Saturday morning saw a welcome sight for England fans as all 26 players took to the training pitch, gearing up for their next big match.
Among them was Kieran Trippier, who had been out for two days but has now rejoined the squad, much to the relief of head coach Gareth Southgate.
England is set to face Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen in the last 16 of Euro 2024.
The stakes are high, with a quarter-final spot against Italy or Switzerland on the line.
This gives Southgate the flexibility to tweak his lineup as needed, ensuring the team is in top shape for this crucial match.
Kobbie Mainoo is likely to make his first competitive start for England, adding a fresh dynamic to the midfield.
Southgate will make a final decision on Trippier’s participation closer to the match.
If Mainoo starts, he will be the third different midfield partner for Declan Rice, following Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher.
There has been considerable pressure on Southgate to shake up the team, especially the forward line, after a series of underwhelming performances in the Group C matches.
Despite this, Southgate seems poised to stick with his core XI, meaning promising players like Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer might start on the bench.
Defensive Decisions
Should Trippier be unavailable, Ezri Konsa and Joe Gomez are ready to step in.
Luke Shaw has also returned to full training, but it’s unlikely he’ll start given his five-month hiatus from play.
Saka’s Positioning Debate
In a surprising twist, Bukayo Saka publicly declined the idea of playing left-back against Slovakia.
This suggestion came from Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who saw potential in Saka for that role.
Saka, however, respectfully disagreed, emphasizing his trust in Southgate’s decisions.
His comments have reignited discussions online, with clips of Saka’s impressive youth performances at full-back making the rounds.
Backing the Three Lions
With the match approaching, fans and media alike are rallying behind the team.
TDPel Media
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