Gareth Southgate is expected to stick with his trusted starting XI for England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain, with Kieran Trippier preferred over Luke Shaw.
Despite suggestions Shaw could come in to play in his natural left-back position for Sunday’s huge showdown in Berlin, talkSPORT understands Trippier is set to keep his place.
Shaw returned from injury seemingly just at the right time for the latter stages of the Euros, having played 87 minutes of action in two appearances off the bench.
But Trippier has not let Southgate down, and the England boss will keep faith with the Newcastle man for the biggest game yet.
Although, it is likely Man United’s Shaw will come onto the pitch if signs of imbalance remain, just as he did in England’s semi-final victory over the Netherlands, where he replaced Trippier at half-time.
England are expected to field a back three once again in Berlin, with Trippier playing left wing-back and Bukayo Saka on the opposite flank.
Marc Guehi, John Stones and Kyle Walker will again be the three central defenders.
The other talking point ahead of the final has been Harry Kane, with dedate over whether the captain should be benched for the final.
But, despite Ollie Watkins’ late winner against Holland sparking calls for the Aston Villa ace to start and boost England’s mobility in attack, Kane will lead the line against Spain from the start.
Southgate confirmed in his press conference on Saturday that all 26 players are available for their toughest battle of Euro 2024.
He knows England will have to be “perfect” if they are to beat the team of the tournament on Sunday, when the resilience shown throughout the summer will be needed in abundance.
“Sometimes you have to go through difficult nights as a team,” Southgate said ahead of his 102nd and potentially last match in charge.
“We tried to change the mindset from the start. We’ve tried to be more honest about where we were as a football nation.
“I’ve travelled to World Cups, European Championships watching as an observer and watched highlights reels before the matches that were on the big screen before the game and we weren’t in any of them. Because they only show the finals and the big games.
“We needed to change that. We had high expectations but they didn’t match where we were performance-wise.
“Now, the high expectations are still there but we have had consistent performances over certainly three of the last four tournaments and a quarter-final as well in the fourth.
“In the end, you always have to be in the latter stages of the tournaments to be able to learn how to win those big games.
“We’re learning that, we’ve come through a lot of big nights now. A lot of records that we’ve broken.
“But we know in the end, we have to do this one, we have to get this trophy to really feel the respect of the rest of the football world I guess.”
England legend Stuart Pearce was live on air to react to the likely starting XI and, on the decision to stick with Trippier over Shaw, he admitted the manager is showing loyalty to the players he trusts for the big occasion.
“I think it’ll be a three [at the back] if that is the case, with Trippier and Saka as wing-backs again,” said the former Three Lions defender.
“What it’s done is it’s shown Gareth’s loyalty, and that there’s a real dollop of loyalty to Tripps. He’s started the tournament in that role, Luke Shaw’s had to be patient, he’s come on and he’s contributed to the cause, but obviously they either don’t think he’s fit enough to see out 90 or 120 minutes of football, or the other side of that is loyalty.
“I think loyalty has played a massive part in this decision, and if that is the case this will be a back-three.”
There might be more to the decision to stick with Trippier against Spain, though, as he prepares to come up against one of the tournaments’ stand-out players, Lamine Yamal.
The teenager – who turned 17 on Saturday on the eve of the final – likes to cut inside and go for goal with his favoured left foot, and having right-footed Trippier defend him could be the perfect foil for the speedy, tricky wonderkid.
“It might well be,” added Pearce. “But out of the two defending in the left-back area I still fancy Shaw just above Trips, I’ve got to say.
“Any good left-back, if you know a player’s strength is coming on the inside, you make sure he goes on the outside, and that’s what Shaw could deliver.”
Meanwhile, there have been major questions asked about Kane and his lack of sharpness so far at Euro 2024.
England record goalscorer has still managed to score three goals and could well win the Golden Boot if he scores again in the final, but there have been suggestions he is not 100 per cent fit after a long first season in Germany with Bayern Munich.
Still, Pearce argues there’s no way Southgate would consider benching his skipper for a big game like this.
“Prior to the tournament and prior to Watkins coming off the bench and scoring that winning goal [against Netherlands], a lot of people would have said it would be Ivan Toney [to replace Kane] – I certainly did.
“He became the go-to substitute for a couple of games, but it wasn’t against the Netherlands, Gareth picked Watkins instead and look what he did.
“But if Gareth’s got loyalty for Trips for this final, he’ll have a massive loyalty to the captain, and it might just be a game for Harry Kane to start and someone else to finish.”
talkSPORT will bring you live commentary of the Euro 2024 final on Sunday as England bid to make history against Spain. Tune in via the website or the app, and follow our live Euro 2024 blog for all the build-up.