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Former England right-back Glen Johnson reckons the Three Lions should start with Kobbie Mainoo and Ollie Watkins in their Euro 2024 quarter-final with Switzerland on Saturday (July 6) in Dusseldorf. Gareth Southgate's side are yet to hit top gear at the tournament.
The Euro 2020 finalists needed a last-gasp Jude Bellingham equaliser to force extra time against Slovakia in the Round of 16 before captain Harry Kane put them ahead. Meanwhile, the Swiss dumped out defending champions Italy in the same round with a 2-0 victory after finishing behind group winners Germany.
Previewing the quarter-final clash this weekend, Johnson told Paddy Power (via DAZN) why he would start Watkins and Mainoo against the Swiss:
“I’d love to see Ollie Watkins play against Switzerland because I think he could help a lot with his legs and running in behind, but I’d play him with Harry Kane because he can drop into that number 10. That covers both things there.
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“Kobbie Mainoo deserves to play because he’s the one that has come on and done something. I’d have Anthony Gordon on the left and play a bit more of a 4-4-2 in terms of how it’s set up, but Kane would drop deep and (Jude) Bellingham would go forward so it wouldn’t really be like that.
He concluded:
“They would be the two obvious changes I would make, but I’m sure Gareth Southgate will pick whatever side he thinks has the best chance to win.”
England are looking to win their maiden European Championships at Euro 2024, having fallen to Italy on penalties in the final of the previous editon at home three years ago.
Euro 2024: How England fared with Switzerland in their last major-tournament meeting?
England are unbeaten in three meetings at major tournaments against their upcoming Euro 2024 opponents, Switzerland. That includes a 3-0 group-stage win at Euro 2004 in their latest encounter.
An 18-year-old Wayne Rooney annoounced himself on the world stage with a sumptuous brace, with Steven Gerrard scoring the other for the Three Lions in the clash in Coimbra, Portugal.
Two decades later, the Three Lions meet Switzerland in boss Gareth Southgate's 100th game in charge. Can his team mark the occasion by beating the Swiss and reach back-to-back European Championships semi-finals?
