England is set to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the Euros, with reports suggesting that Gareth Southgate could revert to a back-three formation for the match. Former player and pundit Chris Sutton argues that the timing of the change carries significant risk.
Sutton writes in his column for The Post:
I’m not convinced it’s the right moment for Southgate to roll the dice on a back three. Coniah Boyega plays for Aston Villa, who don’t use a back three. Lewis Dunk is at Brighton, another team that doesn’t play with three center-backs. Gomez at Liverpool, Walker and Stones at Manchester City – none of their clubs operate with a traditional back three, although some might argue that Guardiola’s full-backs often drop in, effectively making it a trio.
We also need to consider whether England has the wing-back options for such a system, with Saka, Trippier, and Alexander-Arnold not being specialists in those roles.
Switzerland, without a doubt, have shown themselves to be the more organized outfit in this tournament, defeating Italy and almost toppling hosts Germany.
Southgate may reason that by adopting Switzerland’s setup, England can rely on individual quality to get through. Perhaps he feels confident in the players’ ability to adapt.
While versatility is a plus, I believe sticking with what has worked previously would be a more prudent choice.