England's centre-halves could not have asked for a better shield than what Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and others have provided them at Euro 2020.They have slowed down the opposition and covered the ground very well. However, they have also been systematic in their play and aggressive when necessary, as they were against Germany in 16.You want to be a defender. They are a great example of what I love about boys. They know their roles and don't care about being the best.Declan is a good friend of mine. I have spoken with Kalvin on several occasions.They are willing to do their jobs for the team, and they can be praised by someone else - provided we get the right results.They are happy to be part of the England team and have a strong determination that allows them to make an impact at this tournament.They are being appreciated for their contributions to the side. But they are not alone who should be credited for keeping us clean in every game so far.Euro 2020: The same gameplan has been in place since the beginning - RiceDifferent defenders lead to the same endGareth Southgate deserves the greatest compliment for England's impeccable defensive record at Euro 2020. It is not due to any one player.This is evident in the fact that our back personnel has changed in each of the four games and that we have used a different form for three.England's formation and defenders at Euro 2020 Game Formation RB/RWB/CB CB/CB CB LB/LWB Croatia 4-3-3 Walker Stones Mings Trippier Scotland 4-5-3 James Stones Mings Shaw Czech Republic 4-6-3-1 Walker Stones Maguire Shaw Germany 3-6-3 Trippier Walker Stones Maguire ShawThe end result has always been the same though: a determined and disciplined display with zero conceded goals.This is a testament to Gareth's culture and the messages Gareth has sent the players about maintaining their level and the mindset he has instilled within this squad.He has first and foremost set up his team for a difficult task, which isn't what most media or fans expected from them at this tournament.Although they wanted a more carefree and flamboyant approach, Gareth has delivered exactly what he expected. It has been very successful and we have a great base to work from.Our greatest strength as a group is our success as a wholeAs the only remaining team in the eight, we will be facing Ukraine in Saturday's quarterfinal. We have only had eight attempts to score across four games.Jordan Pickford, our goalkeeper, has been composed and confident when needed. I believe the best way to describe our defenders is that they are all solid, but not spectacular.All of them have put in at least 7/10 performances, regardless of their role and where they were used.Southgate has used seven of them thus far, sometimes in different positions but they don't have to be the most prominent.Because everyone has contributed, we don't rely on anyone to keep it all together. As a team, our greatest strength has been our ability to be a strong defensive unit.Sometimes you just need a little luck. We certainly had it when Thomas Muller failed to score for Germany.It is important to keep things simple, and that is what we are doing at the moment.Maguire's difference can make all the differenceSouthgate's achievements are even more remarkable when you consider that England's defense was in question before the tournament began.Harry Maguire, his main centre-half wasn't available for the first two matches. This is why Rice and Phillips were used as sitting midfielders.Maguire returned and performed well against the Czech Republic in England’s last group game and against Germany last time. However, he was still not 100% fit so we kept that extra protection.He is becoming stronger every day, but if England win this tournament, he'll play a major part. Harry is a valuable addition to the International team, which are well-trained.Since Maguire has returned to the team, I have enjoyed Maguire's games and it brought back memories of how I felt in Russia after we reached the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup.He is calm in defense, but he is not afraid to take risks because he is willing to play through the lines and bring the ball out.He is not a bad defender, but he brings something new to the table on the ball. His ability at setting up goals makes him a strong presence in both boxes.Maguire's return gives me confidence that we can beat Ukraine on Saturday. But we need to be cautious because this is a completely different proposition than what we have previously faced.Although there was doubt about the Germany game, it is expected that we will win this time, despite being in Rome and not at Wembley. We also have to deal with a warmer climate and travel.While we'll have to wait and watch how the team reacts, if we play well we will win. That's my prediction.Rio Ferdinand spoke to Chris Bevan, BBC Sport.
