Mirror Football readers have had their say on the England starting XI for Wednesday night's World Cup semi-final against Argentina, and the average lineup does not include Ezri Konsa. The defender was overlooked despite his performances in the quarter-final victory over Norway.
Defensive dilemma against Messi
England face the monumental task of containing Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. The readers' chosen defence reflects the need for experience and solidity, with Konsa missing out. The exact defensive lineup remains a topic of debate among fans and pundits alike.
Midfield concerns: Rice's fitness
Declan Rice's availability is a major talking point after he was confined to bed for three days with sickness. He managed only 45 minutes in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway. Despite this, the average fan XI still includes Rice in midfield, indicating confidence in his recovery.
Mainoo overlooked
Kobbie Mainoo has yet to earn a spot in the fans' preferred lineup. The young midfielder remains on the periphery, with supporters opting for more established names in the middle of the park.
How the fans voted
The Mirror Football poll allowed readers to select their starting side, with the average XI calculated from thousands of responses. The results show a clear preference for a pragmatic approach against Argentina's attacking threat.
Further reading: The mentality monsters semi-final: How England can finally kill off Argentina's World Cup defence; Argentina will be England's ultimate test in one of football's biggest rivalries; England v Argentina: How scared of Lionel Messi are you?; England 2-1 Norway: Three things we noticed – Tuchel tweaks and semi-final fear.
