England are ready to play a friendly against Ivory Coast as part of World Cup preparation. The Three Lions have already qualified for the Qatar World Cup 2022. In the Qualifiers, England were on the top of the table in Group I. They earned 26 points from ten games. As a result, The Three Lions booked their place in the FIFA World Cup. However, tonight they will welcome Ivory Coast at the Wembley Stadium. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams in any competition.
Recent Form
In the FIFA Men’s Ranking, England are standing on 5th. They are playing attacking football under the manager Gareth Southgate. England’s last defeat was in the Euro final against Italy. Since then, they have played eight matches and didn’t lose one. Moreover, the three lions have scored 31 goals. England also won their most recent match by a 2-1 margin against Switzerland. So, it is clear that the Southgate boys are having a very decent time in football.
Team News
Gareth Southgate, the England manager, is likely to make several changes ahead of the Tuesday clash at Wembley. According to Sky Sports, the manager might change ten players to test the strength of the bench. Only Ben White may start today against Ivory Coast. West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice will start tonight, according to manager Gareth Southgate. However, the manager preferred to play with a back-four. England have been playing with three center-backs. But tonight, the manager may change the formation as well.
Manager’s View
The England manager has talked about the plan for Tuesday’s clash against Ivory Coast. He wants to see how young players cope with the national team. While talking to the media, Gareth Southgate said,
Whenever we bring players into the squad, it is great to see how they cope. Sometimes, it isn’t about the opposition quality. Sometimes, it is about the weight of an England shirt and whether they can cope. I thought all of the players who came in did really well (against Switzerland). That was positive. I hope we have an environment where all the players feel comfortable and can be the best version of themselves. A lot of that is down to the environment they have created. We have super characters; when younger players come in, the older ones are sitting with them at mealtimes, helping them feel relaxed and at ease.