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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Alex Milne

Probable England XI for Ukraine clash with Gareth Southgate set to make two changes

Gareth Southgate is reportedly preparing to make two changes to his team ahead of England's huge Euro 2020 quarter-final clash against Ukraine in Rome on Saturday.

The Three Lions saw off Germany in a famous 2-0 victory in the last-16 on Tuesday, and are the strong favourites to progress to the semis and keep alive their hopes of a first major tournament win since 1966.

Against the Germans Southgate opted for a back three, with Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier playing as wing-backs.

But it is widely expected that he will revert to the 4-3-3 which was used in the group stage games against Ukraine.

Jadon Sancho looks set to be finally given his opportunity (REUTERS)

And the two personnel alterations look set to take place in midfield, with Mason Mount and Jadon Sancho being lined up to replace Trippier and Bukayo Saka in the starting 11.

It would see an unchanged back line, with Jordan Pickford in goal and Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw the defenders.

Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips would keep their place as sitting midfielders while Raheem Sterling would play on the left, Mount would start just behind Harry Kane and Sancho would get his big opportunity to shine on the right hand side.

Sancho has so far played just six minutes in what has been a frustrating tournament for the inbound new Manchester United signing.

But with Southgate revealing on Friday that Saka was suffering with a minor injury issue, Sancho looks set to get the nod in the Arsenal man's place.

"We've just got to check on Bukayo who had a slight knock today,” Southgate said. “Other than that, everybody is available.

“We had six days prep before the last game and although the game the other day was intense and emotional, it was only 90 minutes.

Mason Mount may also return after missing out vs Germany (GETTY)

“I think everybody is fine in terms of physical load, we’ve of course got a strong squad and a strong bench and the heat here will have a little bit of a factor on the game.

“I think everybody is fine in terms of physical load, we’ve of course got a strong squad and a strong bench and the heat here will have a little bit of a factor on the game.

Four players go into the game on a yellow card, with Maguire, Phillips, Rice and Phil Foden all just one caution away from missing the semi final - the point at which cards are wiped.

But Southgate has no intention of that clouding his selection, insisting he isn’t looking beyond the task at hand.

“I don’t understand that rationale,” he said of resting players. “I understand strategically that you would like to do that, but I can’t think of a country in the world that would do that for a quarter-final.

“But especially a country that has only been to four semi-finals in its history. We’ve got to focus on tomorrow [Saturday], I think it would be a big error to not do that.”

Probable England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips, Mount; Sancho, Sterling, Kane.

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