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Jermaine Jenas and Danny Murphy have told Mail Sport the England starting XIs they would play against Slovakia if they were in charge of the Three Lions.
Gareth Southgate is under increasing pressure after three underwhelming displays from his side at Euro 2024.
A win and two draws was still enough to see England to finish top of their group and qualify for the last-16 but many fans feel big changes are needed if the team are to go much further in the competition.
Asked by Mail Sport who he would start against Slovakia on Sunday, Jenas said he’d have the same back five but with Joe Gomez at left-back in place of Kieran Trippier.
‘Why don’t we try Joe Gomez,’ he continued. ‘He had a really good spell for liverpool there. I think he looked better at left back than he did at right back for Liverpool.’
The former Tottenham man was also unable to find room in his team for Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham, who has struggled after impressing in the opening match.
‘In midfield I’d go Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo,’ he added. ‘On the right I’d go Bukayo Saka. In the hole I’m gonna go Phil Foden. On the left I’d go Antony Gordon. Up top Harry Kane.
He (Bellingham) just looks tired. He’s 20 years old. I would rest him for Sunday.
Fellow pundit Danny Murphy had some differences when it came to his XI.
‘I’d go for the same back four, I think we looked solid,’ he said. Luke Shaw isn’t ready, if he was and had played some minutes then for sure you’d want a left footer at left back.
‘I would personally play Jude in a more central positions with Declan. He can still go forward from there but I think he’s defensively sound enough. Brilliant on the ball, does well under pressure.
I’d play Foden as a 10. I’d play Gordon on the left. I’d leave Kane in. He’s a big game player. With the pace around him that will help him.
‘I’d put Palmer in ahead of Saka. I love Saka, I admire everything about him but Cole Palmer at the moment looks like a player that’s got complete confidence in himself to change game and make things happen.
‘He plays with a freedom and an authority and an arrogance that very few have at that age. He’s in a rich vein of form and wants to prove a point to the world. He’s just a beautiful, elegant footballer who wants to win matches.
‘The difference between Palmer and Saka is when he’s not really in the game he finds a way of drifting into different areas to impact the game. That 20 minutes alone deserves rewarding.
‘Gallagher has to come out. We need someone else alongside Declan.’
