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St. Pauli boss Fabian Hurzeler is set to take charge at Brighton, replacing Roberto De Zerbi; Italian left the Amex at the end of the campaign; Hurzeler, 31, guided St. Pauli to the Bundesliga 2 title last season; clubs are in talks about compensation, with a work permit secured
England’s squad remains one of the strongest at these European Championships. I don’t see a better midfield or attacking unit in any of England’s opponents right now. They are still favourites to win the trophy – on paper.
But that’s the real worry for England – their status as favourites is based on reputation and previous performances. The reality right now is that Gareth Southgate has a host of significant problems to deal with. Most of which are beyond his control.
The home defeat by Iceland cannot be perceived as just a blip. For me, it is a warning. And a signal of the wider problems Southgate is trying to address. Whilst we still wallow in the woeful Wembley performance, we should remember that England have won only one of their last five internationals. Does that sound like they are heirs to the European throne?
Anthony Gordon called the Iceland shock a “smack on the nose and a wake-up call.” From what I’ve been told, that mirrors the feeling of the rest of the squad, who have been rattled by England’s under-performance of late.
They plan to use this defeat as a motivating factor, as a reminder that it will take a lot more effort and hard work to win the Euros.
Similarly with the manager. Southgate said his players “didn’t show enough character” at Wembley, and that “in a way, it will focus the mind and it shows that any complacency, or thinking that talent alone is going to get us this trophy, won’t be enough.”
But never before have I seen an England squad so poorly prepared for a major tournament. Too many of England’s key players are injured, lacking in game-time, or just exhausted.
Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, John Stones: Five world-class players on whom England rely so heavily – none of whom are going into this tournament in good condition.
England cannot win the Euros without those big players performing at a high level. Let’s look at them each in turn…
England’s all-time leading goalscorer missed the last three games of Bayern Munich’s season because of a back problem. It is clear that back injury is still troubling him, and that he is a long way away from his usual clinical match fitness.
The England captain has scored a staggering 49 goals for club and country this season, but he has also played 52 matches. That’s a heavy workload for a man who turns 31 next month and is nursing a niggling injury. He hasn’t been able to play a full 90 minutes for five weeks. With all those factors, it is inevitable that he isn’t at his usual sharpness.
That may come, the more he trains and plays. Assuming he is able to do so, while England protect his tender back. It may be that Kane will be able to peak in time for the business end of the tournament. He and Southgate will desperately hope that is the case.
The Premier League’s player of the season hasn’t been able to replicate his outstanding form for Manchester City in an England shirt. The clamour was for him to be used not on the left wing, but in a central No 10 role. That’s the position he played against Iceland where, after a bright start, he became increasingly isolated and ineffective. England failed to score, and lost the game.
The only other time Foden has played in that role for England was in November, when Bellingham was out injured. Foden struggled then, too, and England drew 2-2 in North Macedonia.
Foden is a genuine generational talent. He has proved that time and again for Manchester City. But I get the clear impression that Southgate and his staff are scratching their heads about why he is so rarely able to replicate that form for England. Solving that dilemma will be a priority in training this week.
Bellingham has had an incredible season and is rightly regarded as one of the finest talents in world football. He won the Kopa Trophy after being voted the best U21 player in world football, and he is also UEFA’s young player of the season. He has won the Champions League, alongside two other domestic trophies. He managed 23 goals and 13 assists in his first season in Spain. Wow.
But, the 20-year-old has played 101 matches for club and country in the last two seasons. Southgate knows he is exhausted – that is why he gave him the whole week off before the Euros, to switch off and recover. But is a week long enough?
If you bore down into Bellingham’s recent performances, the stats aren’t quite as impressive. He managed 20 goals in his first 29 matches for Madrid. But he has only scored three goals in his last 13 matches for his club. And anyone who has watched him in the last month or so would feel he hasn’t quite been able to impact matches with the dominance he did in the first half of the season. His energy levels have dipped.
Bellingham won’t train with England until the squad is out in Germany. Southgate will be praying that his world-beater is well-rested and ready to go.
England’s golden boy, and one of the first names on the team sheet for so many years – he too is struggling for fitness. Having missed the final game of Arsenal’s season, he hasn’t been able to take a full part in England training and wasn’t considered fit for the friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina last Monday. He only played 25 minutes against Iceland and struggled to make an impact in that time.
Southgate is confident that the winger will be able to step up his training intensity in the coming days, but there is a real chance he may not be included in England’s starting XI for the opening Euros game against Serbia.
The form of Cole Palmer for club and country will make it increasingly difficult for Southgate to justify Saka’s inclusion unless there’s a significant upturn in his levels over the next week.
The England defence has always been the team’s Achilles heel, and now – with a host of injury problems blighting Southgate’s resources – it looks a real concern.
With Harry Maguire not fit enough to be part of the tournament squad, the mantle of senior martial falls to John Stones – who has only started one Premier League game since mid-March. He desperately needed game time to improve his match fitness, only for a wayward Iceland forward to land on his right ankle. He was substituted at half-time – as a precaution, according to the manager – but was seen leaving the stadium with some heavy strapping.
There were doubts after the Iceland game that he would be ready to start against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, but the more recent prognosis, I understand, is better.
If he can’t play, then Marc Guehi will be England’s senior centre-back, with 11 international caps. Alongside him would be Ezri Konsa (who made his debut in March) or Lewis Dunk (who has won six caps since making his debut six years ago).
All times BST
Monday June 10 – England squad fly to Germany
Sunday June 16 – Serbia vs England, Gelsenkirchen, kick-off 8pm
Thursday June 20 – Denmark vs England, Frankfurt, kick-off 5pm
Tuesday June 25 – England vs Slovenia, kick-off 8pm
Then there are the opportunities. The Ile-de-France area has 1,100 registered football clubs with around 325,000 young players signed up. Some of those clubs are famed for attracting the right talent.
Mbappe and Saliba played together at AS Bondy. Henry and Saha – both from immigrant families who came from Guadeloupe – trained at the infamous Clairefontaine academy after being spotted at Ile-de-France clubs.
Riyad Mahrez, whose family came to the area from Algeria, played for AAS Sarcelles, the fourth biggest club in France, who have also sent players to Serie A, Manchester United and Hoffenheim.
“The level of the Ile-de-France championship for young people is the highest in France. It’s one of the highest in Europe I’d say!” says Sarcelles coach Mohamed Coulibaly to Sky Sports. “We have the best amateur regional teams and are capable to compete with professional clubs from all over the world.
“The secret of the streets of Paris is that everyone wants to assert themselves and everyone wants to impose themselves. It’s like a small jungle!
“At 16, 17, 18 years old, [Mahrez] still had the soul of a nine-year-old child. Even when he was struggling at 14 or 15, and didn’t play much, he always had this fire where he said: ‘I’m going to become a professional’.”
Not all make it though. While the streets contain a haven for football’s young talent, it is not always a safe one. The Ile-de-France region has a poverty weight of 15.5 per cent, while concerning crime levels have caused it to gain an unwanted reputation.
“It’s a town that is a bit tough,” says Saha. “You have to be careful not doing the wrong stuff, or meeting the wrong people.
“I have a few friends more talented than me, and were capable of doing great things, they picked the wrong choices and roads, met the wrong people. Then it’s too late.”
But clubs try to help with those issues. Anthony Martial recalls the help of coaches and “youth educators” who have helped put players on the right path.
Santi Cazorla is taking part in a virtual press conference to preview the Spanish second division play-offs. Real Oviedo, his boyhood club, the club to which he returned last year, aged 38, asking not to be paid a salary, are preparing to face Eibar in the semi-finals.
It will be a momentous occasion. Oviedo have not played in the top flight for 23 years, a painful hiatus during which they have sunk as low as the fourth tier and survived financial turmoil. This play-off appearance is already the closest they have come to a return.
It shows Cazorla’s good nature, then, that, even in this context, the much-loved midfielder is happy to shift his attention away from all that to answer a question from the one British journalist on the call about the possibility of returning to Arsenal when it is over.
It is, after all, something he has mooted himself. “I really want to go back,” he said to The Guardian in April. Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, his friend and former team-mate, has told Sky Sports there is room for his “unbelievable” energy and knowledge on his coaching staff.
So, with Cazorla’s retirement expected this summer, could the stars align for him to go back to a club where he played 180 games, scoring 29 goals, winning two FA Cups, and becoming almost as popular as he is as a two-time European Championship winner in Spain?
“I have a very special affection for Arsenal,” Cazorla tells Sky Sports. “I spent six wonderful years there and I know how much all the people love me there.
“Of course, I was fortunate to share a dressing room with Mikel Arteta and now he is the manager. We had conversations about that but right now I am not focused on anything other than contributing to this club, Oviedo, and continuing to enjoy football as a player.
“After that, we will see what the future holds for me. It is clear that Arsenal is a club that has always left the door open to me to return. But right now, I have enough on my mind with the play-offs and trying to enjoy the last days of my playing career.”
And what a career it has been.
Those European Championship triumphs with Spain, in 2008 and 2012, remain the highlights. Helping to end Arsenal’s trophy drought under Arsene Wenger was special too. But the prospect of promotion with Oviedo is something else.
“It would be a great achievement and a different achievement. When you play in your home, the feeling is different. I have been lucky to win trophies, with Spain and in England as well. But it’s different when you’re playing in front of your friends and family.
“You feel responsible because you are contributing to the club of your heart. The level of responsibility is different with that added pressure.”
Cazorla loved his formative years at Oviedo and only left, initially for Villarreal at the age of 18 in 2003, because of the club’s precarious financial situation following their relegation two years earlier.
“This is a very special moment for me, being back after 20 years. It is one of the goals I set myself, to finish my career here. What better way to do it than by helping the team win promotion to the first division? I will try to achieve it personally and collectively.”
Injuries have limited him to 24 league appearances this season, only 10 of which have been starts. But there have been glimpses of the old magic, most tangibly in the form of four assists, and it is telling that Oviedo have only lost two of those 10 games he has started.
Sadly, both for him and for Oviedo, a muscle problem means he will not be available for Saturday’s home leg against Eibar. But, even in a non-playing capacity, his influence has been – and will be – huge.
“What I say to the rest of the team is that we are in a privileged situation, a situation many would like to be in,” he explains.
“Part of the responsibility we have is to manage the nerves, but above all we have to enjoy the occasion. We have always wanted to have an opportunity like this.
“I think this pressure was a problem for us in some games before the play-offs.” Oviedo only snuck in on goal difference after losing four of their last seven games. “But it shouldn’t be a burden. On the contrary. I am just telling my team-mates to enjoy it.”
Cazorla, a sublime talent who has always played with a smile on his face, is a master of that. And while his frustration at his latest injury is clear, his sense of humour still shines through as the questions fly in from journalists in various locations – and on various topics.
The best Brazilian he has played with? “What about Marcos Senna?” he says with a grin of his former Villarreal and Spain team-mate. “He played for Spain, but he is Brazilian. I would have to choose Marcitos because I have a great relationship with him.”
There is praise for Juan Roman Riquelme, another old Villarreal team-mate. “I always say he is the best player I have played with.” And Cazorla cracks another of those huge smiles when Sporting Gijon defender Cote, another speaker at the press conference, uses the opportunity to call him a crack, which roughly translates as champion, adding that he hopes to see him in the final, should his own side overcome Espanyol in the other tie.
The prospect of a possible meeting between Oviedo and Sporting Gijon, rivals in the principality of Asturias, only 30 kilometres apart, adds another layer of intrigue to what is to come. “To have an Asturias derby in the final would be an amazing experience and make it even more difficult for the team that loses,” smiles Cazorla.
“Those of us who are from Asturias know how football is lived here and how desperate people are to see their teams in the first division. In our case, it has been 23 years, without even playing a play-off, so you can imagine how the people are feeling right now, being a step closer to achieving that dream.
“The most difficult part is still to come but there is excitement in the city. You can see it in the streets. You can see it in people’s eyes.
“I hope we can bring joy to their hearts.”
That, of course, is something Cazorla has done throughout his career. Now, the challenge is to repeat the feat one last time. And beyond that? “I’ll figure it out afterwards,” he says with a smile.
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Goalkeeper Craig Gordon and defender John Souttar have been left out of Scotland’s final squad for Euro 2024.
Head coach Steve Clarke had named four goalkeepers and seven centre-backs in his provisional 28-man squad – meaning the two players who he would drop would likely come from those areas.
While Gordon was the highest-capped player in the initial group – he had made just seven club appearances this season after recovering from a double-leg break suffered in December 2022. It means his Hearts team-mate Zander Clark and Motherwell’s Liam Kelly – who featured in every league game – will join No 1 Angus Gunn on the plane to Germany.
In defence – with Grant Hanley back after his injury issues and Liam Cooper fit despite his precautionary substitution against Gibraltar, Souttar misses out following his own fitness woes – with the defender missing Rangers’ last three games of the season.
The duo will be joined by Jack Hendry, Ryan Porteous, Scott McKenna, Andy Robertson, Greg Taylor and Kieran Tierney in the squad, plus Ross McCrorie and Anthony Ralston, who are Clarke’s right-back options.
The inclusion of Ralston and McCrorie come after first-choice Aaron Hickey and back-up Nathan Patterson were ruled out in the build-up, as was Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson.
Stuart Armstrong had not played for Southampton since April and the midfielder didn’t train with the Scotland squad this week – but Clarke has included him in his final 26 with the hope he rejoins the group on the opening week of the Euros.
Now free-agent Ryan Jack is also in – with his 17-minute substitute appearance against Gibraltar his first action since March, while Ryan Christie, Billy Gilmour, Kenny McLean, John McGinn, Callum McGregor and Scott McTominay make the cut as expected.
Forwards Lyndon Dykes – who had played in every qualifier – and uncapped Liverpool youngster Ben Doak withdrew from the wider squad through injury.
However, the duo have been replaced in the final group by Tommy Conway of Bristol City who scored 10 league goals during the campaign, and New York Red Bulls forward Lewis Morgan, who prior to Friday’s draw with Finland was last capped in 2018.
Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland are Clarke’s other forward options, while Celtic’s James Forrest will provide width after making the final squad.
Steve Clarke admitted it was difficult to tell Craig Gordon his decision:
“I like a balanced squad, I’ve picked a balanced squad. I wasn’t going to take four goalkeepers.
“It was a really tough decision to leave Craig out. When you think of the injury he’s come back from, I just felt over the period of time he’d been back, he hadn’t become the No 1 at Hearts again. Only seven games from December 2022 is a long time.
“The three goalkeepers had been involved in every qualification match. It was a really tough conversation with Craig, quite emotional to be honest for both of us. The mark of the man is that he’s here tonight.
“At the end of the conversation I said: ‘I understand if you don’t like me and don’t want to do this, but I would like to give you your 75th cap at Hampden in front of a good crowd’.
“He was there and within one hour of the news he was down having dinner with the lads and the meetings. A great professional.
“At the end of the game, we gave him a little reward signed by all the lads with Gordon 75 on the back of his jersey. As I was giving it to him I said, ‘I know Craig will throw this back in my face and say 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80 are coming’. That’s what Craig’s like.”
On John Souttar he added: “Also emotional. It’s really difficult for you people to imagine sitting down with people who have always given their best for their country when I’ve selected them.
“To get so close to the margin, the conversations were done face-to-face. Last time with Covid those types of conversations were done over the telephone.
“I’m pleased that I made the decision to bring a slightly bigger squad because we’ve had one or two issues. It means I get the chance to look the boys in the eye and so do they.
“I think they understand how difficult it is for me and I really understand how difficult it is for them. Very professional, both guys.”
Clarke believes Scotland’s preparation can serve them well in Germany.
He said: “I’m delighted. The team’s in a good place. We know what we have within our group.
“The build-up games and the difficult friendlies, we picked them so the players understand how difficult it is against top teams and how good they’re going to have to be in this tournament.”
Scotland have history kicking off tournaments, having been drawn to face Brazil in the opener at World Cup 1998, a game they narrowly lost 2-1 to a second-half Tom Boyd own goal.
This time around the venue is the Munich Football Arena (Allianz Arena) where Steve Clarke’s kick-off the opening match of Euro 2024 against hosts Germany on June 14.
The Scots also face games against perennial qualifiers Switzerland in Cologne on June 19, with Hungary – who reached the knockouts in 2016 – awaiting in Stuttgart on June 23.
If Scotland finish as one of four best third-placed teams…
One of:
Sunday June 30 – Group B winners vs third-placed side from Group A/D/E/F (RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne)
Monday July 1 – Group F winners vs third-placed side from Group A/B/C (Waldstadion, Frankfurt)
Tuesday July 2: Group E winners vs third-placed side Group A/B/C/D (Allianz Arena, Munich)Quarter-finals
If Scotland finish first in Group A and win round of 16 game…
Friday July 5 (MHPArena, Stuttgart)
If Scotland finish second in Group A and win round of 16 game…
Saturday July 6 (Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf)
If Scotland finish as one of four best third-placed teams and win round of 16 game…
One of:
Friday July 5 (MHPArena, Stuttgart)
Friday July 5 (Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)
Saturday July 6 – (Olympiastadion, Berlin)
If Scotland finish first in Group A, win round of 16 game and win quarter-final…
Tuesday July 9 – kick-off 8pm (Allianz Arena, Munich)
If Scotland finish second in Group A, win round of 16 game and win quarter-final…
Wednesday July 10 – kick-off 8pm (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
If Scotland finish as one of four best third-placed teams, win round of 16 game and win quarter-final…
One of:
Tuesday July 9 – kick-off 8pm (Allianz Arena, Munich)
Wednesday July 10 – kick-off 8pm (Westfalenstadion, Dortmund)
Sunday July 14 – kick-off 8pm (Olympiastadion, Berlin)
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The top stories and transfer rumours from Saturday’s newspapers…
THE SUN
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in talks over a sensational return to the Premier League with promoted side Leicester City.
Manchester United could look to Borussia Dortmund for their next boss, with reports in Germany claiming Edin Terzic is a potential replacement should the club move on from Erik ten Hag.
Southend United’s future is back in serious doubt, with the National League side’s prospective new owners concerned about their takeover because a property deal involved in the bid has collapsed. They face a further winding-up order on June 26.
THE INDEPENDENT
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is looking to sell Ineos’ shares in French club Nice amid expectations the two clubs will be given a one-season transition by UEFA to compete in the Europa League.
THE GUARDIAN
West Ham have agreed a £25m fee with Palmeiras for winger Luis Guilherme who is set to become the first signing of the Julen Lopetegui era at the London Stadium.
EVENING STANDARD
Manchester City see Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton as a future signing, but not one for this summer despite Bernardo Silva and Kevin de Bruyne being linked with moves.
DAILY MAIL
Crystal Palace and England star Eberechi Eze has a release clause worth a minimum of £60m and could end up becoming an attractive target for Premier League clubs if he shines at Euro 2024.
Gloucester’s Zach Mercer is considering a return to French rugby in 2025 after being given a tour of Toulon’s training centre.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Newcastle United are reluctantly listening to offers for winger Yankuba Minteh after he impressed on loan with Feyenoord, whose former boss Arne Slot could now target him as a Liverpool signing.
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has reiterated his backing for a round of Premier League matches to be played around the world, having been one of the proponents of the so-called ’39th Game’ some 14 years ago.
Mayonnaise giants Hellmann’s have been left counting the cost after putting England cast-off Jack Grealish front and centre of their Euro 2024 advertising campaign.
Martina Navratilova has accused the IOC of waging a “war on women” after asking journalists attending the Olympics in Paris not to use terms such as “born male” or “biologically male” to describe transgender athletes.
DAILY EXPRESS
Barcelona sporting director Deco might try to tempt Liverpool into letting Luis Diaz leave this summer by offering up Raphinha as part of any transfer.
Chelsea have reportedly received interest in 2023 summer signing Christopher Nkunku, but the player is keen to stay and prove himself at Stamford Bridge.
DAILY MIRROR
Lisandro Martinez does not expect this summer’s Copa America to be the last tournament a rejuvenated Lionel Messi plays in for Argentina.
DAILY RECORD
Jota could be on his way back to Celtic next season with “raging” bosses at Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad welcoming offers for the former Bhoys winger.
Raith Rovers are in the market for former Hibs great Paul Hanlon and hope to have an answer on his future this weekend.
Last Updated: 07/06/24 11:13pm
Great Britain’s Katarina Johnson-Thompson pulled out of the European Championships with a leg injury
Katarina Johnson-Thompson has withdrawn from the European Athletics Championships in Rome after three events of the heptathlon due to injury.
The reigning world champion was down in ninth place following the 100 metres hurdles, high jump and shot put and pulled out ahead of the final event of day one, the 200m.
“Kat has developed a small niggle in her right leg and, in light of the proximity of the Olympic Games, we have chosen to bank what we have learned from this first day of competition and withdraw from the heptathlon,” Johnson-Thompson’s coach Aston Moore said.
“We don’t want to risk losing any time from training which could be the result if she was to carry on competing with it for another day. We wish all the other competitors well for the rest of the competition.”
Johnson-Thompson ran 13.66 seconds in the hurdles, more than half a second down on her personal best, before clearing 1.83 metres in the high jump to move up to fourth place.
The 31-year-old could only manage a best of 12.44m in the shot put to slip to ninth, more than 300 points behind Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam, who had cleared 1.95m in the high jump to take command of the competition.
The British quartet of Charlie Carvell, Hannah Kelly, Lewis Davey and Emily Newnham finished fifth in the final of the inaugural 4x400m mixed relay as Ireland’s Chris O’Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley took gold ahead of home nation Italy.
Chris O’Donnell, Rhasidat Adeleke, Thomas Barr and Sharlene Mawdsley took gold for Ireland in the 4x100m mixed relay
On the track, Jemma Reekie had earlier led team-mates Georgia Bell and Katie Snowden into the women’s 1,500m final, while Elliot Giles and Thomas Randolph reached the men’s 800m semi-finals.
Morgan Lake also reached the women’s high jump final, while Lawrence Okoye finished eighth in the discus final with a best of 63.48m in the final round.
Italy had claimed the first medals of the championship with a one-two in the women’s 20km walk, where the drama was reserved for the battle for bronze.
Spain’s Laura Garcia-Caro looked to have secured third place and was already celebrating when she realised to her horror that she was about to be overtaken on the line by Ukraine’s Lyudmila Olyanovska.
England manager Gareth Southgate said he understood the boos that greeted his side’s 1-0 loss to Iceland at Wembley, acknowledging his side did not play well enough in their final warm-up game before Euro 2024.
The home side went down to Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson’s well-taken early strike, struggling to create many clear-cut openings themselves, with the full-time whistle being met with a chorus of boos from the home faithful.
However, Southgate – who drew level with Sir Bobby Robson after taking charge of his 95th England game – said he could understand the home fans’ frustrations at the end of the game.
“I completely understand [the boos],” he said after the match. “We didn’t play well enough to keep them excited within the game. We had some very, very good chances which normally would be finished and would’ve given a different complexion to the game and affected our opponent’s confidence.
“But that might have also masked some flaws which were apparent tonight. From my perspective, I’ve learned a lot from the game. But I’ve got no qualms with the supporters’ reaction, to have them with you here makes a massive difference but you have to give them enough goalmouth action, play well enough, press and win the ball with intensity – and we didn’t do that tonight. We have to accept the reaction as it was.”
One area of real worry for Southgate, though, was his side’s pressing, or lack of, during the game.
“We didn’t get our pressing right and we were too stretched without the ball. There were questions asked that we weren’t able to answer,” he said.
“No matter how much talent you have with the ball, if you’re out-of-possession game isn’t right, it can make it feel like you’ve not got a foothold in the game.”
Southgate, however, urged everyone to stay calm ahead of the tournament, which England depart for on Monday morning, predicting his side would produce an improved display when they begin Group C proceedings against Serbia a week on Sunday.
“I’m confident we’ll be better than we were tonight,” he said. “We’re managing so many different things through the game, and we ended up with a relatively young team on the pitch, some of whom we would’ve got off physically as well. It was a game where we made six subs, but we would have liked to have made more because some of the players could’ve done with getting out of the game a little bit earlier as well.”
However, Southgate did concede England were heading to Germany with a number of injury worries still to contend with.
“The physical side is a slight concern, we’ve got so many physical issues, but as I said we needed to get players out of the game on a precautionary level as well,” he added. “That part of it will be better for next Sunday.
“We’re focusing on all aspects, really, but we can’t hide the fact we have got a lot of physical issues, it’s plain for everyone to see.
“Nevertheless, we can be better than we were tonight and we have to be more compact, press better, and then take the chances we created.
“We can resolve that, it’s a good opportunity to get on the training pitch, remind ourselves of what’s important in terms of winning football matches, and if the intensity isn’t right without the ball, it can cause you a lot of problems with it too.”
On a more positive note, though, the England manager did confirm key centre-back John Stones’ ankle injury, which forced the defender off at half-time, was not too problematic.
“We think he is probably OK, but we didn’t want to take a chance given what’s coming up,” he said.
England midfielder Declan Rice to Channel 4:
“Very frustrating. To have that much of the ball, with a couple of clear-cut chances, and get beaten 1-0 at home just before the Euros isn’t ideal.
“But I’m going to take the positives from it as well. There were a lot of positive performances tonight. I felt we played with a good tempo, always tried to play forward, be more attacking, be a threat.
“In the end it becomes a frustration game. You’re chasing your tail a little bit. You can likely get caught on the counter-attack. That’s where we have to be a little bit more savvy.
“It’s not ideal that we lost but there are also some good learning curves from tonight that we can build on as a team.
“Maybe against the teams that sit in like that, it’s about being a bit more mentally switched-on.
“I felt like at times tonight we were a bit exposed with our press, a little bit stretched and not as compact as we usually are.
“But these are good things to look back on. We’re going to learn from it tonight. Now I’m speaking but inside I’m hurting.
“Between now and the next game, there is work to be done and I’m ready to go for the tournament. We all want to put things right.”
Sky Sports News senior reporter Rob Dorsett at Wembley Stadium:
“That’s a hammer blow to England’s confidence levels, going in to the Euros. Beaten at home, in a fixture billed as the big Euros send-off, by a team ranked 72nd in the world.
“There is mitigation, which Southgate will no doubt point to – injuries [losing John Stones at half time], many players building up fitness levels after injury or a lack of recent training [Saka, Gordon, Foden, Trippier, Walker, Mainoo].
“But make no mistake, this was a wake-up call for England and their fans, who dared to believe the hype of England being favourites to win the trophy.
“The boos at full-time were deafening – even though many of the supporters had already left. Defeat in a friendly is hardly fatal. But the number of worrying issues for Southgate to address, before England begin their tournament in nine days’ time – that is a major concern .”
All times BST
Monday June 10 – England squad fly to Germany
Saturday June 16 – Serbia vs England, Gelsenkirchen, kick-off 8pm
Thursday June 20 – Denmark vs England, Frankfurt, kick-off 5pm
Tuesday June 25 – England vs Slovenia, kick-off 8pm
Veteran striker Jamie Vardy has signed a new one-year contract at Leicester while Jannik Vestergaard has put pen-to-paper on a new deal which sees the defender remain at the King Power Stadium until summer 2027.
Vardy signed from Fleetwood in 2012, and the 37-year-old will extend his stay at the King Power into a 13th season after agreeing a deal for the 2024/25 campaign.
The former England international scored 20 goals in 37 appearances as the Foxes won promotion to the Premier League in the 23/24 campaign.
Vardy said: “To get the numbers that I did [last season], I’m delighted with it, but there’s still more to come.
“I look after myself. I’ve always said that age is just a number. My legs feel fine so that’s why I carry on until my legs say, ‘That’s it, game over’. There will be a day when that comes, but that’s not right now.
“We look forward to another season in the Premier League and seeing what we can do. One hundred per cent, it’s the best league in the world. That’s where you want to be playing your football.”
Vardy has scored 190 goals in 464 games for the club and has won the Premier League and FA Cup.
But who his manager will be next season remains unknown, with the club’s search for a new boss still ongoing.
Enzo Maresca, who guided the club to the Championship title in his only season in charge, left earlier this week to go to Chelsea.
Less than a year ago Vestergaard was asked to train alone by then-boss Brendan Rodgers, but the Dane has turned his career around at Leicester.
The club have been in discussions over a new deal since mid-February for the 31-year-old, and despite his renaissance coming under the departed Maresca, Vestergaard has been rewarded with a new three-year contract.
Meanwhile, Marc Albrighton‘s 10-year Leicester career has come to an end after his contract was not renewed. Albrighton won the Premier League, FA Cup and Championship with the Foxes.
Kelechi Iheanacho and Denis Praet have also left the club after their contracts expired.
The 2024 summer transfer window in the Premier League officially opens on Friday June 14 – the same day that Euro 2024 starts.
The window will close on August 30 at 11pm UK time in England and at midnight in Scotland.
The Premier League has brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
In his latest Sky Sports column, Paul Merson assesses England’s chances at Euro 2024 and says Gareth Southgate will have no excuses if he doesn’t bring home the trophy this summer with the world-class players at his disposal…
Southgate named his final 26-player squad for Euro 2024 on Thursday and Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Harry Maguire were the big-name omissions from the group heading to Germany on Monday.
Crystal Palace duo Adam Wharton – uncapped until Monday’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina – and Eberechi Eze were two of the more surprising names selected by Southgate, and while Merson is surprised by some of the England boss’ selections, he still believes he will lead the Three Lions to Euros glory.
Read on for the Magic Man’s thoughts on England’s squad, the Three Lions’ chances of winning Euro 2024, why the pressure is on Southgate this summer – and who could be England’s breakout superstar at the tournament…
In my lifetime, I honestly thought England would never win a tournament but I look at the squad Gareth Southgate has picked and the players he’s left behind, if we don’t win it, I don’t see us ever winning a tournament.
This is the best opportunity England have had in such a long time.
I know we’ve had some unbelievable teams and players along the way, but football can all be about timing.
If you look at some of the other countries now like Spain, Italy and Germany, they aren’t filled with world-class players.
We’ve got one of the best strikers in the world in Harry Kane, we’ve got Phil Foden who is one of the best players in the world full stop, Jude Bellingham is one of the best in the world and Declan Rice is one of the best in his position. I’d go as far as to say Kyle Walker is one of the best right-backs in the world.
We have players who are the best in the world in their positions.
Southgate needs to win this tournament. There’s no planning for the next World Cup or anything like that, he needs to bring the trophy home.
Southgate has made some big decisions.
Harry Maguire was a certainty to play. He never lets England down.
Jack Grealish’s omission is also a big shock. I know people have said he hasn’t played a lot this season but when he was fit, Pep Guardiola played him in the big games for Manchester City.
Grealish is reliable and tournament football is different.
The 150-odd caps of Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish and Harry Maguire, no other country at the Euros could leave them out. They would walk into every other squad at the Euros without a doubt, and they’d probably play.
Football is a funny game, though.
There’s no Marcus Rashford either. For me, Rashford is a massive miss. I know he hasn’t played well this season just like Grealish, but they are players that when they get hot, they are hot.
At the start of the season, even four or five months ago, you’d have said there is absolutely no way the likes of Grealish, Maguire, Rashford and James Maddison would be left out.
I’m quite shocked with Southgate at the moment, but fair play to him. They are big decisions and now we’ll have to wait and see as to whether they are the right ones.
The shock is Southgate has 100 per cent gone on form.
Usually, Southgate goes with tried and tested players, who he knows what they are going to do for him in tournaments. They normally also have a lorry-load of caps.
But this time he hasn’t done that. Fair play to him, Eberechi Eze’s playing well, Cole Palmer’s playing well and the lad Adam Wharton is a phenomenal player as well. Southgate has thrown them in and fair play to him.
However, international football is different and playing in big major tournaments is different to playing week in, week out in the Premier League.
Only time will tell if a lack of experience could be costly for England at this tournament.
Over the last 20 years, we’ve gone to tournaments with a squad full of caps but come away empty-handed.
This time Southgate has gone for more off-the-cuff type players like Palmer, Eze, Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo. He’s gone for the unexpected players, who will not be as well known and could shock a few countries.
I would have taken Grealish, Rashford and Maddison. X-factor wins you tournaments.
Seven-and-a-half out of 10 over 38 games wins you the Premier League but nines out of 10 win you tournaments. Look at Chelsea, they didn’t have consistency in the league and ended up sixth, but they did have days where they hit the nine out of 10 and it meant they had decent runs in the cup competitions.
I like Marc Guehi but playing for England at a tournament will be a different experience for him.
He plays for Crystal Palace who don’t generally have a lot of the ball. The Palace defence is generally under a lot of pressure, and they defend on the edge of the penalty area. There’s a lot of defending to do and you are always busy.
However, for England, he’s going to be playing in these games and we are likely to have 70 per cent of the ball in these group games. You’ve got to be alive and switched on the whole time.
In international football, if you switch off for half a second the ball will be in the back of the net and you’ll be punished.
I do like Guehi and I’m pleased he’s been given this chance. I would go for him and John Stones as starters, but defensively I do worry for England. We are not the greatest at the back.
I’m a massive fan of Wharton.
He’s an exceptional talent and I’m not shocked Southgate has included him.
He gets the ball, and he gives it. He sees a pass and sees it very quickly. He never really gets caught on the ball.
He’s a dream for the likes of Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Eze. He’ll get the ball and give it to them with the minimum of fuss.
He reminds me of a young Gareth Barry. He plays the simple pass that a lot of players don’t play.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he played with Declan Rice and Bellingham in England’s midfield with Foden, Saka and Kane as the front three.
Going forward England have so many options. The problem for Southgate will be getting those options right. If he doesn’t get them right, England will be up against it.
It’s hard to pick the forward line.
Saka never lets his country down when he plays. Eze just glides past players and looks like the X-factor.
At tournaments, you always get a player who comes out of the blue and becomes a superstar. We’ve seen it at World Cups and Euros over the years.
For me, Eze could be that player.
But Southgate has to find a solution to get his key attackers on the ball. There’s no point in playing these games and Stones and Guehi are touching the ball more times than players like Foden, Saka, Eze, Palmer or Bellingham.
England have to find solutions to get these players on the ball. Hopefully they can find a way to do that because I believe they can win the Euros.
All times BST
Friday June 7 – International Friendly, England vs Iceland at Wembley, kick-off 7.45pm
Friday June 7 – Final 26-player squad submitted to UEFA
Saturday June 8 – Final 26-player squad announced
Monday June 10 – England squad fly to Germany
Saturday June 16 – Serbia vs England, Gelsenkirchen, kick-off 8pm
Thursday June 20 – Denmark vs England, Frankfurt, kick-off 5pm
Tuesday June 25 – England vs Slovenia, kick-off 8pm