England starting XI for the Scotland game

[tiger76]

I'll probably be completely wrong again, but this what I think GS will go with,

Pickford
James Stones Mings Shaw
Phillips Rice Mount
Grealish Kane Sterling

Keeper and centre backs pick themselves, the question marks are over the full backs on either side, and he might well ring the changes to freshen things up, after all if all goes to plan England will still have another 5 games after Friday so it's important all the squad plays their part, he'll also need to manage Foden carefully, yes he's an expectational talent, but he tired 2nd half in the Croatia game, and Grealish will bring something different for the Scots to worry about, he could also pick Rashford in place of Sterling, but after Sterling's performance and goal on Sunday that would be harsh.

[TheFamilyCat]

I could pick my nose and come out with an XI good enough to beat Scotland.

[Vegas Claret]

Pickford
James Stones Mings Shaw
Phillips Foden Mount
Grealish Kane Sancho

[Targetman]

Pickford
James Stones Mings Shaw
Phillips Foden Mount
Grealish Kane Sancho

Sancho?
Is he really good enough to play for England?

Maybe it's just me who is never convinced by his performances!

[Carport]

From his interview on ITV this evening it wouldn’t surprise me to see slabhead in for Mings and Tripper to keep his place at left back

[DCWat]

Pickford
James Stones Mings Shaw
Phillips Foden Mount
Grealish Kane Sancho

I’d go with that but play Sterling instead of Sancho.

Phillips deserves to keep his place and we really shouldn’t need two more defensively minded midfielders.

[Quickenthetempo]

Scotland will certainly be up for it and physical. So players like Reece James could help massively.

Swapping a few about will likely happen as finishing 2nd in the group could be a blessing.

[KRBFC]

I'm surprised at James in for Walker, Walker gave away a couple of really sloppy passes against Croatia, I thought defensively he was very good though, positioning on the far post was very good and of course he has incredible speed of recovery.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Same team for as win over Croatia.

Tactically worked really well. Grealish, Rashford etc to come of the bench if they have 11 men behind the ball

[Vegas Claret]

Sancho?
Is he really good enough to play for England?

Maybe it's just me who is never convinced by his performances!

that's the entire reason I'd pick up, only one way to find out !

[Rileybobs]

Can’t imagine many changes. Maybe Rashford for Foden to give us a little more pace and threat in behind.

[Rileybobs]

Scotland will certainly be up for it and physical. So players like Reece James could help massively.

Swapping a few about will likely happen as finishing 2nd in the group could be a blessing.

I’ve not studied the draw in detail, but if England and France both win their groups am I not right in thinking that we couldn’t then meet until the final? It’s likely that finishing second would give an easier second round draw but I’m not sure whether it would be easier beyond that point.

[IanMcL]

Pickford

[Targetman]

I’ve not studied the draw in detail, but if England and France both win their groups am I not right in thinking that we couldn’t then meet until the final? It’s likely that finishing second would give an easier second round draw but I’m not sure whether it would be easier beyond that point.

That would seem to be correct.

[boatshed bill]

Same team for as win over Croatia.

Tactically worked really well. Grealish, Rashford etc to come of the bench if they have 11 men behind the ball

If Scotland keep 11 behind the ball we could do virtually the same, settle for the draw and finish 2nd.

[claretandy]

Seems like it's already been leaked to the papers that he is changing both full-backs.

[Rileybobs]

If Scotland keep 11 behind the ball we could do virtually the same, settle for the draw and finish 2nd.

Finishing second in the group would likely mean meeting France in the QF, if we made it past the second round. Then I think Italy or Belgium could well be waiting in the semis. As I’ve put above I don’t necessarily think that finishing second is an advantage other than a potentially easier second round draw. Although we could face Spain in the second round.

Without getting ahead of ourselves I’ve taken a look at two realistic routes to the final (which FWIW I think it’s very unlikely that we’ll make).

Finish 1st;
R16 - Germany/Portugal
QF - Spain
SF - Netherlands
F - France

Finish 2nd;
R16 - Slovakia/Sweden
QF - France
SF - Italy/Belgium
F - Portugal

So I think I’m right in thinking that by winning the group we would avoid probably the two most impressive teams in the tournament in France and Italy until the final. So if Southgate has serious designs on winning the tournament I think it would be sensible to do our best to win the group and leave our destiny in our own hands.

[boatshed bill]

Finishing second in the group would likely mean meeting France in the QF, if we made it past the second round. Then I think Italy or Belgium could well be waiting in the semis. As I’ve put above I don’t necessarily think that finishing second is an advantage other than a potentially easier second round draw. Although we could face Spain in the second round.

Without getting ahead of ourselves I’ve taken a look at two realistic routes to the final (which FWIW I think it’s very unlikely that we’ll make).

Finish 1st;
R16 - Germany/Portugal
QF - Spain
SF - Netherlands
F - France

Finish 2nd;
R16 - Slovakia/Sweden
QF - France
SF - Italy/Belgium
F - Portugal

So I think I’m right in thinking that by winning the group we would avoid probably the two most impressive teams in the tournament in France and Italy until the final. So if Southgate has serious designs on winning the tournament I think it would be sensible to do our best to win the group and leave our destiny in our own hands.

That's not fair, most of them are better than us

[tiger76]

Finishing second in the group would likely mean meeting France in the QF, if we made it past the second round. Then I think Italy or Belgium could well be waiting in the semis. As I’ve put above I don’t necessarily think that finishing second is an advantage other than a potentially easier second round draw. Although we could face Spain in the second round.

Without getting ahead of ourselves I’ve taken a look at two realistic routes to the final (which FWIW I think it’s very unlikely that we’ll make).

Finish 1st;
R16 - Germany/Portugal
QF - Spain
SF - Netherlands
F - France

Finish 2nd;
R16 - Slovakia/Sweden
QF - France
SF - Italy/Belgium
F - Portugal

So I think I’m right in thinking that by winning the group we would avoid probably the two most impressive teams in the tournament in France and Italy until the final. So if Southgate has serious designs on winning the tournament I think it would be sensible to do our best to win the group and leave our destiny in our own hands.

I tend to agree that England probably won't make the final, however looking at that path if we finish top of the group I haven't seen anything to fear from Germany, Netherlands or Spain, if England play at our best we can beat all of those on our day, especially with the advantage of playing at Wembley in the later rounds.

Let's just get the job done in this group, and then move on to the competition proper.

[BenWickes]

Sancho?
Is he really good enough to play for England?

Maybe it's just me who is never convinced by his performances!

Tend to agree. Never seems to want to take on his man. Tends to go sideways or backwards when he gets the ball out wide.

[Newcastleclaret93]

The leaked eleven tonight according to social media.

Pickford
James Stones Maguire Shaw
Phillips Rice
Sterling Mount Grealish
Kane

[tiger76]

The leaked eleven tonight according to social media.

Pickford
James Stones Maguire Shaw
Phillips Rice
Sterling Mount Grealish
Kane

If that's true I got it almost spot on, now if only I could be as accurate with the Nap League & Super6.

Good to see Maguire return, although it's an interesting fixture for him make his comeback in, but it would be great if he could get a couple of run-out's under his belt prior to the KO stages, Foden is unlucky to miss out, but he'll still have a big part to play in this tournament in the games to come.

And that XI should be plenty good enough to out Scotland to the sword this evening, hopefully a goal or two for Kane to get him firing again as well.

[ClaretMov]

Stick the England women's team out and we'll still win

[Im_not_Robbie_Blake]

Pickford
Trippier Stones Mings Shaw
Foden Phillips Mount Grealish
Kane Rashford

Attack attack! 6-0 for this team (obviously Gareth won't pick it)

[Murger]

The leaked eleven tonight according to social media.

Pickford
James Stones Maguire Shaw
Phillips Rice
Sterling Mount Grealish
Kane

I don't understand how he can drop Foden.

[RVclaret]

Confirmed it’s the same as last time except for James and Shaw in at full back. Smart move.

[tiger76]

Confirmed it’s the same as last time except for James and Shaw in at full back. Smart move.

Can't really argue with that XI TBH, and I'm not surprised he's changed the full backs as the left in particular is Scotland's strong suit.

And although I have my doubts over Phillips & Rice in the same line up it worked pretty well against Croatia so why would he change it I guess.

And if we need a goal we have plenty of options off the bench to turn too, but all being well they won't be required against this mob.