Team v Spain

[MT03ALG]

Pickford
Walker-Stones-Guehi
Rice
Palmer-Bellingham-Foden-Shaw
Toney-Watkins

I realise there is absolutely no chance of this team being selected but it would would lead to an exciting game with plenty of goals, for and against However, if we goal or two down, the above team may finish the game

[beddie]

The weakest link for me has been Rice, he’s been way off it.

[bobinho]

I think he’s likely to select a flat back four…

[martin_p]

Absolutely no chance that Saka doesn’t start.

[Iloveyoubrady]

No way this happens but for me the first half shape on Wednesday was Excllent. Foden central means bellingham wide left and he’s not our best option there. Therefore I’d go:
Same back 5
Bellingham Mainoo
Saka foden Gordon
Kane

Think that would actually give us another dimension as we’d affect them down our left with Gordon’s pace and it would get the best out of Kane as he thrives creatively off wingers that run beyond. Rice is the weakest footballer on the ball in the side and I actually think Bellingham is better in a more defensive/box to box role as I don’t find him nearly as slick/talented on the ball in tight situations as foden/saka…

[bart_claret]

You just know he will start with the same team that started the semi final. The only possible change would be Shaw in for Tripps.

[boatshed bill]

I think he'll go with the same starting 11 as the Dutch game. The only change could be Shaw for trippier.
Oops, just saw the post above

[ISpeds00]

Shaw in
Kane out for Watkins
Palmer in for Foden

Let them come into the game later for impact

[Sproggy]

No way this happens but for me the first half shape on Wednesday was Excllent. Foden central means bellingham wide left and he’s not our best option there. Therefore I’d go:
Same back 5
Bellingham Mainoo
Saka foden Gordon
Kane

Think that would actually give us another dimension as we’d affect them down our left with Gordon’s pace and it would get the best out of Kane as he thrives creatively off wingers that run beyond. Rice is the weakest footballer on the ball in the side and I actually think Bellingham is better in a more defensive/box to box role as I don’t find him nearly as slick/talented on the ball in tight situations as foden/saka…

Does the 5 include Pickford?

[mikeS]

Cole Palmer to start for me please.
He's made the creative difference whenever he's come in.

[AlargeClaret]

I’d imagine he’ll start the same XI that started v Holland .
Foden was really hotting up , though I feel Kane has been out of sorts , though his goals tell their own story . Pity such a gifted player is such an awful cheat though . Spain are a totally different challenge though and there’s a possibility he might start Shaw.

[Clockwork Claret]

Pickford
Walker-Stones-Guehi
Rice
Palmer-Bellingham-Foden-Shaw
Toney-Watkins

I realise there is absolutely no chance of this team being selected but it would would lead to an exciting game with plenty of goals, for and against However, if we goal or two down, the above team may finish the game

No Saka, No Manoo. No way.

Pickford
Walker, Stones, Guehi
Rice, Manoo
Saka, Foden, Bellingham, Shaw
Kane

Palmer on for Foden (game depending)
Tripps off the bench (game depending)
Watkins off the bench (game depending)

That will be the team.

[bobinho]

Absolutely no chance that Saka doesn’t start.

Absolutely no chance that Trippier doesn’t either….

The cynic would say he’s obviously got summat on Gareth, but to be fair, that first half against the Netherlands was as good as I’ve ever seen Tripps play for England on the left. Doubt he’ll get that kind of freedom against the Spaniards tho…

[martin_p]

Absolutely no chance that Trippier doesn’t either….

The cynic would say he’s obviously got summat on Gareth, but to be fair, that first half against the Netherlands was as good as I’ve ever seen Tripps play for England on the left. Doubt he’ll get that kind of freedom against the Spaniards tho…

Think he’ll do what he did on Wednesday with Tripps (although apparently he’s an injury doubt) and bring Shaw on at half time. Shaw would start if anyone thought he could last 90 minutes.

[boatshed bill]

The way Lamine Yamal cuts in from the right I think Trippier is nailed on at LB (barring injury).

[equinox]

The way Lamine Yamal cuts in from the right I think Trippier is nailed on at LB (barring injury).

Good point that.

Remember what Ramos did to Salah in the Champions League final?

I'm not saying suggesting anything btw.

(Little fncker needs sending right up in the air, first minute)

[Sheedyclaret]

Same team for me although rice and Kane need to join the party been way off usual standards

[equinox]

A bit of a fantasy team this whilst I watch the tennis.

Imagine this:

.............................................Pope.........................................
(yes I'm biased but he'd have got to all our goals conceded)

.........Guehi..........Rice....(better at ch)......Branthwaite...........

..TAA (proper position)..Mainoo..Bellingham.....Chilwell.....

..............................Saka......................Foden.......................

..........................................Watkins......................................

Next World Cup?

[willsclarets]

Rice has done his job. His defensive stats are really good and his pass completion is around 90% which at this stage it pretty good. He does a lot of good stuff off the ball and sacrificed his undoubted ability going forward for foden and jude. Not set the world alight no, but he's been asked to play a certain way and he's done it just fine

[MT03ALG]

Rice has done his job. His defensive stats are really good and his pass completion is around 90% which at this stage it pretty good. He does a lot of good stuff off the ball and sacrificed his undoubted ability going forward for foden and jude. Not set the world alight no, but he's been asked to play a certain way and he's done it just fine

Kicker Magazine gave Rice the worst mark v Holland: 4.5 (best mark is 1 worst mark is 6)
It also gave Kane 2.5 !!

[claretskeith]

Kicker Magazine gave Rice the worst mark v Holland: 4.5 (best mark is 1 worst mark is 6)
It also gave Kane 2.5 !!

There you go then. You know not to read that magazine again

[MT03ALG]

There you go then. You know not to read that magazine again

Kicker is the best magazine/website for football

[MT03ALG]

Kicker marks show that Spain have 11 players with a mark of less than 3.00.
Best players are Rodri and Yamal both with 2.10 with their midfield players in general the best part of their team,
England have just 2 players with a mark of less than 3.00 !! However, we have our secret weapons Palmer, Watkins, Toney, Gordon and Eze.

[MT03ALG]

Apparently same team as in the last game if Trippier is fit....

[Dyched]

Kicker marks show that Spain have 11 players with a mark of less than 3.00.
Best players are Rodri and Yamal both with 2.10 with their midfield players in general the best part of their team,
England have just 2 players with a mark of less than 3.00 !! However, we have our secret weapons Palmer, Watkins, Toney, Gordon and Eze.

I’d stick someone on Rodri (Bellingham/Foden) and stop the engine room from working as much as you can.

[claretskeith]

I’d stick someone on Rodri (Bellingham/Foden) and stop the engine room from working as much as you can.

Out of those 2 it would be Foden. But Spain may well be thinking of the same thing - man-mark Foden.

[Dyched]

Out of those 2 it would be Foden. But Spain may well be thinking of the same thing - man-mark Foden.

That’ll be a dangerous plan for Spain. Say Foden/Rodri did man mark one another, that’ll be more harmful to Spain than us.

[claretskeith]

That’ll be a dangerous plan for Spain. Say Foden/Rodri did man mark one another, that’ll be more harmful to Spain than us.

We can match Spain in central midfield, so I'm not worried. We just need to be a bit more compact than we have been. I do think we've looked a bit open at times through the middle and against a team like Spain they could cut through us.

[MT03ALG]

That’ll be a dangerous plan for Spain. Say Foden/Rodri did man mark one another, that’ll be more harmful to Spain than us.

It was dangerous for Germany in 1966: Beckenbauer/Charlton !!

[bart_claret]

I’d stick someone on Rodri (Bellingham/Foden) and stop the engine room from working as much as you can.

Rodri is still in Mainoo's pocket from the FA cup final. He was world class that day.

[bart_claret]

Unchanged apparently. I'm gobsmacked but not completely surprised - if that makes sense!!

[Elizabeth]

Would have been really tough on Trippier to miss out on the Final and he was on the field contributing well in our best football of the tournament in the first half v Netherlands.
Big call for Kane to be axed but that was never going to happen even though he has looked well off the pace.
Starting elevens are always eagerly awaited , could this be a match where replacements off the bench are the deciding factor?