Who makes BBC pundits' England XIs?
Harry Kane is England's captain, but should he start against Slovenia?
- Published
It has been five days since England's underwhelming draw against Denmark and debate continues over who Gareth Southgate should name in his starting XI for the final Group C match against Slovenia.
Should he stick with Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield? Start Anthony Gordon on the left wing? Drop Jude Bellingham deeper?
Some of BBC Sport's pundits, along with chief football writer Phil McNulty, have picked their England teams for Tuesday's game.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney: "I'd like to see Anthony Gordon come into the team. I'd play Jordan Pickford in goal, then Kyle Walker, Marc Guehi, John Stones and Kieran Trippier. I’d play Gordon off the left, Bukayo Saka on the right, with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in the middle. Phil Foden is number 10 and Harry Kane up top.
"What's happening at the minute is that Phil and Jude are almost occupying that same position, so it is difficult for them to find space.
"So dropping Jude back a little bit and giving Phil that space to roam, with Gordon and Saka keeping the width, will make a big difference to the team.
"They've had a lot of possession in the opposition half but the space is a bit congested at the minute."
Danny Murphy
Danny Murphy: "I think freshen it up, press really high and play on the front foot.
"Give Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden a breather ready for the knockouts.
"Conor Gallagher is the best we have at pressing to play ahead of Declan Rice and Adam Wharton. Luke Shaw is worth the risk to see if he can do 60 minutes as we need balance on the left-hand side so badly. If he isn't ready, we can change him.
"The opposition is poor, so it's not a risk to me making so many changes and will also give those who think they are guaranteed a place a little kick up the bum."
Micah Richards
Micah Richards: "I'm sticking to my same team from before the tournament.
"That has balance and nothing has changed. Changing loads of players is not going to just fix things."
Jermaine Jenas
Jermaine Jenas: "I'd bring in Joe Gomez for Kieran Tripper. I thought when asked to play left-back for Liverpool this year he did it very well, plus he gives us more of a solid base and would allow Kyle Walker to get forward more.
"I’d like to see Kobbie Mainoo in as I think, on the ball, he has the quality we need to maintain possession and he also naturally wants to play on a different line to Declan Rice, which will give Rice more space to do what he does best.
"I've watched Jude Bellingham all year play as a 'false 9' or just behind a frontman and he has a freedom to create - I think right now we're asking him to do too much defensive work, so he just looks tired at times in the game.
"Anthony Gordon needs to come in. He's not a better player than Phil Foden, but he naturally holds the width on the left and runs forward off the ball, which is what we're missing."
Phil McNulty
Phil McNulty: "England’s left side has looked unbalanced so I would go with Anthony Gordon in front of his Newcastle team-mate Kieran Trippier. I would bank on their understanding from club level to work and on Gordon to give England more natural width, pace and a goal threat.
"I would drop Jude Bellingham back from number 10 to play with Declan Rice, not as a partner but someone who would have licence to roam given the Arsenal midfield man's game intelligence and ability to sniff out danger. I think this would still give both the opportunity to go forward.
"I'd put Phil Foden, England's most dangerous player against Denmark, as the number 10 in this team behind the front three, because I believe the team would get much more out of him there and would become a more potent threat."