Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , England hero Emile Heskey has looked ahead to the knockout stages and how Thomas Tuchel 's side can go all the way.
The former Three Lions star has named the one change he would make to shut down Erling Haaland against Norway , delivered his score prediction, and explained why France remain his favourites for the tournament.
The ex- Liverpool and Aston Villa man has also assessed the threat posed by Spain and backed Jurgen Klopp to restore Germany to the summit of world football.
Norway vs England
Are England Huge Favourites Against Norway?
Are England huge favourites against Norway ? We will always be favourites going into any game because we are a nation that loves football and has amazing talent. The game against Norway is winnable, but I'm worried about the chances we gave to Raul Jimenez . Erling Haaland would score those, so we have to tighten up. We've got to do better in that way.
What Would Your Starting XI Be?
John Stones coming in is probably the best option. He has a calm nature, which is great, though he hasn't played much football this season. I also thought Ezri Konsa was brilliant at right-back. Even toward the end, when they were down to ten men, he got out to the fullback, then tucked back in next to his centre-back. Despite the lactic acid in his legs, he kept working. He was brilliant.
We have to stop the crosses. I would probably play Konsa at right-back to achieve that. I'd keep the rest the same, and I'd stick with Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka . I think that's the strongest pair. I'm not sure whether Gordon is seen as a starter or a finisher, though he often comes on to finish games.
Even if a player has a difficult game, you shouldn't take anything away from them. For example, some say Gordon had a bad game against Ghana , but he simply came up against a very good defender who gave him a tough time. That gave Marcus Rashford a chance to understand how to get past him. If you're watching the game, you figure out how to beat your defender. That's because of what Gordon is doing.
Score Prediction vs Norway?
I would go for a 3-2 win. I can see Norway scoring, but we definitely have goals in us.
Tournament Outlook
Prediction for the Rest of the Tournament?
France were my favourites going into the tournament, and are still my favourites now. It's hard to look past them. They are eye-catching, easy to watch, and deadly.
That said, I think we'd give them a good run and could beat them on our day. Defensively, we'd have to be very solid, but attacking-wise, I see goals. I don't think they could stop us from scoring, though I can see them scoring as well.
Are Spain Second Favourites to France?
I see France getting to the final, but Spain will cause them all sorts of problems. They are the most technical team. Mikel Oyarzabal knows where the back of the net is; he had a great scoring record coming into the tournament. They know how to suffocate teams with possession and exploit openings.
However, they are coming up against a France side with a very strong defence and an amazing attack. It will be an interesting game.
Germany's Future
Can Klopp Get Germany Winning Again?
Germany will climb back to the top under Jurgen Klopp . I think so. If you look at how he transformed Liverpool , imagine what he could do with the best technical players in Germany . He's only going to make them rise. I see them becoming a strong force again because he gets the best out of players and knows how to trigger them. He knows what makes them the best. So, yeah, I see them getting back up with him.
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