Luke Shaw will start for England against Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on Sunday in something of a surprise move from manager Gareth Southgate.
Kieran Trippier has started all the games so far, either at left-back or left wing-back, with Shaw not fit at the start of the campaign.
The Manchester United man came off the bench against Switzerland in the quarter-finals and Netherlands in the semi-finals and is now getting his first start of the tournament in the final.
Trippier was expected to keep hold of his starting place, despite being replaced by Shaw at half-time against the Dutch, but Southgate is backing the Red Devils star to handle the huge occasion from the start.
Shaw scored England’s goal in the last European Championship final, opening the scoring early against Italy at Wembley, with the Three Lions eventually losing on penalties.
Coming into the tournament Shaw had not played since February due to a hamstring problem but Southgate gambled on including him in his squad.
Asked ahead of the final if he is now capable of playing 90, or even 120 minutes, Shaw said: ‘It’s a case of taking it as it comes. I said before the semis that I was ready to go – and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.’
On the potential of going one step further than England managed at Euro 2020, Shaw said: ‘It would mean everything. I think the bond we have here is extremely special. It’s not one I’ve been a part of before.
‘I think everyone is so together, everyone is really close and it feels like a big family and for all of us to win it together would be, of course, a very special feeling.’
The 29-year-old will be at left wing-back, with Bukayo Saka on the opposite flank and the three centre-backs of Kyle Walker, John Stones and Marc Guehi in front of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
The box midfield continues with Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in the middle of the pitch behind Harry Kane.
The entire squad is fit, so all the players not involved in the starting XI will be hoping to get an opportunity from the bench in Berlin.
England team vs Spain: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Shaw, Foden, Bellingham, Kane.