot, but pinch nan Newcastle man being stronger connected his correct side, he whitethorn really beryllium a amended action to support him quiet successful nan final.

Midfield magic

Here is wherever things commencement to get difficult.

Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo person built up a bully narration astatine Euro 2024, and they are expected to clasp things down successful nan mediate of nan parkland again.

But Cole Palmer has had an effect successful almost each lucifer he has travel connected successful astatine nan tourney and location is not really overmuch much he tin do to warrant a spot successful nan starting XI.

He provided an assistance for Ollie Watkins’ victor connected Wednesday and scored nan first punishment against nan Swiss.

But displacing Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham seems almost impossible.

Whoever Southgate decides to spell with, it is bully to cognize location is simply a upland of options to take from and move to successful nan crippled should they beryllium needed.

Impact 👊#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/75ATAn1p6M

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 12, 2024

England’s number nine

Harry Kane? Ollie Watkins? Ivan Toney? England fans are divided connected who they deliberation should beryllium starting upfront connected Sunday.

The Three Lions skipper is nan associated apical scorer astatine nan tourney pinch 3 goals, but location is nary denying his performances person not been vintage.

Meanwhile, some Watkins and Toney person had impacts, for illustration Palmer, disconnected nan chair this summer.

The erstwhile brings gait and helps agelong nan crippled successful England’s favour, while Toney is akin to Kane, but possibly holds nan shot up better.

Realistically, location is small chance Southgate is going to driblet his skipper successful nan final, but he will person to see bringing him disconnected early again should he look to beryllium struggling.