England continue to prepare for EURO 2024 with two forthcoming friendlies
The Three Lions will take on Brazil on Saturday followed by Belgium three days later at Wembley Stadium as manager Gareth Southgate looks to get a clearer picture when it comes to the makeup of his squad for the summer.
With a vast array of talented players at his disposal, England are considered to be lifting their first trophy since 1966, but whenever the team gets close to winning silverware, Southgate is often accused of playing safe which has often resulted in losses.
One area where England could excel is in midfield with Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Phil Foden just some of the names that could prove the difference at EURO 2024, and former England striker Michael Owen has pleaded with Southgate to utilise these attacking options instead of opting for a midfield setup which could be seen as negative.
"100% Foden has to start in my eyes. But as things stand, and obviously this is open to change because we are still well off, but the problem is that Gareth Southgate loves playing two holding midfielders," Owen told Instant Casinos.
"Rice, Phillips, Rice and Henderson, but in my opinion that is too safe and too negative. In my opinion, and look at teams like Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, they rarely play with two number sixes.
"If I was Gareth Southgate I’d play Rice on his own there and play Bellingham and Foden ahead of him. I would have Saka on the right and personally I’d have Rashford on the left with Harry Kane up front."
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