Earlier today it was looking as though Kieran Trippier would be walking out onto the pitch in Berlin tonight as part of the England starting XI as they bid to bring football home.
Trippier is one of five past and present Newcastle United players who could be involved in tonight's Euro 2024 final but he was the only one who was likely to start the game.
The Telegraph believed that Gareth Southgate was going to stick with the same starting XI that kick-off against the Netherlands on Wednesday night as England booked their place in the final.
However, since then, The Telegraph have learned that Southgate is set to make at least one change.
Despite having not played football since February, and not being fit, Luke Shaw was the only recognised left-back that Gareth Southgate took to Germany with Newcastle's right-back Kieran Trippier being deployed on the left in every game leading up to the final.
Against the Netherlands, the duo shared the duty with a half each with neither player at full fitness.
Now, it looks as though Southgate is ready to give Luke Shaw his first start in any form in five months going into England's biggest game in three years.
If we take our Newcastle United blinkers off, it's actually a good move by Southgate. As hard as Trippier has worked, nobody can deny that we'd have been a lot more effective if we'd had someone on the left wing who could put in a first-time cross instead of always having to cut back inside and kill the momentum.
It's the same argument as to why Anthony Gordon should start, but I think everybody has given up on Southgate listening to reason on that one.
It's a blow for Trippier, for sure, although he will likely get some minutes as Shaw is unlikely to be able to last 90 minutes, and definitely not 120 should it go to extra time. As for Gordon, well, we just hope he picks the comfy seat on the bench.
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
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23 | 35 | 56 |
2 |
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24 | 27 | 50 |
3 |
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24 | 13 | 47 |
4 |
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24 | 16 | 43 |
5 |
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24 | 13 | 41 |
6 |
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24 | 13 | 41 |
7 |
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24 | 13 | 40 |
8 |
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24 | -3 | 37 |
9 |
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24 | 4 | 36 |
10 |
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24 | -3 | 34 |
11 |
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24 | 0 | 31 |
12 |
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24 | -2 | 30 |
13 |
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24 | -6 | 29 |
14 |
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24 | 11 | 27 |
15 |
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24 | -17 | 27 |
16 |
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23 | -5 | 26 |
17 |
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24 | -18 | 19 |
18 |
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24 | -28 | 17 |
19 |
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24 | -27 | 16 |
20 |
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24 | -36 | 9 |