TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD went off injured in worrying scenes for England, despite a win over Austria.
Bukayo Saka scored the only goal as the Three Lions secured a victory at the Riverside.
And Scotland earned a commendable draw against the Netherlands as Memphis Depay equalised for the Dutch in the last minute.
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Follow all of the latest news, build up and updates below…
HUG-S ALL AROUND
Hugo Lloris says France asked the referee not to send off Neco Williams in the 3-0 friendly win over Wales.
The Liverpool star was harshly shown a red card for a handball as the French were awarded a penalty, which Karim Benzema missed.
However, that didn’t stop Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele netting in a comfortable win for Les Bleus.
And Lloris said after the game: “We all asked the referee not to send the Welsh player off, we wanted the match to finish as 11 vs 11.”
SOUTH OF HEAVEN
Gareth Southgate admits Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury does not look good.
But he will not make a decision over the right-back’s Euro spot until England’s medical team discover the full extent of his setback.
Southgate said: “We’re going to have a little look. It’s hard to see him come off the way he did.
“We’ll look at it over the next 24 hours. I think it’s a thigh but the medical team will look.
“We just have to see, it’s not a good sign to see him go off as he did.
“We’ll know more in the next 24-48 hours and go from there. We don’t know the full extent.”
TRENT TROUBLE
Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off injured late on as England beat Austria 1-0.
The Liverpool star, 22, has given Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate a major headache 11 days from the start of Euro 2020.
The right-back – one of four included in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad – endured an efficient night as England won in Middlesbrough.
But there was drama late on as Alexander-Arnold pulled up hurt just minutes before full-time.
No opponent was near Alexander-Arnold, with the defender appearing to hurt a hamstring as he cleared the ball with his left foot.
ENGLAND 1 AUSTRIA 0
England got their Euro 2020 adventure off to a good start with a 1-0 friendly win over Austria.
Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game as the Three Lions saw off David Alaba and Co at the Riverside.
But the result came at a cost as Trent Alexander-Arnold hobbled off injured near the final whistle.
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BUK THE TREND
Bukayo Saka’s first international goal has put England 1-0 up against Austria.
But can the Three Lions finish the night off in style with a few more strikes?
There’s nearly half an hour left to play!
And Watkins, Ward-Prowse, Calvert-Lewin and Godfrey have just taken to the pitch as England go in search of another goal.
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OFF TO NETHER NETHER LAND
Scotland are drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands at the break in their international friendly.
Jack Hendry fired the Scots ahead with just 11 minutes on the clock.
But Memphis Depay levelled for the Dutch just moments later.
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WELSH WIZARDS
Gareth Bale captains Wales in tonight’s friendly clash with world champions France.
He will come up against Real Madrid teammate Karim Benzema, who leads the French line alongside Kylian Mbappe.
Paul Pogba starts in midfield for the World Cup holders, with Hugo Lloris captaining between the sticks.
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TEAM NEWS
Jesse Lingard has been named in England’s team to face Austria despite not being picked for the Euros.
Gareth Southgate has also gone for Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham and Jack Grealish in an attacking line-up.
The likes of Conor Coady, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier are involved too.
But it is unclear whether the Three Lions boss has plumped for a four or a five-man defence.
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EURO STARS
Here’s a look at those key England Euro dates for the diary.
Can Gareth Southgate’s men make it to the Wembley final on July 11?
The road to Euro 2020 glory starts tonight with the Three Lions’ friendly against Austria!
How England’s path to Euros glory could look
LUKE AWAY
England boss Gareth Southgate will be sweating over Luke Shaw’s fitness ahead of Euro 2020 after the defender was spotted with a cast around his left wrist.
The 25-year-old looks to be a serious doubt to feature in tonight’s friendly against Austria after being snapped sporting a slight injury.
Shaw was caught by cameras with a cast on his left wrist while out with his girlfriend Anouska Santos in Altrincham town centre on Tuesday afternoon.
And to add insult to injury, the former Southampton ace was greeted to a parking ticket when he returned to his Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
EXCLUSIVE BY CHARLIE WYETT
Harry Maguire revealed he has only just started light training in his race to be fit for the Euros.
And the Man United captain is set to miss England’s opening game against Croatia on June 13.
Maguire said: “I have done little bits of running.
“I don’t want to aggravate it too early as we still have nearly two weeks until the first game and it is a long tournament.
“I am taking it day by day. I have not asked for a time-frame but I am looking forward to being involved.
“It can improve dramatically in a few days and you can have little setbacks.”
ALARM BELS
A number of Belgium players have reportedly rejected the chance to receive a Covid-19 vaccination before Euro 2020.
Belgian outlet HLN claim some of Roberto Martinez’s players turned down the chance to take the Pfizer jab over fears it will wreck their chances.
The country’s government had given the green light for the Red Devils – the number one international team in football – to receive their vaccination.
Yet some players are worried about the potential side effects – tiredness, headaches, muscle and joint pain, chills and fever – that affects more than one in ten people.
COVID SHOCK
Scotland’s plans for tonight’s friendly with Holland are in chaos after SIX players were ruled out over Covid-19 fears.
Midfielder John Fleck was KO’d yesterday after testing positive for Coronavirus.
Now another half-dozen players have been taken out of the squad as a precaution.
Stars David Marshall, John McGinn, Che Adams, Stephen O’Donnell, Grant Hanley and Nathan Patterson will miss the clash.
They have stayed at the Scotland camp in Spain while the rest of the group flew to Portugal for tonight’s bounce game with the Dutch.
LION HEARTS
Gareth Southgate will have a limited squad to choose from when England face Austria tonight.
Stars from Chelsea, Man United and Man City are set to be given the evening off after their European exploits.
And that could see West Ham loanee Jesse Lingard start – despite missing out on Southgate’s Euros squad.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is also in line to feature tonight.
RIO CRITICISM
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes England boss Gareth Southgate made a mistake when he called up the injured Harry Maguire.
Ferdinand said in his FIVE YouTube channel: “England needed another centre-back. This tells me he [Southgate] is definitely playing three at the back.
“Harry Maguire’s not even fit, I wouldn’t even take Maguire. You’re not fit, you’re not going to be fit for ages, it doesn’t make sense. I’ve been in squads with players who haven’t been fit and they don’t perform when they’re not themselves.
“It happened with Becks [David Beckham] and Wazza [Wayne Rooney]. As good as Maguire is, he’s not a Becks or a Wazza. I don’t think you should take someone who’s not 100 per cent fit. It’s hard to come back and get into a rhythm.
“That narrative ends up taking over the squad and it becomes the conversation and a distraction. Do we really need that? It’s pointless I think. Hopefully he proves me wrong, I would love it if he did”
MAGUIRE UPDATE
Manchester United and England ace Harry Maguire has issued a promising injury update ahead of Euro 2020.
Maguire told SunSport: “The fear that I had was missing everything.
“I knew it was quite a bad injury. When I got the results of the scan, I knew it would be unlikely I would made the Europa League final — but we also never ruled it out.
“I would jump out of bed and put weight on my ankle, which I probably should not have done, and test it to see if the pain was still there. Every morning, I woke up wishing the pain would be gone.
“Unfortunately, it was not to be. I knew for me to start the Europa League final was very unlikely but I hoped to play some part. However it was out of reach and just not possible. Ahead of the final, I could still not run on the ankle.
“But it is now improving and getting better, so I am just looking forward to the Euros”
SANCHO REPLACEMENT
Borussia Dortmund are preparing for life after Jadon Sancho, according to reports in Germany.
According to SportBild, Dortmund consider PSV Eindhoven ace Donyell Malen as Sancho’s replacement.
The England international is likely to join Manchester United, who have been keeping tabs on the star forward ever since last year.
However, the 21-year-old is currently focused on this summer’s Euro 2020 with the Three Lions
GETTY IMAGES BACK IN THE RAN
Manchester United have revived their interest in Atletico Madrid’s Kieran Trippier.
According to Manchester Evening News, United are keeping tabs on Trippier ahead of this summer’s Euro 2020 finals.
The Red Devils were set to make a move in January but the full-back’s betting suspension ended their plans.
The former Tottenham player is out of contract with Atletico next summer and has reportedly made arrangements to return to England
BACK IN THE RAN
Manchester United have revived their interest in Atletico Madrid full-back Kieran Trippier.
According to Manchester Evening News, United are keeping tabs on Trippier ahead of Euro 2020 this summer.
The Red Devils planned to make a move in the January transfer window but the full-back’s betting suspension halted their plans.
The former Tottenham ace is out of contract with Atleti next summer and has reportedly made arrangements to return to England
RASH DECISION
Darren Anderton has advised England manager Gareth Southgate to start the following players in Euro 2020.
Anderton told BritishGambler.co.uk: “Rashford has that pace, Sterling has that pace, Foden for me is the player that we just have to get the best out of.
“Play him wherever you think you’ll get the best out of him whether that’s playing him deeper or starting him a little bit further up the pitch.
“For me I’d probably play him a little bit deeper and play Rashford and Sterling up top. If not one of those two then maybe Sancho”
PFA AWARDS
Some of England’s most talented youngsters have been nominated for the Men’s PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Liverpool ace Trent Alexander-Arnold, West Ham star Declan Rice, Chelsea player Mason Mount, Manchester City wonderkid Phil Foden, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Manchester United player Mason Greenwood made the shortlist.
All of them will be playing in Euro 2020 except for Greenwood, who has been sidelined due to an underlying injury problem.
WALK THE LINE
Gary Lineker believes Tottenham star striker Harry Kane could join Manchester United after Euro 2020, where he will captain England.
Lineker told Goal: “I would love to see him at Barcelona but they are going for [Sergio] Aguero and are short on cash at the moment.
“I think it is between Manchester City, Manchester United and maybe PSG.
“They have [Mauricio] Pochettino and he would win things, guaranteed. I think it is more likely that one of the Manchester clubs can afford him outside of Chelsea.
“I don’t think he would go to Chelsea and do that to the Tottenham fans but who knows
SOUTHGATE ON TRENT
England boss Gareth Southgate blasted recent reports suggesting Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold would be axed from his Euro 2020 squad after including the talented right-back to his final group.
Southgate said: “I spoke to Trent three weeks ago. There were stories over the last couple of weeks with lots of strange headlines, I have no idea where they have come from.
“I felt that there were stories that ran that were so far off the truth. I read stories about me that aren’t true but when it’s a player they may feel like they’re reading it so it may be true.
“Last night we were dealing with that, in the morning he’s taking set pieces preparing for tomorrow and then he’s reading that he is not going to the Euros.
“That’s the world I live in but I want to protect my players. I spoke to Trent last night to say ‘don’t know where this is coming from, it’s nonsense’. People jump on it and say I have an agenda or don’t like the kid. It is an incredible situation”
GETTY IMAGES SOUTHGATE IMPROVING
England boss Gareth Southgate insists he is still improving at the national team’s helm.
Southgate said: “Then I was a 17-year-old apprentice like I was at Crystal Palace and now I’m probably a 23-year-old player.
“I’ve only managed 200 games so in terms of experience, I’ve got a lot of experience now of as higher-pressured job as you can have experience of big matches with the national team.
“I still know that I’ll be better again in two years’ time and I’ll be better again in four years’ time because I’ve got the desire to improve, learn, reflect, get better and I want to be the best possible coach and manager that I can be.”
DE-FFICULT COMPETITION
Barcelona are also interested in signing Sevilla star defender Jules Kounde in this summer transfer window.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barca are looking to compete against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal over Kounde in the coming months.
The centre-back stood out this season in LaLiga with some stunning performances in defence.
The France international is now set to compete in Euro 2020 for his nation
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
