Gareth Southgate should look to rest Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and Harry Maguire for England’s Euro 2020 quarter-final clash against Ukraine, according to Jose Mourinho.
The Three Lions beat Germany in a knockout tie at a major international tournament for the first time in 55 years on Tuesday to book their place in the last eight.
They now travel to Rome to take on Ukraine, who got past Sweden in the previous round, with Denmark or Czech Republic awaiting the winner of Saturday’s showdown.
Midfield duo Rice and Phillips have started in all four of England’s games at this summer’s tournament so far, while Harry Maguire returned from an ankle injury to star in the wins over Czech Republic and Germany.
But all three picked up bookings against Joachim Lowe’s side, meaning another yellow card would rule them out of the semi-final if England get there.
And Mourinho thinks the trio should be given a rest on Saturday to protect them against fatigue and a potential ban.
‘I’m so confident England will beat Ukraine that if I were in charge I would rest both Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips to save them for the semi-final,’ Mourinho told The Sun.
‘And Gareth Southgate shouldn’t stop there because he should also consider giving Harry Maguire a break so he can be key to the defence for the final week of the tournament.
‘All three are on yellow cards, and in the case of Maguire he is also lacking the same kind of preparation fitness-wise because of his injury.
‘He could easily be replaced by Tyrone Mings, who was so impressive in the first two games.
‘For Maguire, a rest will be perfect because it not only means he avoids a yellow card that would stop him playing the semi-final, but also means England do not accumulate fatigue in a player that didn’t prepare as well as the others have.
‘I would make three or four changes for this game even though it is a quarter-final, including the important defender and the two engines in midfield.
‘Obviously I’m looking from the outside and don’t have to work under the pressure of Gareth but I would say you don’t need Rice and Phillips to beat Ukraine.
‘At the most, one of them is needed but you have Jordan Henderson who is in the right condition to play and other younger players, fresh with the right conditions, desire and motivation to play
‘Rice and Phillips have been magnificent so far but look at the way they worked in the last match, and how Declan finished the game completely exhausted and with cramp in his legs.
‘Saturday’s semi-final will be much more difficult than the quarter-final.’
MORE : What time is England V Ukraine on Saturday? Date and how to watch it on TV and online
MORE : Jamie Redknapp tips England to recall Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount for Euro 2020 quarter-final
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