Southgate Under Pressure to Revamp England Squad

Gareth Southgate faces increasing pressure to overhaul his squad ahead of England's crucial Euro 2024 last-16 match against Slovakia. Jude Bellingham, who was anticipated to make a significant impact in Germany following his impressive season with Real Madrid, initially lived up to expectations by scoring the winning goal in England's 1-0 victory over Serbia. However, his form has dipped in subsequent matches against Denmark and Slovenia, raising questions about his consistency and overall contribution to the team.

England's captain and key player, Harry Kane, is also under scrutiny. Despite scoring once during the group stage, his performances have been criticized as lackluster, prompting calls for him to be benched in favor of more dynamic attacking options. Kane, who turns 31 in July, is being criticized for his perceived lack of agility and diminishing impact on the pitch, a stark contrast to his prolific season at Bayern Munich, where he scored 36 Bundesliga goals.

Former Liverpool star and current pundit Didi Hamann has been particularly vocal about the need for a lineup revamp. Hamann suggests replacing Bellingham with Phil Foden in the midfield and introducing younger, more energetic players like Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon on the flanks. In his column for Sky Sport in Germany, Hamann argued that Foden should take Bellingham's place, pointing out Bellingham's average performances for

since Christmas and his underwhelming display in the Champions League knockout stages.

Hamann also criticized Kane's current form, asserting that his impact on the pitch has not matched his reputation. He suggested that Kane's performance at Bayern and for England has been disappointing, noting that Kane has failed to create goal-scoring opportunities on his own, despite his high transfer fee. Hamann proposed that Southgate consider using Ollie Watkins, who offers more agility and space penetration compared to Kane.

As England prepares to face Slovakia, Southgate faces the difficult task of balancing loyalty to his established players with the need for a tactical shake-up to rejuvenate the squad's performance. The calls for change are driven by the desire to find the right chemistry and dynamism to advance further in the tournament, making Southgate's decisions critical for England's success.