England take on Scotland at Euro 2020 on Friday night, and you would have to bet on West Ham United’s Declan Rice starting.
The Three Lions opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Croatia on Sunday afternoon, with Raheem Sterling bagging the winner at Wembley.
That was a great start, but it’s now on to Scotland in a huge clash – and boss Gareth Southgate has some decisions to make…
Southgate’s conundrums
Harry Maguire is back fit again, meaning Southgate will have to decide whether to stick with Tyrone Mings, who impressed against Croatia, or throw Maguire back in with little sharpness.
Marcus Rashford could push for a start, whilst Jack Grealish and Ben Chilwell may be looking to get into the side too.
In midfield, Jordan Henderson is getting closer to fitness, and Gary Neville has had his say on the battle for places in Southgate’s engine room.
Rice and Phillips
Neville has told Sky Sports that, whilst this comment may sound strange, he thinks Declan Rice is just as undroppable as Harry Kane, predicting that the West Ham star will now play every single game for England this summer.
Neville added that he predicts Southgate will stick with Phillips and Rice together in midfield rather than bring Henderson back in, believing they play well together.
“I’d put probably Declan Rice – it seems quite a strange statement to make – pretty much up there as well at this moment in time. He’s going to play every single game, Declan Rice, and I think Kalvin Phillips now, with the way he played in the first game, is going to play alongside him.”
“I don’t foresee Gareth Southgate changing that. They’ve got a good partnership, they’ve got a good rotation in midfield, they pass well together, they play well together, and they’re certainly further ahead in their fitness than Jordan is at this moment in time,” he added.
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