KEVIN DE BRUYNE could miss out on Euro 2020 for Belgium after suffering two broken bones in the Champions League final.Meanwhile Matthijs de Ligt has clarified previous comments stating that he had turned down the coronavirus vaccine.
And Harry Maguire is increasingly confident of being fit for England vs Croatia.
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Follow all of the latest news, build up and updates below…
ASTON MARTINS
Aston Villa trio Jack Grealish, Ollie Watkins and Tyrone Mings are nailed on to make England’s Euro 2020 squad.
And the stars can have a huge impact if Gareth Southgate involves them from the get-go.
Former Villa man Stephen Warnock told the Star: “You look at Grealish and for me he’s a shoo in, he has to go.
“What we saw with Grealish is when he played for England, the standard didn’t drop. In fact, playing with better individuals took his game to another level.
“I think Mings will also be selected because of a potential injury to Maguire and how he gives Southgate that option to go three at the back.
“Watkins is a player who deserves to be there given his goal return and the way he’s taken to the Premier League.”
BRAZIL-IANT
Hold that thought…
Brazil have JUST been confirmed as the new hosts of next month’s Copa America.
The Samba stars hosted the last tournament in 2019 before winning the trophy with a 3-1 final win over Peru.
And with original co-hosts Colombia and Argentina dropping out due to coronavirus concerns, Brazil will once again take up the mantle.
CAN’T COPA
Copa America chiefs are frantically searching for a new host after Argentina pulled the plug due to coronavirus concerns.
Colombia had previously been set to co-host before also dropping out due to the Covid pandemic.
And after a surge in cases, Argentina have now pulled out as well.
There is now less than TWO weeks until the tournament is supposed to start.
And it remains to be seen if a new host venue can be found in time.
EUR ON
With the Euros just around the corner, why not get acquainted with all the various host cities?
England’s group games are all taking place at Wembley, while Wales will have to travel all the way out to Baku!
‘GOING TO BE DIFFICULT’
Wales star Gareth Bale has opened up on his side’s chances of replicating their famous semi-finals run of 2016 this time around.
He said: “‘We’d love to replicate it but we’re realistic.
“We know it’s a different tournament playing different teams and we also have a very different team to what we did have.
“It’s going to be difficult going in against all these top nations.
“But we’re confident in our own ability what we can do on the pitch, and we’ll be doing everything to make it as much of a success as we can.”
Gareth Bale is optimistic going into Euro 2020Credit: PA
SCOT TO BE DONE
Croatia have ditched plans to stay in Scotland during the Euros.
The 2018 World Cup finalists were planning to stay at St Andrew’s for the tournament.
But, upon recommendation by Uefa, they have elected to stay in Croatia instead, because of Scottish Covid-19 regulations.
A statement read: “The federation received a recommendation from UEFA to change the location of its team base camp, due to the potential impact of the Scottish Covid-19 regulations on the national team’s daily routines.”
‘BREATH OF FRESH AIR’
Wales manager Robert Page has admitted that 19-year-old Rubin Colwill ‘blew him away’ in training.
The Cardiff youngster, who has played just 191 minutes of senior club football, who surprisingly included in Page’s 26-man Euro 2020 squad yesterday.
Of the selection, Page revealed: “He’s been a breath of fresh air since he’s come in.
“He just blew us all away with how he was and how he conducted himself. He’s a top professional already and a great lad to have around the place.
“He’s really impressed me, he’s got a presence and maybe something we’ve not got in the middle of the park.
“He can play off the right, he can play as a 10, he can play in midfield – and that’s a bonus as well when you’re looking to pick a squad.”
Colvill, left, is in the squad alongside his hero Gareth BaleCredit: PA
LOCKED IN
Wales star James Lawrence has withdrawn from Robert Page’s 26-man Euro 2020 squad.
The St Pauli defender, 28, has won nine caps and was due to play in the finals this summer.
Now ruled out due to a so far undisclosed injury, Lawrence has now been removed from contention, and replaced by Luton Town ace Tom Lockyer.
🏴 DIWEDDARIAD CARFAN #EURO2020 🏴James Lawrence has been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury and has been replaced by Tom Lockyer.Brysia wella James a llongyfarchiadau Tom.#TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/J4CuEn1xsF— Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) May 31, 2021
LIONS IN WAIT
Manchester City are plotting a sensational double swoop on England’s superstar pairing Harry Kane and Jack Grealish, according to reports.
Boss Pep Guardiola is ready to open the cheque book after missing a golden opportunity to end the club’s wait for a Champions League trophy.
SunSport exclusively revealed earlier in May how City are ready to splurge £100million on Aston Villa’s Grealish.
But a new striker remains top of his priority list with club legend Sergio Aguero playing his last game for the club.
Tottenham captain Harry Kane is the man that City want to fill his boots.
Kane has made it no secret of his desire to leave Spurs this summer in search of silverware.
Rivals Man United are also interested in both players but the Athletic write how they would rather sign for the blue half of Manchester.
PAYING THE BILL
Scotland star Billy Gilmour could win his first cap this week… after lifting the Champions League last weekend.
The midfielder burst onto the scene in 2020, producing classy, mature performances for Chelsea under Frank Lampard and then Thomas Tuchel.
Having lifted the famous cup at the weekend, Gilmour is set to join up with Steve Clarke’s squad for the first time this week.
RUD CHALLENGE
Belgium boss Roberto Martinez was left raging at ‘reckless’ Antonio Rudiger after his challenge in the Champions League final which has left Kevin De Bruyne a doubt for Euro 2020.
The German defender blocked off the Manchester City playmaker’s run during the second half of Chelsea’s European triumph in Porto on Saturday night.
Martinez, who is now less than two weeks out from Belgium’s first group game against Russia, believes Rudiger should have been punished harsher than the yellow card he received.
“For me, Rudiger is very, very fortunate,” he said. “When you look at the replay, there’s no clash of heads.
“He’s properly leaving the shoulder against Kevin. He seems concussed and we will see the state of that.
“But that leaves a sour taste, because Rudiger’s holding his head, it’s almost that he wants to show that he’s hiding something.
“For me, it was excessive force and it was reckless. And it should have been a red card.
“Kevin is not a player that goes down for no reason. You can see the pain and it’s a swollen eye.”
Hi guys just got back from the hospital. My diagnosis is Acute nose bone fracture and left orbital fracture. I feel okay now. Still disappointed about yesterday obviously but we will be back— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) May 30, 2021
FEEL THE BERND
Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno is gearing up for Euro 2020.
The German has been called up by his country for the finals, and is staying ready in training.
Manuel Neuer will be first choice for the tournament.
But with Marc-Andre ter Stegen missing through injury, Leno could be next in line.
SAK TO BUSINESS
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is doing his best to impress Gareth Southgate, ahead of the England boss’ trimming of his squad tomorrow.
The Gunners teenager impressed this season, but is in danger of missing out on the Three Lions 26-man squad for Euro 2020.
RIGHT DON TIME
Holland star Donny van de Beek will try and impress Manchester United chiefs at the Euros this summer.
The Dutchman arrived at Old Trafford from Ajax for £40million last summer, but was limited to only four starts in the Premier League.
Having drawn Ukraine, North Macedonia and Austria in the group stage, Van de Beek’s Netherlands have a great chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
And according to The Telegraph, the midfielder will talk to Solskjaer to ‘see where he stands’ within the squad ahead of the summer transfer window.
Credit: AP
TOP THIER
Belgium have announced that Thierry Henry has returned to their coaching staff for Euro 2020.
The Frenchman was previously part of Roberto Martinez’s coaching team, before taking top jobs at AS Monaco and then CF Montreal.
Having found himself a free agent, Henry elected to return to work for the Spaniard this summer.
And with Martinez linked with a return to club football after the tournament, Henry may have his eye on the top job.
HOST MORTEN
Euro 2020’s rival tournament, the Copa America, is without a host country, less than TWO WEEKS before kicking off.
Colombia and Argentina were supposed to co-host the tournament, which is set to begin on June 13.
But both have been removed due to ongoing issues.
Colombia were taken out of the running on May 20, because of protests against president Ivan Duque.
And Argentina followed suit over the weekend, because of a surge in Covid-19 cases.
The Copa was originally supposed to take place in Argentina and Colombia last year
GOOD MORNING EURO FANS
Manchester City star man Kevin De Bruyne may have to miss Belgium’s first Euro 2020 matches in the group stage.
De Bruyne was forced off the Champions League Final after a rough collision with Chelsea ace Antonio Rudiger on 60 minutes.
The playmaker was diagnosed with acute nose bone fracture and left orbital fracture.
According to ESPN, the 29-year-old will need three weeks to heal, which means he may not have any part in the group stage against Denmark, Finland and Russia.
However, there is no way De Bruyne is going to miss the whole tournament as long as Belgium make it out of the group stage.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney ‘would have tried absolutely everything’ to persuade Jamie Vardy to play at Euro 2020 – as he rates him an ideal strike-partner for England skipper Harry Kane.
Vardy, 34, retired from international football in 2018 but is still in hot form for Leicester.
Derby boss Rooney, 35, wrote in his Sunday Times column: “One man I wish was in Gareth’s squad is Jamie Vardy.
“I would have tried absolutely everything to lure him out of retirement for these finals.
“I know some people may be surprised at this, especially with the legal case between my wife and Jamie’s wife, but this is my honest football opinion.
“He may be 34, but Jamie is still a brilliant player, who was involved in 24 goals in the Premier League this season and would have been a great asset – not only as an impact sub but as a potential starter.
“Look at how Kane has been playing for Tottenham Hotspur, dropping deeper and playing through balls – Jamie could have been running on to them.”
And finally, Harry Maguire seems confident of featuring in England’s Euro 2020 kick-off match against Croatia on June 13.
The Manchester United star suffered an ankle injury against Aston Villa and has since been in a race against time to be fit for the summer’s 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 just two weeks.
The Red Devils are reportedly set to meet Maguire on Monday for a fresh check-up, with the results once again beamed to Gareth Southgate’s physios.
WILL I NEVER
Ruben Colwill is the shock name in Wales’ Euro 2020 squad – after just SIX first-team games for Cardiff.
But Dragons boss Rob Page, who has replaced Ryan Giggs for the finals, has included rookie Colwill, 19, alongside captain Gareth Bale and star names Aaron Ramsey and Dan James.
Uncapped midfielder Colwill’s inclusion will evoke memories of Theo Walcott, who was a bolter for England’s 2006 World Cup squad under Sven Goran Eriksson.
Colwill only made his first league start for Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff on April 24 in a 2-1 Championship win over Wycombe.
He started the season playing for Cardiff Under-23s in a 5-1 defeat to Welsh rivals Swansea last September.
In total, Colwill has played 191 minutes of senior football since his Bluebirds debut against Coventry in February.
He got the nod over the likes of Schalke winger Rabbi Matondo and Tom Lawrence of Derby, who has suffered Euro heartbreak for a second time after an ankle injury ruled him out in 2016.
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.”
POT LUCK
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain all find themselves in Pot 2 in next season’s Champions League.
All of the clubs missed on top seeding following disastrous league campaign’s which saw them miss out on being handed a favourable group draw.
Pot 1 is made of eight teams which includes the winners of the top six ranked domestic leagues as well as the two champions from this term’s European competitions.
England’s Manchester City, France’s Lille, Germany’s Bayern Munich, Italy’s Inter Milan, Spain’s Atletico Madrid and Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon are in Pot 1.
KAN DO
N’Golo Kante has become one of SIX players to win the Champions League, Premier League and World Cup.
The French midfielder played brilliantly in the Blues’ 1-0 win against Manchester City last night to join the exclusive club.
Since the old First Division and European Cup were both re-branded into the Premier League and Champions League in 1992, only half-a-dozen players have won both competitions and the World Cup.
Kante joined Fabien Barthez, Thierry Henry, Juliano Belletti, Gerard Pique and Pedro in that club with his man-of-the-match performance against Pep Guardiola’s side.
Other players had achieved the feat before 1992, most notably Manchester United legends Bobby Charlton and Nobby Stiles – part of the England team that won the World Cup in 1966.
And Kante has the chance to add the Euros to his haul this summer.
HEROES NOT VILLIANS
Former Aston Villa ace Stephen Warnock believes Jack Grealish, Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins are going to play a crucial role for England in Euro 2020.
Warnock told the Daily Star: “You look at Grealish and for me he’s a shoo in, he has to go.
“What we saw with Grealish is when he played for England, the standard didn’t drop. In fact, playing with better individuals took his game to another level.
“I think Mings will also be selected because of a potential injury to Maguire and how he gives Southgate that option to go three at the back.
“Watkins is a player who deserves to be there given his goal return and the way he’s taken to the Premier League.”
SPECIAL GRAN
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has admitted he is flattered by interest from Jose Mourinho over a potential move.
Mourinho is the new Roma boss and is reportedly interesting in bringing Xhaka to Italy.
Xhaka told Blick: Of course I read [about the interest]. But now I’m 100 per cent focused on the national team here.
“That’s more important than Arsenal or rumours right now. I have another two years on my contract in London and Arsenal they know what they have in me. When the time comes to talk about a transfer, I’ll be here.”
The Switzerland midfielder added: “To be honest, I didn’t hear what Mourinho has said about me. But that makes you proud.
“Everyone knows Mourinho, knows what he has achieved. Mourinho knows how to win titles.
“You can now see what work I have done over the past few years.”
MORE FROM ROONEY
Rooney also reckons it’s crucial for the Three Lions’ hopes this summer that Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire and Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson recover from injuries.
He said: “England have a good chance and will be very hard for any team to beat if they reach the last four, with the semi-finals and final at Wembley.
“But to succeed I think Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson have to be fit.
‘Those two plus Harry Kane are the spine of England’s team. Gareth needs them on the pitch.
“Those players being there allows Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Mason Mount and Marcus Rashford to go and express themselves, and every side has those leaders, those rocks, whom the rest depend on in a crisis.
“If the going gets tough in a game, Jordan and the two Harrys are the ones all the other players will look to.”
OVER TO ROO
Wayne Rooney ‘would have tried absolutely everything’ to persuade Jamie Vardy to play at Euro 2020 – as he rates him an ideal strike-partner for England skipper Harry Kane.
Vardy, 34, retired from international football in 2018 but is still in hot form for Leicester.
Derby boss Rooney, 35, wrote in his Sunday Times column: “One man I wish was in Gareth’s squad is Jamie Vardy.
“I would have tried absolutely everything to lure him out of retirement for these finals.
“I know some people may be surprised at this, especially with the legal case between my wife and Jamie’s wife, but this is my honest football opinion.
“He may be 34, but Jamie is still a brilliant player, who was involved in 24 goals in the Premier League this season and would have been a great asset – not only as an impact sub but as a potential starter.
“Look at how Kane has been playing for Tottenham Hotspur, dropping deeper and playing through balls – Jamie could have been running on to them.”
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