Why don’t England players have names on the back of their shirts against Belgium?  

THE names of England players’ shirts will disappear as they return after half time against Belgium on Tuesday night.

The Three Lions will play without names on their shirts during the second half of the fixture at Wembley Stadium.

England boss Gareth Southgate will be hoping to bounce back against the Red Devils after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday.

Why are England shirts nameless against Belgium?

The match has been dedicated to Alzheimer’s Society International as a part of England’s Football official charity partnership.

With memory loss being the most common symptom associated with Alzheimer’s, the removal of players shirts will draw attention to how people with dementia lose their memory.

The nameless shirts were originally shown at the first Alzheimer’s Society international in 2022, where England secured a win against Switzerland.

This is being repeated at the match against Belgium to recognise that football should be unforgettable.

After the match, the shirts will be donated by the England squad and auctioned to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society research into early diagnosis.

What’s been said?

Alzheimer’s Society CEO, Katy Lee said: “We hope this striking gesture with the players’ shirts will once again get fans across the country talking, and thinking about the signs and symptoms of dementia.

“By using football to shine a spotlight and increase awareness of dementia symptoms, we hope to not only encourage fans to donate towards our early diagnosis research, but also to support their loved ones just as much as they support their football team.”

England kit row

The new England kit has been at the centre of controversy after manufacturer Nike changed the colour of the St George’s Flag on the back of the collar.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer – as well as a host of England legends – slammed the decision.

Nike later apologised, stating “it was never our intention to offend”.

The American company and The Football Association, who were also slammed for the £124.99 price tag, also stated there are no plans to change the kit ahead of Euro 2024.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk