Original title: The Three Lions played with 4 question marks, the two cores were absent, and the Champions League final was bitter
In the group stage of the European Championship, England will face Croatia in their first match. Facing World Cup runners-up, Southgate still has a lot of questions unanswered.
Did Grealish start? Can Harry Maguire make a comeback in time? What kind of formation to use and whether Manchester City and Chelsea players are back in form is plaguing the Three Lions and Gard Southgate.
What roles will Henderson and Maguire play?
After Arnold's injury, getting players to avoid injury became a big goal for Southgate in the warm-up games. The warm-up game against Romania, a scene that scared the England boss did not appear, which is good news for him.
However, the form of Henderson and Maguire will be one of the topics of this European Championship. Against Romania, Henderson returned from injury and his pass resulted in a second penalty. However, he may have been eager to prove himself, and the penalty was blocked by the opposing goalkeeper.
There are still questions about when Maguire will return, and he returned to training just a month after suffering an ankle ligament injury. Southgate relies heavily on Manchester United centre-backs, and without Harry Maguire, the Three Lions' defence appears unstable. The late recruitment of Ben White rather than Ward Prowse shows that Southgate is more worried about the defence than the midfield.
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What formation will Southgate use?
England have been using a back four for five games in 2021, but it feels like Southgate is likely to use a three-centre-back formation when facing stronger opponents at the European Championship.
Harry Maguire's injury has disrupted Southgate's plans, with the England boss insisting it will be difficult for the Manchester United captain to play in the group stage. Stones could take Maguire's place and form a three-centre-back with two of Walker, Ben White and Mins.
If Southgate decides to use a three-centre-back, there will be a series of ripple effects. Whether to use three midfielders or double backs, whether to use three forwards or two centers, Southgate faces the choice. Whether England will play in 343, 352, 4231 or 433 formations before the opening game of the European Championship is a real unknown.
Did Grealish start?
The European Championship was postponed, leaving Grealish as a beneficiary. Captain Vera, who suffered a tibial injury, was given enough time to recover from his injuries and regain his form, and also locked in the main position. Grealish excelled in the two warm-up games against Austria and Romania, his breakthrough and creativity made him one of the highlights of the game, and his free-kick footwork became another important weapon in England's attack.
The question is, what position should Grealish play. In the 4231 formation, Grealish played as a striker, and after changing to the 433 formation against Romania, Grealish also had an excellent performance on the left wing. However, in these positions, England's competition is fierce, with Mount, Foden, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Sancho and Saka all vying for this position.
It is worth mentioning that Southgate has previously said that he will not let Foden, Mount and Grealish start at the same time. Such a decision may not be welcomed by fans, but it is enough to show that Southgate keeps a clear head and wants his team to maintain a balance between attack and defense.
Have Chelsea and Manchester City players returned to form?
Chelsea and Manchester City will meet in the Champions League final, showing the strength of the Premier League. However, it also meant that six England internationals from both teams missed the warm-up match ahead of the European Championship. After an exhausting season and a Champions League final, the form of these six players will obviously put a question mark.
Southgate is hoping they will be able to recover quickly, but it is uncertain whether they will be able to get back to their best against Croatia, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the Three Lions.