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EURO 2024 fever has officially kicked in as the thrilling competition gets underway TOMORROW!
John Stones‘ preparations for England‘s opener against Serbia have taken a hit after he missed Wednesday’s training session due to illness.
It’s bad news for Poland fans as Robert Lewandowski has been ruled out of his country’s first game against Holland due to injury.
Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo heads into Euro 2024 after bagging his 130th Portugal goal.
Before we see the above teams in action, the Germans open up the tournament with a thrilling fixture against Scotland.
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Rice has high aims
Declan Rice is aiming to win Euro 2024 with England and believes that there are “no excuses”.
He said: “We know what we’ve got to do to win.
“We’ve got no excuses. The Euros are the last thing now that can really help me get over the hurt.
“Seeing Italy lift that cup in front of us last time: that feeling’s still in our belly.
“We want to get that now. Putting on that shirt before a major tournament again, that is such a good feeling.
“I feel like we’re ready… I’m ready.”
Credit: Getty Zirkzee gets Dutch call
Joshua Zirkzee has been called up to the Netherlands national team.
The striker will replace Teun Koopmeiners and get more exposure during Euro 2024.
The Dutchman impressed in Serie A last season and has earned a number of suitors.
This list includes Arsenal, Man United, Bayern Munich and AC Milan.
Wharton on getting Euro call
Adam Wharton has revealed it was a dream come true when he got the call from Gareth Southgate to go to Euro 2024.
He said: “It’s a surreal feeling. Honestly I wasn’t expecting it.
“Just a dream come true. Every kid who grows up playing football wants to play in the Premier League, play for their country.
“I got to play for team I supported to begin with, really enjoyed that and then it has continued since – moving to the Premier League, now here, so it’s all been very fast but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
“I have really enjoyed the last six months and I just want to keep playing, getting better.”
Credit: PA
Euro 2024 officials
Here is a full list of the referees at Euro 2024:
- Michael Oliver (England)
- Anthony Taylor (England)
- Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)
- Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain)
- Marco Guida (Italy)
- Istvan Kovacs (Romania)
- Ivan Kruzliak (Slovakia)
- Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
- Szymon Marciniak (Poland)
- Halil Umut Meler (Turkey)
- Glenn Nyberg (Sweden)
- Daniele Orsato (Italy)
- Sandro Schärer (Switzerland)
- Daniel Siebert (Germany)
- Clement Turpin (France)
- Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
- Felix Zwayer (Germany)
- François Letexier (France)
- Facundo Tello (Argentina)
Credit: Getty Jose gives his Euro predictions
Jose Mourinho has given his predictions for Euro 2024.
He thinks that Portugal will win the tournament and England will suffer heartbreak again and finish as runners-up.
Credit: TNT Sports Toney getting inked
Ivan Toney wants to fire England to glory at Euro 2024 before getting a celebratory tattoo. . . on his head.
The Brentford striker is part of Gareth Southgate’s squad preparing for Sunday’s opening clash against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen.
Toney, who has tattoos all over his body, was asked if he will get another one if England win the final in Berlin on July 14.
He joked: “Yes, 100 per cent. If we win, of course. I think I’ll get the trophy on my forehead or something!
“I think it goes without saying I’ll have to get a little memorable one – and hopefully it’s a good one.”
Rice has high aims
Declan Rice is aiming to win Euro 2024 with England and believes that there are “no excuses”.
He said: “We know what we’ve got to do to win.
“We’ve got no excuses. The Euros are the last thing now that can really help me get over the hurt.
“Seeing Italy lift that cup in front of us last time: that feeling’s still in our belly.
“We want to get that now. Putting on that shirt before a major tournament again, that is such a good feeling.
“I feel like we’re ready… I’m ready.”
Credit: Getty Concern for Bellingham
The vice chairman of Jude Bellingham’s first-ever football club is concerned about the amount of pressure on the midfielder at Euro 2024.
Stourbridge FC’s Andy Bullingham told the BBC: “I know everyone says he’s mature and he is, but I think it’s a lot to expect him to carry the hopes of the whole of England.”
Credit: Alamy Inside Serbia
Here is a look at England’s first opponents at Euro 2024.
The Three Lions take on Serbia on Sunday with the side currently ranked no.33 in the world.
Stars on Stones.
Lewis Dunk has admitted that John Stones has not been seen by the squad.
Lewis Dunk has admitted that John Stones has not been seen by the squad.
He said: “He wasn’t training today because he had an illness.
“He felt a bit rough yesterday, so we haven’t seen him today. He didn’t train today because of his illness.”
While Adam Wharton added: “No idea!
“I’ve not seen him today, I’ve just been told he’s ill and I think he’s just been in his room.”
Stones worry
John Stones has given England another scare by being under the weather for the last two days.
The Manchester City defender, 30, did not train today with the rest of the 26-man squad due to a sickness bug.
Team-mate Lewis Dunk revealed Stones also felt “a bit rough” on Tuesday.
It came after the former Everton star was substituted at half-time in Friday’s 1-0 friendly defeat to Iceland at Wembley, after which he had strapping on his right ankle.
Credit: PA Euro end for one star
Euro 2024 will be the end of the road for one of footballs biggest stars.
Germany midfielder Toni Kroos will be hanging up his boots after the competition.
He was a part of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad.
German plans disrupted
Germany’s plans for their first tournament on home soil since the 2006 World Cup were thrown into chaos after a player bust-up yesterday.
Toni Rudiger and Nicolas Fulkrug almost came to blows after tensions flared.
Their beef is believed to have originated from a set-piece routine.
German star ruled out
Aleksander Pavlovich is out of Euro 2024 after coming down with tonsillitis.
The Bayern Munich midfielder, 20, was initially selected as part of Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad.
He’s been replaced by Liverpool cult hero Emre Can in the squad.
‘England can win it’ – Laura Woods backs the Three Lions
Laura Woods has backed England to win the Euros.
Speaking to BetMGM, she said: “I honestly do think Gareth Southgate’s side can win it [Euro 2024]. There is enough quality in the group and it’s just about harnessing that and believing in each other.
“It might come across that we’re being a bit arrogant but England need to back themselves. Every other country will be doing it and we should be no different.
“I expect us to get to the final and I’m backing us to bring it home. Something feels different this time.”
Hamann calls on Southgate to seize opportunity
Former Germany star Didi Hamann told Gareth Southgate he is in a now or never position in an interview with Prime Casino.
He said: “With a squad like this, at some stage England have to win a tournament. You don’t get umpteen chances of winning a tournament. There might be a time in four, six, or eight years where England are in a tournament and the fans are happy for them to reach the quarters.
“I don’t like to talk about the Golden Generation, but those players were in my time, and they never reached the heights they should have done. I actually think that group of players was probably more talented than this one, so that tells you how big the challenge is for England.
“The talent is there. You need a bit of luck, of course, but you also need to grasp the opportunity. England have got to go there and try to win it, full stop.”
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Hamann surprised Southgate did not pick Grealish
Former Liverpool star Didi Hamann has said he is surprised Gareth Southgate did not pick Jack Grealish as part of his squad.
Speaking to Prime Casino, Hamann said: “He’s a great option with the ball – he can get you up the pitch and he wins a lot of free kicks in dangerous positions because of his trickery.
“Sometimes you need that when you’re under pressure. He doesn’t give away possession. Even if he wasn’t part of the managers first team plans, I don’t think you would find a better sub or an option off the bench than Jack Grealish.
“If you want to calm the game down with 20 minutes to go, I don’t think there’s a better player than him. I was surprised that Grealish wasn’t included. I would have taken him.”
Credit: Getty – Contributor England fans ‘could be sacked’ for pulling a sickie
England fans have been warned not to pull a sickie the day after England’s first game at the Euros.
England kick off their Euros journey on Sunday at 8pm against Serbia.
But their fans have been warned not to drink to the point of a dangerous hangover the next day.
Employment lawyers at Richard Nelson LLP have encouraged football supporters to think twice before faking illness.
Expert Jayne Harrison said: “If an employer thinks their employee has called in sick and it is not genuine – such as to recover from a hangover – then they can investigate the case and may take disciplinary action over unauthorised absence,” she said.
“For those wanting to indulge on Sunday night we’d encourage you to book annual leave for the following Monday, avoiding not turning up for work at all or worse being dismissed.”
Heaton on joining England staff
Tom Heaton has opened up on the call he received from Gareth Southgate that led to him joining the squad as a coach.
Heaton said: “It feels very special. Gareth rang me a couple weeks ago, floated the idea and I jumped at the opportunity.
“To come and be a part of it, at another major championship, is an honour and a privilege. I’m delighted to be here.
“It’s different, but I think it’s just a different challenge for me. I’ve come to support the boys, the goalkeepers, the outfielders, push them in training, try and offer them a different perspective and support in that manner.
“Of course, I’d love to be playing. I’m a football player that wants to play football matches, but it’s not that role. It’s a different role.
“But any opportunity to come and represent your country in some form. As I say, it was an amazing phone call and it didn’t take long for me to say yes.”
Lewandowski in race to be fit for the Euros
Poland are sweating on the fitness of star-man Robert Lewandowski.
The 35-year-old will miss Poland’s opener against the Netherlands.
He has suffered a rupture to his bicep and the Polish FA say they will do all they can to have him fit for their second game against Austria.
Credit: Getty Change of Hart
Joe Hart has announced a career change ahead of Euro 2024.
And that will see him become a pundit for the tournament.
In a column for BBC Sport, he wrote: “The reason I wanted to get into punditry is to educate people who are interested in goalkeeping, and hopefully I can help people understand the position a bit better.
“I’ll be trying my best to do that by giving a goalkeeper’s perspective, which can be very different to that of an outfield player.”
Stones misses England training
John Stones has missed England’s latest training session just days before England’s opener.
He was unable to partake after feeling unwell.
Stones went off in England’s defeat to Iceland with a knock.
England to wear all white
England will wear WHITE shorts when they kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on Sunday.
Uefa have now confirmed the kits the Three Lions will wear in their group matches.
Gareth Southgate’s side will be in their white “home” shirts for all three matches because they are the nominated home side in the second and third game.
Lookalike in the camp
England stars are loving their new videographer.
And that’s because he resembles Ben Chilwell so much, the players are calling him “Chilly”.
According to the Telegraph, the videographer, called Brendan Modini’s likeness to Chilwell has not gone unnoticed in the camp.
They claim that England’s players are calling him “Chilly” behind the scenes.
Chilwell, 27, has earned 21 international caps but a late season knee issue prevented him from impressing Southgate sufficiently to earn a place in the Euros squad.
But they now at least have a lookalike to keep them company.
Southgate copies Germany
Gareth Southgate has taken inspiration from Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann as he prepares for the Euros.
That’s seen England borrow a big screen from RB Leipzig to help with their sessions.
The screen will allow Southgate to forensically analyse videos from training and lecture his players after sessions.
“This is one fancy extension!!”
“EURO 2024 fever has officially kicked in as the thrilling competition gets underway TOMORROW! John Stones‘ preparations for England‘s opener against Serbia have taken a hit after he missed Wednesday’s…”
Source Link: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/28405546/euro-2024-news-live-england-latest-updates/
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