Southgate to make changes for Wales clash

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epa10328481 England manager Gareth Southgate and his coaching staff before the FIFA World Cup 2022 group B soccer match between England and the USA at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, 25 November 2022. EPA/Neil Hall


England manager Gareth Southgate looks set to make a few changes to his team as they prepare to face Wales in their next World Cup Group B clash on Tuesday.

Southgate chose the same starting lineup for last week’s games against Iran and the U.S., but he is likely to change things up for Tuesday’s game against Wales, which is the last game in the group.

If England wins at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Southgate’s team will finish first in Group B and move on to the round of 16.

England was booed off the field after their 0-0 draw with the U.S. last Friday. They played slowly, which was very different from their 6-2 win over Iran in their first game.

It has led to more calls for new players, like Manchester City’s Phil Foden, to be put in the starting lineup. Some have even suggested that captain Harry Kane could be rested while he recovers from a minor foot injury.

“We’ve got to balance freshness with stability and that’s always the decision you make when you’re picking a team,” Southgate told a news conference on Tuesday.

“We’ve got a chance to win the group with a positive result. There’s a lot resting on the game for both teams.

“We’re going to pick a team that we believe can win the game. That’s our priority always.

“We’re at a major tournament. It’s not about giving caps out. We’re here to try and go as far as we possibly can.”

Photo by EPA/Neil Hall