Sportsmail's experts pick their starting XI to face Czech Republic

Is it time to recall Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson? Who supports Harry Kane in attack? And should Gareth Southgate stick with two defensive midfielders? Our experts pick their England XI’s to face Czech Republic in the final group game

  • Gareth Southgate has revealed Harry Kane will start against Czech Republic 
  • He has been left with a lot to think about following the last game with Scotland  
  • Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are pushing for first starts 
  • There have been calls by some for Southgate to drop one defensive midfielder
  • Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson are both in contention to play on Tuesday 
  • Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here

England manager Gareth Southgate has some pick calls to make after their lethargic display during their goalless draw with Scotland on Friday.

He has confirmed Harry Kane will start on Tuesday despite the Tottenham striker not yet hitting his stride at Euro 2020. Though there are question marks surrounding the line-up elsewhere on the pitch.

And Sportsmail’s writers have put themselves in Southgate’s shoes and picked the teams they would go with for the final group game.  

Gareth Southgate has had a lot to think about after England’s disappointing draw on Friday

Harry Kane will start again but will Raheem Sterling be dropped against the Czech Republic?

Fans are clamoring for Jack Grealish to get his first start of the tournament on Tuesday night

CHRIS SUTTON  

Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Rice; Foden, Phillips, Mount, Rashford; Kane

Listening to the radio phone-ins, you’d think England had started Euro 2020 with two defeats. All I’m hearing is panic, panic, panic. 

Apparently Gareth Southgate is a P.E. teacher in disguise. Apparently Harry Kane is being rewarded for playing rubbish. What a load of bull. 

England defeated a solid Croatia side then were held by a Scotland team that defended deep. This is no disaster. England are doing fine. 

Southgate simply needs to make a few tweaks to get even more out of his players.

Marcus Rashford has not started yet at Euro 2020 but he makes Chris Sutton’s starting XI

It’s too soon to start Harry Maguire, and to drop Tyrone Mings would be harsh. Kalvin Phillips played in an advanced position against Croatia and did well, so let’s get him up there again, alongside Mason Mount. 

That leaves Declan Rice as the sole sitter. Czech Republic right back Vladimir Coufal was petrified of Croatia’s Ivan Perisic (his goal came as a result of him torturing the West Ham full back) so let’s get the more direct Marcus Rashford running at him down that left wing. 

Phil Foden can run the other side, and let’s support Harry Kane. If it isn’t working, Southgate needs to be bold with his substitutes.

Martin Samuel 

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Maguire, Stones, Chilwell; Rice, Bellingham; Mount, Foden, Grealish; Kane

It’s the team I would have started with against Croatia which, given that Kalvin Phillips and Raheem Sterling were our best players that day, I wasn’t feeling so certain of by the end. 

England didn’t look urgent enough against Scotland, however, and England need more tempo in their game. 

I think Bellingham would deliver that, as Billy Gilmour did for Scotland, and I’d play Foden in more of a central role, behind Kane.

England need more tempo in their game on Tuesday and Jude Bellingham could deliver that

Matt Hughes 

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Foden, Mount, Grealish; Kane 

England need a good performance and a commanding victory this evening to banish the negativity that has crept into the camp following the goal-less draw against Scotland so Gareth Southgate’s freedom to make wholesale changes is limited. 

The luxury of throwing in Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire to start in a dead rubber is now fraught with risk in a live game so they should remain on the bench before being given the chance to prove their fitness in the second half. 

Reece James was poor against Scotland so Walker should return, but Luke Shaw did enough to keep his place at left-back, particularly with England needing width to improve the service to Harry Kane. 

Phil Foden was unlucky to be substituted first in both matches and should be persisted with, but starting Jack Grealish on the left would give the Wembley crowd a lift and could provide some much-needed x-factor. 

Kyle Walker was left out altogether against Scotland but could return on Tuesday night

Marc Padgett 

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Henderson, Rice; Foden, Mount, Grealish; Kane

Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire MUST start. Gareth Southgate has to discover if they are ready for the intensity and step up in quality which will come in the knockout stages.

Jordan Pickford has been very solid so far and the Chelsea full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell are England’s best bet down the flanks, but they must be allowed to maraud.

Maguire slots in alongside John Stones which is tough on Tyrone Mings but England have a tournament to win.

It’s also tough to leave out Kalvin Phillips but Henderson has to start alongside Declan Rice. That’s six defensive-minded players so, up front, England have to play with four attacking players. Harry Kane can’t be isolated.

So Phil Foden should be coming in off the right and Mason Mount needs to play behind Kane. Jack Grealish should start on the left, and let’s hope he lives up to the hype. 

Marc Padgett says Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson ‘must start’ against Czech Republic




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