Next Monday, England’s first 2022 World Cup group-stage match against Iran will take place in Qatar, and speculation regarding the starting lineup is mounting. Southgate will make his selection.
It is not surprising that Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, two pundits who frequently argue in the studio, have chosen quite different starting lineups for England’s World Cup opener.
The Three Lions begin their Qatari campaign against Iran on Monday. In Group B, they then play against the United States and Wales. As the tournament develops, Gareth Southgate is anticipated to stick with his tried-and-true formation of three centre-backs, but there is conjecture that he may go for a more offensive lineup against Iran.
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Due to the lack of choices in central defense, Neville would be “amazed” if England switched to a four-at-the-back system, although Carragher would definitely prefer it.
One of the best ways to defeat a team like Iran, the USA, or Wales is to stop counterattacks and defend properly, the legendary Manchester United player said in explaining his starting lineup against Iran to Sky Sports.
If you get counter-attacked in international football, you’re going to have a lot of problems.
Benjamin White of Arsenal, Eric Dier of Tottenham, and John Stones of Manchester City were chosen by Neville as his three center-backs, who flanked them with Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool and Luke Shaw of the United States. Like Carragher, he favors having Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund and Declan Rice of West Ham in the middle of the field.
Although Jordan Pickford of Everton was chosen by both analysts to start in goal, there were many other areas of dispute. Kieran Trippier was chosen by Liverpool legend Carragher to play on the right side of his back four, with Stones and Red Devils captain Maguire at center back.
For England’s match against Iran, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have chosen their starting lineups.
He chose Mason Mount of Chelsea to join Rice in midfield.
Neville selected Blues winger Raheem Sterling to line up alongside Tottenham’s Harry Kane and City’s Phil Foden, while Carragher selected Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. The two attacks also differed in that Neville chose to line up with Kane and Foden.
I adore Raheem Sterling, and he was without a doubt England’s finest player during the Euros, according to Carragher. “This year, he hasn’t been in fantastic shape, and lately, he has worn an England jersey. Saka has been performing exceptionally well in that role.
It wasn’t Saka vs Sterling because I like Raheem on the left. Saka was always going to be on that side, and Sterling vs. Foden would follow.
“I’d just go with him,” the player said, “because of his actual ability and the way he’s been playing since the European Championships.”
Gary Neville (3-4-3): Pickford; White, Dier, Stones; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Bellingham, Shaw; Foden, Sterling, Kane.
Jamie Carragher (4-3-3): Pickford; Trippier, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Bellingham, Mount; Saka, Foden, Kane