JEFF STELLING shockingly dropped THREE of England’s biggest names when selecting who he would pick for their opening game of the Euros.
The Three Lions get their tournament underway on Sunday when they take on Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.
Manager Gareth Southgate is tipped to go with Jordan Pickford in goal and a back four of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guehi and Kieran Trippier – due to Harry Maguire missing out through injury and Luke Shaw only just returning to the fold.
Yet the first of Sky Sports legend Stelling’s controversial decisions is to omit Manchester City man Stones for Brighton’s Lewis Dunk due to the physicality he believes Serbia possess.
Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, he said: “Serbia are the biggest team in the tournament, the tallest team in the tournament.
“They are going to be physical, they are going to be aggressive.
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“John Stones has picked up a knock, he’s not physical, he’s not aggressive, so I’ve put Lewis Dunk in there.”
Stelling made no comments about England’s midfield – which Trent Alexander-Arnold is being tipped to be included in alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.
But up front former Soccer Saturday icon Stelling then makes two more massive calls.
He opts to drop both Arsenal star Bukayo Saka and Premier League Player of the Year Phil Foden.
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Stelling, who sticks with Harry Kane to lead the line, replaces the two wide men tipped to start the tournament with Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer and Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon.
He added: “My front three is going to be a bit controversial. I’m going to pick [Cole] Palmer just ahead of Bukayo Saka.
“Saka’s had a bit of a knock, not quite back up to 100 per cent, I think Palmer showed enough against Iceland.
“Palmer, [Harry] Kane and Anthony Gordon, who I thought was our biggest threat for [the] most part of the night.
“He has been in brilliant form, and everyone’s going to batter me because there is no Phil Foden there.
“But Foden, four goals in 34 games for England. I think Gareth Southgate and his staff are scratching their heads as to how to get the best out of Phil Foden for England.”
Reacting to Stelling’s picks, one fan replied: “You guys should call your IT department ASAP. Somebody hacked Stelling’s computer and published his England starting 11 without Foden.”
While another added: “There is no universe where Gordon should start over Foden.”
And a third responded: “That CB pairing will lose us this tournament. Defence is shocking.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
