Time for Gareth Southgate to go for it, and try something different, to keep England Euros’ hopes alive, says Robbie Slater

There is no reason England can’t win Euros 2024, their manager just needs to try something different, according to Socceroos’ great Robbie Slater.

Gareth Southgate has a team full of stars but if he wants to bring the coveted Euros trophy home to England he needs to pull out his black book and try something new.

Like starting Cole Palmer or Kobbie Mainoo on the pitch.

19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo must start. Picture: Alex Grimm/Getty Images

England are out of the group stages and will play Slovakia on Monday morning for a spot in the quarterfinal.

Southgate is being blamed for the individual performances of the English players – who failed to score in their final group stage game against Slovenia.

He is playing players out of position, they aren’t pressing high, they drop off.

The heavy criticism is slightly misplaced. England still finished on top of their group.

Going into long tournaments like this one experts always say you don’t want to be firing on all cylinders too early – then when they don’t they get criticised for it.

England have fallen onto the dream side of the draw, with Italy, who have been far from convincing in this tournament, the only other “big footballing nation” in their path to the final.

Gareth Southgate again has the weight of a nation on his shoulders. Picture: Richard Pelham/Getty Images

It will still be a challenge but they avoid France, Germany, Spain and Portugal.

So that coupled with the players Southgate has at his disposal means anything but making the final is 100 per cent a failure.

Really they need to win it.

There is no reason they can’t – if Southgate is willing to try something different.

The first half against Slovenia needs to be forgotten but the game changed when he brought on the substitutes.

Kobbie Mainoo, from Manchester United has got to start – he started to make things happen.

Palmer was a threat every time he had the ball. He’s a young player, playing without any fear, as he did with Chelsea this season.

He was just heads and shoulders above anyone else and when he came on against Slovenia things started to happen.

He beats players, he breaks the line with passes.

22-year-old Cole Palmer during a training this past week. Picture: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images

It is impossible to predict what Southgate will do but going off his eight years in charge the manager is likely to stick to his usual starting eleven.

It got them out of the group stage – but they have failed to win games.

This is the time you need to go for it.

There are no certainties.

Southgate doesn’t need to mess with his backline – they are not conceding goals.

It is the mix in the middle and front third that he needs to fix up.

He’s got world class players in all those positions – Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.

Either Bellingham or Foden have to play No. 10.

Bring in Palmer alongside Kane – there is no doubt about him starting.

Saka could either be given a rest or even rotated through left-back. A lot of people forget that Saka actually started as a left back. Having a right-footed left back at this level doesn’t give you good balance.

Regardless of who Southgate opts to send in to battle against Slovakia there is one thing that is always guaranteed when England play – it will be entertaining.

Southgate has the weight of the nation and 58 years of no major trophy sitting on his shoulders.

If you listen to the experts they don’t hold much hope but I think that is wrong.

I disagree.

I think there is so much hope.

There’s a long history of teams struggling in the group stage and going on to lift the trophy.

They’ve got every chance.

The question is – will Southgate take it?

England will play Slovakia at 2am (AEST) on Monday.

Originally published as Time for Gareth Southgate to go for it, and try something different, to keep England Euros’ hopes alive, says Robbie Slater