England v Slovakia: Predicted Three Lions line-up for last 16 clash

England manager Gareth Southgate will hope to see his side improve when they face Slovakia in the last 16 of Euro 2024 on Sunday night. 

The Three Lions have been underwhelming in Germany so far, scoring just twice and winning once in the group stage.

Despite their poor performances, England topped Group C and will face Switzerland in the quarter-finals if they can negotiate their way past Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen.

Here, we predict the XI that Southgate could select for the game.

Goalkeeper

Everton ‘keeper Jordan Pickford has started every one of England’s major tournament matches since Gareth Southgate took charge, and he will continue between the sticks on Sunday.

Defenders

Kyle Walker has started all three of England’s games so far at right-back, and the Manchester City man will start once again against Slovakia.

In the centre of defence, Marc Guehi has impressed when partnering John Stones in the absence of the injured Harry Maguire, and the pair are therefore likely to start together once again.

Guehi is set to start once again for England

Left-back has been one of Southgate’s biggest problem areas so far this summer. With Luke Shaw still not fit enough to start and makeshift left-back Kieran Trippier now also an injury doubt, Southgate could look to Ezri Konsa. Joe Gomez, who has played at left-back for Liverpool on several occasions, will likely be on the bench.

Midfielders

At the base of midfield, Declan Rice is certain to start for the fourth consecutive match. The Arsenal man has been joined by both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher in midfield, but Kobbie Mainoo looks set to start this game. Both Alexander-Arnold and Gallagher struggled to impress in the group stages, with the latter substituted off at half-time during the goalless draw against Slovenia on Tuesday.

Mainoo could be in line for his first start at a major tournament

Jude Bellingham is set to complete England’s midfield trio, despite failing to impress in each of the last two games. The Real Madrid man scored the winner against Serbia in their Group C opener, but has since failed to recreate his best form.

Forwards

On the right, Bukayo Saka will likely start once again but Southgate will hope to see improvement from the Arsenal man. Some supporters have called for Cole Palmer to be given the nod after his impressive appearance from the bench last time out, but Southgate is unlikely to drop Saka.

Through the middle, captain Harry Kane is also in line to start again despite underwhelming in the first three games. The Bayern Munich man scored in the 1-1 draw against Denmark, but has otherwise been largely restricted.

Kane scored one of England’s two goals at the tournament so far

On the left, Southgate could persevere with Phil Foden despite the Man City man’s struggles on the flank. Foden’s best position, as a central attacking midfielder, is taken by teammate Bellingham, and the Citizens star has struggled so far this summer.

Predicted XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Konsa; Rice, Mainoo, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Foden