As England’s spherical of 16 tie with Slovakia entered stoppage time on Sunday night, the final thought within the minds of English supporters would’ve been Marc Guehi’s alternative for the quarter-finals.
The Crystal Palace defender has loved a tremendous Euro 2024 deputising for Harry Maguire, arguably being the Three Lions’ standout performer amid a colorless event.
England have been 1-0 down and heading for a deserved humiliation when Rade Obrenović revealed there have been one other six extra minutes to be performed. 4-and-a-half minutes into that prolonged interval, the second arrived.
Irrespective of how this marketing campaign ends for England, Jude Bellingham’s acrobatic majesty might be remembered in perpetuity. Harry Kane’s subsequent header at the beginning of extra-time means the Three Lions now have a quarter-final in opposition to Switzerland to think about, and Gareth Southgate has a variety headache at centre-back.
Guehi’s first-half reserving on Sunday was his second of Euro 2024 and he’ll thus be suspended for Saturday’s sport. Listed below are his potential replacements.
Contemporary off a superb season with Aston Villa, Konsa seems the most probably candidate to associate John Stones in Dusseldorf on Saturday.
Criminally missed by Southgate for fairly a while, Konsa, who additionally functioned as a right-back for Unai Emery’s aspect final season, lastly earned his first cap in March earlier this yr having did not make his debut following his maiden call-up final November.
Konsa has since performed 5 instances for his nation, together with a substitute look in extra-time throughout Sunday’s final 16 win over Slovakia. His inclusion whereas England have been seeing the sport out suggests he’ll be the subsequent man up in Guehi’s absence.
“I am all the time prepared,” the Villa defender mentioned forward of a possible begin in opposition to the Swiss. Konsa has massive boots to fill.
It wasn’t simply the hipsters who wished Jarrad Branthwaite in Southgate’s 26-man squad. The overwhelming majority of supporters believed the younger Everton defender was a worthy addition over Brighton‘s Lewis Dunk.
Dunk has struggled to manifest his easiest for England – notably making a restoration error throughout a 2-2 draw with Belgium in March. 2023/24 actually wasn’t Dunk’s best work, however he nonetheless appears to have earned the belief of Southgate.
The Brighton captain is a serene ball participant with progressive tendencies. He may help England’s flagging build-up by taking a danger or two with the ball, is snug enjoying because the left-sided centre-back, and is usually a menace when attacking set-pieces.
Dunk actually has his perks, however a begin on Saturday seems unlikely – even when he will not match up in opposition to Romelu Lukaku.
Only a few would’ve had Gomez of their projected Euro 2024 squads 12 months in the past, however the versatile defender’s inclusion this summer season was totally deserved after having fun with a bounce-back season at Anfield.
The as soon as precocious Gomez impressed throughout Jurgen Klopp’s remaining season at Liverpool, rising as an important mitigator whereas Andy Robertson nursed a shoulder damage. He grew snug in a left-back function and was picked by Southgate this summer season for his versatility.
Gomez, in fact, got here by way of as a centre-back and the vast majority of his 15 England caps have arrived on the coronary heart of the defence. He hasn’t performed at Euro 2024 but, nevertheless, and he is behind Konsa and Dunk within the centre-back depth chart.
However, Kieran Trippier’s potential absence on Saturday by way of damage means Gomez has an opportunity at beginning as Southgate’s left-back. The supervisor may additionally match the Swiss up and deploy a again three with Dunk and Gomez probably pushing for begins alongside Kyle Walker and Stones.
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