Gareth Southgate says he could not have picked a recognised left-back in his Euro 2024 squad who would have done a better job than Kieran Trippier.
The right-footed Trippier has deputised at left-back in England‘s first four games of the tournament, but Luke Shaw is now available again for Saturday’s quarter-final tie against Switzerland here in Dusseldorf.
Southgate may not start either, however, with the manager likely to switch to a back three, with Bukayo Saka at left wing-back.
Shaw has not played since February due to a hamstring injury but is the only recognised left-back in Southgate’s 26-man Euros squad.
Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell, who featured in both the March internationals, finished the season with a knee injury, while his Blues team-mate Levi Colwill and Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell were also overlooked.
Asked if he would have taken another left-back if he had known how long it would take Shaw to be available, Southgate said: “I’m not sure who that would have been because the other options also had injury problems.
We wouldn’t have found a better left-footer to play than Trippier has played with his right
England manager Gareth Southgate
“And then we wouldn’t have found a better left-footer to play than Trippier has played with his right.
“With Luke, we initially thought third group game [or] first knockout game. That then looked like it might accelerate a bit, but we probably ended up sort of in the territory we thought we might be and, given we had 26, we were happy to take that risk.
“I’m pleased we’ve got him here because he’s unique in terms of the attributes he’s got for the position that he plays.”
Southgate has no concerns about Shaw breaking down on his return to action but hinted the Manchester United defender could be used an impact substitute against Switzerland.
“We’re not concerned that [Shaw] would break down but there’s obviously a decision regarding match sharpness and how quickly you can adjust back into that intensity of the cauldron of the tournament,” he added. “But we’re happy with his progress, his commitment to do that.
“There’s been some difficult days for him on his own through the last few weeks. Some great work by our medical and physical performance teams and I’m really pleased for him that he’s now an option for us. That balance is something that has been difficult for us.
“We feel he can play a part now, and we’re still focused on being here for another 10 days. How much that part can be, who knows.
“But as we’ve seen in the tournament with the impact our substitutions have made, then, you know, five minutes, 30 minutes, 90 minutes, could be critical at any point.”
Southgate could conceivably switch to a back three but keep the same team that started the last-16 win over Slovakia, aside from the suspended Marc Guehi, who is likely to be replaced by Ezri Konsa.
With Saka at left wing-back, Trippier could move to the right and Kyle Walker is comfortable playing in a back three.
Swiss coach Murat Yakin said after the last-16 win over Italy that he knew his side would “destroy” the Azzurri if they played four at the back, although Southgate played down the significance of England’s formation.
“I’m not sure that systems are quite as important because you can build with the three, you build with a four, you defend with a five, you defend with the four,” he said.
“People are so flexible within different phases of the game that you write a team out, but it rarely looks like positionally what you’ve written out on the piece of paper when it gets on the field.
“Without a doubt, Italy struggled. They couldn’t get out of their half. They were determined to build short and they turned the ball over a lot.
“Switzerland are another team that pressed very well and we had a problem with that against Slovakia, so we’ve got to find solutions to that issue.”
Southgate added: “We have got some different options [at left-back] and throughout the squad we’ve got slightly different profiles of players who can play in a number of different positions, which is a great asset for us as a group.
“You know, when players like Eberechi [Eze] came on the other night and did such a good job in two or three different positions in a short period of time, that’s brilliant for the team.
“People are really sacrificing themselves for the team as well as playing well when they’re coming into the games, so we’re very happy with the different options we have in that respect.”
Five English players will miss the semi-finals if they are booked against Switzerland – Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Trippier, Phil Foden and Conor Gallagher – while Bellingham was on Friday fined €30,000 by UEFA and hit with a suspended one-match ban for making an obscene gesture following his 95th-minute equaliser in the last 16.
“I haven’t spoken with Jude, I think it’s a common sense decision,” Southgate said. “Clearly it’s an unprecedented moment in someone’s life to score a goal like that in the 96th minute. I don’t know how I’d have reacted in that moment if that was me, at his age as well.
“The yellow cards obviously get wiped after Saturday night but equally players have to make challenges and they can’t be going in half-heartedly, looking to avoid a suspension.
“So we’ve got to trust them to play the way they normally do and hope the right decisions are made at the right times.”