Although England have used four different full-backs, including Luke Shaw, so far, John Stones and Tyrone Mings have been Southgate’s preferred central combination and the backline is just one of three not to have been breached at the tournament, along with Italy and Sweden.
The manager has kept his cards close to his chest regarding his team selection for the third group game, although he has confirmed skipper Harry Kane will start.
Kane has faced criticism after two quiet performances, but Southgate is backing the 2018 World Cup winner to come up with the goods.
“I know there will be a lot of questions being asked about him at the moment but he has been through that 100 times before and I have answered that in this role several times in the past and he has come up with the goals that have won us the next games and I expect that to be the same moving forward,” the England boss said.
