Three ways England could line up without Jude Bellingham vs Switzerland as Three Lions saviour faces ban for gesture
ENGLAND could be forced to line up without Jude Bellingham for their Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.
The midfielder is being investigated by Uefa for gestures he made after scoring against Slovakia on Sunday.
Bellingham followed his stoppage time equaliser by putting his hand under his genitals as he looked towards the touchline.
The 21-year-old later explained the gesture was an inside joke with friends amid accusations he had disrespected his opponents.
However, Uefa are now set to conduct an investigation into potential rule breaches, with a possible ban now looming over the Three Lions.
A suspension for Bellingham would add to Gareth Southgate’s selection woes heading into Saturday’s last eight encounter.
England are already without Marc Guehi after he was shown a second yellow card of the tournament against Slovakia.
Ezri Konsa is expected to come into the defence in place of Guehi, but questions remain in other areas alongside the potential absence of Bellingham.
Here are three ways England could line up without the Real Madrid star.
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Straight swap
Southgate has refrained from making widescale changes so far at Euro 2024.
The only alterations to the starting XI have come alongside Declan Rice in midfield, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher and Kobbie Mainoo all partnering the Arsenal man.
England ratings: Bellingham rescues woeful Three Lions as big names, and manager, have a shocker
JUDE BELLINGHAM’S majestic overhead kick deep into stoppage time saved England from a humiliating Euros exit.
Gareth Southgate’s side had been utterly woeful and looked to be heading home thanks to Ivan Schranz’s clever finish.
But Bellingham came to the rescue in the 96th minute, brilliantly firing into the corner after Marc Guehi had flicked on Kyle Walker’s long throw.
Remarkably, it was England’s first shot on target, summing how poor they had been.
But another one came soon after, as 53 seconds into extra-time, Harry Kane headed home from close range to set up a quarter-final with Switzerland.
It was as close a shave as it comes, and if they play like this against the Swiss, then they will be toast.
Here’s how Tom Barclay rated England’s stars… and manager Southgate.
Jordan Pickford: 5
Appeared to hurt his left hand when taking a big whack in the warm-up, but still played. Fired a lot of long balls and was lucky not to be lobbed by David Strelec’s 45-yard strike.
Kyle Walker: 4
England’s second-most experienced player had a shocker. He looked uncharacteristically slow, his touch was heavy and his crossing was nowhere near good enough. But it was his long throw that led to Bellingham’s magic.
John Stones: 4
Said it was time for the senior pros to step up in the build-up to the game, but there was little sign of that until Bellingham did his thing, and he is only 21. Stones fired aimless long balls, gave it away and it was his mistake that almost led to Strelec’s trying his luck from range.
Marc Guehi: 5
Booked early after Kieran Trippier’s underhit pass meant he had to take out the excellent David Strelec, meaning he is out of the quarter-final. Ivan Schranz bamboozled him for Slovakia’s opener but his flick-on to Bellingham brought the leveller.
Kieran Trippier: 4
When Jude Bellingham’s good ball found Trippier on the edge of the box early doors, on his favoured right foot, you thought, ‘Here we go’. He smashed it into Row Z.
Declan Rice: 5
An old-school reducer on Juraj Kucka was a fair tackle, even if it left the 37-year-old hobbling. His curling effort with ten minutes to go cracked against the post.
Kobbie Mainoo: 6
FIRST start at a major tournament and our only decent performer in an horrendous first half from England. Blasted a volley over but was also booked for a late tackle.
Bukayo Saka: 5
We all know what a fantastic player Saka is for Arsenal, and for England in games gone by, but he rarely threatened here. Did go the distance though, and in a number of positions.
Jude Bellingham: 7 and STAR MAN
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. He had underwhelmed again until the 96th minute, but who cares when you step up like that.
Phil Foden: 4
Thought he had levelled early in the second half but his tap-in was ruled out by VAR after he was caught being, inexplicably, offside. Just off it all night, in danger of being dropped.
Harry Kane: 6
Still way off his best – he was nowhere to be seen in the first half and missed a free header after the break – but got it right when it counted in extra time.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Cole Palmer (on for Kieran Trippier, 66): 7
FANS were on their feet applauding when Southgate finally made a change and brought him on. So lively and with a lovely delivery, must be in with a chance of starting against the Swiss.
Eberechi Eze (on for Kobbie Mainoo, 84): 6
Did enough to put off Slovak full-back Peter Pekarik from turning home at close range in extra-time. Looked like he had been hit by a train when Denis Vavro walloped into him.
Ivan Toney (on for Phil Foden, 90): 7
GRABBED the assist for Kane’s winner by flicking on after a free-kick – which he had won with his strength – had been cleared.
Conor Gallagher (on for Harry Kane, 105): 6
Southgate rolled the dice in extra-time by trying to shut the game out, taking his captain off for the Chelsea midfielder.
Ezri Konsa (on for Jude Bellingham, 105): 6
Ditto to Gallagher as Konsa got his first minutes of the tournament in place of the hero Bellingham, which felt a risky strategy.
MANAGER
Gareth Southgate: 3.
A lucky, lucky man. Tactically, his team were all long ball, lacked any movement, and did not conjure up a shot on target until Bellingham’s wonder strike – and that came from Walker chucking it in the mixer. Subs took ages in the 90 and then felt risky as he sought to see the game out in extra-time.
Mainoo was a bright spark against Slovakia and made a strong case to keep his place.
Meanwhile, doubts remain over Luke Shaw’s fitness, with Kieran Trippier likely to continue at left-back.
Cole Palmer moved into Bellingham’s number 10 role during extra-time on Sunday and would provide the most direct replacement in the role.
Elsewhere, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka would continue alongside Harry Kane in attack.
New system
With England stuttering for much of their last 16 clash with Slovakia, calls for a change of formation have intensified from fans and pundits.
Southgate enjoyed success with a three-man defence at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and could now revert back to the approach.
Kyle Walker has experience on the right-hand side of a back three, with a move allowing Alexander-Arnold to come in at wing-back.
If fit, Shaw could provide a greater attacking threat to Trippier on the left.
England looked far more threatening with Ivan Toney up front alongside Kane on Sunday and the Brentford man would likely get the nod if Southgate opts for a two-man attack.
This would allow Foden to drop back into a central role behind the strikers in place of Bellingham.
The Manchester City midfielder scored 19 Premier League goals last term, largely from his preferred number 10 position.
All change
Losing Bellingham through suspension could provide Southgate with the nudge needed to ring the changes against Switzerland.
Both Anthony Gordon and Palmer have impressed when given opportunities off the bench so far in Germany.
Fans have also called for the pair to replace Foden and Saka on the wings if England stick with their 4-2-3-1 formation.
Foden would likely keep his place, though, moving into midfield to replace Bellingham.
Elsewhere, Southgate has another option at left-back in the event Shaw is still not fit to play.
Joe Gomez made 19 appearances at left-back for Liverpool last season.
He also featured in the position in England’s friendly losses to Brazil and Iceland earlier this year.
The best of England vs Slovakia
CHECK out all the best action from England's rollercoaster Euro 2024 last-16 win over Slovakia.