Gareth Southgate will stick with the exact same system he utilized against Switzerland as England face the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finals tonight. The Three Lions are just one victory away from reaching the final in Berlin after defeating Switzerland in a dramatic penalty shootout on Saturday evening.
For that game, Southgate used a back three formation for the very first time since the Euro 2020 final against Italy. Bukayo Saka and Kieran Trippier were deployed as wing-backs on the right and left sides, respectively, with the Arsenal star producing an excellent performance, scoring and converting his penalty kick in the shootout. Their performance against Switzerland, while unspectacular, was a leap over England’s group stage performances and their underwhelming performance against Slovakia in the last 16.
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England is all set for the thriller crucial match against the Netherlands
While Southgate intends to stick with the same system, he faces a dilemma in the back with Marc Guehi available again. The Crystal Palace star skipped the Switzerland match due to a one-game suspension. Ezri Konsa replaced him that day, forming a back three with John Stones and Kyle Walker.
The Aston Villa star stepped in without hesitation, delivering an impressive performance in a demanding duel against Breel Embolo that lasted all evening. But Guehi will likely reclaim his place on the team after being one of his country’s best performers in Germany during the last three weeks. Luke Shaw, meanwhile, insisted to the media this week that he is ready to start a game. Before Sunday, the Manchester United star had not played since February due to a hamstring injury, and he made his competitive debut as a second-half substitute against Switzerland.
