Jack Wilshere names his England XI to face Serbia in Euro 2024 opener, including Kyle Walker in an unfamiliar position, and urges Gareth Southgate’s side to ‘go for goals’

Jack Wilshere has put together an attacking line-up for his ideal England team to face Serbia in the opening match of Euro 2024 on Sunday evening.

Gareth Southgate’s side open their season in Gelsenkirchen, with Denmark and Slovenia also in Group C, while the Three Lions look to book their place in the knockout stages after reaching the final of the last European Championships three years ago.

Former Arsenal icon Wilshere, 32, who earned 34 England caps between 2010 and 2016, has chosen who he would choose to start alongside captain Harry Kane against Serbia, including putting defender Kyle Walker in an unusual position.

Wilshere said The sun that Trent Alexander-Arnold should be Southgate’s choice at right-back, moving Walker to centre-back.

“If you play Trent at right-back and he floats in midfield, he can quickly change the game,” Wilshere noted. “The walker’s pace will get you out of trouble.”

Wilshere, who earned 34 caps for England between 2010 and 2016, was named an attacking side

Jordan Pickford takes his place in goal, with John Stones partnering Walker in the heart of the defense and Kieran Trippier on the left.

It remains to be seen whether Stones will be involved against Serbia after an illness ruled him out of training on Wednesday and the Manchester City star was confined to his room to prevent the disease spreading through the England camp.

Declan Rice is named as England’s sole midfielder, with Man City’s Phil Foden and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham tasked with attacking midfield roles.

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have previously struggled to co-exist in a similar situation for England, but while they were both right-footed, Foden prefers his left foot.

“Of course Bellingham will play closer to Kane, make those runs and hopefully score the goals he has for Real,” Wilshere said.

‘Maybe Foden plays a little lower with the ball and can feed it.’

Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka are mentioned as wing threats either side of captain Kane at the top of the pitch.

Wilshere said: ‘In the group stages against teams we have to beat, we can afford to be more expansive, let’s attack.

‘Not so long ago we said we didn’t have the Spanish type of players who can dominate the ball, now we do.

“So let’s try to take advantage of that, dominate the ball and go for goals.”

Wilshere believes Trent Alexander-Arnold can ‘change the game quickly’ if he moves into midfield

Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham are both tasked with attacking roles in midfield

England’s opening match against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday evening will be followed by the match against Denmark in Frankfurt on Thursday evening, ahead of the final group stage match against Slovenia in Cologne on June 25.

Southgate’s side are among the favorites to win the tournament, which starts in Munich on Friday evening when hosts Germany face Scotland.