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Gareth Southgate is a manager who doesn’t like to make frequent changes to his team.
The England manager has used just 13 different starting players so far at Euro 2024, with 10 of those players starting all four games.
However, Southgate will be forced to make at least one change when the Three Lions face Switzerland in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, who has played every minute of England’s Euro campaign so far as Southgate’s first-choice left centre-back, is suspended after picking up yellow cards against Slovenia and Slovakia.
Southgate may also need to make a change at left-back after Kieran Trippier limped off the pitch in the 66th minute of Sunday’s comeback win against Slovakia in the last 16.
Marc Guehi (left) is suspended for the Euro 2024 quarter-final match between England and Switzerland
Kieran Trippier (left) could also miss the game after sustaining an injury against Slovakia.
Trippier is a right-back but has started England’s first four games at left-back because Luke Shaw has been out of form.
Shaw only returned to team training last month after being sidelined since February with a hamstring injury.
He could soon be fit enough to come off the bench, but he will almost certainly not start against Switzerland due to his lack of recent playing time.
That leaves Southgate with a potential crisis at No. 3.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright recently suggested that Southgate could move Bukayo Saka from the right wing to the left side of defence.
Southgate did indeed follow this advice when Trippier was substituted on Sunday, but it was apparently only a temporary solution and was influenced by the fact England were 1-0 down and chasing the game.
Saka himself has made it clear that he would prefer not to move to left back.
Bukayo Saka (right) played at left-back against Slovakia, but would prefer to play further forward.
England manager Gareth Southgate, pictured at Monday’s training session, has decisions to make
Responding to the suggestion made by his favourite Gunners teammate last week, Saka said BBC 5 Live:No, obviously I love Ian Wright and he says a lot of good things about me, but I don’t think putting myself out of position is the solution.
“But at the end of the day, I think we can talk about it, but it’s in Gareth’s hands, so we’ll just have to trust what Gareth chooses on the day.”
That’s now the big question: Who will Southgate choose on Saturday?
Assuming Southgate is looking to bring in a new left-back, as well as a new partner for John Stones in central defence, there would appear to be Six players with a chance of entering the defence that started against Slovakia.
1. Lucas Shaw
As mentioned earlier, Shaw is not fit for the match.
It would be a pretty bold move for Southgate to ask the Manchester United ace to start a crucial quarter-final after 139 days on the sidelines.
On the other hand, it was a pretty bold decision for Southgate to include Shaw in his squad for the tournament, especially as he is the only natural left-back. Who knows?
Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has not played a competitive game of football since February.
2. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Alexander-Arnold started two of England’s group games in midfield, but is naturally an attacking right-back.
The Liverpool star could potentially play at left-back against Switzerland.
However, a more likely scenario would see the 25-year-old come in at right-back and Kyle Walker move to left-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold played in midfield in the group stage but could now play in defence.
3. Ezri Konsa
Aston Villa defender Konsa only made his international debut in March but has already been capped five times following his 15-minute appearance on Sunday against Slovakia.
The 26-year-old is very versatile, which could prove useful. Last season at Villa he frequently alternated between right-back and centre-back.
If Walker were to move to the left, Konsa could comfortably occupy the right. He could also be a natural replacement for Guehi, although he would probably do an emergency left-back job if needed.
Ezri Konsa (right) made his first appearance at Euro 2024 in Sunday night’s win over Slovakia.
4. Lewis Dunk
Brighton captain Dunk is less versatile than Konsa. He will either play in central defence or not at all.
If Southgate does call up the 32-year-old, it will likely be because he is more experienced. Although Dunk has only been capped by England six times to date, he has 470 appearances for his first club, including 241 in the Premier League.
If Dunk plays on Saturday, it will be his first appearance at Euro 2024.
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk has yet to feature for England in Germany this summer.
5. Joe Gomez
In fact, Gomez played as a left-back in 14 games for Liverpool last season. He also played as a right-back, centre-back and in midfield.
The former Charlton defender has represented England on 15 occasions. Gomez has also played in some important European matches for his club, so Southgate may think of him as the man for the big occasion.
However, like Dunk, Gomez has yet to play a single minute at this summer’s Euros.
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez has also yet to play a minute at Euro 2024, but that could change
6. Adam Wharton
This is apparently the least likely option.
But defensive midfielder Wharton is at least left-footed and could therefore add some sort of balance to England’s back line.
The 20-year-old Palace native has been capped just once, having made his senior debut in last month’s Euro warm-up win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.