GARETH SOUTHGATE leads England into their Euros battle against Serbia on Sunday.
The Three Lions are among the favourites to win this summer’s coveted trophy in Germany.
RexGareth Southgate has several big problems to contend with ahead of the Euros[/caption]
And with superstars like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in tow, fans are hoping England can go a step further than the last Euros by finally clinching glory.
However, it’s not all plain sailing for Southgate.
The gaffer has got numerous problems to be dealing with.
And they could end up derailing England’s plans to be crowned champions of Europe.
Here, SunSport’s Tom Barclay and Charlie Wyett reveal the biggest issues giving Southgate a headache right now:
TOM BARCLAY
LEFT-BACK
Kieran Trippier will be the square peg put in the round hole that is left-back in Gelsenkirchen.
The Newcastle star, naturally a right-back, has performed admirably there for his country in years gone by.
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But the 33-year-old’s form this season with the Magpies has dropped off considerably.
So not only do we not have a natural left-back playing in a key position – nor a left-footer at all across the backline – but the one Gareth Southgate will turn to is not playing very well either.
Jude Bellingham will be hoping to regain his form against SerbiaAlamy
JUDE BELLINGHAM’S FORM
La Liga’s player of the season has had a phenomenal first campaign with Real Madrid, winning both the league and Champions League.
He has not been as devastating in recent games though – albeit a big part of that could be an increased focus on defensive duties out left for Carlo Ancelotti’s side – and was quiet in the Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.
Expectation will be huge on him – more than on Phil Foden, according to Wayne Rooney, who knows a thing or two about these things.
You would fancy the 20-year-old to handle that but if England are to win out here in Germany, they need Bellingham at the top of his game.
INEXPERIENCE
Southgate has picked a squad that includes 12 players who have never been to a major tournament before. It should not affect his first XI too much – pretty much all the expected starters, barring Marc Guehi, have at least 25 caps.
But off the bench are relative rookies such as Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon. Their form has certainly merited inclusion but it will all be new to them when they come on.
Hopefully they will thrive under the pressure rather than wilt – but we just do not know yet.
GettyAleksandar Mitrovic is Serbia’s key man[/caption]
ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC
The 29-year-old never truly set the Premier League alight with Newcastle and Fulham – though last season’s haul of 14 top-flight goals for the Cottagers was decent – but for his country, he has been phenomenal.
A whopping 58 goals in 91 caps put him close to Harry Kane’s numbers (63 goals in the same amount of international appearances). He will be a huge threat for an England defence that looked shaky against Iceland on Friday at Wembley.
He will be full of confidence too after banging in 28 goals in as many games to help invincible Al-Hilal to the Saudi Pro League title.
AlamyGerman police are braced for fan trouble between England and Serbia[/caption]
FAN SAFETY
Serbia’s fanbase includes some notorious hooligan gangs such as the Head Hunters and Gravediggers.
German police officers have deemed England’s game against Serbia at Gelsenkirchen on Sunday as “high risk”. Let’s hope all we’re talking about is the football – rather than crowd trouble – come the end of the game.
CHARLIE WYETT
RexJohn Stones is the latest doubt in defence[/caption]
THE DEFENCE
This is clearly going to be a weakness for England at Euro 2024 and the absence of Harry Maguire is a big miss – even if some fans do not agree.
John Stones missed training today due to an illness while he also suffered a foot injury in the 1-0 defeat to Iceland. Even during the game, Stones did not look 100 per cent and just 12 starts for Manchester City in the Premier League have not helped him.
Also, his partnership with Marc Guehi is a new one but it needs to develop quickly.
CENTRAL MIDFIELD
The big question is who Southgate will play next to Declan Rice. Southgate has been experimenting with Trent Alexander-Arnold in this position although it still feels like a gamble going into a major tournament.
The other likely option is Conor Gallagher who is more used to this position and will work hard. Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton are both terrific prospects but it seems unlikely that Southgate will gamble with either of the two young players.
GettyHarry Kane’s back could yet cause issues[/caption]
HARRY KANE
The Bayern Munich striker missed the end of the season with a back injury and he did not look 100 per cent either coming on as a substitute against Bosnia or in his 64-minute run-out against Iceland.
The decision to include Ivan Toney in the squad was, in part, due to a mild concern over Kane’s issue.
GettyPhil Foden is yet to show his best for the Three Lions[/caption]
PHIL FODEN
The Manchester City star enjoyed a stunning season so he will go into Euro 2024 full of confidence. The problem is that we have rarely seen Foden at his best for England.
He has 34 caps and scored four times but you can count on one hand how many excellent performances he has delivered for the Three Lions.
Foden will start out wide and Jude Bellingham will play as a number 10. The pair will be given a licence to swap positions.
AFPBukayo Saka could miss the Serbia game with injury[/caption]
BUKAYO SAKA
The Arsenal winger suffered a groin injury in training towards the end of the season and has not been at 100 per cent.
He has not taken part in all of England’s training sessions although he featured both on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Saka came on as a sub for 25 minutes against Iceland and he is hoping to start against Serbia. But if he is not 100 per cent, Southgate could start Cole Palmer.
Gareth Southgate will take the handbrake off at Euro 2024… because he has no choice
By Charlie Wyett
GARETH SOUTHGATE will have no choice but to take the handbrake off his England team at Euro 2024.
The defensive crisis gripping the Three Lions means the only option in Germany, within reason, will be outright attack.
Southgate has often been lambasted for his safety-first approach — even if he points out you must go back to Walter Winterbottom’s sides in the 1950s to find an England manager with a better scoring record.
But with the crocked Harry Maguire left out, Luke Shaw not fit enough to start the tournament and John Stones having made just 12 Premier League starts this season, this is not a defence you would stake your life on.
The last time England went to a major tournament in Germany — the 2006 World Cup — the four centre-backs selected were Sol Campbell (68 caps), Rio Ferdinand (47), Jamie Carragher (25) and John Terry (24).
This time, when England fly out on Monday, the quartet will be Lewis Dunk (six), Joe Gomez (14), Marc Guehi (ten) and Ezri Konsa (three).
It makes Southgate’s decision not to recall the 49-cap Eric Dier for his provisional squad even stranger — especially considering his strong end to the season with Bayern Munich.
The elder statesman in his defence — and the one who absolutely has to stay fit — is 71-cap Stones.