Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United defender, believes that a more strategic move by Gareth Southgate to deploy Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer earlier in the match could have provided England with better control against Serbia.
In their Euro 2024 opener, England secured a 1-0 victory, with Jude Bellingham’s well-executed header in the 13th minute sealing the win for the Three Lions.
Despite the early lead, England struggled to maintain control in the second half, leading to crucial saves by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the final minutes.
Southgate made a late substitution, bringing on Conor Gallagher with 20 minutes remaining and introducing Mainoo in the 86th minute, while Palmer, the Chelsea midfielder, did not see any playing time.
Reflecting on the match, Ferdinand shared his thoughts with BBC One, stating, “The game required more composure. Players like Kobbie Mainoo could have been brought on earlier if necessary.”
He further added, “Additionally, someone like Cole Palmer, with his confidence and assertiveness, could have made a difference by demanding the ball, similar to how Tadic impacted the game for Serbia by providing an outlet for his team.”