The 32: Trevor Sinclair on the 'brave' changes England should make against Sweden
England should make changes for their crunch World Cup quarter final against Sweden, Trevor Sinclair told ‘The 32’ this morning.
The Three Lions face their most important match in decades as they look to reach their first World Cup semi final in 28 years.
And former England midfielder Sinclair, who returned to The 32 sofa to preview the match, said Southgate shouldn’t feel ‘too loyal’ to the players who have got him this far.
England were put through extra time and penalties against Colombia just four days ago, whereas Sweden won in 90 minutes the day before.
Sinclair told Yahoo’s World Cup show Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Marcus Rashford and Danny Rose should replace Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli and Ashley Young in the starting line-up.
He said: ‘I feel Loftus-Cheek needs to be playing. I’m a massive Raheem (Sterling) fan, but he hasn’t kicked a ball at this World Cup, for me, when you consider what he did at Manchester City last season.
‘Dele Alli is injured, so I wouldn’t play him, and I’d also play (Danny) Rose.
‘With him being left-footed, he defends a bit better and opens the pitch up when the ball comes out from the goalkeeper or the other side of the pitch.
‘If he does make those changes, I think we can win this game quite comfortably.
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‘Loyalty does come into it – Southgate might feel too loyal to Raheem and to Dele, and if that is the case, we could struggle.’
Manchester City forward Sterling has found his position in the England team under scrutiny, having failed to replicate his goalscoring club form last season so far out in Russia.
Southgate could decide make changes for the showdown against the Swedes in Samara – with Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford one option for the frontline.