Ian Wright believes England should keep a back four, drop Jack Grealish and Bukayo Saka and start Mason Mount for Tuesday’s Euro 2020 last-16 showdown with Germany

Gareth Southgate had left Phil Foden out for the win over the Czech Republic because he was on a yellow card, but Wright wants to see the midfielder back in the team. 

There have been calls for England to consider playing with a back five to nullify Germany’s threat in wide areas – and it is a formation Southgate has deployed previously.

Jack Grealish assisted Raheem Sterling's goal in England's win over the Czech Republic

Jack Grealish assisted Raheem Sterling's goal in England's win over the Czech Republic

Bukayo Saka was the man of the match but Ian Wright believes he and Grealish should be dropped

Bukayo Saka was the man of the match but Ian Wright believes he and Grealish should be dropped

Jack Grealish (left) and Bukayo Saka (right) starred in England’s win over the Czech Republic but Ian Wright believes both should be dropped for Tuesday’s match against Germany

Ex-striker Wright named the team he would start to play Germany in the Euro 2020 last-16

Ex-striker Wright named the team he would start to play Germany in the Euro 2020 last-16

Ex-striker Wright named the team he would start to play Germany in the Euro 2020 last-16

Former England striker Wright admitted wing-backs Joshua Kimmich and Robin Gosens pose huge threats going forward but said he would stick with a back four as named his starting XI to play at Wembley.

Despite Saka starring in the 1-0 win over the Czech Republic to help seal England’s place in the next round, Wright feels he should be left out to face Germany.

Wright, who was hugely critical of Gareth Southgate for not bringing on Grealish sooner against Scotland, also said he wouldn’t start the Aston Villa playmaker either.

‘I’d go with a 4-3-3 and try and force ourselves on Germany,’ Wright said on ITV. 

‘I’d bring Mount in for Grealish, I’d play Foden, Kane and Sterling up front. I’d play [Declan] Rice, [Kalvin] Phillips and Mount in midfield and then the back four; Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, John Stones and Kyle Walker. 

Mason Mount has been training away from the rest of the group while he's been in isolation but Wright said he would play him in a midfield three

Mason Mount has been training away from the rest of the group while he's been in isolation but Wright said he would play him in a midfield three

Mason Mount has been training away from the rest of the group while he’s been in isolation but Wright said he would play him in a midfield three

Phil Foden, who missed the Czech Republic win, should be recalled, according to Wright

Phil Foden, who missed the Czech Republic win, should be recalled, according to Wright

Phil Foden, who missed the Czech Republic win, should be recalled, according to Wright

Ian Wright’s starting XI to face Germany

GK: Pickford

RB: Walker

CB: Stones

CB: Maguire 

LB: Shaw

CM: Rice

CM: Phillips

CM: Mount

LW: Foden

RW: Sterling

CF: Kane 

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‘I hear what Ashley [Cole] is saying in respects to playing with no fear, but you couldn’t say that against Scotland, I don’t know what happened with that performance but we can’t afford to do that against Germany, especially with Kimmich and Gosens with what they want to do with the wing-backs.

‘I would like us to play with those wingers and keep them pinned back because that is going to take a lot from Germany if we can keep Kimmich and Gosens out of it because they haven’t got that natural centre forward so if we can keep them back and enforce our game on them we have got a better chance rather than going in and just trying to nullify Germany.’  

England boss Southgate is expected to bring back Foden to the starting XI while Mount may also return despite not being able to train with the group because he is in isolation.

Mount and Ben Chilwell, who were forced into isolation after coming into close contact with Scotland’s Billy Gilmour, trained individually on Monday after requests to run socially-distanced sessions were rejected.

The two England stars are however in their final day of isolation and Chelsea man Mount is understood to be in contention to play against Germany. 

Wright’s former international team-mate Gary Neville has tried to fire up England by issuing a passionate speech urging the players to take their chance against Germany and make history.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Football Euros Podcast, Neville said: ‘What I’d say to these lads on Tuesday is: this moment isn’t coming back. 

Wright also outlined the threat Germany carry in wide areas with Robin Gosen (middle) and Joshua Kimmich (left)

Wright also outlined the threat Germany carry in wide areas with Robin Gosen (middle) and Joshua Kimmich (left)

Wright also outlined the threat Germany carry in wide areas with Robin Gosen (middle) and Joshua Kimmich (left)

Gary Neville has hammered home just how much of a great, and rare, opportunity this is for England

Gary Neville has hammered home just how much of a great, and rare, opportunity this is for England

The Three Lions are undefeated at Euro 2020 and will meet Germany as slight favourites on Tuesday

The Three Lions are undefeated at Euro 2020 and will meet Germany as slight favourites on Tuesday

Gary Neville has launched a passionate rally cry to fire up England for Germany on Tuesday

‘This is it. Don’t think of this moment ever coming back. Playing Germany in a home tournament, in your own stadium, in front of 45,000 fans. You wish it was 80,000, like we had in Euro 96 but it will be enough, it will be a special moment. 

‘We didn’t create history in Euro 96, we fell short. Don’t fall short on Tuesday, lads.

‘What an opportunity exists if we beat Germany on Tuesday. They’ll know that.

‘The lads on Tuesday will not have another moment like this in their international careers because it’s unlikely we’re going to get a tournament [held in England] in the next five or 10 years.

‘For the likes of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling this is it. There isn’t a second chance.’

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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