WES BROWN HAS REVEALED exclusively to Ladbrokes how he’d line up against Scotland on Friday evening...
The way Kieran Trippier played, I’d be surprised if he doesn’t start against Scotland. Obviously getting the win was a priority because it stands us in good stead in the table and we can make changes. I do think Gareth Southgate will make changes for that game. I could see the likes of Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham coming in.
I’m not sure if he’ll change anything in the centre-half position, because John Stones and Tyrone Mings are his main two, at the moment. I thought Mings played really well against Croatia. He was sharp, he was strong, he didn’t complicate anything – and sometimes that’s all you need.
I’m not surprised Jack Grealish didn’t play against Croatia. I understand why fans might have been a bit frustrated, but if there was one game in the group we needed to be a bit more cautious in, it was that one. We made that good side look pretty ordinary.
When Grealish does come in, it’ll be for certain games. He’s a unique player; there aren’t many out there quite like him. He can produce something on his own, he’s so comfortable on the ball. Foden’s comfortable, but he’s different to him. He’s a bit more Gazza-ish than Foden.
But I do think Southgate will play things differently, I honestly do. I think he’ll bring in a few fresh faces. If you want to do a straight swap in midfield, it would be Grealish for Foden. I thought Foden went pretty quiet after 30 minutes or so against Croatia.
Marcus Rashford could come in for Raheem Sterling for me as well if he wanted to give Sterling a break.
You’d probably still leave Harry Maguire out for this one; it’s going to be high-tempo, I don’t think it’s going to be slow at all.
Wes Brown’s TEAM IN FULL
Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Tyrone Mings, Kieran Trippier, Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips, Jude Bellingham, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford, and Harry Kane
Robertson, Alexander Arnold, Danny Rose and Reguilon to a lesser extent. No one crosses the ball with any consistency anymore, not even the so called wingers in these days of inverted wingers. Last year Harry Kane scored on header from Matt Doherty. A cross that did not come anywhere close to below the 18 yards line. I would not knock Southgate in thinking defense first in personnel as wingers and wingbacks going forward are rendered useless if they go a 100 meters only to make a pass to the nearest player instead of charging down the flanks and whipping airborne crosses in the box.
I think in the opening game it comes down to “tournament experience”. I fully expect Chillwell to get the nod on Friday.
Also, Wes Brown is talking absolute cobblers, no way we start Bellingham, Phillips and Rice against the Scots!
Honestly, the decision to leave out JWP raises yet more questions… England sometimes look like struggling to create decent chances from open play (especially against stronger sides), so taking him along would seem like the logical thing to do – to give sides like France, Italy etc. something else to think about.
Trippier can take a free kick and is more needed now as Southgate left out specialist Ward-Prowse.
Judging by the Croats performance Southgate can put out whoever he wants. England have optimum conditions and are clearly set up for a long run in this Euros. Probably the final or outright winners. Sterlings mbe clinching work for the race agenda has got him his tattoo dream of 10 star and it’s going to be a jolly up in the sun for the English before the inevitable “delta” wave. A classic bit of love bombing.
Croatia weren’t interested, Petkovic was the top striker in Croatian football and they benched him, it was a joke really. Scotland are crap so the group is won.
I think he see Trippier as a better defender than those two.
Was going to say the same!! I am guessing we dont cross into the box anyway, so no need for left back to use left foot?
Could any of the natives explain why Southgate prefers playing a right-footed RB as a LB/LWB instead of Shaw or Chilwell?