Luke Shaw will START for England in the Euro 2024 final in a late shock change from Gareth Southgate – with Kieran Trippier dropping to the bench for fit-again Man United star

Luke Shaw will start tonight’s Euro 2024 final against Spain as Gareth Southgate takes one of the biggest selection gambles of his reign.

Shaw has not started a game since February – a total of 148 days – due to a hamstring injury but has made his return action here in Germany, playing 87 minutes in two substitute appearances.

But for England’s first ever major tournament on foreign soil, head coach Southgate has handed Shaw his full return to action in place of Kieran Trippier – who has started all of the games here in Germany on the left side of defence.

Trippier suffered a knock in the semi-final win over Holland and was replaced by Shaw at half-time.

Southgate insisted on Saturday night that Newcastle defender Trippier had been passed fit to play but he will now start on the bench.

Southgate will gamble on the change despite a long period out for the Man United left back 

Similarly, it will be intriguing to see if Southgate continues with the 3-4-2-1 formation he has deployed in the previous two knockout matches with sources indicating that the team have worked on being tactically flexible in training since the semi-final.

The team Southgate has selected will allow his players to switch between a back-three and a four-man defence easily.

England have successfully interchanged between formations during games in the knockout stages here in Germany and that flexibility could become a key factor in tonight’s clash against the Spaniards.

When asked about whether he was fit to play 90 or 120 minutes – with extra-time – Shaw was insistent earlier this week that he was ready.

‘Yeah of course. I think I am [fit to play].,’ he said.

‘But obviously that’s solely down to Gareth [Southgate]… but how I feel, I feel fit and ready to go.’

Kieran Trippier has started every England game in Germany but is left out for the final

Southgate chose to start with Trippier in the semi-final against the Netherlands but brought Shaw on at half-time to play 45 minutes which ended with Ollie Watkins’ winning goal.

Shaw was widely praised for his performance in the second half of the win over the Dutch, with Trippier the subject of criticism for his performances during the tournament so far.

It had been expected that Southgate could stick with the Newcastle defender but has opted to start Shaw.