Aston Villa duo expected to miss out for England

It is expected that both Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins will start this evening's Euro 2024 semi-final on the substitutes bench.

Despite a very impressive performance in the quarter-final, Konsa is likely to be restored to the bench as Marc Guehi returns from suspension. Konsa didn't put a foot wrong in the 78 minutes he played against Switzerland but with Guehi being a more natural left-sided centre-half it would make sense for Gareth Southgate to revert back to playing the Crystal Palace defender. Should he not start the game it will feel like a slight kick in the teeth for Konsa after such an impressive performance in the previous game but he can keep his head held high having shown the world how good he is (of course all Villa fans knew that already!).

One of England's biggest problems this tournament has lied at the feet of record goal scorer Harry Kane. The Bayern Munich forward, who has scored 65 goals for his country, has been in very poor form since England's first game against Serbia and many have called for Southgate to replace him with Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney.

Kane missed the final handful of games last season for Bayern Munich due to a back injury picked up during their Champions League semi-final defeat to Real Madrid. As a result, it appears as though Kane has come into the tournament unfit and out of form. Despite scoring twice this tournament, Kane's persistence to drop deep and not press from the front has caused issues for the team. Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney have both been bright when introduced as substitutes at different times during the tournament and can be considered unlucky to have not had more game time.

Being England's all-time leading goal scorer does however mean it is very unlikely you will be replaced, but England fans will hope that Southgate will be willing to change things should Kane be finding difficult to influence the game once more this evening.

Predicted line-up:

Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier, Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Foden, Bellingham, Kane

UTV