England manager Gareth Southgate has made a tactical change to his lineup for the Euro 2024 final against Spain. Luke Shaw is set to start in place of Kieran Trippier, taking over at left wing-back. This is the only alteration from the team that faced Netherlands in the semi-finals. As a result, neither Trent Alexander-Arnold nor Joe Gomez will be starting.
The likely England XI against Spain will consist of Jordan Pickford in goal, with Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Marc Guehi forming a back three. Shaw and Bukayo Saka will operate out wide. In midfield, Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo will play, with Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden further forward in support of Harry Kane.
Gareth Southgate’s selection allows England to be tactically flexible, easily switching between a back three and a four-man defense. This adaptability has been a key focus in their training sessions.
Despite some underwhelming performances, Southgate has chosen to keep faith in Harry Kane as the main striker. This decision comes as no surprise, considering Kane’s status as England’s all-time leading goalscorer. Although Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins have made influential cameos, Kane’s experience and goal-scoring ability give him the edge.
One player who has been left out of the starting lineup is Trent Alexander-Arnold. He began the tournament as a starter in midfield but was eventually dropped. Now, he is considered a right-back by Southgate and has only come off the bench in the knockout stages.
Another Liverpool player, Joe Gomez, has not played a single minute throughout the tournament. He joins Lewis Dunk and Adam Wharton as the only outfield players who have not been utilized.
It is clear that Southgate has made these decisions based on his assessment of each player’s performance and their suitability to the team’s tactics. While it may be disappointing for Liverpool fans to see their players on the bench, Southgate’s choices reflect his desire to field the strongest possible lineup for the crucial final match against Spain.