Gary Lineker has 'slightly odd' Gareth Southgate fear as England prepare for Euro 2024 semi-final
Gary Lineker wants Luke Shaw to start against the Netherlands
BBC
Gary Lineker feels it will be 'slightly odd' if Gareth Southgate opts to revert to a back-four for England's Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.
England booked their place in the final four after beating Switzerland on penalties at the weekend.
Southgate switched up his system for the match as he switched to three central defenders with two wing-backs.
Kieran Trippier continued on the left side while Bukayo Saka played on the right.
Gary Lineker wants Luke Shaw to start against the Netherlands
BBC
The Arsenal star was England's biggest threat throughout the match and he was named man of the match after his equaliser and role in the penalty shoot-out.
Trippier was more restricted on the left flank with the Newcastle captain focused more on the defensive side.
Shaw was brought on in the second half for his first appearance of the tournament and took up a position on the left of the back three.
As a natural left-footer, Shaw immediately gave England more balance and that allowed Eberechi Eze more licence to get forward in the wing-back position.
Southgate is yet to disclose whether he will keep with the same formation and if he will make any changes to his starting line-up.
But Lineker wants to see Southgate take a chance on starting Shaw against the Netherlands in the same formation that England deployed against Switzerland.
"I think Shaw will start as left wing-back, think we will stick with the same system," Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast.
"I think it would be slightly odd to go back to a system that wasn't working and have the same problem with the balance on the left-hand side which he [Southgate] never addressed in four matches.
Luke Shaw made his first Euro 2024 appearance against Switzerland
REUTERS
"Then he did address, even though it was Trippier, and he's not naturally left-footed, but you put Shaw in there and he's got a lovely balance.
"He's not played football for an awfully long time but he came on and looked fine.
"Now I know it is different when you come on but I think you are better off starting him and seeing how much you can get out of him and then changing it when people are tired and getting some fresh legs because if you bring him on and he breaks down then you're in trouble. So I think he will start."
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Southgate will also have a decision to make on Ezri Konsa, who came in for the suspended Marc Guehi against Switzerland.
The Aston Villa star impressed alongside John Stones and Kyle Walker, but Guehi had been arguably England's most consistent player in the previous four matches.