Jack Wilshere names his England XI to face Serbia in Euro 2024 opener, including Kyle Walker in an unfamiliar position, and urges Gareth Southgate's side to 'go for goals'

Jack Wilshere has named an attacking line-up for his ideal England team to face Serbia in their opening Euro 2024 game on Sunday night.

Gareth Southgate's side open their campaign in Gelsenkirchen, with Denmark and Slovenia also in Group C, as the Three Lions look to book their place in the knockout stages, having reached the final at the last European Championships three years ago.

Ex-Arsenal icon Wilshere, 32, who earned 34 England caps between 2010 and 2016, has chosen who he would pick to start alongside captain Harry Kane against Serbia, including placing defender Kyle Walker in an unusual position.

Wilshere told The Sun that Trent Alexander-Arnold should be Southgate's choice at right-back, moving Walker to centre-back.

'If you play Trent at right-back and he drifts in midfield, he can switch the play at speed,' Wilshere noted. 'Walker’s pace will get you out of trouble.'

Jordan Pickford takes his place in goal, with John Stones partnering Walker in the heart of defence, and Kieran Trippier on the left. 

It remains to be seen whether Stones will be involved against Serbia, after a sickness bug ruled him out of training on Wednesday, and left the Man City star confined to his room to prevent the illness from spreading through the England camp. 

Declan Rice is named as England's one holding midfielder, with Man City's Phil Foden and Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham tasked with attacking midfield roles.

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard previously struggled to co-exist in a similar set-up for England, but while they were both right-footed, Foden prioritises his left. 

'Naturally Bellingham will play closer to Kane, making those runs and hopefully scoring those goals that he has for Real', Wilshere said.

'Maybe Foden will play a bit lower with the ball and can feed him.' 

Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka are named as wing threats on either side of captain Kane at the top of the pitch. 

Wilshere said: 'In the group stage against teams we should beat, we can afford to be more expansive, let’s attack.

'It wasn’t that long ago we were saying we didn’t have the Spanish-type of players who can dominate the ball, now we have.

'So let’s try to utilise that, dominate the ball and go for goals.'

England's opener against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday night is followed by the Denmark clash in Frankfurt on Thursday evening, before the final group stage game in Cologne on June 25 against Slovenia. 

Southgate's side are among the favourites to win the tournament, which begins on Friday night in Munich when hosts Germany face-off against Scotland.