England boss Gareth Southgate backed to start Jack Grealish and play back-five vs Germany

Kalvin Phillips says England have no fear over penalties

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When it comes to beating Germany, Emile Heskey knows exactly how its done. The former Three Lions striker was on target in one of his country’s most famous nights as England trounced their Euro 2020 last 16 opponents 5-1 back in September 2001.

Yet those joyful memories will mean precious when the referee’s whistle sounds at Wembley at 5pm.

Gareth Southgate will be looking to exorcise his own personal demons after he missed the decisive penalty in England’s dramatic penalty shootout defeat to Germany in the semi-finals at Euro ’96.

His team selection will be imperative if the Three Lions are to win only their second-ever knockout game at a European Championship.

Germany’s marauding wing-backs – Robin Gosens and Joshua Kimmich – have given England plenty to ponder.

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Does Southgate stick to his guns and keep the 4-2-3-1 system that has got England to this point or twist to a back-three?

The absence of Harry Maguire initially forced his hand but now the Manchester United captain is fit once again, we could see a reshuffle.

Any such decision could now come at the expense of England’s new poster boy Jack Grealish, a player who has captivated the entire nation.

Grealish is a must pick though in the view of ex-Aston Villa frontman Heskey, who dismisses the idea that the 25-year-old almost has a free role.

“I wouldn’t build the team around him but I would definitely have him in the team,” Heskey told Express Sport, speaking on behalf of the Weetabix Wildcats campaign.

“But if you’re going to have players wondering then you need to figure out how you adjust.

“Your main focus has to be your transition and what shape you get back in.

“They’re things that you work on but even with Grealish’s assist for the goal [versus Czech Republic], he is just fantastic.

“Then there was that touch out of the sky from Jordan Pickford’s kick and he’s off.

“He commits defenders, pull them out of joint and you’ve got to take advantage of that when it’s there.

“But let them know that we love all this going forward but when we’re in transition this is what I want from you.

“Jack’s not stupid, he can do that as well. It’s not only about going forward, it’s the whole package and Jack has got that.”

With Mason Mount set to return from isolation and Bukayo Saka in exceptional form, Southgate now has to make some cut-throat decisions.

“It’s a great headache to have because you’ve got everyone in form,” Heskey adds.

“I think Southgate has done really well because he’s rotated it and has involved everyone.

“That’s one of the key things when success is concerned because everyone is hungry to play.

“The mentality of them is great, the dilemma you have is Bukayo Saka was excellent, how do you leave him out?”

Heskey though believes the impact of Maguire on his return against the Czech Republic may ultimately encourage Southgate to revert to a back-three, a formation that was tried and tested at the Russia World Cup en route to the semi-finals.

“I thought Harry Maguire coming back in was fantastic, I thought he did brilliantly,” he said.

“When you come back from an injury and you’ve not trained and not played, to put in a performance like that it shows the character of you and it shows what we miss when you’re not in the team.

“That’s no disrespect to Tyrone Mings, I thought he was outstanding in the games that he’s played but Maguire was like an extra person in midfield, being able to slide balls into Kane too is fantastic.

“It would be great to have them in a three with John Stones and then you’d only have to have one sitting midfielder.”

Heskey, who took on a coaching role with Leicester City Women back in February, also expressed his delight at his involvement in the Football Association’s Weetabix Wildcards campaign, which is encouraging girls aged between five and 11 to get involved in non-competitive football with FA qualified coaches and volunteers.

“Obviously as a father of three girls, having three sports available is great but what Wildcats do is help introduce them to football, allowing them to be active, allow them to meet new friends from different places, it’s fantastic.

“It’s great that football can do that.”

Heskey is working with Weetabix, the official breakfast cereal of the England National team and proud partner of Weetabix Wildcats, an FA football programme for 5-11-year-old girls. Enter the ‘Win With Weetabix’ On-Pack Promotion to win a range of fab football prizes: https://www.winwithweetabix.co.uk/

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