England XI vs Slovakia: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injuries for Euro 2024 last-16 today
Euro-2024-Composite-England-XI-Jude-Bellingham.jpg
England are set to have Phil Foden once again in their starting line-up when they face Slovakia at Euro 2024 today despite his absence during the week for the birth of his third child.
The Manchester City midfielder flew back home on Wednesday for a “pressing family matter”, raising doubts about his involvement in the last-16 tie. However, he returned a day later and is expected to start this evening’s game.
Gareth Southgate will not have Luke Shaw available for his XI however, even after progress in the left-back’s return from a hamstring injury.
Shaw has been sidelined since mid-February and did not play a single minute during the group stage but has returned to training this week.
It has been confirmed that the Manchester United defender is not ready to start but, for the first time this Euros, there is the prospect of him appearing off the bench. Kieran Trippier, who briefly trained away from the England squad along with Declan Rice during the week, will continue in Shaw’s place.
Kobbie Mainoo is set to come in for Conor Gallagher in the only change from the Three Lions’ drab draw with Slovenia as Southgate explained why he will not make wholesale changes to his line-up today.
"I think a team is never quite as poor as people might think and never quite as good as people think," Southgate said.
"We’re probably about five per cent off where you’d like to be.
"Therefore you’ve got to be very careful not to throw everything out the window and lose things you’re doing well and lose continuity, lose the confidence that comes with players playing together and the understanding from those moments. You have to ignore external advice and be assured in what you’re doing."
Anthony Gordon will be on the bench having overcome a few scrapes and bumps picked up a bike ride crash a few days ago.
Predicted England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Mainoo, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Time and date: 5pm BST, Sunday June 30, 2024
Venue: AufSchalke Arena, Gelsenkirchen
TV channel: ITV1
To receive the best stories in your inbox every day, click here to register for one or more newsletters from The Standard.