England will face Switzerland on Saturday in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, and Glen Johnson believes Ollie Watkins and Kobbie Mainoo should be part of the Three Lions' starting lineup in that match.
The English survived a massive scare in the Round of 16 as they went down 1-0 to Slovakia in the 25th minute and were saved by a stunning Jude Bellingham goal just seconds before the final whistle. Harry Kane then scored in the opening minute of extra time to complete the improbable comeback, and now the Three Lions are just two wins away from making it back to the final.
For Johnson, who spent a decade representing England, Watkins and Mainoo give the team the best chance to defeat a Switzerland side who defeated Euro 2020 champions Italy in the last-16.
“I’d love to see Ollie Watkins play against Switzerland because I think he could help a lot with his legs and running in behind, but I’d play him with Harry Kane because he can drop into that number 10," Johnson told Paddy Power. "That covers both things there.
“Kobbie Mainoo deserves to play because he’s the one that has come on and done something. I’d have Anthony Gordon on the left and play a bit more of a 4-4-2 in terms of how it’s set up but Kane would drop deep and [Jude] Bellingham would go forward so it wouldn’t really be like that.
“They would be the two obvious changes I would make but I’m sure Gareth Southgate will pick whatever side he thinks has the best chance to win.”
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