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Carragher insists Southgate MUST abandon 3-4-3 to get the best out of England

  /  autty

Jamie Carragher believes that Gareth Southgate must abandon his 3-4-3 formation in order to get the best of his England side.

Southgate has often deployed a three-man defence in a bid to give his side more defensive solidity, but Carragher feels that the system creates a problem as it means that some of England's creative talents have to be left out.

Former England international Carragher has implored Southgate to play a four-man defence in order to get his team playing more cohesively.

England previously produced some impressive attacking displays under Southgate when they operated with a four-man defence, but they have found goals considerably harder to come by in some of their recent games.

Prior to the game against Iceland, England had mustered just three goals in five games in the Nations League - the same amount as their opponents. That is in stark contrast to qualification for Euro 2020, during which Southgate's team scored 37 goals in just eight matches.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: 'Everyone knows in international football you can't sign players, you've got what you've got.

'Southgate's setting his team up with three attacking players and seven defensive minded players. The strength of this team is the attack. At the moment in Kane and Sterling England have two of the best in Europe.

'But only one other player can play, Mount, Foden, Sancho, Rashford. That's the big question, why go to 3-4-3? We scored more goals than anyone in qualifying in 2019 and now we've only scored the same amount of goals as Iceland in the Nations League. This change to the system hasn't worked.'

Carragher suggested that Aston Villa star Jack Grealish could miss out on the starting lineup at Euro 2020 if the 3-4-3 system is persisted with.

Grealish often plays on the left flank but when the likes of Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford are available he may not be able to get into the England team.

Carragher said: 'I think Grealish is almost certain to get in the squad, but starting XI, I'm still not sure. I think in this system if everyone is fit, I don't think Grealish plays.

'I think it's to do with the players around him. Harry Kane needs pace around him. Sterling and Kane are the two first names on the teamsheet, Rashford isn't far away. If you go with this formation I don't think Grealish gets in the team.'

'It's no so much the system, it's about getting four attacking players in the team. Mount played deep against Ireland and he did really well. I think he's probably more suited to playing there than Grealish.'