Friday 20 May 2016 11:42, UK
Paul Merson believes Roy Hodgson's decision to only take three centre-backs to Euro 2016 could hurt England's chances.
Hodgson named a 26-man squad earlier this week, which will be cut to 23 after the friendlies with Turkey on Sunday and Australia next Friday.
Among the squad are seven defenders, but only three centre-backs in the shape of Gary Cahill, John Stones and Chris Smalling.
"You have to take four centre-backs," said former England and Arsenal midfielder Merson on The Fantasy Football Club podcast.
"It's not good. People will say that Eric Dier could play at centre-half, but he can't. If he played regularly for Tottenham at centre-half then he could do it for England.
"You don't want to put makeshift centre-halves in for the semi-finals of the Euros to mark Cristiano Ronaldo or someone like that, they will tear you apart. You have to take four centre-halves. This could come back and bite him (Hodgson)."
England will submit their final 23-man squad on May 31, a week before the players leave for France.
Merson thinks Hodgson should consider leaving behind one of the 12 midfielders he has selected.
"Jordan Henderson and Jack Wilshere have been injured, you can't take both of them," he said. "We have got eight midfielders in there who are all the same."
Asked which three players he would drop from the squad, he said: "Fabian Delph, Henderson and one of the full-backs."
