THE club season is nearly over…which can only mean Euro 2020 is coming your way!
We’ll be bringing up you ALL of the latest news and developments ahead of the big summer tournament right here.
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Follow all of the latest news, build up and updates below…
CZECHED OUT
The Czech Republic have vacated Scotland’s Oriam base camp as their preparations for Euro 2020 have been disrupted by Covid regulations.
They were due to train in Edinburgh but will instead base themselves in Prague, and travel to and from the UK for each of their Group D matches.
Scotland’s opponents had planned to stay and train at Oriam for the Euros, and had booked the facility – which is Scotland’s regular base – before they qualified for the tournament.
That forced Steve Clarke’s team to change their plans and they arranged to stay and train in Middlesbrough, roughly equidistant from Hampden and Wembley where Scotland will play their group games.
A statement read: “The Czech national team will spend the whole UEFA Euro 2020 tournament in Prague instead of the basecamp in Edinburgh as it was planned originally.
COLE PREDICTION
Former Chelsea ace Joe Cole believes Manchester City will be feeling most of the pressure in the Champions League Final.
Cole also expects the Blues’ young stars, some of which will play for England in Euro 2020, to shine bright.
Cole told Football London: “Where Chelsea and Man City are at the moment, the pressure is on Man City.
“You can see they are the better side over the course of 38 games but the club are so hell-bent on winning this trophy [Champions League] that the pressure is always mounting.
“For Chelsea, you’ve got young players happy to be there in the sense that it wasn’t expected this year. This was a transitional period.
“But they can go out there and win the game with talent all over the park. That is where I think the psychology of the game will be”
GREAL COMPETITION
Manchester United are facing competition from local rivals Manchester City over Aston Villa star Jack Grealish’s signature.
According to the Daily Mail, City are prepared to make Grealish English football’s first £100million player.
In fact, the Citizens have made the England international their priority signing in midfield ahead of next season.
If such a move for the 25-year-old goes through, the Premier League champions would break the current British transfer record of £80m for Harry Maguire, who joined United from Leicester in 2019.
City boss Pep Guardiola is also said to be a big admirer of Grealish
VARANE REACTS
Real Madrid ace Raphael Varane remains coy about his future and focuses on the upcoming Euros with France amid interest from Manchester United.
Varane said: “This is not the time to talk about my future, I am focused on the selection, on this Euro, it is normal and logical to ask the question and for my part it is normal and logical to focus on the upcoming deadlines.
“We are all human beings. We can think about it. As for my personal case, I am focused on the objectives that we have in the France team, it is not a subject that I will discuss every day in my room at Clairefontaine.
“I am focused on my goal, and now is not the time to discuss it. If I have to talk about it, it will be directly with the people concerned.”
O-KAY FOR NOW
Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan took a slight knock during the last training session before tonight’s Champions League Final against Chelsea in Porto.
Gundogan came together in a challenge with Fernandinho and was slow to get back to his feet.
The star midfielder left practice before many of his team-mates and looked to be in slight discomfort as he went down the tunnel.
No official announcement has been made about his fitness yet but that is something Germany manager Joachim Low will be keeping an eye on ahead of Euro 2020
KANT COUNT HIM OUT
Chelsea star N’Golo Kante looks set to start in tonight’s Champions League Final against Manchester City.
That is great news for Blues boss Thomas Tuchel as well as France manager Didier Deschamps.
Kante has overcome a hamstring problem, which means he could start at the Dragao and will be fighting fit for Euro 2020.
Deschamps will be counting on the star midfielder a lot in the upcoming competition
GETTY IMAGES VACCINE DE-CISION
Juventus star and Netherlands international Matthijs de Ligt has decided not to have a coronavirus vaccine even though he tested positive for COVID-19 in January.
De Ligt told ESPN: “I have not taken a vaccination, it is not mandatory.
“I think you should be in charge of your own body. The risk of infection is always there.
“I try to come into contact with as few people as possible outside the Dutch national team”
BERGWIJN EXIT
Tottenham ace Steven Bergwijn could leave the club during the summer transfer window.
That is according to De Telegraaf, who claim that Bergwijn is looking to reignite his career after missing out on an international call-up by Netherlands manager Frank de Boer ahead of Euro 2020.
Ajax appear keen to sign the forward in the summer and help him regain his groove.
The Eredivisie champions are willing to pay around £12million but Spurs want closer to £21.5m
CITY LIONS
Manchester City will have six English players available for the Champions League Final against Chelsea.
Those are Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Scott Carson and youngster James Trafford.
Four of the aforementioned are then expected to link up with England ahead of Euro 2020.
That is Sterling, Foden, Walker and Stones
CHELSEA LIONS
Chelsea are set to face Manchester City in an all-English Champions League Final in Porto.
A total of six English players have made Blues boss Thomas Tuchel’s squad and are in line – some more than others – to grace the pitch at the Dragao.
Those are Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell, Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and youngster Faustino Anjorin.
James, Chilwell and Mount will then link up with England ahead of Euro 2020
IT’S BEN EMOTIONAL
Brighton ace Ben White revealed he “cried for an hour” after learning of his call-up to England’s provisional Euro 2020 squad.
White told Sky Sports: “I got a phone call while I was out for dinner, I didn’t really believe it.
“[When I was] told me all the news, when I was going, it was obviously unbelievable.
“I put the phone down, rang my mum straight away, sat down there, cried…
“Mum was crying, my dad, had all my sisters there and, yeah, I just sat and cried for about an hour”
GETTY IMAGES FOR GREAL
Aston Villa ace Jack Grealish is “100% fit” for Euro 2020 according to Villa manager Dean Smith.
Smith recently said: “He is 100% fit. Firstly, we had to make sure he was ready to play for Aston Villa. We wouldn’t take a risk with only four games to go, with a player of Jack’s standing and quality, unless it was the right thing to do.
“We all believed it was the right thing to do – for him and for Aston Villa. Then once the season finished, if he gets picked, which hopefully he does, then it’s the right thing for England as well.
“If we felt there was any kind of future risk then we would have just shut him down for the rest of the season and he wouldn’t have had the chance to go to the Euros”
RICE WISH
West Ham ace Declan Rice is keen to join Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to Manchester Evening News, Rice would be interested to move to United after recent talks with England team-mates, who play under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, ahead of Euro 2020.
The Red Devils have reportedly grown concerned over the star midfielder’s £100million asking price.
Hammers manager David Moyes recently said: “I don’t agree with the owners that Declan Rice is a £100m footballer.
“Far, far more than £100m”
FINAL EURO SQUAD
England boss Gareth Southgate is expected to name his final squad on Tuesday 1 June.
Southgate revealed his provisional 33-man shortlist on Tuesday ahead of Euro 2020 but seven players will soon be cut.
The England boss said: “There are 12 players still to play so we’re always going to need additional players and added to that we have some injuries at different stages, that we have very little info about.
“We felt more time will help us make better decisions. Our preference was to name the 26, but we have not got an ideal hand of cards – a lot of unknowns.
“Info and evidence are very important and we will have a lot more in the next seven days”
RICE BLOW
Manchester United have been dealt with a significant blow in their bid to sign West Ham star Declan Rice, who has also been linked with Chelsea.
According to the Daily Mail, United have become increasingly concerned over Rice’s asking price, which is said to be around 100million.
Hammer boss David Moyes previously said: “I don’t agree with the owners that Declan Rice is a £100m footballer.
“Far, far more than £100m.”
Rice has been included in England boss Gareth Southgate’s 33-man provisional squad ahead of Euro 2020
BALE RETIREMENT
Real Madrid talisman Gareth Bale, who spent the season on loan at Tottenham, was recently linked with early retirement.
Reports from Spain have claimed that Bale is considering negotiating a payout from Real and could even quit football altogether after Euro 2020, where he will play for Wales.
However, the star forward’s agent Jonathan Barnett has poured cold water on this speculation with an explosive statement.
Barnett told talkSPORT when asked about the matter: “Sorry, don’t speak about rubbish reporting”
GETTY IMAGES KOUNDE BOOST
Sevilla star defender Jules Kounde, who is set to compete for France in Euro 2020, has confirmed that he “will perhaps have to change clubs this summer”.
Kounde has been linked with a move to Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Real Madrid ahead of the summer transfer window.
And the centre-back, who stood out this term in LaLiga, has said he wishes to play for a “big club”.
Kounde told reporters at France’s Clairefontaine training camp: “Regarding my future, it’s certain that I will perhaps have to change clubs this summer.
“But nothing has been finalised yet. I have not decided anything.
“My goal is to play for a big club, to try to always progress and to win trophies.
“It’s true that I might have to move but that’s not relevant today”
MAGUIRE UPDATE
Harry Maguire seems confident of featuring in England’s Euro 2020 kick-off against Croatia on June 13.
Maguire suffered an ankle injury against Aston Villa and has since been in a race against time to be fit for the Euros.
According to the Daily Mail, however, the centre-back’s progress is looking good and there is confidence that he will be fit in two weeks.
The Red Devils are reportedly set to meet Maguire again on Monday for a fresh check-up, with the results once again beamed to Gareth Southgate’s physios.
SANCHO UPDATE
Manchester United are still in talks with Borussia Dortmund ace and England international Jadon Sancho’s representatives over a potential summer deal.
According to Sky Sports, “as it stands, United represents the most realistic destination” for Sancho, who is set to represent the Three Lions in Euro 2020.
United won’t have to worry about personal terms as they already agreed last year when they tried to sign the star winger.
Dortmund are listening to offers for the 21-year-old and have not publicly named a price.
But it seems like Sancho could be available for £80million, which is significantly less than the £108m the Bundesliga giants demanded last year
GOOD MORNING EURO FANS
Harry Maguire is reportedly confident of featuring in England’s Euro 2020 kick-off against Croatia.
The Three Lions face their Group D rivals in just over two weeks’ time and are sweating on the fitness of their star centre-back.
The 28-year-old had been ever-present for Manchester United in the Premier League until he suffered ankle ligament damage against Aston Villa – ruling him out of the run-in.
The Red Devils’ form crumbled in his absence and he watched from the stands as his team lost Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Following the defeat in Gdansk, United have increased their communication with the England setup and national team staff checked in with Maguire on Friday.
According to the Mail, his progress is looking good and there is confidence that he will be fit for June 13.
United are reportedly set to meet Maguire again on Monday for a fresh check-up, with the results once again beamed to Gareth Southgate’s physios.
Meanwhile, Jack Grealish is “100% fit” for Euro 2020 according to Aston Villa manager Dean Smith.
Smith said: “He is 100% fit. Firstly, we had to make sure he was ready to play for Aston Villa.
“We wouldn’t take a risk with only four games to go, with a player of Jack’s standing and quality, unless it was the right thing to do.
“We all believed it was the right thing to do – for him and for Aston Villa. Then once the season finished, if he gets picked, which hopefully he does, then it’s the right thing for England as well.
“If we felt there was any kind of future risk then we would have just shut him down for the rest of the season and he wouldn’t have had the chance to go to the Euros.”
And finally, Ben White has revealed he ‘cried for an hour’ after learning of his call-up to England’s provisional Euro 2020 squad.
He told Sky Sports News: “I got a phone call while I was out for dinner, I didn’t really believe it!
“[When I was] told me all the news, when I was going, it was obviously unbelievable.
“I put the phone down, rang my mum straight away, sat down there, cried…
“Mum was crying, my dad, had all my sisters there and, yeah, I just sat and cried for about an hour.”
AL BE OFF
David Alaba has signed a five-year deal with Real Madrid.
The Austrian turned down a new contract at Bayern Munich, bringing his 12-year association with the German giants to an end.
Alaba, 28, was determined to experience a new challenge, with a preference for playing in midfield.
And after months of speculation, Madrid have finally officially announced the deal.
The left-sided star has committed for five seasons, and will earn around £200,000-a-week.
Alaba will be officially presented to Real Madrid supporters following the conclusion of Euro 2020, at which he is representing his country.
MORE ON GIGGS
Wales are currently in the Algarve where their pre-Euros training camp ends today and midfielder Joe Morrell says the squad hasn’t been distracted by the latest development in Giggs’ case.
Morrell said: “We have always been quite laid-back with the situation as a squad. We have fantastic senior players who help us with that. They have run the dressing room really well.
“We have never really looked too deep into it. Pagey has been the manager and that’s that.
“If the situation changes then it changes. But we are focusing on what we can do and taking the messages on board from Pagey, just like we did before with the manager.
“It’s not a case of moving on, it’s just a case of trying to keep it as similar as possible.
“We have had the same messages from Pagey as we got from the gaffer before. It’s just the continuity that will benefit us going into the summer.”
DRAGONS STILL ROARING
Ryan Giggs’ Wales nightmare deepened after his trial date was set for next year.
The Dragons boss will face trial at Manchester Crown Court on January 24, 2022, accused of assaulting two women and coercive control.
Giggs, who has already been replaced by Robert Page for Euro 2020, will now miss Wales’ final SIX 2022 World Cup qualifiers this autumn.
The 47-year-old, who denies the allegations, appeared in court yesterday and was told the trial could last three weeks.
Giggs has been bailed until a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled for July 23.
The Manchester United legend, who stepped aside as national manager following his arrest last November, is under contract with Wales until after the Qatar World Cup in December next year.
Welsh FA bosses will hold talks to discuss Giggs’ future but no decision is expected with the legal process ongoing.
GUIRE AND HIGHER
Harry Maguire is reportedly confident of featuring in England’s Euro 2020 kick-off against Croatia.
The Three Lions face their Group D rivals in just over two weeks’ time and are sweating on the fitness of their star centre-back.
The 28-year-old had been ever-present for Manchester United in the Premier League until he suffered ankle ligament damage against Aston Villa – ruling him out of the run-in.
The Red Devils’ form crumbled in his absence and he watched from the stands as his team lost Wednesday’s Europa League final.
Following the defeat in Gdansk, United have increased their communication with the England setup and national team staff checked in with Maguire on Friday.
According to the Mail, his progress is looking good and there is confidence that he will be fit for June 13.
United are reportedly set to meet Maguire again on Monday for a fresh check-up, with the results once again beamed to Gareth Southgate’s physios.
JACK POT
Aston Villa star Jack Grealish is “100% fit” for Euro 2020 according to Villa manager Dean Smith.
Smith said: “He is 100% fit. Firstly, we had to make sure he was ready to play for Aston Villa. We wouldn’t take a risk with only four games to go, with a player of Jack’s standing and quality, unless it was the right thing to do.
“We all believed it was the right thing to do – for him and for Aston Villa. Then once the season finished, if he gets picked, which hopefully he does, then it’s the right thing for England as well.
“If we felt there was any kind of future risk then we would have just shut him down for the rest of the season and he wouldn’t have had the chance to go to the Euros.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
