England vs Switzerland: Southgate Cooking Up a Controversial Line-up for Euro 2024 Quarter-Final Showdown
The Lowdown and Game Plan
Hey folks, it's time to get pumped for England's big showdown with Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals happening this Saturday night in Dusseldorf! Everyone's buzzing about what Gareth Southgate's got up his sleeve after that nail-biter against Slovakia. The boys pulled through with a 2-1 win, thanks to Jude Bellingham's clutch equalizer in the 95th minute and Harry Kane's extra-time magic. But let's be real, there's room for improvement, and Southgate knows it.
Southgate's New Game Plan: Three at the Back?
So, here's the deal: Southgate might mix things up and go with a back three formation. This is a big deal because we've been rocking a back four all tournament. He's probably thinking about how to deal with some suspensions and to keep up with the Swiss, who are looking pretty sharp. This new setup is supposed to give us more muscle in defense, which we could totally use.
Who to Watch
- Harry Kane: The man, the legend! Scored the winner last time and he's gonna be key to busting through that Swiss defense.
- Jude Bellingham: This kid's on fire! His late goal boosted everyone's spirits, so he's gonna be a big player in the middle of the field.
- Dan Ndoye and Breel Embolo: These Swiss guys are no joke. They're gonna test our new defense setup big time.
- Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas: They're the ones who did the damage against Italy. We've gotta keep an eye on them.
How the Swiss Roll
Switzerland's victory over Italy was pretty impressive. They scored twice and didn't let Italy get a single goal. They've got a solid defense and they're quick on the counter. Granit Xhaka's their boss man in the middle, so we've got our work cut out for us.
When and Where to Catch the Action
- When: Saturday night
- Where: Dusseldorf, Germany
- How: Tune in live on BBC
Who's Starting for Each Team
England (Looks like a 3-4-3):
- Between the Sticks: Jordan Pickford
- In the Back: Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire
- In the Middle: Kieran Trippier, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Luke Shaw
- Up Front: Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling
Switzerland (Going with a 4-2-3-1):
- Guarding the Net: Yann Sommer
- In Defense: Ricardo Rodriguez, Manuel Akanji, Fabian Schar, Silvan Widmer
- Holding the Fort: Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria
- On the Attack: Ruben Vargas, Remo Freuler, Dan Ndoye
- The Main Striker: Breel Embolo
The Bottom Line
This game is huge, and it's gonna be a battle royale. Southgate's line-up change could be the masterstroke we need to get past the Swiss. So grab your snacks, get comfy, and let's see if England can make it to the semis! The whole world's gonna be watching, so don't miss out on the drama live from Dusseldorf!