Day 12: Croatia vs Scotland | Czech Republic vs England

[Dante]

If it is a back 5:

Pickford

Stones--Maguire--Shaw

Walker-----------------------------------------------------Saka

Phillips--Rice

Sterling----------------------------Grealish

Kane
​

This could possibly be Southgate's preferred formation. But he's not had the chance to pick it because Maguire's been out.

 

[Rajiztar]

He's not shite but he's not even had more than a full season of senior football has he? More understandable if it's a 343 but why play a back three against the Czechs? Ugh, horse face makes pulling for the national team tricky.

Saka did more in friendlies than Sancho. Sancho have to earn his place through performances.He will get his chances.

 

[Hugh Jass]

Rice and Philips is overkill.

 

[mancan92]

Southgate hasn't got a clue. Some of the silliest team selections in a long time. How do you still play 2 dms?

 

[Pickle85]

Saka did more in friendlies than Sancho. Sancho have to earn his place through performances.He will get his chances.

But he's done a million times more at club level. In competitive games. Even comparing them as players at the mo is crazy. All I can think is that, as someone else said, it's three at the back.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

Foden is rested according to some journalists.

Southgate has said that he will rotate the three non-matchday-players.

 

[tinfish]

Some replies against Saka is a bit over the top. The kid deserves his chance and impressed in the friendly.

Regardless I find it baffling how Sterling is starting ahead of Sancho.

Also need to realise Southgate is a defensive minded manager and will probably utilise Saka as part of a back 5

 

[BFernandes]

Oh no this isn't on ITV is it?

 

[PoTMS]

I feel like he's taken the Shearer 96 story with el Tel as the only way to manage.

Just seems pointless to bring a squad if he's not going to use it.

This is the same useless cnut that wanted only 23 man squads.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

If it is a back 5:

Pickford

Stones--Maguire--Shaw

Walker-----------------------------------------------------Saka

Phillips--Rice

Sterling----------------------------Grealish

Kane
​

This could possibly be Southgate's preferred formation. But he's not had the chance to pick it because Maguire's been out.

5 defenders with 2 defensive midfielders at home to Czech Republic. Sounds about right yeah.

 

[chris123]

Nope, nevermind, Saka is playing right wing. fecking hell that is madness.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

5 defenders with 2 defensive midfielders at home to Czech Republic. Sounds about right yeah.

What sort of line up will it be when we come up against a seriously good side?

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

Nope, nevermind, Saka is playing right wing. fecking hell that is madness.

What? Doesn’t he play left wing for Arsenal?

 

[Ronaldo's ego]

Glad Keano’s in the studio to shut down the unwarranted hype when England nick a 1-0.

 

[Rajiztar]

But he's done a million times more at club level. In competitive games. Even comparing them as players at the mo is crazy. All I can think is that, as someone else said, it's three at the back.

So be it. He will live through it. He will get the consequences. Pep said once it's not personalities where they can play but how they play as a unit.

Southgate not able to trust Sancho yet but once he do he will earn his place through performances. Don't worry he will get game time today I think.

 

[Dan_F]

Southgate’s logic on Foden does actually make sense, on a yellow so pointless playing him.

 

[Pavl3n]

So 4 at the back. And Grealish through the middle. 4-2-3-1
Or Walker playing as RCB and have a 3-4-3 formation.

 

[NieThePiet]

What? Doesn’t he play left wing for Arsenal?

Nope, played the most games at RW.
But can play LW, RW, CAM and LB too.

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

What sort of line up will it be when we come up against a seriously good side?

I could see him picking something like this

Pickford
Stones Maguire Shaw
Walker Rice Henderson Phillips Chilwell
Kane Sterling
​

“There’s no shame in losing 2-0 to France without having a shot”

I was joking but I wouldnt even be shocked

 

[Knux]

Not even my country (Sweden) plays this defensive Tells alot of whats wrong with this England team.

 

[Rajiztar]

What sort of line up will it be when we come up against a seriously good side?

Hoping for penalties.

 

[Dan]

Keane just then.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

I could see him picking something like this

Pickford
Stones Maguire Shaw
Walker Rice Henderson Phillips Chilwell
Kane Sterling​

That attacking.

 

[Mickeza]

If Rashford is now behind Saka can he go have fecking surgery please? What’s the point being there if he isn’t going to be used!

 

[Pexbo]

Not even my country (Sweden) plays this defensive Tells alot of whats wrong with this England team.

We haven’t got the attacking players to really go for it so we have to load the team with positions we are stacked at light centre back and defensive midfield.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Keane just then.

That made me laugh.

 

[FatTails]

England are through anyway (in first, second, or even third place) so you’d think this is the game to try things out before the knockouts (for Pardew, that means Harry’s fitness, possibly a back 3, try to get Kane going..)

 

[Strats]

Saka is not shite....he is not Lingard

Maybe it is a 3-4-3.

Yeah I wonder if Maguire is fit enough yet to play in a back two.

 

[bosnian_red]

Sancho is only 1.5 years older than Saka but has more goals and assists than Saka has total appearances.

 

[One Night Only]

Keane just then.

What did he do/say?

 

[joedirt87]

southgate is such a coward, still playing rice and phillips

would be nice to see sancho but at least it's not phoden. kane makes sense to me, you are always going to pick him in the knockout rounds so may as well give him another chance to find some form.

 

[Samid]

Bundesliga football don’t count says Gareth Northfence.

 

[TheReligion]

Not even my country (Sweden) plays this defensive Tells alot of whats wrong with this England team.

Did you miss the Spain match?

 

[Irrational.]

Southgate fancies himself as a bit of a Guardiola.

 

[Dan]

What did he do/say?

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Hopefully there’s a clip of it.

 

[redshaw]

Can see Saka playing very well but would be odd to see him on the right.

 

[Rajiztar]

Some replies against Saka is a bit over the top. The kid deserves his chance and impressed in the friendly.

Regardless I find it baffling how Sterling is starting ahead of Sancho.

Also need to realise Southgate is a defensive minded manager and will probably utilise Saka as part of a back 5

Definitely. Saka performed well when he played. Hope he play well today too to justify his selection. May be Sancho should get the nod instead of sterling. But will get game time today I think.

 

[Who's Kissing Cameras?]

What? Doesn’t he play left wing for Arsenal?

No he played right wing for a lot of this season.

 

[MU655]

I don't get the refusal to play Bellingham. He is a first-teamer for a Champion's League level side, but Southgate doesn't consider him good enough to get in over Phillips or Rice.

Sterling seems to have an automatic first-team place based on nothing. It is good Saka is getting a game, but surely Sancho should be in the team.

 

[Dante]

What sort of line up will it be when we come up against a seriously good side?

The same.

Cups aren't won in the early rounds. At least by being consistent with his tactics, Southgate is letting the squad develop an understanding in real time. We'll have to wait and see if it works.

But I am as sceptical as you.