What are we going with for the starting XI on Sunday then?
I'm going 4-2-3-1
Pickford
James / Walker / Stones / Shaw
Bellingham / Rice
Foden / Mount / Grealish
Kane
I think we have an immensely talented squad - probably the best attacking options and pure talent we've ever had. Sadly, the defence and keeper options are not the best, but we may be able to get by, but I suspect that the defence may be out undoing. We've seen dull sides like Italy and Greece win tournaments almost purely on their organised and brilliant defence and keeper as they've thwarted more talented and attacking sides. Not often do we see teams win tournaments solely based on their attacking talent - yes, we've seen some great attacking sides win tournaments, but they've pretty much all had solid defences.
If we can get through the group stages and get Maguire and Henderson back and near fully fit, we massively improve our defensive options and, if we do that, out attacking options are as good as any. Even with a shaky defence, we really should get out of a group easily against an ageing but talented Croatia team, an improving and better than usual, but ultimately average Scotland team and an average Czech team - especially as all of our games at home.
For me against Croatia, I'm going for the Man City CB options of Stones and Walker as they player together there, albeit in a three. I'm not convinced fully with Walker as a CB in a two, but think his experience puts him above the talented but inexperienced Coady and White and walking disaster, Mings. Our FBs are probably the best picks in the world and you could pick any two from about 6, but I'm going for the best defensive two IMO, given the weakness at CB until Maguire returns, but you could easily go with Trieppiar on that front. Rice, Mount and Kane are gimmes in the central positions, I'm going for the in form Foden and Grealish either side of Mount as they are so exciting and creative. Ideally, I might want a Rashford and Sterling in there with their express pace - especially against some of the ageing Croats - but I think Foden, Mouth and Grealish are more talented, and all of them and Kane are hardly slouches, so I'll happily start with them, but I wouldn't be afraid, if I'm GS, to sling on Rashford, Sterling and/or Sancho pretty early.
Touching wood for that 3 point start which makes life so much easier for us.