England Team News for Euro 2024 Slovenia Clash: One Change Made by Southgate

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Gareth Southgate has made one change to the side that started the first two games of the European Championships.

England failed to impress in their opening two group stage fixtures as they followed a 1-0 win over Serbia with drab 1-1 draw with Denmark.

Southgate will be hoping to improve on those performances as Conor Gallagher comes into midfield for Trent Alexander-Arnold, while the Three Lions will still be without their only specialist left-back Luke Shaw.

The change comes after Southgate admitted his side are struggling to find a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips.

After the draw against Denmark the England manager said: ‘We know it is an experiment and we don’t have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips, but we’re trying some different things and at the moment we’re not flowing as we’d like, that’s for sure.’

Conor Gallagher will start in midfield alongside Declan Rice as Gareth Southgate makes one change to the side that drew with Denmark

Trent Alexander-Arnold had started England's first two group games but has been withdrawn for Gallagher in both ties

Trent Alexander-Arnold had started England’s first two group games but has been withdrawn for Gallagher in both ties

The build-up to tonight’s clash with Slovenia has been surrounded by frustration as captain Harry Kane bit back at Gary Lineker following their draw with Denmark.

Lineker had been critical of the Three Lions’ performance on The Rest is Football podcast with a scathing one-word summary.

‘I mean, you can think of all sorts of words and expletives if you like, but it was s***,’ Lineker said. ‘Was it tactically inept? It’s really hard to be critical of Gareth Southgate because, overall in the England role, he’s turned England’s fortunes around in many ways’ Lineker said.

England team to face Slovenia

Starting XI: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guehi, Kieran Trippier, Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Harry Kane

Substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Dean Henderson, Luke Shaw, Ezri Konsa, Lewis Dunk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ivan Toney, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Joe Gomez, Cole Palmer, Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo 

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When asked about the former England striker’s comments the current England captain responded: ‘I would never want to be disrespectful to any player, especially a player who has worn the shirt and knows what it is like to play for England.

‘But what ex-players who are pundits now have got to realise it is very hard not to listen to it now, especially for some players who are not used to it or some players who are new to the environment.

‘I always feel like they have a responsibility – I know they have got to be honest and give their opinion but also they have a responsibility of being an ex-England player.

‘The bottom line is we haven’t won anything as a nation for a long, long time and a lot of these players were part of that as well and they know how tough it is.’

With the team by-in-large remaining the same, the players will certainly have a point to prove.

A strong win against Slovenia may not convince everyone but it would certainly go some way in showing that England are contenders for this year’s title. 

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