England are through to the semi-finals of the Euros 2024 for a second consecutive tournament and will face the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday at 8:00pm.
An improved performance against Switzerland in the quarter-finals saw them progress to the last-four on penalties but, while Gareth Southgate’s side have shown resilience, they continue to do things the hard way.
A shift to a back three appeared more effective but, with players returning from injury and suspension, will the manager revert back to a four?
Meanwhile, questions remain around the fitness and effectiveness of captain Harry Kane and, with plenty of talent on the bench, should the England boss think about rotation?
BBC Sport looks at Southgate’s dilemmas as they bid to reach Sunday’s final against Spain.
Southgate said before the quarter-final he was previously “hammered” for utilizing a back three.
The match was Southgate’s 100th in charge and, in the previous 99, he used a back three or a back five in 33 of them.
With Kieran Trippier and Bukayo Saka utilized as wing-backs the switch meant the wide areas were better covered, allowing Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden to stay more central.
READ ALSO:Â England beat Switzerland on penalties to keep Euro 2024 dream alive
Manchester City’s Foden had been playing on the left throughout this tournament rather than the central role that saw him named Premier League player of the season for 2023-24.
“Going to three at the back and a box in midfield and three up front, I wondered whether our wing-backs would just become a five and if we’d just become unstuck against a team that know how to play that formation
“But it was the complete opposite – they were brave, they got up the pitch,” said BBC pundit and former Manchester City defender Micah Richards.
However, Southgate may choose to revert to a back four against the Netherlands – who play 4-2-3-1 – and look to minimize the threat of attacking players Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay and Xavi Simons.
England are still, however, lacking creativity, with Saka’s 80th-minute strike to force extra time their first on target of the match, as was the case with Bellingham’s equalizer 86 seconds from the end of normal time against Slovakia.
“There are still things to improve, but players were looking to get on the ball and create things. We’re not the finished article yet but there are better signs,” added Richards.
England were without centre-back Marc Guehi against Switzerland through suspension.
Guehi has done a fine job and arguably been one of Southgate’s best players so far in Germany, but replacement Ezri Konsa, albeit playing in a back three in the quarter-final, produced a superb display.
“Konsa’s performance was incredible,” said BBC pundit and former England midfielder Danny Murphy.
“He just took his chance. Every part of his game was impressive. There was no panic. He was replacing someone who had been playing so well so the pressure was even more on him.
“He has given Southgate a huge headache now – Guehi will probably come back in but nobody would be surprised if Konsa stayed in,” he added.
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