England manager Gareth Southgate has some big calls to make after their lethargic display during their goalless draw with Scotland on Friday.
He has confirmed Harry Kane will start on Tuesday despite the Tottenham striker not yet hitting his stride at Euro 2020. Though there are question marks surrounding the line-up elsewhere on the pitch.
And Sportsmail’s writers have put themselves in Southgate’s shoes and picked the teams they would go with for the final group game.
Gareth Southgate has had a lot to think about after England’s disappointing draw on Friday
Harry Kane will start again but will Raheem Sterling be dropped against the Czech Republic?
Fans are clamouring for Jack Grealish to get his first start of the tournament on Tuesday night
MARTIN SAMUEL
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Maguire, Stones, Trippier; Rice, Bellingham; Sterling, Foden, Grealish; Kane.
This is the team I would have started against Croatia, although I would have picked Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell for Raheem Sterling and Kieran Trippier if they were available.
England didn’t look urgent enough against Scotland, and they need more tempo in their game. I think Jude Bellingham would deliver that, as Billy Gilmour did for Scotland, and I would play Phil Foden in more of a central role, behind Harry Kane.
England need more tempo in their game on Tuesday and Jude Bellingham could deliver that
CHRIS SUTTON
Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Rice; Foden, Phillips, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane.
Listening to the phone-ins, you’d think England had started with two defeats. Apparently Kane is being rewarded for playing rubbish. What a load of bull. It’s too soon to start Harry Maguire, and to drop Tyrone Mings would be harsh.
Kalvin Phillips played well in an advanced position against Croatia, so he goes alongside Bellingham with Declan Rice as the sole sitter. The more direct Marcus Rashford and Foden are on the wings.
Marcus Rashford has not started yet at Euro 2020 but he makes Chris Sutton’s starting XI
Martin Samuel
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Maguire, Stones, Chilwell; Rice, Bellingham; Mount, Foden, Grealish; Kane
It’s the team I would have started with against Croatia which, given that Kalvin Phillips and Raheem Sterling were our best players that day, I wasn’t feeling so certain of by the end.
England didn’t look urgent enough against Scotland, however, and England need more tempo in their game.
I think Bellingham would deliver that, as Billy Gilmour did for Scotland, and I’d play Foden in more of a central role, behind Kane.
Matt Hughes
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Maguire, Stones, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Foden, Grealish, Sterling; Kane
England need a commanding victory to banish the negativity that followed the Scotland stalemate.
Gareth Southgate’s freedom to make wholesale changes is limited with Chilwell and Mount out. Reece James was poor against Scotland so Walker should return, but Luke Shaw did enough to keep his place. Mount’s absence gives Jack Grealish a chance. Foden and Sterling keep their places.
Kyle Walker was left out altogether against Scotland but could return on Tuesday night
IAN LADYMAN
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Sterling Foden, Grealish; Kane.
Whichever team Southgate sends out on Tuesday night is more than good enough to beat a team ranked 40th in the world. I would have selected Chilwell because he is our best left back.
By the same rationale, Kyle Walker gets in my team on the other side, as does Maguire at centre back.
The absence of Mount is a blow but it enables Grealish to start. Foden shuffles infield and plays as a No 10.
Marc Padgett
Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Henderson, Rice; Foden, Mount, Grealish; Kane
Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire MUST start. Gareth Southgate has to discover if they are ready for the intensity and step up in quality which will come in the knockout stages.
Jordan Pickford has been very solid so far and the Chelsea full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell are England’s best bet down the flanks, but they must be allowed to maraud.
Maguire slots in alongside John Stones which is tough on Tyrone Mings but England have a tournament to win.
It’s also tough to leave out Kalvin Phillips but Henderson has to start alongside Declan Rice. That’s six defensive-minded players so, up front, England have to play with four attacking players. Harry Kane can’t be isolated.
So Phil Foden should be coming in off the right and Mason Mount needs to play behind Kane. Jack Grealish should start on the left, and let’s hope he lives up to the hype.
Marc Padgett says Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson ‘must start’ against Czech Republic