THERE has been much debate around how England should play and line up at Euro 2024.
The first two games have seen Gareth Southgate's side flatter to deceive and land heavy criticism from pundits and fans alike.
While four points from two games have already seen the Three Lions qualify into the last-16 in at least third place following the final results of Group A and B, the performances have been way off standard.
Southgate's experiment with Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield looks to have run it's course after leaked team news revealed Conor Gallagher was expected to take the Liverpool's star spot.
Otherwise the starting XI is expected to remain the same.
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England take on Slovenia in their final Group C game tonight at 8pm in the Cologne Stadium.
Their potential opponent in the next round will be shaped by the result, with anything but top spot lining England up for an encounter with some of the tournament's heavy hitters.
Therefore, this game has a lot riding on it, and pundits have revealed how they would go about tackling it.
Wayne Rooney
England's former top goalscorer Wayne Rooney has largely kept the same team as what has been selected, only with Anthony Gordon coming in for 25-year-old Alexander-Arnold.
Rooney has then elected to move Jude Bellingham deeper to play alongside Declan Rice with Phil Foden then coming inside and occupying the number 10 role.
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He told BBC Sport: "Phil and Jude are almost occupying that position so it's difficult to find space. So I think just drop Jude back a bit and giving Foden that space to go and roam.
"And having Gordon and Saka to keep the width will make a big difference to the team."
Jack Wilshere
SunSport's Euro 2024 columnist Jack Wilshere also made one change to his team to face Slovenia, but unlike Rooney he did not change any other positions.
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Instead, Wilshere has opted to be bold and hand a full tournament debut to 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo ahead of Alexander-Arnold.
Wilshere said: "I reckon Kobbie Mainoo would be the best choice to play alongside Declan Rice. Mainoo has proved he can hold, he can play on the half-turn and he can get forward.
"He has also shown great personality. He was the shining light for Manchester United in a difficult season. At 19, Mainoo won’t be worrying, ‘This might be my last tournament, I don’t want to make a mistake’."
Gary Neville
Gary Neville has shouted out two changes for his team in positions under the most scrutiny, central midfield and left wing.
Neville would bring in Gordon on the left for his ability to stretch the width of the pitch and then also have Mainoo in midfield conducting alongside Rice, while even teasing a possible switch to a back-three.
He told ITV: "He talked about a partner for Rice and maybe some pace upfront alongside Kane. That's Gordon and that's Mainoo. Declan Rice must have a partner in midfield who can play and get us playing out from the back.
"I think that pace question is there, we've been talking about it for a few days. I think he could even be disruptive enough to do what he did in previous tournaments and go to a three at the back as well. It's that left wing-back role that's a bit difficult for Gareth."
Jamie Carragher
Sky Sports mate Jamie Carragher has a similar mindset to Neville in selecting Gordon on the left and a new partner in midfield with Rice, but also opted for a formation tweak to 4-3-3.
However, rather than Mainoo in midfield, the ex-Liverpool defender believes Gallagher is needed to bring energy into the team.
Writing in The Telegraph, he said: "Unfortunately, two of the best Premier League footballers – Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden – will have to be sacrificed now...
"It has to be a midfielder who will bring energy across the pitch, such as Conor Gallagher, Adam Wharton or Kobbie Mainoo. That is not a negative move; it is an essential one."
Micah Richards
Despite being from across the red-blue divide of the Manchester Derby, Micah Richards named an identical England team to Rooney.
He believes the balance of the team speaks for itself and that changing a load of players now will not fix the main issues seen.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: "I'm sticking to my same team from before the tournament.
"That has balance and nothing has changed. Changing loads of players is not going to just fix things."
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes has gone for the most radical changes of all, with two being personnel and one a change of position.
Scholes has urged Southgate to incredibly switch Alexander-Arnold to left-back, bring Mainoo into midfield and start Cole Palmer at right-wing.
Taking to Instagram, Scholes said: "TAA left-back, Mainoo centre-mid, Palmer on the right…
"Would give reasons but too many touchy f***ers out there. Laters."
Danny Murphy
Danny Murphy for the most radical changes of any pundit, naming a six changes including a new look attack.
Murphy's team also looks to hand the first minutes of the tournament to Luke Shaw, who has been seen training with the team before the clash.
He told the BBC: "I think freshen it up, press really high and play on the front foot. Give Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden a breather ready for the knockouts.
"Conor Gallagher is the best we have at pressing to play ahead of Declan Rice and Adam Wharton. Luke Shaw is worth the risk to see if he can do 60 minutes as we need balance on the left-hand side so badly. If he isn't ready, we can change him."
