Gareth Southgate changed his system – now he needs to change the players if England have any chance of winning Euro 2024
GARETH SOUTHGATE changed the system but he now needs to start switching his players.
And that not only means for his starting XI for the semi-final in Dortmund on Wednesday but also, during the match itself.
Not for the first time, Southgate nearly paid the price for his bloody-minded refusal to react with substitutions and you have to wonder if he is ever going to learn.
Probably not.
Equally, at least the England manager reverted to a three-man defence which served him well at the World Cup in 2018 and on occasions, during Euro 2020.
Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ezri Konsa generally did well at the back with Kieran Trippier and Bukayo Saka the wing-backs.
But England still had a complete lack of balance as they had Trippier, a right-footer on the left, and Saka, a left-footer on the right.
It made no sense whatsoever.
Southgate will have his reasons but it was still a case of putting a square peg into a round hole.
Although Saka was England’s most dangerous player for long periods, not for the first time, playing Trippier on the left simply did not work.
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England player ratings: Saka the saviour for Three Lions but subbed Kane stuggles in penalties thriller vs Switzerland
BUKAYO SAKA showed huge courage as he dug England out of a hole and through on penalties against Switzerland, writes Tom Barclay.
The Three Lions looked to be going out when Breel Embolo had put Swiss ahead on 75 minutes.
But Arsenal star Saka dragged England back into five minutes later with a stunning effort off the post.
To penalties it went – just like it did between these two sides five years ago in the Nations League.
And just like back then, Jordan Pickford made a save – repelling the Swiss’s first effort from Manuel Akanji.
England were perfect from then on, with Cole Palmer, Jude Bellignam, Saka, Ivan Toney and finally Trent Alexander-Arnold sending the Three Lions into the semi-final.
Here’s how the players rated…
Jordan Pickford: 7
Had his heart in his mouth when Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner deep into extra-time hit the post and bar, but then pulled off a smart stop to take it to penalties.
Saved Manuel Akanji’s first spot-kick by diving low to his left.
Kyle Walker: 6
Spent most of the game on the right side of a three which meant he could not get forward. Embolo got in front of him for Switzerland’s opener. Won the toss so the penalties were taken in front of the England fans.
John Stones: 6
Crisper passing in the first half, much better than his sloppy Slovakia display, but his deflection on Dan Ndoye’s cross diverted it to Embolo.
Ezri Konsa: 6
Was decent in the first half of his maiden start at a major tournament but, like the rest of the team, went into his shell after the break.
Kieran Trippier: 6
Had been expected to play right wing-back but was once again on the left.
Solid defensively but, as has been the case throughout the tournament, offered little going forward on his unnatural side.
Declan Rice: 7
Anticipated, and subsequently, won a number of 50-50s at the base of England’s midfield.
It was his decoy run that opened up the space for Saka to find the corner, before his 25-yard wonderstrike was denied by a flying Yann Sommer save in extra-time.
Kobbie Mainoo: 6
Some decent drives forward from midfield. Looked as if he would fire home an opener just before the break after
Bukayo Saka’s nice cutback, but was denied by Granit Xhaka’s excellent block.
Bukayo Saka: 8 and STAR MAN
Did not play at left wing-back as expected, but was England’s most dangerous attacking player throughout – and none more so when he came to the rescue with his 80th-minute leveller which flew in off the post.
Showed huge courage in the shoot-out as he stroked home his penalty beautifully, three years on from missing in the last Euros final.
Jude Bellingham: 6
Produced a few graceful dribbles which showcased his quality in the first half but pretty quiet.
Looked knackered but showed big cojones with his low penalty.
Phil Foden: 6
Admitted before the game that his central role would suit him better and it seemed to in the first 20 minutes, but faded after that.
Harry Kane: 4
This system just does not suit him. He needs runners, but does not look like he is going to get them.
Just could not get into the game and was subbed out of it in extra-time, seconds after he was sent crashing into his manager on the touchline.
SUBS
Cole Palmer (for Konsa, 78): 7
One of three players to come on in reaction to Switzerland’s opener – why did it take so long, Gareth? Dispatched England’s first spot-kick with aplomb.
Luke Shaw (for Trippier, 78): 6
First minutes of football since February, slotting in on the left side of back three as Southgate went for broke.
Eberechi Eze (for Mainoo, 78): 6
Carved out a nice bit of space for himself in the dying moments but fired wide.
Ivan Toney (For Kane, 109): 7
It was no surprise to see him come with the prospect of penalties on the horizon – what was more of a shock was that it was for spot-kick maestro Kane. Was knocked over in the box right at the end of extra-time, but nothing was given. Confident penalty.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Foden, 115): 7
Thrown on late into extra-time. Belted home his spot-kick to win it.
Gareth Southgate: 4
The adjusted back three system worked to a certain extent, but still the approach looked to be to keep it tight and rely on a moment of magic.
Saka provided that for the leveller, but given the talent at his disposal, it seemed very limited.
Took an age to make a change – prompted only by Switzerland going ahead. But got his subs right when it came to the penalty shoot-out.
And this is why Luke Shaw, if fit, simply HAS to start the semi-final.
He came into the left side of the three-man defence when Southgate finally made his changes in the 78th minute — and that was only after his team had conceded.
Within a minute of the Manchester United defender arriving on the pitch, England had levelled through Saka’s superb strike.
And considering he had not played for five months, Shaw did well at the back despite those chaotic moments in the second period of extra-time when Southgate’s team could easily have conceded.
Playing his first game for exactly 139 days, Shaw looked cool and calm in possession.
It would be a huge benefit to the team to have him playing out on the left as a wing-back — or just as full-back — if Southgate reverts to a flat back four.
Konsa did well in only his sixth England appearance but the Aston Villa man was partly to blame for the Swiss goal.
And his lack of experience showed on a few occasions in the second half as he was hesitant.
Marc Guehi is not exactly an upgrade in terms of international experience but the Crystal Palace defender has been one of England’s better players out here in Germany.
He will come back into the team and playing in a back three should suit him.
Although England sometimes reverted to a back four during periods of the game, the original formation change also meant Phil Foden played in a more central role.
Before the game, Foden admitted he preferred this position.
He looked much happier and was far busier — even if he still failed to deliver the type of explosive form which we saw for Manchester City last term.
Foden was the Premier League’s Player of the Season and has to start showing it at Euro 2024.
The only negative in the system change was that it meant Jude Bellingham played wider to the left.
Despite a bright start, the Real Madrid man faded and in the end, he was blowing out of his backside.
Even so, his spot-kick — like all of England’s — was just sensational.
So, the Three Lions are through by the skin of their teeth and maybe their name is written on the trophy.
Southgate is actually England’s second most successful manager behind 1966 World Cup-winning boss Alf Ramsey — even if it still does not feel like it today.
In his eight years as manager his England team have won eight knockout games.
Before Southgate took charge, England had won six in half a century.
This is the most sustained period of success in the history of the men’s England football team.
That will count for nothing if they fail to reach their first ever major final on foreign soil.
Ultimately, though, Southgate will only be celebrated as a true success if England — despite being rubbish for most of this tournament — come home with the trophy.
I know we needed penalties... but England showed vs Switzerland why they can WIN Euro 2024, says Jack Wilshere
IT TOOK penalties to put us through but, before the drama, England showed us why they have the ingredients to do something special, writes Jack Wilshere.
It was a win by the narrowest of margins but this was overall our best performance of Euro 2024.
If we can build on the progress we made, especially in the first half, we could WIN the tournament.
It was not a complete display. There were nervy moments and waiting so long to make changes could have cost us.
But we saw what a good team England can be if they do the right things and put players in the right positions.
The first half was England’s best since the first 45 against Serbia. Maybe even better.
One of the keys to that was our press and the effect it had on Granit Xhaka.
For the first time in four games we were pressing high, winning the ball back in better areas and putting Switzerland on the back foot.
In previous matches, our forwards were pressing but the gaps between our lines were too big.
That was leaving huge gaps for Declan Rice and whoever was partnering him to cover.
This time there was better structure and organisation.
There seemed to be more of a plan for when to drop into a block and when to jump out to press.
Now England have the opportunity to build momentum and show why they can win this tournament.
Read all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euro 2024 articles.