Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has picked his England XI to take on Serbia on Sunday evening as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions prepare for the start of Euro 2024 in Germany.
Germany get the tournament rolling on Friday evening when they face Steve Clarke’s Scotland in the first game of the competition, taking place at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena with Germany expected to win.
Saturday sees three games take place with Hungary taking on Switzerland, before a mouthwatering clash between Spain and Croatia. The fourth game of the competition sees Italy face Albania in the evening.
It is a long time since Leeds’ Bamford broke into the England side and won his only cap against Andorra. These days, England have Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney as options up front under Southgate.
Now, Leeds star Bamford has predicted the side that will take on Serbia in their first group game with a number of talking points ahead of the game after mediocre performances against Bosnia and Iceland.
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Leeds star Bamford picks England XI that faces Serbia on Sunday
England supporters are not particularly enthused going into the tournament. England lost against Iceland and there is a disillusion among some regarding Southgate, and his pragmatic approach as manager.
It will be interesting to see how Southgate lines up in defence with Harry Maguire missing and Luke Shaw not fully fit. There is debate how to incorporate Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in England’s midfield.
Bamford picked his side, before the news that Maguire was not picked in the 26-man squad. He told Joe Wilkinson on his My Mate’s A Footballer podcast that he thinks Cole Palmer will start on the left wing.
“I’d go with Maguire and Stones. Unsure if Luke [Shaw] is fit. It’s a toss up between Kyle Walker and Trent. Trent is so good, I’ve never seen anyone pass like that. He will play [at some point in the tournament].
“Trippier left-back, if Shaw is out. It depends on a lot of things between Walker and Trent. Obviously Rice and Bellingham, I’d start with Saka wide right, Foden in the 10 and Cole Palmer on the left [behind Kane].”
Other options Southgate could play to stifle Serbia attack
Serbia’s strengths are in attack as they boast the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Dusan Tadic. They’ll surely look to attack England and play to their strengths, rather than use a low block.
Southgate may be wary of Serbia’s forward line and that could see him incorporate a more defensive option alongside Declan Rice, with the chances being that will be Conor Gallagher come Sunday evening.
Gallagher with Rice, and Jude Bellingham as the 10. That would see either Cole Palmer or Phil Foden miss out, given Bellingham takes the 10 role and Southgate would pick between Palmer or Foden on the left.