Ferdinand has given some advice to Southgate (Picture: Getty)
Rio Ferdinand has revealed the front six players he believes should start for England at Euro 2024.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate boasts an enviable collection of talent, not least in the forward areas, with the sheer number of options available likely to give him sleepless nights between now and the start of the tournament.
And now Ferdinand, who was covering Manchester City’s Champions League win over Copenhagen for TNT Sports, has shared the six players he feels are best suited to guide England to the title of European Champions this summer.
‘Saka right, Kane up front,’ Ferdinand said without hesitation.
‘The left is tough man. Grealish is injured now. Rashford hasn’t been in form.’
The former Manchester United defender was then pushed to give a definitive answer by Joleon Lescott, who was keen to know who Ferdinand would start if everyone was fit.
Rashford has endured a difficult season at Manchester United (Picture: Getty)
‘If everyone’s fit and flying Rashford plays for me on the left,’ Ferdinand added.
Lescott agreed with Ferdinand’s assessment that Kane, Saka and Rashford is his preferred front three to lead the England front line this summer.
Lescott said: ‘I think everyone thinks you can get it wrong and say ‘well if you’re picking him then you don’t rate the other one.’
‘I don’t think that’s the case. I think there’s so much talent.’
Ferdinand was then asked who he believes should occupy the No 10 role should Southgate elect to line up his players in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
And it was Manchester City star Phil Foden who was given the nod by Ferdinand, who earlier in the night had starred for Pep Guardiola’s men in the 3-1 win in the Danish capital.
The two pundits agreed that Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice would form the midfield pairing in the middle of the park.
Lescott insisted that the duo, who moved clubs for a combined fee of over £200m last summer, would simply ‘figure it out between them’.
Foden has been backed for a starting spot by Ferdinand (Picture: Getty)
Ferdinand concluded by cheekily pleading with Southgate to pick his suggested front six when he comes around to naming his squad later this year.
Ferdinand quipped: ‘If Gareth needs any help deciding that I’m here – I’ll go on a Zoom call, I’ll even come around your house and that’s your front six please!’
England begin their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on June 16, with their other group fixtures against Denmark and Slovenia taking place on June 20 and June 25 respectively.
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