RIO FERDINAND and Joe Cole picked their England XIs after working as pundits on Chelsea’s 3-0 win over AC Milan.
The Blues’ dominant victory saw Three Lions regular Reece James put in another brilliant performance at right-back, even getting himself on the scoresheet.
Both pundits agreed that they would start James over Trent Alexander-Arnold for England – and the BT Sport crew couldn’t resist going through their entire line-ups.
The duo each selected very attacking teams, although did NOT agree on the formation.
Ferdinand, 43, wants Gareth Southgate to deploy a 4-1-2-1-2 formation – with injury doubt Kyle Walker part of a defensive duo alongside Manchester City team-mate John Stones and Chelsea full-backs James and Ben Chilwell.
Should Walker, who has just undergone surgery on a groin injury, miss the tournament – Rio would replace him with James and play Alexander-Arnold at right-back.
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Cole, on the other hand, favours a back three approach – with Walker to the right of John Stones, and either Luke Shaw or Ben White to his left.
The Blues legend would like to see Bukayo Saka given another go at left wing-back, with James on the right.
Ferdinand wants to see Declan Rice deployed at the base of an extremely attacking midfield diamond.
To the West Ham star’s right he would deploy Jude Bellingham and to his left Phil Foden – with Jack Grealish at the point of the midfield.
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Cole, meanwhile, would play a more conventional midfield two comprising of Rice and Bellingham.
Ferdinand’s team is completed by a front two including Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling – while he also admitted that Saka could “easily” come into his XI as well.
Kane and Sterling also feature in Cole’s team, albeit with the latter on the left flank instead of up front.
While Foden would be the 40-year-old’s right winger.
Cole then claimed that Grealish would be his first substitute, with Ferdinand flabbergasted.
The ex-defender queried: “Grealish don’t start in your team?”
After a moment of awkward silence Cole meekly replied “no” – leaving the whole studio in stitches.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
