Alan Shearer believes Gareth Southgate has two undroppable players in his squad despite England’s slow start to Euro 2024.
The Three Lions laboured to a 1-0 win over Serbia in their opening game of the Euros before being held to a 1-1 draw by Denmark last time out.
Victory over Slovenia on Tuesday night will guarantee England top spot in Group C but several pundits are already questioning whether the team are capable of lifting a major trophy for the first time since 1966.
Shearer was highly critical of England’s performance against Denmark and Gareth Southgate’s tactics which proved largely ineffectual.
Looking ahead to England’s final group game, the Three Lions legend says he would play Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon either side of Harry Kane, with Phil Foden in the No. 10 role and Jude Bellingham dropping deeper alongside Declan Rice.
It has been suggested that England could drop Premier League player of the season Foden but Shearer believes the Manchester City star – and Real Madrid’s Bellingham – are undroppable.
‘There’s no way you can leave Bellingham or Foden out of the England team,’ Shearer told Gary Lineker on The Rest Is Football podcast.
‘No other country would leave those two players out. They are amazing players. Find a way to make them both work – get them in the team. I would have Bellingham, as I’ve said, alongside Rice, with the freedom to go forward.
‘I’d have Saka and Gordon either side of Harry Kane, with Foden as a No. 10. I don’t think they should be afraid to be left one vs one at the back, they’re more than capable.
‘He’s going to have to change it. He cannot – and won’t – go in (against Slovenia) with the same team. The midfield gamble, in terms of Trent, hasn’t worked.’
Reflecting on England’s performance against Denmark, Shearer added: ‘It’s very rare that you get everyone in the same team having a poor game. At a push, I’d say maybe Guehi, maybe Foden (played well).
‘The surprising thing for me was a lack of plan. Gareth is not getting the best out of those players and he has to find a way.’
Despite England’s underwhelming performances in Germany, captain Harry Kane believes some of the criticism aimed at the team has been harsh and has urged pundits to ‘remember what it’s like to wear the shirt’.
‘I would never want to be disrespectful to any player, especially a player who has worn the shirt and knows what it is like to play for England,’ Kane said.