Gareth Southgate has to make at least one change to his England side for their Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland on Saturday.
Marc Guehi is suspended, while there are concerns over the fitness of Kieran Trippier following his early withdrawal due to injury in the win over Slovakia on Sunday night.
Elsewhere, there may be some non-enforced changes to be made. The Three Lions failed to click in attack once again, and Southgate may opt to change his four-man front line for the first time in Germany.
Be that Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, or even Harry Kane or Jude Bellingham, a number of squad players are knocking on the door for their opportunity to impress at the tournament.
On the back of the Slovakia result and ahead of Switzerland, Mail Sport’s football experts have picked their sides for the quarter-final tie…
I’m tired of hoping something is going to click magically with England and that they can win the tournament without making important changes.
It’s time to stop papering over the cracks. Recall Alexander-Arnold and play him in his best position. Saka doesn’t want to play left back and I don’t blame him but the team looks so unbalanced with a right-footed left back and he would help to fix that.
Play Bellingham alongside Rice. Let him rampage from there. Pick Gordon to stretch the opposition defence and give Foden space to work his magic in his best position.
So here is a team that absolutely won’t happen but I am putting it out there as an alternative.
Southgate abandoned his three-man defence some time ago but the fact is that it did used to work for him. Here it would help him cover for the absence of Marc Guehi, who is suspended, and would allow him to get Trent Alexander-Arnold back into the team as a right wing back.
Further up the field it would be fascinating to see if Bellingham and Palmer could dove tail to find a way to do the one thing England haven’t managed this tournament – create chances!
CRAIG HOPE – Time to drop Foden
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Konsa, Trippier; Rice, Mainoo; Palmer, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
I have said it since the opening game, Southgate has to play Palmer AND Gordon.
The front four feels stale and does not work as a collective. Gordon brings pace and widens the pitch, while Palmer is so evidently a better option than Saka on form and fitness.
Foden and Bellingham are the 2024 version of Lampard and Gerrard, albeit 30 yards further forward. Foden should make way now, because there is more chance of Bellingham producing a moment of inspiration.
