Picking England's best starting lineup for Euro 2024 clash with Slovakia

It certainly wasn't pretty, but England managed to top Group C by winning just one game and scoring two goals.

Their reward for that form? A pretty damn winnable round of 16 game against Slovakia.

Lucky sods.

Safe passage to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals certainly isn't guaranteed for England however, with plenty of big decisions needing to be made by Gareth Southgate in order finally get his talented team firing.

Here's what 90min's writers and editors would do:

Toby Cudworth

England starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Guehi, Shaw; Rice, Mainoo; Palmer, Bellingham, Foden, Kane.

Okay, England are through but I'm utterly bored out of my brains watching them. The terribly laborious first three matches have been plagued by England's lack of natural width - so let's address that by canning the ultra cautious Kyle Walker so can Trent Alexander-Arnold can play his club position, and let's put Luke Shaw back in the mix at left-back so he can overlap. Not fully fit? Beyond caring at this point, why are you even there if you're not ready for this round.

I enjoyed Cole Palmer's little cameo though it's clear Anthony Gordon just isn't going to get a look from the start, even if he's the one who can really stretch a game. So I'll bark up the former's tree and actually suggest seeing what dropping Bukayo Saka to the bench does for England's tempo and intent with the ball. Vindaloo and all that.

Sean Walsh

England starting XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Guehi, Walker; Rice, Mainoo, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Gordon.

We are now entering big-brain-tactics territory of trying to fix England.

I've banged the drum to play Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, but it seems Gareth Southgate would rather take a beer cup to the head than drop Kyle Walker. Thus, I propose we swap one of them for Kieran Trippier at LB. It's not a perfect solution and it hasn't been tested, but England need a shot in the arm somehow.

Similarly, I'd keep Kobbie Mainoo in midfield after at least not playing like a headless chicken and switch to a 4-3-3 with Jude Bellingham starting a little deeper.

Out wide, Anthony Gordon should provide the pace and down-the-line threat the Three Lions have been missing.

Megan Humphrey

England starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Foden, Gordon; Kane.

Same back five as before, then Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice in the middle, with Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane and Phil Foden in his normal no.10 position. I'd then put Anthony Gordon on the left to give us some pace.

I really do hope Bellingham steps up. He's looked really tired in the last two games, so it would be great to see him dominate the game again.

Tom Gott

England starting XI: (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Rice, Mainoo; Palmer, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

With Luke Shaw not yet fit enough to start, the defence remains unchanged, but Southgate needs to do something different this time around after the snoozefest in the group stage.

Kobbie Mainoo has done enough to earn a start alongside Declan Rice in midfield, although Adam Wharton is definitely deserving of the chance to impress from the bench.

The big changes come in attack. Cole Palmer did more in 19 minutes against Slovenia than Bukayo Saka has managed all summer, while it's clear that the England version of Phil Foden is not the same as Manchester City's player of the year.

It's time to send him to the bench in place of Anthony Gordon, whose willingness to actually stay wide should cover for the lack of attacking impact from Kieran Trippier and give Jude Bellingham enough space to work his magic.

Katie Catherall

England starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Mainoo, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

Mainoo has to start in midfield - he looked amazing against Slovenia and really brought some drive into the team.

There are question marks over the fitness of Trippier, and it doesn't look like Luke Shaw is able to start yet, so if he is unavailable I would bring Joe Gomez in ahead of Ezri Konsa - although I think Southgate will opt for the latter.

I'm sticking with Gordon on the left (sorry Foden fans), he has not been given a full chance to show off yet and needs to. Cole Palmer was outstanding against Slovenia and he can come on in place of Saka when the Arsenal star tires from chasing down his full-back.

I've defended Trent Alexander-Arnold from the start of the tournament, but he just hasn't made an impact.

Jamie Spencer

England starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Rice, Mainoo; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

Kobbie Mainoo should have been starting this whole time and there’s no way Gareth Southgate can keeping leaving him out of the XI after his impact off the bench against Slovenia, and the disappointment of both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher in that role so far.

Anthony Gordon was the other sub who made England better against Slovenia (it wasn’t a high bar, but still) and deserves his chance given that Phil Foden has missed a few days of training and wasn’t exactly firing anyway. Gordon is more of a direct threat and England need to go back to basics. 

Studio team

• 🔴⚪️ Is there an argument to play Bukayo Saka at LB to unlock Cole Palmer?

• 👹 Kobbie Mainoo to come into central midfield and provide some much-needed balance?

• 😰 Can Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham exist in the same team and make England tick?

• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 90min's studio team discussed the selection headache Gareth Southgate faces out in Germany - click here or above ^^^ to watch the video in full!

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