Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher thinks Gareth Southgate would be correct to play a back four in England’s World Cup opener against Iran.
The Three Lions kick off their tournament in Qatar against Carlos Quieroz’s side on Monday afternoon.
It is the second game of the World Cup after the hosts were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Ecuador on Sunday.
There have been some reports coming out saying Southgate will play a back four with his side going in as clear favourites.
This is definitely a decision ex-England international Jamie Carragher can get behind.
“I think [a back four is a good idea], because of the nature of the opposition,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“I think it will be a game where England have a lot of possession and it will be a case of whether they can break Iran down.
“I expect them to do so, but I don’t think it will be a game they win three or four-nil. I think it will still be a tight game, made really difficult by Carlos Quieroz, who notoriously sets his teams up as hard to play against.
“I’m pleased Gareth has gone with the extra attacking player and I think, in the knockout rounds – if England get through, which I think they will – they will go back to a back three, considering the opposition they will come up against.
“I think that’s a strength of England under Gareth Southgate; they are flexible as a team and I think it helps that, when you go into big games, the opposition don’t know exactly what you going to do going into that game.”
