England stars who could be suspended for semi-finals if they beat Switzerland

On Saturday evening, England will face Switzerland for a place in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.

It’s a scenario that any England fan would have considered before the tournament, but the context is certainly very different given what happened in Germany this summer. As the Three Lions battled their way into the quarter-finals, Murat Yakin’s outfit was one of the most impressive.

Tactically astute, consistent and with key players playing at their best, Switzerland are undoubtedly England’s toughest opponents at Euro 2024 so far.

Despite all this, the Three Lions have been presented with a huge chance of reaching another Euro final. They may not deserve it, but Gareth Southgate’s side have a pulse and there is hope that their late turnaround in the last 16 will galvanise this group of players.

Despite their problems, England have a good chance of reaching the top four, but several of their players will be teetering on the edge of yellow cards on Saturday.

Five England players are on the verge of suspension for a potential semi-final. Conor Gallagher, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Kieran TrippierAND Kobbie Mainoo They each received one yellow card at Euro 2024.

Two yellow cards before the end of the quarter-finals result in a one-match suspension.

Three of those names are expected to be named in Southgate’s starting XI on Saturday, so they will need to be very careful. Bellingham and Foden are set to play behind Harry Kane, while Mainoo, who was booked early in the last-16 clash with Slovakia, is expected to keep his place alongside Declan Rice in midfield, with the England manager potentially moving to a three-man defence.

Trippier is a fitness risk and may not feature at all on Saturday, while the state of play will determine whether Gallagher receives minutes off the bench.

Southgate was forced to change his approach to defending ahead of the quarter-finals after Marc Guehiwho was arguably England’s best international in Germany, received his second yellow card at Euro 2024 in his last 16 matches.

Guehi was forced to respond after a mistake from Trippier, with the Crystal Palace defender receiving his second yellow card in two matches this tournament.

In his place, Southgate is expected to field Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa alongside John Stones and Kyle Walker in a three-at-back formation.

Thankfully, Saturday’s match will be the last time England players will have to teeter on the brink of yellow cards.

After the quarter-finals, the roster is wiped, meaning no players can be suspended for the final due to yellow cards.

If England manage to beat Switzerland on Saturday, they will face either the Netherlands or Turkey in the semi-finals.

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