Rice dropped and Foden deployed in new position as pundits pick England XI (2024)

Gareth Southgate should drop Declan Rice against Switzerland in order to shake up England's midfield and attack.

That's the view of ex-Three Lions international Ashley Young, who believes a new formation is the way to get England firing on all cylinders.

Southgate's side scraped through Slovakia in Sunday's Euro 2024 last 16 clash, with goals from Jude Bellingham and captain Harry Kane sparing England's blushes.

A quarter-final clash with Switzerland now awaits, with Murat Yakin's men one of the most impressive nations in Germany, where they breezed past holders Italy last time out.

While the Swiss have consistently performed, England have struggled in all four of their outings so far, with Young keen for Southgate to tweak his 4-2-3-1 system.

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Young, who was England's first-choice left-back under Southgate at the 2018 World Cup, has also called for Phil Foden to be deployed in a new position in a 4-1-2-3 formation.

Appearing on the talkSPORT Breakfast Show, host Jeff Stelling asked Young how he would have England line up against Switzerland.

To which he said: "For me, obviously I'd have Picks [Jordan Pickford] in goal, Kyle Walker [at right-back], John Stones [centre-back] if he's fit."

Southgate has a decision to make over who he brings in for Marc Guehi to partner Stones in the heart of defence, with the Crystal Palace defender suspended.

Naming his preferred replacement, Young remarked: "I'd bring in Ezri Konsa.

"As for the left-back, I think you'd want to see a left-footed player there, and the only one really is Bukayo Saka, but I wouldn't want him as a left-back.

"I'll stick with Kieran Trippier because of his know-how, his knowledge and he knows how to play that position."

The midfield remains a serious debate amongst fans and pundits, with many - like talkSPORT presenter Jamie O'Hara - clamouring for Jude Bellingham to partner Rice in a double-pivot.

But Young has surprisingly elected to leave Arsenal's £105million man Rice out of his starting XI - instead going for a more attacking approach.

He stated: "I'd go with Kobbie Mainoo in midfield as just the one holding midfielder.

"I'd have Bellingham and Foden in front of him."

Just like the midfield, the frontline is a hot topic, with many arguing that Saka should be dropped, with talkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor even suggesting skipper Kane isn't guaranteed of a starting spot.

But Young is keeping faith in the duo, while he named a new left winger having decided to move Foden into a central position.

He said: "I think I'd play either Anthony Gordon or Cole Palmer on the left.

"Bukayo Saka on the right and Harry Kane up top, I think that's the team I'd do with."

Insisting the formation would get England's attack to click, he declared: "You've got Anthony Gordon or Cole Palmer who can start saying to Bukayo Saka, 'Get in behind.'

"Because you know what Harry Kane brings, he wants to come and get the ball or he wants to play to feet.

"You can then have Phil Foden in the No10 with Jude Bellingham to then get behind Harry Kane as well and make them runs."

While Young is keen for Southgate to continue deploying Saka in his natural right wing position, talkSPORT co-host Jason Cundy has called on him to feature in a new position.

The ex-Chelsea defender is hoping for him to start as the left wing-back - where he was shifted to in the 66th minute against Slovakia after Kieran Trippier was replaced by Cole Palmer.

Meanwhile he also played there for Arsenal a number of times during his breakthrough 2019/20 season after graduating from the Hale End academy.

Speaking on The Sports Bar, Cundy stated: "Saka, if you remember, we went to a three or five at the back during the last game against Slovakia when Trippier had to come off for injury.

"It was a little bit of a mess, Saka was at left wing-back, then he [Southgate] changed it again, brought off Bellingham, Kane, brought [Conor] Gallagher on and there was a little bit more stability in the team when we went to a back four.

"But what you can do if you play a 3-4-3 is you get all your best players in their best positions, primarily Foden and Bellingham in behind Kane.

"Now Saka would be left-wing back for me, that's where I would play him."

Meanwhile England icon Stuart Pearce wants to see Liverpool's versatile right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold slot in on the opposite side of the defence following his central midfield experiment.

And this has seen Saka named to feature as a right-wing back in another 3-4-3 formation.

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He remarked: "Trent in at left wing-back, tell him to get into midfield alongside Declan Rice."

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