TNT Sports
Euro 2024: Rio Ferdinand backs 'best in the world' John Stones to help England move to three at the back
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Published 05/07/2024 at 20:53 GMT+1
John Stones has impressed at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola as he has become one of the best ball-playing central defenders in Europe. TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand has backed the England international to use his qualities to help the national team shift to three at the back as they prepare for the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland on Saturday.
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Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand backed “best in the world” John Stones to help Gareth Southgate move to three at the back.
After four anaemic performances from the Three Lions at Euro 2024, they have two wins and two draws, but none of them have been impressive displays in Germany so far.
Pressure is mounting on Southgate to adjust his line-up and there are suggestions that Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham could be employed as twin No.10s.
To allow for that adjustment, England might well have to start with three central defenders, and move Bukayo Saka and Kieran Trippier to wing-backs.
That would also probably require a central defender to be fielded who could step up into midfield to add bodies, and with the impressive technique that Stones has shown under Pep Guardiola for Manchester City, Ferdinand told the BBC that he sees him as the obvious option for such a change.
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Video credit: SNTV
He explained: “I won't be surprised if England switch to playing with three at the back against Switzerland - and it won't be down to any kind of tactical epiphany from Gareth Southgate, either.
“There's been a lot of talk about this possible change, and how it might be a reaction to their performances so far at these Euros, but Gareth is not the kind of manager to just decide to try something completely different now.
“Instead, I would just put it down to who we are playing against and the fact the Swiss will be in the same 3-4-3 shape, which is why he is thinking about matching us up.”
Turning to Stones, he added: “I said on my podcast before the tournament that England should be playing with four at the back when we are out of possession but three when we have it, with John Stones being the player to change that by coming into midfield when we are on the ball.
“It is what Stones does for Manchester City, and he is the best in the world at it - so why not utilise it for England too?”
England play Switzerland on Saturday afternoon in their quarter-final match-up.
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
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