- Former Man United manager urged England to change their starting XI
- Gareth Southgate’s team are just days away from their second ever European Championship final
- Listen to It’s all about to begin! EUROS DAILY: Why you should believe England can beat Spain in the final
A former Manchester United manager has insisted Gareth Southgate must make major changes to his starting line-up for Sunday’s Euro 2024 final.
England were once again behind in the tournament on Wednesday night when Xavi Simons put the Netherlands ahead just seven minutes into the semi-final in Dortmund.
Harry Kane levelled for the Three Lions with a penalty a few minutes later, before substitute Ollie Watkins scored in the dying minutes to send Southgate’s team into their second ever European Championship final.
On Sunday, they will face a Spanish team in Berlin that has looked dominant for much of the tournament. Former Manchester United manager René Meulensteen stressed that Southgate will have to make bold choices.
Meulensteen stressed that ‘intensity’ must be central to England’s approach against La Roja and suggested Kane should start the match on the bench.
Rene Meulensteen has warned Gareth Southgate he needs to make a major change for England’s Euro 2024 finals
The former Manchester United manager stressed that England must actively apply pressure if they want to beat Spain
“If you want to unbalance Spain you need legs, energy and intensity,” he said on talkSPORT.
‘So if you can start with another striker, you leave Harry on the bench. Because if the game calms down in the second half and Kane can still play 30 or 45 minutes, and maybe extra time and penalties, then you bring him on later in the game.
While Kane may not be at his best in Germany, he is still the tournament’s top scorer and has started all six games in England’s run to the final.
Should Southgate opt to let his captain play from the bench at the Olympiastadion, Watkins would likely be the one to take his place in the starting line-up, with Ivan Toney also in contention.
Meuelnsteen, who spent two spells at Old Trafford lasting more than a decade, said it was unlikely the Bayern Munich star would not start. However, he also stressed that Kane may not have ‘the legs’ to help England in their urgent efforts.
“I would make sure they have players in midfield who can support them and challenge Spain,” he continued.
Meulensteen insisted that England would start with captain Harry Kane in the final in Berlin
‘If you don’t do it, because one player isn’t doing it and Harry isn’t good enough, they’ll play around you.’
After leaving United, Meulensteen briefly managed Fulham and is currently assistant to Graham Arnold with the Australian national team.
