How do England replace Marc Guehi? Gareth Southgate needs to consider formation change vs Switzerland in Euro 2024 quarter-final after losing key defender to suspension

Konsa is shaping up as the frontrunner to replace Guehi. He is the only defender to have come off the bench at the tournament, when he got 15 minutes in extra-time against Slovakia as England sought to protect their lead.

His previous two England starts have been at right-back, but most of Konsa's career has been at centre-back, even though half of his appearances for Aston Villa last season were at full-back.

The 26-year-old did a decent enough job at left-back against Slovakia and is a reliable option due to his speed and strength. However, he is conservative with his passing and will not solve England's problems of being ponderous in possession.

Liverpool defender Gomez snuck back into the England squad in March after four years away after staging a renaissance for his club, filling in expertly for Andrew Robertson at left-back. But despite his recent experience out wide and England's shortage of options in that position, he has mysteriously not played a minute of football in Germany.

Guehi's suspension opens up a spot for him as the left-sided centre-back and his experience at left-back could give him an edge over Konsa, who has usually operated as a right centre-back.

Brighton captain Dunk is the best ball-playing centre-back left in the England squad and could raise the team's overall level due to his ability to bait the press and play adventurous balls forward. The problem he has is that he has lacked consistency over the last year for his club, while in two of his last three outings for England, he has made mistakes leading to a goal.

Dunk would take risks with the ball that other players are afraid to take and it could pay off. However, the knockout stage is not the time to take such risks.

Manchester City defender Walker has been another of England's best performers at the Euros, even if he made some mistakes against Slovakia.

Walker is the most experienced defender in the squad and his speed and strength make him worthy of consideration as a centre-back. He could partner his City team-mate John Stones or form a back three, with either Trent Alexander-Arnold or Trippier, if fit, taking his place on the right of the back line.

This is not as mad as it sounds... Rice played in defence on occasion for West Ham and Mikel Arteta deployed him as an experimental centre-back in Arsenal's 1-1 draw at PSV in December. He was impressed with how his record signing did in the unfamiliar role, too.

"He has a lot of composure on the ball, he wins a lot of duels for a player of his size and he has done it in the past. He is a good option," Arteta explained after Rice barely put a foot wrong in his 35 minutes at the heart of the defence, winning all his duels, recovering the ball four times and completing 35 out of 36 passes attempted.

It would, however, be a leftfield option and one Southgate is highly unlikely to take due to Rice's status as England's most reliable holding midfielder, not to mention his lack of regular experience at centre-back.

Switching formations in a quarter-final tie might seem risky, but the truth is that England persisting with their stale formation and style would be an even bigger gamble, one unlikely to end well against Switzerland.

Guehi's absence gives Southgate the perfect excuse to revert to the 3-5-2/3-4-3 shape that has served England well at past tournaments, allowing him to deploy Walker and Stones together in the back three alongside Gomez, who should get the nod as the left-sided centre-back due to his recent experience at left-back with Liverpool.

Bringing Walker inside would bolster the defence, which looked shaky against Slovakia when pressed and will be more vulnerable without Guehi. Trippier or Alexander-Arnold could then return to playing on the right side as a wing-back, with Luke Shaw on the left if he is finally fit to start. If he is not, then Bukayo Saka can deputise there instead.

With England finally solving their left-side problem with the return of Shaw and Gomez behind him, Phil Foden could sit on the left of midfield with Rice and Jude Bellingham, with Cole Palmer partnering Harry Kane up front.