Micah Richards tells Gareth Southgate the three England stars that can ‘hurt’ Switzerland and reach Euro 2024 semi-final

MICAH RICHARDS has told Gareth Southgate THREE England stars that can “hurt” Switzerland and send the team to the semi-finals.

The Three Lions have failed to impress in their first four games at the Euro 2024 and were seconds from being booted out of the tournament in their last 16 clash against Slovakia before Jude Bellingham‘s 95th-minute equaliser.

GettyMicah Richards has told Gareth Southgate THREE England stars that can ‘hurt’ Switzerland[/caption]

Although Harry Kane sealed the comeback and England secured a 2-1 victory over Slovakia in extra time.

Richards believes England have players to “hurt” the Swiss defence on Saturday.

Switzerland swiftly beat Italy 2-0 in their last match and have been playing in a 3-4-2-1 formation so far in the competition.

And Richards has named Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon as the three stars who could make an impact during England’s quarter-final clash.

Speaking on Gary Lineker‘s The Rest Is Football podcast, Richards said: “Tactically, I’m looking at this game.

“I’ve been looking at the Switzerland games and there’s areas in that team in which you can hurt them.

“If I’m looking at this England team now and you’ve got [Fabian] Schar – and Schar’s a very good player – but he does not want to be going into wide areas of the pitch.

“The same for [Ricardo] Rodriguez on the other side as well. I think Southgate, if he’s looking at this, he has to play wingers.

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“He has to play [Bukayo] Saka or Cole Palmer on the right and he has to start with [Anthony] Gordon.

“On transition, once you beat their press, you can hurt them. And I’ve seen videos of it.”

When questioned by Lineker about whether Southgate would adopt his tactics the 13-cap England star instantly replied “No.”

Richards continued: ” I don’t. I don’t think he will. I think we need to be careful of how we set up. Because their wingbacks are used to playing this formation.

“So what you don’t want is to play 4-3-3 and for Saka and Foden, if they start, to come really deep because then they will box you in. Then you can’t get out and they will dominate the game.”

Palmer and Gordon are yet to start in Germany only coming on as substitutes while Saka has starred in all four games.

GettyRichards said Southgate should consider starting Cole Palmer against Switzerland[/caption]

AlamyThe pundit also insisted Anthony Gordon needs to start[/caption]

AlamyRichards also mentioned Bukayo Saka as one of the three stars that can ‘hurt’ Switzerland[/caption]

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