Watkins, Shaw Palmer? – Southgate’s selection headache ahead of Euro 2024 final

Only one game remains in Euro 2024, the grand finale in Berlin between England and Spain.

It has been two very different paths for the remaining nations, with Luis de la Fuente’s side overcoming the likes of Italy, Croatia, Germany and France.

Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate’s men have only faced one team inside the top 10 of the FIFA rankings, the Netherlands in the semi-finals.

But the Three Lions were one of the favourites heading into the tournament and will still fancy themselves to get the job done following the heartbreak of the Euro 2020 final.

Southgate has had to chop and change aspects of his team as he looks to find a spark following some mediocre performances.

And he has a few final big decisions to make with his starting XI ahead of the showdown in Berlin.

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Defensive stability

Most of the defence selects itself, while Jordan Pickford will undoubtedly remain in goal for England.

Following two more encouraging performances against Switzerland and the Netherlands, the Three Lions are not expected to waver from their 3-4-2-1 formation.

Spain 🆚 England

Berlin. Sunday.#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/f1NqmQfOpO

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 10, 2024

Kyle Walker will operate once again on the right-hand side of a back three, with John Stones and Marc Guehi filling the other two spaces.

Stones has been quietly brilliant in a white shirt this summer after missing a prolonged period of the season through injury.

Guehi was drafted in to replace the absent Harry Maguire and has arguably been one of England’s Players of the Tournament.

With the three established internationals in defence, Southgate’s men stand the best chance of going toe-to-toe with Spain.

Wing-back worries

Kieran Trippier has had the honour of starting at left-wing back for his country this summer, despite it not being his favoured position.

On the other side, Bukayo Saka has been doing an excellent job both defensively and offensively.

But Luke Shaw has been slowly phased back into the team, coming off the bench in the past two games and for the entire second half against the Dutch.

This is arguably Southgate’s biggest dilemma ahead of the match in the German capital.

Shaw gives more width and perhaps quality on the left, but Trippier may be better equipped to deal with the threat of Lamine Yamal.

The left-footed winger will be determined to cut in on his stronger foot, but with the Newcastle man being stronger on his right side, he may actually be a better option to keep him quiet in the final.

Midfield magic

Here is where things start to get difficult.

Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo have built up a good relationship at Euro 2024, and they are expected to hold things down in the middle of the park again.

But Cole Palmer has had an impact in almost every match he has come on in at the tournament and there is not really much more he can do to warrant a place in the starting XI.

He provided an assist for Ollie Watkins’ winner on Wednesday and scored the first penalty against the Swiss.

But displacing Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham seems almost impossible.

Whoever Southgate decides to go with, it is nice to know there is a mountain of options to choose from and turn to in the game should they be needed.

Impact 👊#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/75ATAn1p6M

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 12, 2024

England’s number nine

Harry Kane? Ollie Watkins? Ivan Toney? England fans are split on who they think should be starting upfront on Sunday.

The Three Lions skipper is the joint top scorer at the tournament with three goals, but there is no denying his performances have not been vintage.

Meanwhile, both Watkins and Toney have had impacts, like Palmer, off the bench this summer.

The former brings pace and helps stretch the game in England’s favour, while Toney is similar to Kane, but perhaps holds the ball up better.

Realistically, there is little chance Southgate is going to drop his captain in the final, but he will have to consider bringing him off early again should he look to be struggling.