Palmer a 'must’? Time for Gordon? – what next for ‘archaic’ England

England return connected Switzerland successful nan quarter-finals of Euro 2024 connected Saturday (17.00 BST) pinch much questions than answers fixed their capacity successful nan tourney truthful far.

A mostly underwhelming group shape - albeit 1 successful which they vanished apical of their excavation - was followed by a mediocre commencement to nan knockout stages.

England managed to scrape past Slovakia successful nan past 16 connected Sunday, but were a matter of seconds distant from an embarrassing exit earlier Jude Bellingham produced a infinitesimal of brilliant to support them successful nan competition.

With nan input of BBC Football's pundits we analyse nan cardinal issues facing head Gareth Southgate earlier their showdown pinch nan Swiss astatine nan Dusseldorf Arena.

Former England striker Gary Lineker believes England are "distinct 2nd favourites" against Switzerland aft a capacity against Slovakia which he felt was "a spot archaic astatine times".

Southgate guided England to nan semi-finals of nan World Cup successful 2018 past nan last of Euro 2020, but overmuch of that goodwill appears to person disintegrated.

There were rumblings of discontent during nan 2022 World Cup successful Qatar, wherever England mislaid to eventual runners-up France successful nan quarter-finals.

Now nan England manager's tactical attack and style of play - or, indeed, deficiency of it - person been much wide criticised by pundits and fans.

"I saw a squad which are for illustration mislaid souls. They don't look to cognize what they are doing aliases really nan squad should beryllium playing," Lineker told nan Rest Is Football podcast he hosts pinch Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.

"The style is alien to astir of them. I consciousness for nan players a small bit. They are trying truthful hard, but they look a small spot lost.

"It must beryllium tactical, it must beryllium instructions because nan players are playing otherwise to really they are used. It's baffling."

Ex-England striker Shearer said England were "so bad it was untrue" against Slovakia and it was "desperation stuff" astatine times successful Gelsenkirchen from a squad which request to "massively amended each complete nan park" against Switzerland.

He added: "There is truthful overmuch much to beryllium had from this England team. Would it beryllium incorrect to opportunity they person been rotten isolated from 30 minutes?"

Richards does not judge location is simply a speedy hole arsenic England's "overall play needs a batch of work" and they are "tactically a mile off".

"What are we trying to do? I don’t cognize what nan connection is coming from Southgate and that is worrying," he said.

"Tactically it was crying retired for wingers [against Slovakia]. Anthony Gordon would person been perfect.

"Maybe we are a moments team, wherever we take sides heavy and trust connected a infinitesimal of genius. Maybe we person to judge that. That’s what nan head is – and if he wins nan tourney playing for illustration this, past we will opportunity ok."

Striker Harry Kane popped up pinch nan extremity which yet booked England's spot successful nan past eight.

He has now scored 14 goals astatine awesome tournaments pinch only 4 European players netting much than him – Cristiano Ronaldo (22), Miroslav Klose (19), Gerd Muller (18) and Jurgen Klinsmann (16).

However, nan Bayern Munich striker's all-round publication has seen his spot successful nan broadside travel nether accrued scrutiny.

Danny Murphy, who won 9 caps for England, claimed Kane "is still a small spot disconnected his best".

"He has group himself a really precocious bar, his nexus up play is usually really good, but things aren’t rather moving for him," added Murphy.

"The options we person connected nan chair seemed for illustration precisely what we needed successful nan game. We were each crying retired for a change."

Kane managed 28 touches successful 105 minutes against Slovakia while Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who came connected successful nan 94th minute, managed 22 touches successful conscionable 30 minutes including nan assistance for England's winner.

Lineker believes nan 30-year-old mightiness find things reliable against Switzerland.

"Kane's activity isn't overmuch astatine nan moment, he is being near isolated astir of nan time," Lineker said.

"Switzerland play 3 astatine nan backmost and Harry Kane has already said England struggle against that."

Ex-Manchester City defender Richards blamed nan deficiency of work for nan England skipper and said it was a "a tactical issue" and "not a Kane issue".

"I cognize we person criticised Kane, but he has nary 1 putting nan shot into nan box. No 1 is getting to nan byline to make trim backs," he explained.

"Sometimes you driblet a spot deeper to get connected nan shot but we request nan shot higher up."

Cole Palmer was 1 of England's shape players coming into Euro 2024 having enjoyed a stellar run pinch Chelsea.

He scored 22 times successful past season's Premier League pinch 11 assists which meant he had 33 extremity involvements successful 34 convention appearances.

The 22-year-old has, though, featured sporadically for nan Three Lions successful nan tourney pinch conscionable 2 appearances and a expansive full of 73 minutes.

Shearer would "definitely bring Palmer in" against Switzerland while Lineker believes nan winger has shown nan benignant of "swagger" to thrive connected nan large stage.

For Murphy, he is nan "one England subordinate who is taking nan astir risks" during what galore person considered a alternatively blimpish attack from Southgate.

He said: "He is nan bravest connected nan ball, arsenic if to opportunity 'I don’t mind trying things and if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen'.

"Some of nan different England players are overthinking things but Cole Palmer isn't and that is nan measurement he has played each season.

"He has to commencement nan adjacent game. For immoderate of nan players coming in, location is nary pressure."

Southgate's broadside person conceded 2 goals successful 4 games truthful acold astatine Euro 2024, but moreover successful defence nan England leader has caller nutrient for thought.

Full-back Kieran Trippier took a sound to his limb successful nan 2nd half against Slovakia and had to beryllium withdrawn, leaving Bukayo Saka to capable successful astatine left-back.

The Three Lions will decidedly beryllium without Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, who will service a one-match suspension aft picking up a 2nd yellowish paper of nan tournament.

England's protect show against Slovakia was "all complete nan place" according to Murphy who fears if they "play amended opposition" they will beryllium "in a world of trouble".

Shearer said it will beryllium "fascinating really England header pinch 3 up beforehand for nan Swiss" and called for Ezri Konsa to travel successful for nan banned Guehi pinch Luke Shaw astatine left-back.

Richards wants to spot Trent Alexander-Arnold astatine right-back pinch Kyle Walker switched to nan near flank.

Lineker is much broadly concerned pinch nan mode successful which England's backmost statement operated against Slovakia, and its effect connected nan remainder of nan side.

"The defence were very deep, we person a subordinate successful John Stones who likes to travel guardant but he was deep," he added.

"Then [England have] 2 midfielders, often arsenic heavy arsenic nan backmost four. Then a immense spread to Bellingham and Kane. They were truthful dispersed retired it was intolerable to play passing football.

"They weren’t cohesive, location were disjointed, they were unbalanced. It was arsenic though they had conscionable met each other."