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:

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.

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.

England starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford;…