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England got their Euro 2024 campaign off to a winning start against Serbia on Sunday with a 1-0 victory.
Though Gareth Southgate’s side looked comfortable in the first half, they were holding on for the three points towards the end of the match.
Much has been made of Jude Bellingham’s brilliance — and it was his goal that sealed victory — but what of Phil Foden’s performance? Or Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield? Harry Kane barely had a touch, but the captain’s place should be assured up front as England face Denmark in their second group game on Thursday.
With that in mind, our writers picked their starting XIs for the match against Denmark in Frankfurt.
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OK, it’s the same attacking quartet that didn’t exactly gel against Serbia. But drop Foden? Not for me — not yet, anyway.
Cesc Fabregas offered the best analysis after England’s opening game when he said that Foden needed to puff out his chest and realise, as Bellingham seemed to, that big players are supposed to impose themselves on these tournaments.
The worrying part for Southgate is that it is not the first time Foden has failed to replicate his Manchester City form in England’s colours. One more bad performance and, yes, it becomes difficult to keep him in the team. This is a big test for Southgate — can he find the words to put Foden at ease? Can he relax him, inspire him?
For now, though, I’m making only one change. I don’t like Alexander-Arnold in midfield and I’m not hugely enthusiastic about Conor Gallagher, either. So I’d stick Kobbie Mainoo alongside Declan Rice.
Daniel Taylor
I understand the counter-arguments — and share some of the concerns about Alexander-Arnold in midfield and Kieran Trippier and Foden on the left-hand side — but, at risk of causing great annoyance, I would stick with the same team.
Starting line-ups tend to evolve across a tournament, but this is the best setup until Luke Shaw is fully fit and until there is a compelling alternative for that midfield berth or for the left wing.
Alexander-Arnold’s lack of experience in midfield is a concern but so is Mainoo’s and Adam Wharton’s lack of experience full stop. If this tournament was happening in 2025 rather than 2024, I’m sure I would see it differently.
I’ve found it interesting that people have been accusing Southgate of the classic England manager mistake of trying to shoehorn too many players into the team at the expense of functionality. It’s the opposite of what he’s been accused of in the past.
This team needs to function better than it did against Serbia. If it doesn’t, make changes — but there’s no need yet.
Oliver Kay
Fabregas was right: it is on Foden to impose himself on the game no matter where on the pitch he is selected. But this has been an issue for years with England — players not being selected in their favoured roles and duly underperforming.
That’s on Southgate, too; he lacks the top-level tactical nous to get the best from England’s most talented generation in, well, a generation. There are mitigating circumstances, such as Trippier not being a natural left-back behind Foden, and that’s one of the reasons I’d start Anthony Gordon in front of a team-mate who knows his game inside out.
Serbia worked out that England’s best route to goal was down the right, so pushed England to their left and the second half was really poor. Let them do that but see what Gordon can do instead.
Bellingham has to stay as the most advanced midfielder where he was so effective against Serbia, which means Foden is on the bench for now. Like Jack Grealish and, to an extent, Raheem Sterling before him, Manchester City forwards just don’t seem to do it for England. Cheers, Pep.
The Alexander-Arnold experiment is fascinating but he was suspect defensively the other night, which better teams would have exploited. It’s a toss-up between Gallager and Mainoo — I’ll go with Mainoo for now.
Tim Spiers
Run it back. Honestly, no performance is as over-analysed as England in their opening game at a major tournament. This is not to say Sunday night’s display was perfect, or even particularly good for the most part.
The two biggest issues against Serbia were the two biggest issues when the squad was announced: the lack of left-sided width and the need for more composure and press resistance in midfield to reliably play out from the back.
You might be able to fix the second of those, but it involves playing one of two youngsters who had not played a minute of top-flight football as recently as November. The Alexander-Arnold experiment deserves another go, for now.
Trippier’s limitations down the left were masked in the past as Sterling tended to stay wider than Foden does. Not taking a recognised alternative to Shaw — who only made 15 appearances last season — feels like a mistake but it is too late to correct it now.
So let’s take another look at this setup, double the sample size to two whole games, then see if some of its problems still need solving.
Mark Critchley
Though England slightly faded after a quick start against Serbia, Southgate’s side completed 10 times the number of passes as their opponents before Bellingham’s opener and could have added more with Kyle Walker and Kane’s second-half header.
I wanted Lewis Dunk in the starting XI to deal with Aleksandar Mitrovic, but Marc Guehi was superb alongside John Stones. Alexander-Arnold may not be the answer in midfield in knockout games but he did enough to warrant another start to break down a stubborn Denmark defence, with the outstanding Rice and Bellingham alongside him.
There will be the usual furore around Foden’s performance but Trippier is not a natural left-back and needs protection — and you simply can’t move Bellingham. Foden should benefit from the emergence of Shaw as his fitness progresses.
You grow into a tournament and there is still plenty more to come from Southgate’s side.
Jordan Halford
One change. Denmark are the calibre of team England should be facing in the knockout stages, which is why Gallagher replacing Alexander-Arnold makes the most sense.
Gallagher is more functional and less expansive, but as his substitute’s display demonstrated against Serbia, he brings balance to a midfield three that has two other standout performers. Gallagher is a midfield scurrier, making third-man runs and picking up second balls. He is defensively disciplined and feeds simple passes into the more expansive forward players.
Foden needs to nurse Shaw to full fitness — the left-back will provide natural width as England build in a back three, enabling Foden to stay inside the pitch and in the half-spaces. Hopefully, he will be back in contention to face Slovenia next week.
Jacob Tanswell
England do not have a balanced side if Southgate goes with the same team. Until Shaw is match fit, Southgate cannot do much about the left-back position but he can do something about two key areas of the pitch.
Southgate is in danger of trying to fit in the best individuals rather than the individuals who are best for the team.
Foden is a top player but not on the left flank. A duo of Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka will stretch the pitch, making it harder for Denmark to frustrate England as Serbia did.
Fears over Alexander-Arnold’s defensive lapses came to bear as he lost possession at key areas of the pitch versus Serbia. A more solid partner for Rice in midfield is required and Mainoo has already shown he can handle the big occasion.
And one more thing: get Cole Palmer into the tournament off the bench.
Simon Johnson
I’m not giving up on this idea. Bellingham as a No 8, alongside the more defensive-minded Rice, isn’t going to happen as Southgate clearly sees the Real Madrid man in a freer role.
But his driving presence from the heart of the team would give England an added dimension to their play and get Foden into the areas where he thrives. Where is the evidence that Bellingham in a deeper role would weaken the side defensively?
I’d love to get Palmer in the team but, on the evidence of the first game, we need a player who will provide width on the left, hence Gordon. Trippier put in a good performance but can’t help being a right-footed left-back, which means he will never provide much attacking threat on that flank.
Steve Madeley
(Top photos: Getty Images)
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