ENGLAND could be missing Bukayo Saka for their quarter-final clash against Ukraine.
The Arsenal star started the brilliant 2-0 win against Germany, but came off for Jack Grealish on 69 minutes.
Speaking ahead of the Ukraine clash, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate said: “We have just to check on Buyako who had a slight knock today.
“But other than that everyone else is available.”
All 26 players trained at St George’s Park ahead of this afternoon’s flight to Italy, where they are overriding favourites with bookmakers to progress to the semi-finals.
Ukraine are 24th in the Fifa world rankings – 20 spots below England – and progressed to the last 16 as the luckiest third-placed side.
Andriy Shevchenko’s men beat 10-man Sweden 2-1 in extra-time on Tuesday and Southgate is ready for a tough evening.
The Three Lions gaffer said: “I think we know that Ukraine are a good side.
“I’ve been really impressed with what Andriy’s done with them.
“They had a couple of sticky results through the autumn, through the Nations League but they’ve bounced back, and they got a very good result in France, in the World Cup qualifiers and, again, this week against Sweden.
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“So if we give them space to play, they’ll play, and they’ve got some dangerous forwards.”
Southgate has four players walking a disciplinary tightrope against Ukraine but the England manager says getting to the Euro 2020 semi-final takes precedence over protecting players.
Harry Maguire, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice and Phil Foden are a booking away from being suspended for a potential semi-final clash against Denmark or the Czech Republic at Wembley on Wednesday.
Bookings are wiped after the quarter-final stage and Roma manager and SunSport’s Euro 2020 expert Jose Mourinho said the quartet should be rested against Ukraine on Saturday to avoid any suspension for the semi-final.
Asked if he would take up that advice, Southgate told talkSPORT: “We won’t. We won’t for that reason, anyway.
“We’ve been to three semi-finals in 60 years, so I don’t think we’re in a position as a nation to start resting players in a quarter-final stage because they might get another yellow card.
“I think it’s different if there are physical concerns but, in terms of yellow cards, we’ve got to play the game. What are we saving them for?
“We’ve got to be good enough to get to a semi-final and if for one minute we take our eye off of that moment we’re in now and think about what might happen in the future then we’re in trouble.
“I totally understand the strategic part of what he’s saying but it’s not a route we will be going.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
