Tag: midfield

Euro 2024: England’s Conor Gallagher likely to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield for Slovenia game | Football News

Euro 2024: England’s Conor Gallagher likely to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield for Slovenia game | Football News
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Gareth Southgate is expected to keep faith with the majority of players who have started England’s first two group games at Euro 2024, with Conor Gallagher looking like the only change to the side to face Slovenia in Cologne.

That would mean Phil Foden keeping his place in the starting XI, and Jude Bellingham likewise – despite both struggling at times in the two games so far.

As Sky Sports News has reported for several days, Southgate has accepted that his experiment with Alexander-Arnold in a central midfield “quarterback” role has not worked, with Gallagher set to replace him as a more orthodox number eight.

The Chelsea player did that from the bench against Denmark in the 54th minute, but he now looks set to make his first start in a major tournament.

Sky Sports’ Gary Neville takes a closer look at where England will need to improve as they bid to with the Euros and admits playing Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield may have to change

There have been calls for Bellingham to be rested, after he showed signs of tiredness in both group games, but Southgate is determined to start with his strongest possible team to try to ensure they top the group, and avoid a last-16 clash with Germany on Saturday.

Foden put in a much-improved performance against Denmark, and it looks like Southgate will resist the temptation to dip into the wide array of wide attacking talent in his squad; Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon have both yet to get any game-time in Germany.

It’s thought Southgate does plan to make a number of substitutions against Slovenia, in the hope of managing the workload of some of his key players. But much will depend on the circumstances of the game.

All 26 players trained ahead of Tuesday’s encounter, but left-back Luke Shaw will not feature as his rehabilitation from a hamstring issue continues cautiously.

England’s potential Euro 2024 route

Round of 16 – England to face Germany if they finish second in their group

If England finish first in Group C:

Sunday June 30 – England vs third-placed side in Group D/E/F (Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen – kick-off 5pm UK time)

If England finish second in Group C:

Saturday June 29 – Germany vs England (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund – kick-off 8pm UK time)

If England finish as one of four best third-place teams:

Monday July 1 – Portugal vs third-placed side from Group A/B/C (Waldstadion, Frankfurt)

or:

Tuesday July 2 – Romania/Belgium/Slovakia/Ukraine vs third-placed side from Group A/B/C/D (Allianz Arena, Munich)

How are four best third-placed teams decided?

According to UEFA regulations, the following criteria are applied, in the order given:

– Higher number of points
– Superior goal difference
– Higher number of goals scored
– Higher number of wins
– Lower disciplinary points total based on yellow and red cards received by players and team officials in group matches (red card = 3 points, yellow card = 1 point, expulsion for two yellow cards in one match = 3 points)
– Position in the overall European Qualifiers rankings

Quarter-finals

If England finish first in Group C and win round-of-16 game:

Saturday July 6 – England vs Winner of 2A vs 2B (Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf – kick-off 5pm UK time)

If England finish second in Group C and win round-of-16 game:

Friday July 5 – England vs Winner of 1B vs 3A/D/E/F (MHPArena, Stuttgart – kick-off 5pm UK time)

If England finish as one of four best third-place teams and win round-of-16 game:

Friday July 5 – England vs Winner of 2D vs 2E (Volksparkstadion, Hamburg – kick-off 8pm UK time)

or:

Saturday July 6 – England vs Winner of 1D vs 2F (Olympiastadion, Berlin – kick-off 8pm UK time)

Semi-finals

If England finish first in Group C, win round-of-16 game and win quarter-final:

Wednesday July 10 – Berlin semi-final winner vs Dusseldorf semi-final winner (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund – kick-off 8pm UK time)

If England finish second in Group C, win round-of-16 game and win quarter-final:

Tuesday July 9 – Stuttgart semi-final winner vs Hamburg semi-final winner (Allianz Arena, Munich – kick-off 8pm UK time)

If England finish as one of four best third-place teams, win round-of-16 game and win quarter-final:

Tuesday July 9 – Stuttgart semi-final winner vs Hamburg semi-final winner (Allianz Arena, Munich – kick-off 8pm UK time)

or:

Wednesday July 10 – Berlin semi-final winner vs Dusseldorf semi-final winner (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund – kick-off 8pm UK time)

And finally, the Euro 2024 final…

Sunday July 14 – Munich semi-final winner vs Dortmund semi-final winner (Olympiastadion, Berlin – kick-off 8pm UK time)

Gary Neville says balance of England midfield is major concern facing Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024 | Football News

Gary Neville says balance of England midfield is major concern facing Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024 | Football News
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Gary Neville says the balance of the England midfield is the “major concern” facing Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024.

England sit top of Group C after edging past Serbia 1-0 in their tournament opener thanks to Jude Bellingham’s early header.

England controlled the first half but lost their way in the second, raising more questions over how Southgate can get the best out of his squad.

Rob Dorsett looks at the positives and negatives from England’s opening Euro 2024 win over Serbia.

“The midfield is the major concern and the fluidity of the game that comes through there is one thing we need to try and work on in the group stage because when we play against a good team, we’ll have to have it right,” said Sky Sports’ Neville.

“There are some small alarm bells around balance and having a good group of players that are very talented but are we as good a team?

Image:
Jude Bellingham celebrates his goal with team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold

“Last night, you start to think about the impact and influence of Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips. The best players don’t make the best team sometimes.

“We’re aware Kieran Trippier is right-footed at left-back and is playing there because of all the injuries in that position which creates a further imbalance. But in midfield, somehow we have to try and get that right. Gareth [Southgate] will be more than aware of that.

“Having that partner alongside Declan Rice is important because I don’t think he is at his very best when he’s sat back covering for other players. Mikel Arteta found that out at Arsenal and worked out he was better being able to move forward. Jorginho or [Thomas] Partey came in at the end of the season.

“There’s no doubt we’re a little undercooked, players having not played for a few weeks and maybe that’s the first time that team has played together, I’ll think they’ll get better.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold made up a three-man midfield alongside Declan Rice and Bellingham. He showed flashes of his passing range and helped out defensively, but made one mistake deep in the England half which handed a chance to Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

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“We know [Alexander-Arnold] can do it when he moves into midfield from right-back and then can deliver those crosses and passes. There were times when he found himself with his back to play and that is a different story,” said Neville.

“I don’t really want to focus on him being a problem in there. It was the balance of the entire midfield and I include Declan Rice in that as well – and what England need to have in there to be able to move forward in this tournament.

“All eyes will be on Trent Alexander-Arnold. His best position is right-back and having the ability to move forward on that side or coming inside and playing that quarter-back role. It doesn’t look like we’re going to do that, it looks like we’re going to stick with Kyle Walker which is absolutely the right decision.

“Gareth will know he’s got an issue with these talented players and how he gets them all into the team – and most importantly with the right balance.”

Jude Bellingham

Neville believes the answer could be for Southgate to stick with his current side.

“An imbalance may have been created last night not because of the wrong personnel. It may be they just haven’t played enough together. It may be when that team plays together for three games in the group,” he said.

“Sometimes we think Phil Foden didn’t work on the left, Trent didn’t work in midfield, let’s get them out and put two others in. It may be the way Gareth goes is for them to get good together and play them together because that’s what he believes in and have three games under their belts. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater may not be the thing to do here.

“Gareth has great experience of how to manage tournament football. It might be the opposite of what we all think which is getting someone else alongside Declan Rice, it may be that they need to play together a bit more.”