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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
John Cross

Gareth Southgate to make tactical change as England plan to spring surprise on Iran

Gareth Southgate is ready to let the shackles off and go all-out attack in England's World Cup opener.

England boss Southgate is considering switching to a back four against Iran which would be a major departure from his tried and trusted formation with three defenders.

Southgate did suggest that he will rotate the team through the tournament and the heat conditions could also make it vital to make use of substitutes with five allowed during each match.

England boss Southgate said: “There is always some luck involved in injuries but we have to make sure we manage people correctly and make sure we minimise the difficult situations we could face. We have a lot of players in different physical moments.

“Some have played every game for the last couple of months. Some have played very few. Some are coming back from injury.

“So we are managing the training sessions individually for every player so they all get across the line. So we have had to push them for a couple of days, get them used to the heart and then for the last couple of days come right off them so they taper for the game.

Gareth Southgate is ready to let the shackles off and go all-out attack (AFP via Getty Images)

“We will have to continue to do that through the tournament and that is where the squad is so important. There is a slight condensed programme in the first four days and we have to make sure we take advantage of the squad we have got.”

Southgate confirmed that James Maddison will miss the Iran game having sat out the last three training sessions while Kyle Walker is training with the main group even though he is recovering from groin surgery last month.

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