Postecoglou: Southgate must play players in their preferred positions or risk backfiring

Recently, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou appeared on the ITV studio to analyze England’s struggles in the ongoing Euros and advised Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate to “play his players in their strongest positions.”

Southgate has faced criticism for his selection decisions in the first two group-stage matches, with questions raised about the form of players like Alexander-Arnold, Trippier, and Foden. Postecoglou, no stranger to the pressures of international football, insisted that a more settled starting XI would benefit the current England squad.

Postecoglou commented, “England’s setups have been quite adventurous. In a major tournament with such high expectations, you’re always going to get polarized opinions regardless of the outcome. I think when you represent your country, there needs to be more stability. While adventurous formations can work, I don’t believe England is at that level yet, and the players seem to be aware of that.”

He offered a piece of advice to Southgate: “I’d like to see England players start from their natural positions – midfielders in midfield, wingers on the wings. That’s fundamental. It would help bring some consistency.”

Despite England topping Group C, Postecoglou warned that resting on their laurels based on previous performances could be unwise. He said, “Experience counts significantly in these situations. But I think the key is to keep moving forward. Even with four points, qualification isn’t guaranteed. Players need to be relaxed and confident, and if there’s complacency from top to bottom at any moment, that advantage can slip away.”