sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Gary Neville suggests crazy formation for England vs Slovenia and breaks down his thinking

Home> Football> Football News

Updated 14:38 25 Jun 2024 GMT+1Published 14:39 25 Jun 2024 GMT+1

Gary Neville suggests crazy formation for England vs Slovenia and breaks down his thinking

The former England star wants Southgate to make a radical change.

Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Gary Neville has suggested a radical change of formation for England ahead of their match against Slovenia.

On Tuesday evening England will complete their Euro 2024 group stage campaign against Slovenia in Cologne.

While Gareth Southgate's side have already secured a place in the last-16, then need to win to secure top spot in Group C and secure a favourable knockout pathway.

Finishing second in Group C would set up a last-16 clash with tournament hosts Germany and a potential quarter-final tie against Spain.

Advert

England were alarmingly poor in their 1-1 draw with Denmark last week, prompting fans and media to suggest different ways Southgate could try and get the best out of his talented squad.

In The Overlap newsletter, former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville highlighted what he thought were the three main issues with England's performance against the Danes.

"The team that started the first two games has three problems," Neville wrote.

"One, You’re blocking off one side with a right-footed left back that can’t go outside or even underlap.

"Two, in midfield you haven’t got a player comfortable receiving the ball on the half turn and connecting the thirds of the pitch.

"Three, up front, there isn’t enough pace alongside Harry Kane. Or, rather, the pace that is there isn’t getting close enough to support him."

To rectify that, Neville suggested the following formation (3-3-3-1): Jordan Pickford; John Stones, Marc Guehi, Kyle Walker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice; Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka; Harry Kane.

Phil Foden is expected to keep his place (Getty)
Phil Foden is expected to keep his place (Getty)

Explaining his idea, Neville wrote: "Tweaking the formation to put Foden right and Saka on the left can help. They also have the ability to interchange.

"It’s not ideal. Saka won’t be one hundred per cent happy. But, on balance, he’s a player with more directness to his game, whereas Foden will always like to play across the front line.

"Saka is left footed which gives you that option to switch the ball out there wide, even with a right-footed full back. (Foden is left footed too but less likely to stick wide).

"That formation also allows Alexander-Arnold to either come into midfield or go outside Foden and Walker to shuffle up into a back three with Stones and Guehi when necessary. But with Saka’s pace on the left, no team will feel comfortable pushing on or pressing too high on that side.

"It makes England much less obvious to play against and stretches the pitch. There are possibilities everywhere. It still gets all our best players on the pitch. And it has balance.

"And yet I’m still only 80 per cent confident in my team. I am worried. Again I have 2004 flashbacks: we have great players but no obvious way of getting them all on the pitch in the right area.

"I’m not picking that team thinking: “Gareth, this is definitely what you should do!” There are still red flags waving."

Featured Image Credit: ITV & Getty

Topics: England, Euro 2024, Gary Neville, Gareth Southgate, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane

Alex Brotherton
Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton is a journalist at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He can often be found watching dreadful non-league football.

X

@alex_brotherton

Recommended reads

Ranking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGettyBarry Hearn sends message to Ronnie O'Sullivan over snooker future as Crucible prediction madeGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
12 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • Getty Images
    10 hours ago

    Fans declare Goal of the Year won as CENTRE-BACK scores rabona from outside the box

    The 2026 Goal of the Year may have been scored already in Morocco.

    Football
  • Getty
    12 hours ago

    Former Spurs star suffers graphic injury as fans demand shinpad rule change

    The former Spurs star was forced off after suffering a horrific gash in action in the Eredivisie on Sunday.

    Football
  • Getty
    12 hours ago

    Former footballer became Britain's highest-paid adult star after career change

    Danny Mountain's football dream collapsed and he turned to the world of adult films in a drastic career change.

    Football
  • Sky Sports
    13 hours ago

    Marc Guehi refuses Man of the Match award after Man City's win over Chelsea

    Marc Guehi scored against former club Chelsea as Manchester City ran out 3-0 winners on Sunday.

    Football
  • Gareth Southgate Wades Into St George's Flag Row After Gary Neville Controversy
  • Man Utd legend Gary Neville admits he 'hunted down' opponent for his shirt after game and never did it again
  • Gary Neville makes incredibly worrying Harry Kane claim after England defeat to Spain
  • England full starting line up vs Slovenia 'leaked' as Gareth Southgate makes huge decision that fans may not like