Speaking exclusively to BoyleSports, England legend Stuart Pearce has given his thoughts about England’s best 11, why Bellingham should play as the 10 instead of Foden and his thoughts on their individual group games.
Clear England Starting Side
I think there is a clear starting XI. If everyone is fit then Gareth Southgate knows who his best XI are, but there may be some scenarios that make things contentious.
It’s just about fitting our best players into the best possible structure. Foden and Bellingham probably want to play in the number 10 position behind the centre forward but one of them will have to play on the left and it won’t be Bellingham.
Bellingham v Foden
The argument for Bellingham over Foden comes from scoring goals in that central position, not that Foden doesn’t, but Bellingham is also more adept at dropping deeper over the course of a game if he needs to knot things together.
Foden prefers to play higher up the pitch and also stay higher up the pitch, whereas Bellingham has a physical presence which helps arriving in the box to join Harry Kane.
If Bellingham was put on the left-hand side and Foden was the number 10, a lot of people would raise eyebrows and say that it doesn't look a good fit, but it is a brilliant problem to have for Gareth Southgate.
Foden has played centrally a lot this season, but he is more used to playing out wide. We got two outstanding young talents in European football that any nation going to the Euros would be absolutely delighted to have in their squad.
So you're just going to have to work out a system that fits them, sometimes when you go to a tournament as I found out, things just fit into place. Maybe it will be two number 10s.
Pearce’s Starting XI
Pickford.
Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw.
Rice, Mainoo.
Saka, Bellingham, Foden,
Kane.
There have been some injuries for Harry Maguire and John Stones, but with everyone fit, I’d go for Jordan Pickford in goal, Kyle Walker right back and I haven’t seen anyone that can break up the Stones and Maguire partnership.
Maguire has divided opinion, but he has got major tournament experience, and he hasn’t let England down when he’s played.
In midfield, you have to go with Declan Rice in the middle, Jude Bellingham behind Harry Kane with Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden on the wing.
There is another midfield slot alongside Rice, and I think at this moment in time it goes to Kobbie Mainoo who has done extremely well for United.
It’s a youthful XI with a team of players all in good form and Southgate has the option of playing someone like Mainoo or leaving Rice on his own and going for another attacking player, potentially in Cole Palmer.
He could also play both Bellingham and Foden central and use another wide player, a mould that fits Jack Grealish although he hasn’t been in the best of form.
England’s First Game Nerves
The first game of any tournament is always a nervous affair. You know full well that a win puts you in a comfortable position and after the second game you could already have your progression secured.
England just need to settle into the game and cope with the nerves of the tournament. This generation of players in the last eight years or so have been very calm in what they are trying to achieve, and they have also stayed grounded.
They’ve got a lot of experience and a lot of them have played in huge games in major tournaments, semi-finals, and finals. They have experience that the likes of myself and my team-mates never had.
England vs Serbia Prediction
I think these players will be more than comfortable in the opening game scenario and I think they will have too much for Serbia. It’s not a bad group for England but they are not pushovers either. I would go for 2-0 to England.
England vs Denmark Prediction
Denmark are a strong side, they're a rounded side with good experience, but I don't think they're as strong as they have been in the past.
If I'm being honest, I think we will quite relish playing the Danes and I don’t see too many surprises there, a one-goal victory. 1-0 to England.
England vs Slovenia Prediction
The last game can be a tricky one but hopefully Gareth Southgate has the luxury of resting one or two or changing one or two, I'm sure he'll take that opportunity.
The strength and the depth of the squad might give him an opportunity not just to rest a couple of players in the starting line-up but to have a look at one or two to give them the opportunity to stake a claim for the knockout stages.
“That game has Cole Palmer’s night written all over it.”
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