With only one win and two goals in three games, England qualified for the UEFA Euro knockouts as the group winners. When all was said and done about the abysmal group C, the vitriol surrounding the English team had subsided to some extent. After England drew against Denmark, an outraged Rio Ferdinand called out the England coach Gareth Southgate for not utilizing the team’s talent.

“The talent we got on the pitch. The talent we got on the bench. Not being utilized outright. It’s disappointing,” said Ferdinand. However, the Manchester United legend has restored faith in the English squad’s prospects for the Euro. He thinks Gareth Southgate and Co. can still win the European tournament if he bets on England’s spectacular young core.

After England’s last night’s draw against Slovenia, Rio Ferdinand shared his picture from the stands on X, with a creative suggestion for Gareth Southgate. “If Kobbie[Mainoo] / [Cole] Palmer + [Anthony] Gordon start our next games…. We will go on & win this tournament,” Rio Ferdinand captioned his post on X.

“Trust The Fearless Youngsters Gareth,” the former Manchester United center-back added. Notably, while calling out England after its draw against Denmark, Ferdinand had pointed out that firebrands such as Mainoo and Palmer were warming the benches.

During the tie against Slovenia, Southgate summoned Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, and Anthony Gordon to galvanize the English midfield. The change was immediately seen, as the Three Lions came up with more potent attacks to round off the second half. Interestingly, Ferdinand is not the only English veteran pleased to see youngsters in the mix. A number of his former teammates now think England’s young core is the solution to their UEFA Euro struggles.

Gareth Southgate’s decision to use youngsters impresses English legends

English pundits were busy giving their hot takes about the Three Lions’ outing on ITV, last night. Gary Neville, Roy Keane, and Jamie Carragher think it was right of Gareth Southgate to summon Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo in the second half. “Palmer has the X-factor. Every time he gets the ball, he tries something,” said Roy Keane.

Neville opined that Mainoo brought a significant balance to the English midfield and Palmer proved impactful in the second half. While Carragher slammed England’s lackluster show, he pointed out that Palmer’s performance stood out.

Meanwhile, Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou urged Southgate to cease to protect England’s youngsters. The Greek manager wants the English boss to unleash young blood in the mix and make the best of the remaining games. England’s opponents for the Round of 16 remain ambiguous at the moment. Fans will get a picture once all the group games are completed. There is a chance for England to draw against heavyweights such as the Netherlands or Belgium.

If Southgate relies on the same strategy he exhibited in the group games, England’s campaign might go southwards. But with such an elite young talent pool in-house, England still looks like a supreme contender for the European silverware.