Rumours of Trippier playing left back, and here lies why Southgate is a shit manager. Making a selection of Trippier over two natural and very good left backs in Chilwell and Shaw to basically justify selecting too many right backs. Weak weak manager. Similar to him making Kane captain when it’s basically Hendo doing the actual job.
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I’m firmly in the Croatian camp for tonight’s game, unless Henderson is playing.
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According to The Athletic this is the team:
Pickford
Walker Stones Mings Trippier
Phillips Rice
Foden Mount Sterling
Kane
Mings at LCB, Trippier at LB, out of form Sterling on the left side to protect all that behind him, oh boy…
The rest is not so surprising if true, I didn’t really expect Mount so deep as mentioned at many places, especially against Croatia in the tournament’s first game. Ideally, what you want to help that weak and light deeper midfield and behind/around/beyond Kane is a few players who can combine and one who can be more direct (I thought it might be Rashford ahead of Sterling, but understand given Raheem’s style and experience if he wants to go with him, that’s the only plus in this context).
Croatia will also have one or two decisions over who starts, mainly on the right side of attack and up top.
Grealish is best player on pitch whenever he pulls England shirt on, was looking forward to seeing him and mount together. I think Southgate has the highest opinion of Trippier than anyone else in England lol.
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Gary Lineker and the BBC will be delighted that there wasn’t a more serious outcome yesterday so they don’t have to rein in the ott hype over this game.
Can anyone name a more “smackable faces” XI than that? 
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Southgate picked the wrong squad.
(Hope they get smashed)
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Sancho not even on the bench 
Choking his chicken is about all this fellas good at…
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Dalic with a surprise or two.
Gvardiol starts at LB. Rebic goes up top, though him and Kramaric could likely rotate between the right side of attack and central striker position.
Barisic out with a foot problem, so Bradaric is the backup LB for the day.
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I don’t know about you, but I woke up this morning needing some Queen to cleanse the palate from yesterday.
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Again, I’m hesitant to criticize Southgate on this forum, as he’s leading England’s squad, but that’s an odd lineup. Smartest man in the room strikes again.
Appears Ornstein was right with his information earlier. And I was thinking to myself, there’s no way that’s the starting lineup for England today.
EDIT: and some England journo called Declan Rice “possibly the most important player in the side” and likened his role to that of Kante. That’s ridiculous pressure on Rice but IMO it’s also an absurd assertion.
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Good luck everyone, from @Zoran to the English ! 
May the best team win (or that which entertains me the most, which in some situations may not necesarilly be the best team ;)).
Really looking forward to this game !
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Croatia will crumble like a Babylonian tower without their talismanic Degsy in the lineup.
@Magnus I’m rooting for Croatia also.
I’m so sorry to my TAN brethren. I feel guilty saying this but I just cannot support Gareth Southgate.
However if England does win I’ll be very happy for everyone here! 
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Graelish out is the biggest surprise for me. Like you hint at when you say “smartest in the room”, probably tactical. But yes, appears a bit odd, but he probably has a plan. At least he is not an idiot as far as I know, but he opens himself up to criticism here (not necesarilly bad that he has balls, but still).
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Agreed, Grealish not starting is a big surprise. And as @Zoran and @Draexnael pointed out a few posts back, that left side isn’t very inspiring.
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