Jason Burt: Gareth Southgate needs a jolt, and might find it by playing three at the back

Given the problems he faces it would be remiss of the England manager to not at least consider making a tactical change and play three at the back.

The switch also might just be the jolt England need to rejuvenate a campaign in which they have progressed but played unconvincingly.

Previously, Southgate has spoken about a ‘reset’ but that never happened. Changing formation, though, is on the agenda and not least because it might mean matching up more effectively with the Swiss who play a similar system.

Today at the Euros: Germany bid to write a new Stuttgart story

Ease pressure at centre-half

The potential change appears largely to have been by Marc Guehi’s suspension. There were fears going into this tournament that the Crystal Palace defender might be England’s weakest link.

Instead he has been their strength, especially with John Stones not looking fully fit and a shadow of what he is capable of. He has mostly passed the ball sideways and switched off at a free-kick against Slovakia which could have been game over.

Ezri Konsa is currently first in line to replace Guehi but it might be a risk to expose him in a two alongside Stones, who is not at his best. Therefore using Kyle Walker as a third centre-back makes sense, especially with his recovery pace.

Walker has not provided an attacking threat and was poor against Slovakia but he may be more comfortable as an orthodox defender and has a good understanding with Stones. They played there to great effect during the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia. It masks not having a top centre-back pairing.

Remove the left-back problem

England went into this tournament without a fit, natural left-footed player to play at full-back. It was always a risk and it has proved a big issue, compounded by the fact that Kieran Trippier has filled in but has been carrying an injury.

Clearly Southgate hoped and expected Luke Shaw to be available by now but he has not played since February and his recovery has been frustrating.

England’s difficulties were exposed against Slovakia where Trippier was replaced, Bukayo Saka filled in, and even Eberechi Eze was a left wing-back on occasions. Similarly against Slovenia, Walker was switched from right to left.

So, without a specialist, Southgate could field defender or a wide attacker as wing-back. It is a demanding role but does not quite require the positional awareness or defensive discipline of an orthodox full-back.

The big downside, of course, to this approach is potentially not getting enough attacking players into the team. Given that was regarded as England’s ‘super-strength’ it would seem like an admission of failure. But maybe Southgate has a trick up his sleeve with Saka?

Get Alexander-Arnold in the team

It has been a tough Euros for Trent Alexander-Arnold who was left badly exposed by the experiment of playing him in central midfield for a game and a half. It simply did not work and was unfair on him as he just has not played enough games in what is such a key position.

Southgate hoped he was getting one of England’s most creative players and long-range passers into the team but instead he left it unbalanced, not pressing and with Alexander-Arnold trying to impact the game too quickly with his passes.

It is not a given that Alexander-Arnold would be used as a right wing-back − Southgate may prefer Trippier in there. But that appears conservative and a little perverse given Trippier does not seem to be fully fit. Alexander-Arnold is more creative and may counter-balance the loss of an attacker.

Helps England press

Harry Kane set the cat among the pigeons when he suggested after the draw against Denmark that England were “not sure” how to press and that this was more of an issue against teams, like them, who play with three at the back.

Switzerland do that also. Matching their system might, therefore, help especially if Southgate believes his players are better man-for-man. Playing with a three also combats the Swiss’s own press. Southgate decided in the last Euros to match Germany’s system in the last-16 tie and came away with a 2-0 win.

It depends what combinations Southgate wants to choose ahead of his defence but loading the midfield could prevent Granit Xhaka from having the time and space to dictate the game as he has done so for Switzerland so far.