Gareth Southgate switches to back three against Germany of John Stones, Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire against Germany at Wembley; Bukayo Saka retains starting role after man-of-the-match display against Czech Republic last week
Tuesday 29 June 2021 16:46, UK
England manager Gareth Southgate has switched to playing with three centre-backs for Tuesday's Euro 2020 last-16 tie against Germany, while Bukayo Saka has retained his place in the starting line-up.
England have not played 3-4-3 this year and the last time they used the formation was when they beat Iceland 4-0 at Wembley in November 2020.
Southgate's decision to revert from the 4-2-3-1 he has employed at the tournament so far sees Kyle Walker, John Stones and Harry Maguire named as the three centre-backs against Germany.
England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup with Walker, Stones and Maguire playing as the three at the back.
Arsenal teenager Bukayo Saka is rewarded for his man-of-the-match display against Czech Republic last week by retaining his starting berth.
The tactical switch in defence has led to Southgate opting to name Phil Foden and Mason Mount as substitutes.
Foden was left out of the matchday 23 for the final group game against Czech Republic, but the England manager has said that was a precautionary measure.
"He's on a yellow card and given that we look like we're missing two players already for the next round, I don't want to take a risk on a third," Southgate said before the game.
Mount and Chelsea team-mate Ben Chilwell have been forced to train alone and socially distanced since they came into contact with Chelsea team-mate Billy Gilmour, who tested positive for Covid-19 after the Scotland game.
Gary Neville has urged England's players to seize their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity against Germany at Euro 2020.
The Sky Sports pundit suffered a painful Wembley Euros defeat to Germany himself in 1996 and says the current generation must do everything they can to capitalise on the advantages of playing such a huge game on their home turf.
"I was a young player at Euro 96, just 21 years of age, and you feel like those moments are going to return," he told the Sky Sports Football Euros Podcast.
"What I'd say to these lads on Tuesday is this moment isn't coming back. This is it. Don't think of this moment ever coming back: playing Germany in a home tournament, in your own stadium, in front of 45,000 fans. You wish it was 80,000, like we had in Euro 96 but it will be enough, it will be a special moment.
"We didn't create history in Euro 96, we fell short. Don't fall short on Tuesday, lads. What an opportunity exists if we beat Germany on Tuesday. They'll know that.
"But don't think that [there will be] 2022 in Qatar or 2024 somewhere else or 2026 somewhere else... forget that, you might not be there. The team might not be there, you might not qualify. All those things exist in future tournaments that are out of your hands.
"This tournament now, you have a great chance. It's so special to play Germany at Wembley, it really is. It's a major national moment for this country. That's how it was in Euro 96, a major moment that is remembered forever.
"The lads on Tuesday will not have another moment like this in their international careers because it's unlikely we're going to get a tournament [held in England] in the next five or 10 years.
"For the likes of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, this is it. There isn't a second chance."
England are favourites to beat Germany in the last 16 and end the hoodoo of having never managed a knockout victory over their greatest rivals in a major tournament since 1966.
England are ranked higher in the FIFA rankings (fourth vs 12th); they are in better form than Germany (eight wins and a draw compared with four wins, two draws and three defeats); and Southgate's team will be backed by the vast majority of the 45,000 fans inside Wembley.
Germany have won one, drawn one and lost one in finishing second in Group F, and the tournament statistics would tell you they have been far from consistent.
Rob Dorsett analyses the strengths and weaknesses of Germany ahead of the clash at Wembley.
