Netherlands vs England: Why Shaw needs to start Euro 2024 semi-final showdown
Gareth Southgate has a decision to make ahead of England's semi-final meeting with the Netherlands. The Three Lions boss opted for a three-man backline for the quarter-final win over Switzerland and the expectation is he'll do so again on Wednesday night. It's likely that Marc Guehi returns at the expense of Ezri Konsa at the back after the former sat out the Switzerland win owing to a ban.
However, it's at left wing-back where Southgate has a selection dilemma. Southgate has remained loyal to Kieran Trippier throughout Euro 2024, even as the Newcastle man has struggled. The expectation was that when it was confirmed England would go for a three-at-the-back system, Bukayo Saka would move to the left and Trippier would start on the right.
Southgate, though, had other ideas. While Saka was considered a left-back when he broke onto the scene, the Arsenal man is a fully-fledged right winger now. Indeed, the equaliser at the weekend came from Saka cutting onto his wicked left from the right before finding the far corner. Southgate was justified in his decision to use the 22-year-old from right wing-back but fans witnessed another sub-par showing from Trippier, and it wasn't until Luke Shaw was introduced late in the second half that there was greater balance to the side.
England's touch map vs Switzerland
The player position map from the quarter-final tie in Dusseldorf showed both Trippier and Saka as England's most advanced players of those to start. With the bulk of their attacks coming down the flanks, that isn't a surprise, however while the latter's position was to be expected; the former featuring so high up the pitch could have been costly. Indeed, Trippier has shown a willingness to get into good positions down the left but routinely cuts onto this right foot and this has slowed attacks down.
Despite getting forward well down the left, Trippier only attempted two crosses prior to his 77th-minute withdrawal. By comparison, Saka attempted nine. Granted, the Arsenal man played the full 120 minutes against Switzerland and does show a willingness to cut onto his left but he is comfortable using his perceived weaker right to loft the ball into the box.
Shaw, meanwhile, attempted the same number of crosses as Trippier and while neither found a teammate, the team itself looked far more fluid with a natural left footer on the pitch. Southgate took a monumental risk in calling up Shaw as his only left-back for Euro 2024 but he could prove England's not-so-secret weapon. To overlook the likes of Ben Chilwell and Tyrick Mitchell was a gamble that may ultimately pay off.
The issue, though, comes in whether Southgate throws Shaw back in at the deep end against the Netherlands. The Manchester United man was expected to return for the group stages only to suffer a minor setback that meant he wasn't available to make his first competitive appearance since February until the win over Switzerland. "I feel fit and ready to go," Shaw said ahead of the semi-final meeting with the Netherlands.
Boasting a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'crossing', England stand to benefit from using Shaw down the left flank, knowing that they can play the ball for the 28-year-old to run on to, and he can immediately whip a cross into the box without first slowing play down to cut back on his right foot. An average of 19.8 crosses per game is the sixth most at Euro 2024, with Southgate tasking his wide players with getting the ball into dangerous areas, and having Shaw down the left would only boost their chances of creating opportunities using this route to goal.
Considering England's struggles when it comes to chance creation at Euro 2024 - an average of eight key passes per game ranks 17th of the 24 teams to have taken part in the Euros - having Shaw marauding up the left flank would offer the Three Lions greater stability. His return to the starting XI could prove the difference between a semi-final exit and a place in Sunday's showpiece.
