Luke Shaw will start tonight in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, while Gareth Southgate takes one of the biggest selection gambles of his era.
Shaw has not played a single match since February – a total of 148 days – due to a hamstring injury, but he made his comeback in Germany and played 87 minutes in two substitutions.
But for England’s first ever major tournament abroad, head coach Southgate has made Shaw fully available again as a replacement for Kieran Trippier, who has played every game in Germany so far on the left side of defence.
Trippier suffered an injury in the semi-final victory against Holland and was replaced by Shaw at half-time.
Southgate insisted on Saturday night that Newcastle defender Trippier had been declared fit to play but will now start on the bench.
Luke Shaw is set to start for England in tonight’s Euro 2024 final against Spain
Southgate will be betting on the change despite a lengthy sideline for the Man United left-back
It will also be interesting to see whether Southgate continues with the 3-4-2-1 formation he has used in the previous two knockout games. Sources say the team have been working on tactical flexibility in training since the semi-final.
The team Southgate has assembled allows his players to easily switch between a three-man defence and a four-man defence.
England successfully switched up their formation in the knockout stages in Germany and that flexibility could be a key factor in tonight’s match against the Spanish.
When asked earlier this week whether he was fit enough to play 90 or 120 minutes – including extra-time – Shaw insisted he was ready.
‘Yes of course. I think I [fit to play].,’ he said.
‘But of course that is entirely thanks to Gareth [Southgate]…but I feel fit and ready to go.’
Kieran Trippier has started every England match in Germany but is absent from the final
Southgate opted to use Trippier as a starter in the semi-final against the Netherlands, but brought Shaw on at half-time and played the full 45 minutes, ending with Ollie Watkins scoring the winning goal.
Shaw received much praise for his performance in the second half of the match won against the Dutch, while Trippier was criticised for his performances in the tournament so far.
Southgate was expected to keep the Newcastle defender but has opted to start Shaw.