- England have underwhelmed with their performances so far at Euro 2024
- Gareth Southgate is contemplating a change of system to improve their fortunes
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: ‘Gareth Southgate will manage Man United one day’
England have explored a three-at-the-back system ahead of Saturday’s crunch Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.
It remains to be seen if Gareth Southgate is willing to switch from the 4-2-3-1 system that he has deployed during his team’s four matches here in Germany – but the fact the team have practised with a three centre back formation indicates the potential for a change in approach.
England finished out the last-16 win over Slovakia last weekend by moving to a 3-5-2 system during extra-time.
And Southgate looked at a similar approach in training at their Weimar base on Wednesday.
Time will tell whether Southgate will enforce a formation change from the start of this weekend’s clash versus the Swiss, but the team are preparing for a switch either at the beginning or during the quarter final.
England are exploring a three-at-the-back system ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final
The Three Lions are in the last eight but they have underwhelmed so far at the tournament
John Stones and Marc Guehi have played as a central defensive partnership in Germany
If England do set up with three centre-backs it is likely that John Stones, Kyle Walker and Ezri Konsa will make up the trio with Marc Guehi suspended.
Switzerland use a three central defender system and matching up Murat Yakin’s team maybe a a motivation behind a change of approach.
The use of a back-three was once Southgate’s favoured formation, the system providing the platform for England’s fourth place finish at World Cup 2018.
He also switched between a back-three and back-four at Euro 2020.
Back at the 2018 World Cup, 3-5-2 provided the platform for England’s fourth place finish
Southgate has been working on the system in training ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash
Sources insist Southgate could still opt to use the 4-2-3-1 system he has relied on so far during the tournament, with today’s decision to explore a back-three potentially a tactic to use during the game if they are struggling to break the Swiss down.
But a possible tactical switch is an intriguing development ahead of the this Saturday’s clash.
