- England fought back from behind to beat Slovakia 2-1 in the last-16 in extra time
- But after a poor performance, Gareth Southgate may switch up his starting XI
- LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: England don't look like a team… they need a fire lit under them
Alan Shearer has urged Gareth Southgate to make three changes to his England side ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final tie against Switzerland.
The Three Lions stared down the barrel of a humiliating last-16 knockout against Slovakia on Sunday but fought back to reach the last eight after Jude Bellingham scored a scintillating bicycle kick and Harry Kane headed an extra-time winner.
Southgate appeared at risk of the sack for much of the contest, his players having toiled in another underwhelming performance in Germany, and he was criticised heavily by pundits post-match for failing to make proactive substitutions.
Now, all-time great Shearer is desperate for the manager to switch up his XI by playing electric forwards Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon from the off.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, he said: 'I would keep Palmer in and I would bring Gordon in. I would keep [Kobbie] Mainoo in because he's done enough.'
With Marc Guehi suspended after picking up a yellow card in only the third minute against Slovakia, Southgate has a defensive headache on his hands.
Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa is in line to replace him and Shearer believes that would be the correct decision, adding: 'I would go with Konsa.
'He is the one who has been involved a little bit more so I would bring him in.
'Left back, that's another problem. [Luke] Shaw won't be able to play, he didn't even come on for a few minutes so he can't start, he hasn't played for months.'
Left back Kieran Trippier was forced off through injury in the second half in Gelsenkirchen and Southgate turned to winger Bukayo Saka to fill in as a wing back.
That may not prove to be a long-term fix, however. Luke Shaw is yet to play a single minute at the tournament with Southgate gambling on the 28-year-old's fitness.
Golden boy Bellingham, meanwhile, may also be forced to sit out against Switzerland with UEFA launching an investigation into his X-rated gesture.
The midfielder was caught on camera grabbing his crotch in view of Slovakia's bench but explained the act had been a joke aimed at close friends in the stands.
'Nothing but respect for how that Slovakia team played tonight,' he added on X.
It remains to be seen if the probe will conclude while the tournament is ongoing but the appointed inspector will examine video evidence of the matter before reporting back with their findings to UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body.
Bellingham is on a yellow card and would miss the semi-final if he is booked in the quarter-final against Switzerland, should England prevail in Dusseldorf.