GARETH SOUTHGATE has confirmed his 26-man England squad for Euro 2020.Trent Alexander-Arnold has made the cut, but it’s heartbreak for Aaron Ramsdale, Ollie Watkins, Ben White and Ben Godfrey.
Bizarrely though, Jesse Lingard, who has not made the squad, will START against Austria according to Gareth Southgate.
And Kevin de Bruyne has been declared fit for Belgium in Euro 2020.
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Follow all of the latest news, build up and updates below…
‘TURN IT INTO A POSITIVE’ – EXCLUSIVE
Bobby Zamora knows how those England players reeling from major-tournament heartbreak are feeling today.
Zamora was left out of the Three Lions’ 2010 World Cup squad – although it was his own decision, rather than that of manager Fabio Capello.
Zamora made the second of his two appearances for England the year after the 2010 World Cup, but that was that for the then 31-year-old when it came to playing for his country.
He does feel there is a big incentive just 12 months away for those who missed out this time, though.
The ex-Spurs and West Ham forward said: “There’s a World Cup next year, another opportunity very, very close.
“Maybe you take it as a positive. It drives you to improve and to be better, to make sure you’re in the next squad.”
HARRY’S CRY – EXCLUSIVE
Harry Maguire woke up every morning hoping his ankle pain had gone but still hopes to be fit for the Euros.
Speaking yesterday, Maguire, 28, was asked about his first thoughts as he sat on the turf waiting for medical attention at Villa Park after Anwar El Ghazi crunched him.
He said: “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.”
HA HA HARA
Jamie O’Hara seemed somewhat unhappy with Gareth Southgate’s confirmation that Jesse Lingard may play against Austria tomorrow.
The former Tottenham man tweeted in a bluster before his TalkSPORT colleague Max Rushden attempted to calm him down with a fairly rational, logical and sensible reply.
Well because the United, City and Chelsea players aren’t there. And because if the managers asks you to you do it.And in case someone gets injured you might get in.And because he’s a professional.And even if he scored 10, Southgate knows his squad. Peace and love 👍❤️— Max Rushden 💙 (@maxrushden) June 1, 2021
PRIDE OF THE CITY
Manchester City have revealed their pride at the FOUR Blues players included in Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man England sqaud.
Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and John Stones have all been selected and can expect to feature heavily in Southgate’s starting XI.
JES WATCH IT
England boss Gareth Southgate has revealed Jesse Lingard will start against Austria on Wednesday despite axing him from his Euro 2020 squad.
Speaking at a press conference following the team announcement, the 50-year-old said: “Jesse did really well to get himself back in the race because back in January he was a millions miles away from being considered for an England squad.
“I said in March that he’d had a fabulous few weeks but he was slightly fortunate because we were without three or four wide players at that time.
“He was excellent for West Ham and he plays so well for us – we have total trust in the way he plays.
“He’s reliable, he’s a great member of the group. He will play tomorrow because we’ve got [Jadon] Sancho ill, we’ve obviously got a lot of players not available and he’ll start to help the balance of the team.
“He deserves that opportunity to go and show me that I’m wrong straight away. The lads that are with us are the standby list and we need to keep them match ready.”
MEET THE THREE LIONS!
This is England’s final 26-man squad for this summer’s Euros.
HURT PRIDE
Gareth Southgate has named his final 26-man Euro 2020 squad with some big names being left out.
From the provisional 33-man squad, the likes of Jesse Lingard, Ben White, James Ward-Prowse and Ollie Watkins have been omitted.
Meanwhile Manchester United youngster Mason Greenwood was forced to withdraw from the squad due to an underlying injury.
A number of England stars were unlucky to not have even been named in the provisional squad, with Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Aaron Wan-Bissaka all missing out.
And SunSport has produced a best XI of players who have been snubbed, with the starting team boasting 118 caps between them.
THE GREAL DEAL
Jack Grealish has urged his team-mates to ‘make it a summer to remember’ after he was included in Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man England squad.
The Aston Villa star uploaded a picture of himself in an England shirt and wrote: “An absolute honour to make the squad for the Euros this summer.
“I’ve always dreamt about playing in a major tournament for my country!
“Let’s make it a summer to remember.”
An absolute honour to make the squad for the Euros this summer. I’ve always dreamt about playing in a major tournament for my country! Let’s make it a summer to remember 🏴🦁 #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/rEgOBMdfpi— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) June 1, 2021
KYLE READY TO WALKER THE WALK
Kyle Walker says he is delighted to be included in England’s Euros squad and can’t wait to link up with the squad.
The Manchester City defender is one of four right-backs to be included in the 26-man group but has not joined the squad yet because of his involvement in Saturday’s Champions League final.
TRENT HELL BENT ON SUCCESS
Trent Alexander-Arnold has hit out at those who criticised him ahead of his selection for England’s 26-man Euro 2020 sqaud.
The Liverpool ace is one of four right-backs selected by Gareth Southgate and many had called for him to be dropped after an up and down season for the Reds.
And after the news was announced, Alexander-Arnold posted a picture of himself and tweeted: “Always believe in yourself. Silence the doubters.”
ALL HAIL THE BACKUPS
Gareth Southgate has heaped praise on the players he had to leave out his final 26-man squad and assured the public they are his backup squad and will be ready if called upon.
Southgate axed Aaron Ramsdale (Sheff Utd), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Jesse Lingard (West Ham on loan from Man Utd), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Ben White (Brighton), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) and Mason Greenwood (Man Utd – injured).
And asked how the rejected stars reacted, Southgate said: “James was brilliant. As was Jesse, as was Ollie. Totally professional which is the character of the players.
“All of the players that are here will be on the standby list. We can only change now on the basis of injuries so those guys will be training with us. And they’ll be involved in the matches as well. Not only because if we have an issue they need to be ready.
“But they deserve it. Their commitment to stay with the group and their respect to their teammates to want to be here shows what playing for England means to this group of players.
“And I think it’s important the public know that as sometimes people dismiss the importance of England caps and what it means to players.”
KIERAN KEEPING CALM
Kieran Trippier says he is delighted to be in the final 26-man England squad despite being one of four right-backs.
The Atletico Madrid star won LaLiga this season and said: “It’s a very special moment
“I know the competition I’ve got with the other right-backs.
“It’s about playing well for my club which I’ve done this season.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be in the 26 and looking forward to the tournament now.”
UNLUCKY LIN
Gareth Southgate says Jesse Lingard done incredibly well to get back in contention for an England spot and he wants the West Ham loanee match ready in case he gets called back into the sqaud.
The Three Lions boss said: “Jesse has done incredibly well to get back in the race. Back in January he was a million miles from being selectable for an England squad.
“I said in March he’d had a fabulous few weeks but you’d have to say he was a little fortunate because we were without around four wide players at that time.
“He had a good spell with West Ham and he’s played so well for us with England, we have total trust in the way he plays, he’s reliable, he’s a great member of the group.
“He will play tomorrow because we’ve got Jadon Sancho ill and we’ve obviously got a lot of players not available and for the balance of the team he’ll start.
“So he deserves that opportunity to go and show me that I’m wrong. But also the lads that are with us, they’re the standby players and we’ve got to keep them match ready in case they come back into that squad.”
HOLDING ON FOR HARRY
Gareth Southgate is hoping to call on Harry Maguire despite his ankle ligament injury.
He said: “We know exactly where he is at. Our medical team have been up with him in Manchester.
“He has not travelled yet to us because of the quarantine issues coming back from Poland.
“He’s got a bit to do to be available.
“A bit like Hendo (Jordan Henderson). They’ve both got a bit to do but we feel the possibility that they can play a part and the fact they’re such fantastic characters to have around the group.
“Given that we were able to pick 26, the opportunity to have those two with us was a straight forward one.”
GARETH SOUTHGATE SPEAKS!
Gareth Southgate says the four right-backs he picked are in England’s ‘best 26 footballers’.
The Three Lions boss picked Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker.
And he said: “Basically they’re in our best 26 footballers and that’s why they’re in the squad.
“And if i could have picked a fifth or a sixth right-back I would have done.”
HAVE YOUR SAY
Aside from Mason Greenwood, who withdrew from the squad because of an injury problem, six unlucky England stars did not make the final cut.
FAVOURITES FO SHO
Austria boss Franco Foda claims England are ‘big favourites’ for this summer’s Euros.
The Three Lions take on the German’s side at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium tonight in a warm-up friendly. Former Sturm Graz boss Foda, 55, chief said: “In the last few years England have had a great development.
“They have lots of young, dynamic players, especially offensively and they are always able in situations to do very well. They are very quick.
“This is why they are one of the big favourites at the Euros.”
Ex-West Ham and Stoke striker Marko Arnautovic misses out due to a thigh muscle tear, while Austria are sweating on the fitness of captain Julian Baumgartlinger.
They will also be without former Newcastle loanee Valentino Lazaro, who would have had to quarantine had he travelled to England due to a visit to Dubai with Inter team-mate Romelu Lukaku last month.
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 Manchester United star – who has been named in the Three Lions’ squad for the tournament – is expected to be the first-choice left-back under Southgate.
But the 25-year-old looks to be a serious doubt to feature in Wednesday night’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.
Ben Chilwell could now start for England against Austria, with Southgate hoping Shaw will be fit to face Romania on Sunday. It will be England’s final fixture before they compete against Croatia in their first Euro 2020 group stage clash on June 13.
THE GREAL DEAL
Jack Grealish says he had to assure Gareth Southgate he would be fit for the Euros.
The Aston Villa man has been included in the final 26-man squad but he was touch and go having picked up an injury towards the end of the season.
Grealish and Southgate was regularly pictured together at Villa Park when the midfielder was watching from the stands and the Villa man said he had to reassure the boss he would be ready for the summer.
SQUAD NUMBERS!
England’s final squad numbers have been announced for this summer’s Euros.
And it looks like Jordan Pickford will be No 1 goalie ahead of Dean Henderson while Kyle Walker looks set to be the first choice of the FOUR right-backs included.
Harry Kane has been given the iconic No 9 shirt while Jack Grealish’s starting chances seem to have been given a boost having been given David Beckham’s famous No 7.
GARETH HAS HIS SAY
Gareth Southgate has spoken after his final 26-man squad for this summer’s Euros was announced…
SEVEN LIONS AXED!
Gareth Southgate was forced to cut seven players from his original 33-man group to leave him with his final 26-man squad.
And here are the stars he had to disappoint…
Aaron Ramsdale (Sheff Utd), Ben Godfrey (Everton), Jesse Lingard (West Ham on loan from Man Utd), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Ben White (Brighton), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) and Mason Greenwood (Man Utd – injured).
ENGLAND SQUAD ANNOUNCED!
Gareth Southgate has included FOUR right-backs in his England squad for this summer’s Euros.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, Reece James and Kieran Trippier are all IN.
But there is no room for Aaron Ramsdale, Ben Godfrey, Jesse Lingard, Ollie Watkins, Ben White, James Ward-Prowse or Mason Greenwood – who pulled out injured.
SQUAD IS IN!
HERE IS ENGLAND’S FINAL 26-MAN SQUAD FOR THIS SUMMER’S EUROS!
JUST THREE MINUTES TO GO…
Just moments to go until England’s final Euro 2020 squad is announced!
Stay right here where SunSport will have all the up-to-the-minute news…
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