HARRY MAGUIRE was the only absentee from England training as Gareth Southgate’s men prepared for their Euro 2020 opener against Croatia.
We’ve the very latest on Karim Benzema’s injury after the Frenchman was injured in their warm-up win over Bulgaria.
And things aren’t looking much better for Spain after the whole squad went into isolation following a positive Covid test for Sergio Busquets.
Follow all of the latest news, build up and updates below…
BENZEMA BOOST
Real Madrid star Karim Benzema looks likely to compete at Euro 2020 despite the knock he suffered against Bulgaria.
Benzema sustained a knee injury and hobbled off the pitch in tears, which raised concern over his fitness ahead of the summer’s Euros.
However, France manager Didier Deschamps is confident the star striker is going to be fit in time for Tuesday’s opener against Germany.
Journalist Mohamed Bouhafsi backed Deschamps’ claims as he said there is “no worry” for Benzema who will return to training in 72 hours at the latest.
Bouhafsi tweeted: “No worries for KB9! Karim’s muscle deflated that night and the pain was less. Nevertheless, the star of #Real was not scheduled to train this Wednesday. He will resume his training path within 48 to 72 hours maximum”
SCOTLAND PREDICTION
Stuart McCall has predicted which Scotland aces are going to stand out at Euro 2020.
McCall believes the likes of Arsenal star Kieran Tierney, Manchester United player Scott McTominay and Liverpool ace Andy Robertson are going to shine bright.
He told Not the Old Firm: “I think the good thing is looking at the squad, it’s quite young.
“We have four top class players – Andy Robertson at Liverpool, Kieran Tierney at Arsenal, John McGinn at Aston Villa and Scott McTominay at Manchester United – and they are all quite young”
BR-ITE PROSPECT
Arsenal have joined the transfer race for Brighton ace Ben White during the summer transfer window.
According to the Daily Mirror, Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is a “big admirer” of White after his impressive Premier League campaign with the Seagulls.
The centre-back amassed 39 appearances across all competitions and earned an England call-up by Gareth Southgate ahead of Euro 2020.
However, the 23-year-old has also attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United
LUKE OUT
England manager Gareth Southgate is considering using Manchester United star Luke Shaw at centre-back.
That is according to the Daily Telegraph, who claim Southgate is facing a defensive dilemma ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2020 opener against Croatia.
Southgate is reluctant on using a four-man defence without the injured Harry Maguire, who is still recovering from an ankle injury.
Therefore, the Three Lions head coach is thinking about deploying a back-three with Shaw at left centre-back next to John Stones and Kyle Walker
COAD HIM REVED UP
Wolves captain Conor Coady revealed that England boss Gareth Southgate’s speech before the tournament gave him “goosebumps”.
Coady told talkSPORT: “The whole talk from the gaffer and what we talked about was incredible.
“It was something we didn’t expect. It gave me goosebumps watching the video and hearing him. He spoke about our own legacy and creating memories for people of this country.
“What we’ve all been through this year and what we’re all looking forward to now over what we hope is the next four or five weeks. He spoke about the sun shining on ourselves”
GETTY IMAGES TRIPPIER BID REJECTED
Manchester United have submitted a bid for Atletico Madrid ace Kieran Trippier.
However, Atletico have rejected United’s opening offer for the former Tottenham player.
That is according to Football Insider, who report the Red Devils offered roughly £10million for the England international.
Reports suggest the Manchester giants have been keeping tabs on the right-back as head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is considering trying Aaron Wan-Bissaka in central defence
CROATIA STANCE
Croatia do not intend to take a knee ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2020 opener against England.
That is according to The Athletic, who claim the 2018 World Cup runners-up do not plan to carry out the gesture to promote racial equality.
The Three Lions have confirmed that they will take a knee ahead of all games in the Euros.
England carried out the gesture during their two warm-up games against Austria and Romania despite boos from a minority of the crowd
HE’S BUK
Arsenal ace Bukayo Saka trained with the rest of the England squad after missing Sunday’s friendly against Romania.
Saka suffered a hip problem and was rested by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate ahead of Euro 2020.
The same though didn’t apply for Manchester United ace Harry Maguire who was absent from practice, as mentioned below.
Maguire is still recovering from an ankle ligament injury he sustained at Aston Villa last month
SHAW REDEMPTION
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes confidence and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are the secret behind Luke Shaw rediscovering his form.
Ferdinand told the Daily Express: “Confidence. A manager that believes in him.
“He may have changed a few things in his personal life as well, be it preparation.
“Whatever he’s done he’s done remarkably well. He’s shown great character, which you need in times of adversity and I think he’s done really well”
MAGUIRE UPDATE
Manchester United star Harry Maguire was the only player missing from England’s training earlier today.
The Three Lions kick-off Group D against Croatia at Wembley on Sunday and Gareth Southgate had all of his players available for practice except for Maguire.
The United centre-back is set to miss the Euros opener with an ankle ligament injury he suffered at Aston Villa last month.
The 28-year-old is continuing rehab and there is no official word yet regarding a return to full fitness
GETTY IMAGES IT KANE HAPPEN
Manchester United hero Rio Ferdinand believes Red Devils stars will be asking Harry Kane for his thoughts about a potential transfer to Old Trafford during England’s Euro 2020 preparations.
Ferdinand told the Daily Mirror: “Yeah that happens. That happened when I went to the World Cup with Nicky Butt, Becks [David Beckham] in the United team. Talked about me coming to United.
“That was speculation in the paper. That happens, every tournament, every get together. Players talking to players. I’m sure managers have said ‘speak to him for me and find out what he’s like’.
“Butt just said to me ‘would you come United?’. And I said ‘yeah I would. I want to win trophies’. That probably filtered back to the manager, they know if they want to make a bid or not. That’s how it works.
“All players are like fans. If you were in a squad with a player who you think is brilliant and you want him to come to your club you’d be saying ‘come on, mate. Come to us. Get on to your club and your agent and try to manoeuvre a move to get to us”
SPAIN VS SWEDEN CHAOS
As mentioned below, Spain and Sweden’s Euro 2020 opener has been cast into doubt after a total of four players returned a positive coronavirus test.
UEFA have prepared a protocol ahead of this summer’s competition which would allow a fixture to be delayed by up to 48 hours should a team have fewer than 13 available players.
If a national side is unable to fulfil a fixture within that time then their opponents will be awarded a 3-0 victory.
However, the exact guidance on what would happen in the extreme circumstance of neither side being able to field a team is unclear.
SPAIN VS SWEDEN UPDATE
Spain and Sweden’s Euro 2020 opener against each other has been thrown into chaos after four players returned positive COVID-19 tests.
Furia Roja stars Sergio Busquets and Diego Llorente were put into isolation after being diagnosed with coronavirus.
Janne Andersson’s side also suffered a similar set back as Dejan Kulusevski and Mattias Svanberg also tested positive.
The Sweden duo is also isolating and the Group E fixture – due to be held in Seville on Monday – between the two nations is now in serious jeopardy
SOUTHGATE OPEN LETTER
England manager Gareth Southgate has issued a passionate open letter to fans ahead of Euro 2020.
Southgate wrote a long piece for the Players Tribune where he insisted that all of his players, and those who didn’t make the cut, are immensely honoured and proud to represent their country.
The 50-year-old added that his players should not “stick to football” and believes they have a “duty” to interact with the public on important matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice.
This comes after a loud minority booed England players for taking the knee during the last two friendlies against Austria and Romania
NEVER SAY NEVES
Wolves ace Ruben Neves has been linked with a £35million move to Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
Neves’ club are willing to drop his asking price as they seek to refresh their squad following the arrival of new boss Bruno Lage.
The star midfielder has been touted as a potential replacement for the departing Granit Xhaka, who is likely to join Roma.
Neves is currently preparing for Euro 2020 with Portugal
GETTY IMAGES
ENGLAND SQUAD
Let’s revisit the squad England boss Gareth Southgate has put together ahead of Euro 2020:
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford
Defenders:, Ben Chilwell, Conor Coady, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Ben White
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice
Forwards: Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling
TWO DAYS TO GO
We are almost at the 48 hours to go mark before the European Championships start.
Turkey vs Italy kicks the tournament off at 8pm GMT on Friday night.
The first England game is then on Sunday at 2pm when they begin their campaign against Croatia at Wembley Stadium.
Credit: Getty STERLING EFFORT
Raheem Sterling is going into the Euros with a smile on his face despite Manchester City’s Champions League defeat.
The forward claims he has put the loss in Porto behind him and is excited ahead of Sunday’s opener against Croatia at Wembley.
The England attacker said: “Honestly, I can’t wait. I actually can’t wait. It’s been a long season but I’m here with England now.
“It’s been a good season with Man City, we’ve won some trophies. I am disappointed that we didn’t get the Champions League.
“I’m playing at Wembley, the team’s playing at Wembley.
“For me, this is what dreams are made of and I’m just going into this with a lovely mindset.”
Credit: Getty PADDY POWER ODDS FOR EURO 2020
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Credit: Getty – Contributor LAST NIGHT’S RESULTS
Here are some of the standout results from last night’s international friendlies as teams prepare to head into the Euros.
- France 3-0 Bulgaria
- Spain 4-0 Lithuania
- Poland 2-2 Iceland
- Hungary 0-0 Republic of Ireland
- Czech Republic 3-1 Albania
DONNY DONE
Donny van de Beek is out of the Euros due to injury.
The Manchester United and Netherlands midfielder, 24, did not feature in either warm-up friendly against Scotland or Georgia ahead of the tournament.
And he trained separate from the rest of the team on Monday.
Now the KNVB have confirmed Van de Beek is ‘struggling with an injury’ and has been ruled out.
United team-mate Marcus Rashford sent a message of support for his pal.
The England forward tweeted: “sorry mate @Donny_beek6 take some time for yourself and keep your head high x”
Manager Frank de Boer will not call up a replacement to fill his spot in the 26-man squad.
DIEGO COVID BLOW
Leeds star Diego Llorente has become the second Spain player to test positive for Covid-19 throwing the Spaniards’ Euro 2020 preparation into chaos.
La Roja captain Sergio Busquets tested positive on Sunday which saw the whole squad thrust into isolation.
That saw the Spanish forced to play an Under-21 side for their friendly against Lithuania on Tuesday – the same day Llorente returned a positive test.
And as a result, six senior stars – Kepa Arrizabalaga, Raul Albiol, Brais Mendez, Pablo Fornals, Rodrigo Moreno and Carlos Soler – have been called up and made to train in a parallel bubble to the original group.
Following Spain’s 4-0 win over the Lithuanians, the Spanish FA have confirmed a number of Under-21 players will also remain in Madrid to train there.
And it looks more and more likely players from the reserve groups will have to be used after Llorente, 27, was struck down.
ROUND THE BENZ
Karim Benzema has handed France an injury scare ahead of Euro 2020 as he limped out of their friendly with Bulgaria.
Les Bleus cruised to a 3-0 win in their final match before they kick off the tournament on Tuesday against Germany in Munich.
The Real Madrid star, 33, was handed a shock international recall following a six-year absence for the showpiece.
And he looked poised to play a huge role for the reigning world champions before he suffered a blow during the first half of Tuesday night’s game.
Benzema appeared to be hurt following a challenge with Bulgarian defender Ivan Turitsov during the first half.
The veteran tried to play on but soon went down and signalled he could not continue as he hobbled off favouring his right knee in the 37th minute at the Stade de France.
France boss Didier Deschamps said: “It’s a knock.
“He took a good hit on the muscle above the left knee, and he felt that it was hardening so we took no risk. The medical staff is currently with him.”
SUMMER OF LOVE
Gareth Southgate delivered a rousing message to England’s players and fans as his Euros prep cranked up a gear.
The Three Lions boss united the nation on the march to the World Cup semi-final in 2018 and now he wants the power of sport to lift the country again.
Southgate, whose team face Croatia in the Euro 2020 opener at Wembley on Sunday, recognised the nightmare 15 months of Covid-19 and wants his players to be part of a summer of love again.
He said: “There’s something I tell our players before every England game, and the reason that I repeat it is because I really believe it with all my heart.
“I tell them that when you go out there, in this shirt, you have the opportunity to produce moments that people will remember forever. You are a part of an experience that lasts in the collective consciousness of our country.
“We saw that during Russia 2018, with the street parties, the barbecues and with every drop of beer thrown into the air in celebration.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
