England vs Switzerland: Formation switch and Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney selections debated by Sky Sports writers
Peter Smith: Alexander-Arnold's Creativity And New Wing Threat Needed
In a formation of 4 defenders, 2 defensive midfielders, 3 attacking midfielders, and 1 striker, the starting lineup includes Pickford as the goalkeeper. The backline consists of Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Konsa, and Gomez. Mainoo and Rice play as the defensive midfielders. Palmer, Bellingham, and Gordon are the attacking midfielders, supporting Kane as the lone striker.
Most of our writers are suggesting a change to a defensive formation with three players at the back. I worry that adding another defender on the field will make England more defensive and invite the opponent to attack. The way England played in extra time after Harry Kane's goal was difficult to watch, and that's probably why Gareth Southgate decided to abandon the system before the last World Cup, much to the joy of most England fans. I'm also not sure about moving Bukayo Saka back to the left wing-back position.
I would prefer to see Trent Alexander-Arnold playing at right-back instead of Kyle Walker, who hasn't been in good form lately. I would also replace Marc Guehi with Ezri Konsa and have Joe Gomez, who performed well as a left-back for Liverpool, take Kieran Trippier's place. Gomez will be tasked with controlling Switzerland's Dan Ndoye, who is known for taking lots of shots.
Similar to Trippier, Gomez prefers to use his right foot while playing. This helps in expanding the game towards the left side and prevents England from always turning back towards the center from wide positions on that side. Anthony Gordon is chosen for this reason, as he can challenge his opponent Fabian Schar from Newcastle. Additionally, Cole Palmer has demonstrated his skills, unpredictability, and confidence in his limited appearances. He is capable of replacing Saka and bringing energy to the team's attack.
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Oli Yew: Saka Brings Width To Left Wing
In the blog, the team lineup included Pickford as the goalkeeper, with Walker, Stones, and Konsa in defense. The midfield featured Alexander-Arnold, Mainoo, Rice, Saka, and Bellingham, while Palmer and Kane were up front.
England narrowly escaped defeat against Slovakia, but they might not be as fortunate when facing a strong Switzerland team. Despite Bellingham's impressive performance, it's clear that England struggled in the last 16 match and adjustments must be made quickly to avoid being eliminated.
In challenging situations, we need to take bold actions. It's time to switch up our strategy to be more like the Swiss and have a strong offense from all angles. By utilizing a 3-4-3 formation, we can bring Trent Alexander-Arnold back into the team as a right wing back and have Bukayo Saka play a similar role on the left side. This will allow Saka, a talented Arsenal player, to put pressure on the opposition from a different position.
His position on the left side of the field also opens up opportunities on the right side - Slovakia couldn't focus all their efforts on the left due to the danger posed by Saka. This will benefit Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer, who is expected to make his first appearance in the tournament. Goals from Bellingham and Harry Kane give the team another opportunity, and Ezri Konsa will step in for the suspended March Guehi in the defensive line alongside Kyle Walker and John Stones.
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Joe Shread: Swiss System Matching Is Logical
In the blog section, the lineup consists of Pickford as the goalkeeper, with a back line of Walker, Stones, and Gomez. In the midfield, Alexander-Arnold, Mainoo, Rice, and Saka are featured. Up front, Palmer and Bellingham support captain Kane.
It was difficult to figure out England's playing style during their match against Slovakia, but it seems like they switched to a three-player defense at some point. Gareth Southgate should make this defensive strategy permanent for England's upcoming game against Switzerland.
Switzerland uses a formation with three defenders in the back, so it would be smart for England to do the same. This strategy not only allows for natural width on the left side of the field, but also means Bukayo Saka will switch to playing as a wing-back while Kieran Trippier takes a seat on the bench.
The decision of who will fill in for the suspended Marc Guehi is up in the air, with Joe Gomez and Ezri Konsa both in the running. Moving Trent Alexander-Arnold to the wing-back position not only allows England to make room for one of their most inventive players, but also takes off some of his defensive duties and puts an end to his unsuccessful stint in midfield.
Kobbie Mainoo should definitely keep his spot in the lineup, while Cole Palmer deserves to be chosen over Phil Foden, who is still not meeting expectations.
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Ben Grounds: Toney's Skill To Unsettle Switzerland
Pickford will be the goalkeeper, with Walker, Stones, and Konsa as the defenders. In the midfield, we have Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Mainoo, Bellingham, and Shaw. Up front, we have Kane and Toney.
England has been uninteresting, repetitive, and should probably leave. Only when Ivan Toney came on against Slovakia did they start to look dangerous. Now we need to find out if teaming up with Harry Kane will make a real difference. Adding him to the lineup could change how people see Gareth Southgate and the England team in this competition.
Switzerland is expected to perform well, based on their recent successes. Therefore, Southgate needs to recognize this and create a strong game plan that can stand up against them, much like he did when facing Germany at Euro 2020. It is important for him to select a formation that works well with his players, and Trippier's absence could potentially resolve a major problem.
The one thing to consider is if Luke Shaw is not yet ready to start, I would have Bukayo Saka play in his place on the left side. This strategy may require a lot of effort, so having Cole Palmer and Phil Foden as substitutes, along with the energy of Conor Gallagher and Anthony Gordon coming off the bench, could turn out to be a clever decision.
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"Packing The Midfield To Neutralize Xhaka"
In the blog section, the starting lineup is: Pickford as the goalkeeper, Alexander-Arnold, Walker, Stones, Konsa, and Saka in defense. Mainoo, Rice, and Bellingham in midfield, and Toney and Kane in the attack.
It's time to overhaul and begin anew, Gareth. Antonio Conte demonstrated with Chelsea that changing to a 5-3-2 formation and playing more aggressively can bring success - and that's how I would approach the upcoming Swiss game. I would deploy three midfielders to neutralize Granit Xhaka's influence on the game, as he has been controlling matches in a mesmerizing manner during this tournament.
It is necessary for Bukayo Saka to play on the left side of defense, Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right, and Kyle Walker as the third center-back. Despite his poor performance in the last game, Walker should still be included for his long throw-ins and expertise in set pieces. Our team seems to lack confidence and skill under this manager, so we must focus on utilizing Walker's strengths. Therefore, I believe Ivan Toney should be chosen to play alongside Harry Kane to provide a strong aerial threat. It may not be ideal, but we need to resort to more direct tactics.
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Sam Blitz: Gordon Fixes Left-Side Problem
(4-2-3-1) Pickford as the goalkeeper; Walker, Stones, Konsa, Trippier in defense; Rice and Mainoo in midfield; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon as the attacking trio; and Kane as the lone striker.
The most recent occasion when England used a defensive formation with three defenders was during a 3-3 draw against Germany at Wembley. This occurred in September 2022, marking the final match before the Qatar World Cup. Since then, the entire England squad has undergone significant changes, now operating with a back four. Although England's performance has not been entirely convincing, switching to a back three midway through the tournament would likely worsen their situation, causing further disorder and uncertainty.
Instead, Gareth Southgate needs to address the major issue of England's left flank. While Phil Foden is a talented player, he has not been effective in that position. It would be unwise to move Jude Bellingham from his No 10 role, as his impressive performances demonstrate his ability to rescue the team in difficult situations.
It's time to release Anthony Gordon on the left side as a more fitting choice. While the Newcastle winger didn't play against Slovakia, Ivan Toney also didn't play in the previous three England games - and he made a significant impact on Sunday.
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Ron Walker: Palmer & Gordon Ready To Pin Switzerland Back
In a formation of 4-2-3-1, the starting lineup consists of Pickford in goal, Walker, Stones, and Konsa in defense, Trippier on the right wing, Rice and Mainoo in midfield, Palmer as an attacking midfielder, Bellingham on the left wing, and Gordon as a forward, with Kane leading the line.
England must find their stability, but this doesn't mean reverting back to their constrained formations like 3-5-2 or 3-4-3, which lacked creativity. Gareth Southgate needs to make the necessary adjustments, starting with bringing in Anthony Gordon to offer more width and attacking options on the left side. This will allow Kieran Trippier to focus on his defensive duties and solidify the backline.
Cole Palmer should be given the opportunity to start because he has proven himself in two short appearances, performing better than Bukayo Saka in four matches. Despite not being the most impressive lineup on paper, this team is the most powerful based on recent performances.
Two dynamic wingers will pressure Switzerland's wing-backs, push England forward and allow them to control games for the first time against Germany.
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