Gary Neville pinpoints England's Achilles heel in damning Euro 2024 prediction
Gary Neville has voiced concerns about England's defence ahead of their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia, claiming the Three Lions cannot win the tournament unless their back four "play the game of their lives every single time".
England boss Gareth Southgate has a wealth of attacking and creative options at his disposal, but will need to strike the right balance if his side are to go on and lift the trophy. Southgate has already hinted Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to start in midfield against Serbia, telling ITV : "Is he ready to start there? We believe so.
"We think he can offer something we don't have and give the team a different dimension. He's really been diligent in understanding the role." In response to Southgate's comments, Neville said he does not expect England to stick with that pairing for the entire tournament due to concerns over the defence.
"Serbia are going to play deep and we're going to need to find a way to cut them open, so I can see why Trent works in this particular match," Neville began. "As the tournament moves on, I don't think it will remain that way.
"I think other players will come into the fold. The clamour for this midfield of Rice, Foden and Bellingham... I don't think Gareth is going to give us that because of the defence. What Trent playing there does is allow Kyle Walker to stay back almost as a third centre-back, which he's done for City for a lot of the season.
"It allows Trent to go in there on that right-hand side and deliver almost like a right-back and then come back into defence. I can see why it works, but I'm not sure it will be the solution as the tournament moves on."
Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi is expected to start alongside John Stones after Harry Maguire failed to recover from a muscle injury to make the squad, while Kieran Trippier is set to fill in at left-back with Luke Shaw still not fully fit.
Marc Guehi is set to partner John Stones in defence for England
"That is a massive opportunity for Guehi," Neville added. "I think he's an exciting young player, but when you think about winning a tournament you need to be defensively strong to go all the way and that is the massive worry.
"I'm struggling in my mind to see how we go the whole way with that back four unless they play the game of their lives every single time. I'm struggling to understand how it can happen."
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