Zero chance England will win this tournament!

[Rileybobs]

The Premier League is considered by some to be the best league in the world, it isn’t. The Bundesliga and La Liga are better. It is made what it is by quality foreign players who improve the English players around them. Walker & Stones are quality defenders all the rest, including Pickford, wouldn’t get near the Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal squads.
As a nation we sell out every time to the media hype. Then the media shame them for not doing better when they usually finish exactly where they deserve to be.

Putting the 'best league in the world' debate to one side, the following players would get into most club sides in the world;

Walker
Stones
Saka
Rice
Foden
Bellingham
Kane

That's 7 players who could and should be accommodated into a system which should make England one of the best sides in Europe. Unfortunately for England there's been no evidence in the opening 2 games that we've been able to do this. Going into this tournament there were always concerns about the defensive frailties, lack of a good left back and left winger and how to get Foden and Bellingham into the same side, and that - combined with the fact that only 1 team can win the tournament and 3 or 4 other sides also have equally strong squads - was always going to make it unlikely that England would win the tournament. But England should be controlling games against the likes of Serbia and Denmark, regardless of any media hype.

Maybe we will finish exactly where we should, which in my opinion would be in the final four.

[Tricky Trevor]

Putting the 'best league in the world' debate to one side, the following players would get into most club sides in the world;

Walker
Stones
Saka
Rice
Foden
Bellingham
Kane

Maybe we will finish exactly where we should, which in my opinion would be in the final four.

My specific point was defenders. As I posted last month the first quality team we play will knock us out as we can’t defend and will normally concede a couple to each of them.

[Rileybobs]

My specific point was defenders. As I posted last month the first quality team we play will knock us out as we can’t defend and will normally concede a couple to each of them.

I do agree that defensively we aren't strong. However, our issues in the opening two games have been controlling the midfield and creating chances.

[Stayingup]

Spain would annihilate England

Spain have two good wingers. I was looking for ours but they were not apparent!!!

[NottsClaret]

Spain would annihilate England

True that, and just on Spain, they'd pick a Wharton over a Connor Gallagher every single time. As well as every thing else that's wrong, it's just such a uniquely English thing to do.

[Tribesmen]

Not playing well and picked up a win and a draw , now if they do get their act together ..........................

[South West Claret.]

Is that in the UK betting market or does that include other European markets? I can’t, for example, imagine many gamblers in Spain or Italy have us down as favourites.

No idea.

[claretonthecoast1882]

True that, and just on Spain, they'd pick a Wharton over a Connor Gallagher every single time. As well as every thing else that's wrong, it's just such a uniquely English thing to do.

I would pick Andy Wharton over Gallagher nevermind Adam Wharton

[mickleoverclaret]

Is that in the UK betting market or does that include other European markets? I can’t, for example, imagine many gamblers in Spain or Italy have us down as favourites.

I've got a Danish friend who told me England were the favourites over there pre-tournament, for what that's worth.

[equinox]

I've been saying it for months, we need to play three at the back with attacking wing backs, Stones is more than capable of stepping up into midfield when we're in possession, allowing the 'midfielders' to play 10-15 yards further forward, Walker can cover anything over the top should we lose possession.

[equinox]

This team would go deep:

.............................Pickford...........................

........Walker..............Stones........... Guéhi........

Trippier.......................Rice.........................Saka

..........C.Palmer........Bellingham.........Foden.......

......................................Kane..............

[Tackler49]

It’s highly unlikely that England ever win anything with Southgate in charge he’s All Fur Coat and No Knickers he is tactically poor his decision making I e substitutions are equally as poor why would a Premier League or Championship Club take chance on him to manage their club when leaves the England job over the last two matches we have suffered 135 minutes of complete DROSS (crap)it’s obvious Kane isn’t fit TAA is out of his depth as an international midfielder it’s all muddled thinking like VK’s. I hope that i am wrong but all I can see is early flight home

[Wile E Coyote]

There no achievement in getting out the group, it's seeded, we're supposed to come top!
I do however agree England can still win it, but let's not pretend it's because of Southgates ability. Citing his record completely ignores the incredibly favourable draws we've had since his appointment, maybe he's a lucky manager? That might be enough.

based on your logic, may as well dismiss the 66 world cup win as a mere nothing, tiny little tournament and all games played on home soil.
Southgate has a very good record, this "fovourable draws " gibberish is irrelevant.

[KlyBfc]

This team would go deep:

.............................Pickford...........................

........Walker..............Stones........... Guéhi........

Trippier.......................Rice.........................Saka

..........C.Palmer........Bellingham.........Foden.......

......................................Kane..............

I’m almost the same as you except I think id play Watkins instead of palmer in a more 3–5-2
Let Kane do his dropping at times to make it a diamond with rice Bellingham and Foden, and have Watkins stretching it in behind.

[bumba]

England have a few options available with this squad that's more balanced and offers more than what Southgate is currently selecting.

5-2-2-1

............... Pickford...............
.....Walker.... Stones...... Guehi......
TAA...........................................Saka
...........Bellingham.........Rice.............
............... Palmer....... Foden.............
......................Kane......................
This is the one I'd go for with Saka and TAA both bombing forward whilst Palmer and Foden can have free roles and making Kane stay forward.

Or

4-2-3-1
.................. Pickford................
Walker...... Stones....... Guehi........Gomez
.............. Bellingham....... Rice.................
Saka............... Foden...............Gordon.........
....................... Kane.............................

Allows Walker/Stones to go forward or to push in to midfield when attacking to allow Rice and Bellingham forward whilst leaving 3 defenders always back as cover

[Caballo]

based on your logic, may as well dismiss the 66 world cup win as a mere nothing, tiny little tournament and all games played on home soil.
Southgate has a very good record, this "fovourable draws " gibberish is irrelevant.

Not entirely sure how you reached that conclusion from my comments.
Southgate has a very good record against teams we're supposed to beat, his record against teams of similar abilities (anyone else in the fifa top 10) doesn't fair quite as well as you'd assert given scrutiny.

[SonofPog]

I also think a 352 with Saka on the left could work.

But for me, Kane doesn't look fit (and i believe a hindrance to how we want to play) I go more 424, which would transition into 325 with the RB bombing forward in attack. 424 keeps the press system simple too.

................. Pickford................
Walker/Trips/TAA...... Stones....... Guehi........Gomez
.................. Wharton ....... Rice.................
Saka........Foden......Bellingham.........Gordon.........

[equinox]

This team would go deep:

.............................Pickford...........................

........Walker..............Stones........... Guéhi........

Trippier.......................Rice.........................Saka

..........C.Palmer........Bellingham.........Foden.......

......................................Kane..............

Looks like, finally, after 4 poor performances, that we're going to get this sort of formation, this will bring out the best of them and we'll go on to win the tournament beating Spain quite comfortably in the final

[kentonclaret]

I note all of the above teams include Guehi who has a 1 match suspension and misses the Switzerland game. So, none of those teams will beat the Swiss.

[Spijed]

Looks like, finally, after 4 poor performances, that we're going to get this sort of formation, this will bring out the best of them and we'll go on to win the tournament beating Spain quite comfortably in the final

Except Guéhi is suspended

[equinox]

I've quoted a post from before the tournament started, it's the formation I'm trying to highlight.

I'm being a bit smug tbh.

[equinox]

I note all of the above teams include Guehi who has a 1 match suspension and misses the Switzerland game. So, none of those teams will beat the Swiss.

As above.

(Thumb on nose wiggling other fingers whilst pulling a face)

[dougcollins]

Looks like, finally, after 4 poor performances, that we're going to get this sort of formation, this will bring out the best of them and we'll go on to win the tournament beating Spain quite comfortably in the final

He'll **** it up by playing Trippier on the other side again.

[equinox]

He'll **** it up by playing Trippier on the other side again.

Surely he can't, can he?

I obviously love Trippier but was half hoping that the injury he suffered in the last game would keep him out for a least a game and spare us from another one of his left back cameos.