Gareth Southgate is likely to drop Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish for the crucial encounter against Germany.
England manager Gareth Southgate is set to hand Phil Foden and Mason Mount a place in the starting line-up for the round of 16-game against Germany.
According to a report, Southgate would make a bold decision to start both Foden and Mount, who were out of action in the final group stage game against the Czech Republic.
The report also adds that Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish would return to the bench despite impressing against the Czechs.
Mount had been in self-isolation alongside Ben Chilwell after coming in contact with Scotland youngster Billy Gilmour, who had tested positive for COVID-19. Hence, the Three Lions duo wasn’t available for selection for the game against the Czech.
The decision from Southgate comes as a rather surprising one to include Mount and Foden, especially at the expense of Saka and Grealish.
Saka and Grealish turned out as a breath of fresh air for England’s attack against Czechs, with the former provided the pace and directness while the latter showed creativity.
Perhaps, Southgate has been receiving heat for his selection as England struggled to put in a dominant performance for the first two games. And it looked as if Southgate had finally found his dream 11 against Czech but only to get back to square one now.
It is quite obvious that Southgate has a lot of faith in Mount, but the question looms over his fitness against Germany, given that he is coming after a week-long break. Meanwhile, Manchester City youngster Foden has failed to replicate the club form at the national team.
