Euro 2020

Subterms

    More stories

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Southgate facing selection nightmare for England’s Euro warm-ups if Man Utd and Arsenal reach Europa League final

      by

      GARETH SOUTHGATE is set to face a huge selection dilemma for England’s Euro 2020 warm-up games, after Premier League clubs’ success in Europe this season.Chelsea joined Manchester City in the Champions League final last night, after beating Real Madrid 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.
      Gareth Southgate could be without 15 players for his first Euro 2020 warm-up match
      Gareth Southgate faces selection dilemmas this summerCredit: Getty
      Mason Mount sealed Chelsea’s place in the Champions League finalCredit: The Sun
      Manchester United and Arsenal could book their places in the Europa League final this evening.
      The Red Devils face AS Roma in the Italian capital as heavy favourites to progress, after battering them 6-2 at Old Trafford last week.
      And the Gunners have a chance to join them, with their 2-1 deficit to Villarreal not insurmountable.
      Should both English sides win, they will do battle in Gdansk on May 26.
      City and Chelsea, meanwhile, will do battle in Istanbul on May 29.
      England’s first Euro 2020 warm-up match against Austria will go ahead at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough on June 2 – just four days after the Champions League final.
      Southgate, 50, will then have just one more warm-up game to assess his talented squad, when they face Romania on June 6.
      Should Man United and Arsenal join City and Chelsea in their respective finals, the Three Lions boss could be without up to 15 players for his warm-up matches.
      Man City’s England stars have enjoyed another successful seasonCredit: Getty
      Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood have gone deep into the Europa LeagueCredit: AP
      Bukayo Saka is a key man for ArsenalCredit: Getty
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      Chelsea stars Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Reece James and Tammy Abraham will face off against City aces Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, John Stones and Kyle Walker.
      While Man United’s Dean Henderson, Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood and Luke Shaw could take on Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
      Already, players involved are set to have limited holidays after a gruelling season.
      And they will face a battle to be fully fit and raring to go for the summer’s finals, after being pushed to their physical limits since September.
      Southgate is set to name his squad on May 24.

      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Man Utd vs Liverpool will be held next Thursday May 13 as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side play twice in 48 hours More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Teemu Pukki facing race to be fit for Euros with Finland after Norwich striker suffers ankle ligament damage

      by

      TEEMU PUKKI is facing a race against time to be fit for the Euros.The Norwich star, 31, sustained ankle ligament damage in Saturday’s title-winning win over Reading.
      Teemu Pukki is an injury doubt ahead of Finland’s Euro 2020 campaign after suffering ankle ligament damageCredit: Getty
      It has left Finland sweating on their talisman ahead of their first-ever major tournament this summer.
      Yet Finn head coach Markku Kanerva moved to allay fears Pukki, who has hit 30 goals in 90 caps for his country, could miss out.
      Kanerva said: “We believe Teemu is fit to play at the European Championships. 
      “The treatment programme and recovery have already started.
      “Everyone is aiming for Teemu Pukki to be in full working order when the European Championships start.”
      Pukki has taken his Norwich goals tally to 66 in 120 league games with 26 this season to fire the Canaries back into the Premier League.
      He will play no part at Barnsley on Saturday but is still set to join up with his nation at the end of this month.
      Finland are in Group B at the rearranged Euro 2020 with No1 country Belgium as well as Denmark and Russia.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE

      Kanerva’s side are 54th in the world rankings but will be hopeful Pukki’s goals can fire the Scandanevian nation into the knockout stages.
      Their opening match is in Copenhagen before two in St Petersburg.
      The striker picked up the problem in the 4-1 win over Reading last weekendCredit: Getty
      Zlatan Ibrahimovic faces Euro 2020 ban over alleged financial interest in betting company More

    • 275 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Ryan Giggs plans to help Wales on informal basis for Euro 2020 despite being charged with assault of ex and her sister

      by

      RYAN GIGGS plans to help Wales on an informal basis at the Euro 2020 finals.Caretaker boss Rob Page replaced Giggs as manager for the tournament after the 47-year-old was charged with the assault of his ex-girlfriend and sister as well as coercive and controlling behaviour last month.
      Giggs has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting of his ex-girlfriend and sister as well as coercive and controlling behaviourCredit: Getty
      Giggs, who stepped aside from his role last November following his arrest, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on May 26.
      Page revealed he has spoken to Giggs and the Manchester United legend is ready to lend a hand to the Dragons chief ahead of the group games against Switzerland, Turkey and Italy.
      Page said: “We’ve been in touch and I had a great conversation with him last week. You don’t go from being friends and colleagues and working together in a close environment to then not speaking.
      “Of course I’m going to speak to him and he wants what’s best for Wales. With regards to decisions and finalising things that will be me, but what Ryan has said is that if I need any advice or a different perspective on things then he’s always going to be there.

      “He wants what’s best for Wales as well. It’s great to hear that but ultimately now the decisions moving forward will be from myself, Albert (Stuivenberg), Tony Strudwick, Tony Roberts and the collective as a group.
      “Of course they are difficult circumstances, there’s no hiding away from that. But it is what it is, this is the situation we’ve been put in, so we’re dealing with it in the best way possible.
      “The previous two camps the boys have reacted in a positive way, they’ve not been affected by it whatsoever and I think common sense prevails and it’s a continuity that the players want as well.
      “Finally and thankfully we are all clear in what’s going to happen, Ryan included, and we can focus on the job in hand – preparing a team for the Euros.”
      Giggs recently appeared at Manchester Magistrates CourtCredit: PA
      In happier times with Wales captain Gareth BaleCredit: Getty

      Page, who has won four of his six games in temporary charge, has also spoken to captain Gareth Bale following his appointment as boss for the finals on April 23.
      The former Wales and Watford defender has drafted in Kit Symons, Wales assistant manager under Chris Coleman.
      Page said: “We are a coach down so I’ve made the decision to bring Kit back in. He’s got a wealth of experience and he was part of the 2016 success with Chris. It’s a positive move for us.”
      Wales are due to have two training camps, one for EFL players following the end of their season this weekend before a second one in Portugal at the end of May ahead of two friendlies with France and Albania in early June before the first game at Euro 2020 against the Swiss in Baku on June 12.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Ryan Giggs has breakfast with new lover as he’s pictured for first time since court appearance More

    • 225 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Uefa confirm Euro 2020 bosses can pick extended 26-man squads and bring in ‘special rules’ after Covid-hit season

      by

      UEFA have now confirmed Gareth Southgate and the other Euro 2020 bosses can pick extended 26-man squads for this summer’s tournament.And Euro chiefs have also outlined a further series of “special rules” brought in as a result of the demands of the Covid-hit season.
      Gareth Southgate will be able to name 26 men in his England Euro squadCredit: Getty
      Uefa’s ruling executive committee voted through the proposal to increase the squad sizes from 23 to 26.
      That will give Southgate more options when it comes to the final make-up of his squad.
      And it could be good news for the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jude Bellingham, his Dortmund team-mate Jadon Sancho and Aston Villa’s Oli Watkins.
      But Southgate will still have to “axe” three of his squad from the match-day list, with a maximum of 12 named substitutes allowed for each game, including two keepers on the bench.
      Southgate must still name his squad by June 1 but will, as usual, be allowed to change any selected players if they are ruled out through “serious injury or illness” before England’s opener against Croatia at Wembley on June 13.
      However, in a change of regulations directly related to the pandemic, any player testing positive for Covid or who is declared as a “close contact” of someone tested positive and forced into isolation can be replaced before the opening game.
      And if any of England’s three selected goalkeepers – expected to be Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope and Dean Henderson – are ruled out at ANY stage of the tournament, they can be replaced by another gloveman.
      But players who are withdrawn from the squad, whether for injury or Covid reasons, cannot then return to the party even if they are subsequently passed fit to play.
      FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
      How England’s path to Euros glory could look

      Southgate is all too aware of the history of England taking injured players to tournaments and rueing those decisions.
      That might have made him reluctant to fail to heed the lessons of the past.
      But the option of naming 26 players means the flipside of taking a gamble on a player who might not quite be fit enough to play would be significantly lessened by the extra flexibility of numbers in the squad.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Gareth Southgate says Luke Shaw’s passes are beautiful after England win More

    • 200 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Jose Mourinho joins The Sun for Euros with legendary Premier League boss becoming our expert columnist

      by

      IT’S the Special Sun! Jose Mourinho has signed up to be our expert columnist for the Euros.The European Championship heads an epic sporting summer and he will pull no punches in football’s No 1 paper.
      We’ve got Mourinho! Jose ‘The Special One’ Mourinho has signed as a columnist for SunSportCredit: The Sun
      The Special One will write a razor-sharp column during the EurosCredit: AFP
      Jose has won league titles in Portugal, Italy, Spain and England, with three Prem crowns at Chelsea.
      He also led Inter and Porto to Champions League glory.
      So who better than the Special One to give his opinion on the Euros in a razor-sharp column full of classic Jose wit, knowledge and enthusiasm.
      You can also hear him exclusively on talkSPORT during the tournament.
      And there will be exclusive videos and online pieces to enjoy as well.
      So come on England, let’s make it a Special summer all round!
      Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions are bidding to end 55 years of hurt.
      And Mourinho — whose Portugal are also among the favourites — will be there every step of the way with expert analysis.

      The Special One won three Premier League titles in two spells at ChelseaCredit: AP:Associated Press
      He also led Inter to the Treble – and won another Champions League with PortoCredit: Getty – Contributor

      The Special One is considered one of the greats having lifted an incredible 25 trophies.
      Mourinho also won silverware at Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Porto — and led Manchester United to a League Cup and Europa League double.
      Now Jose will bring his sharp footballing brain to SunSport all summer.
      You don’t want to miss it . . . 
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Gareth Southgate reveals England team has one of its greatest chances of success at this summer’s Euros

      by

      GARETH Southgate has admitted he thinks the England team has one of its greatest chances of success at this summer’s Euros.Speaking to The Sun at the world’s first 5G augmented reality Foosball tournament, hosted by EE, the gaffer said the fact a number of the squad’s younger players had won youth cups on an international stage would boost our chances.
      Gareth Southgate said England has one of its greatest chances at the Euros this summerCredit: AFP or licensors
      Gareth, who took on the England job in November 2016, will travel with the team to Croatia for our first game on June 13.
      Youth stars in the squad include Manchester City ace Phil Foden, 20, who is expected to be a key component in England’s Euros campaign.
      Talking live from Wembley stadium, where the event took place, Gareth said: “Phil was part of the team that won the Under 17s World Cup, and we won the Under 19s World Cup and an Under 20s Euros in that same year.
      “There are a large number of players from there now starting to come into our squad and that is brilliant for us.
      Rising stars like Phil Foden, 20, have already won youth cups on the international stage which Gareth said would help the squadCredit: Reuters
      “They’ve been getting great experiences for their club but also the national team where they have had experience of winning on a European and world stage – and that can only be good for England.
      “We are focusing on the next generation, these young players – some who will be peaking not this summer, but in the next four to six years.
      “We are really excited about what they might do this summer.”
      Gareth also admitted he was hoping the lure of playing in front of a crowd at Wembley would inspire the team to get through the group stages.
      The gaffer, who took on the England job in November 2016, said he hoped having crowds back at Wembley would spur us on to victoryCredit: AFP
      As well as Croatia, England face Scotland on June 18 and the Czech Republic on June 22.
      Speaking to The Sun at the world’s first 5G augmented reality Foosball tournament, hosted by EE, live from Wembley Stadium, Gareth said: “We are in a tough group but if we win the group, there is a good chance now that our first knock out game would be at Wembley as well.
      “So there is every incentive to do it, we just have to deliver.”
      It was announced the competition, which was last won by Portugal in 2016, had been pushed back to this summer last March because of the pandemic.
      Gareth, here with Declan Rice, also spoke movingly about how much he had missed having crowds at matchesCredit: Getty
      Now pubs are opening, restrictions are easing and some football matches have seen small crowds let into stadiums, Gareth said he hopes the Euros can continue to bring the country together.
      He explained: “My experience of big games with England is that people and their whole families get together, neighbours and friends get together.
      “You live through those nights, they are always dramatic. Everybody at home and in the pubs are following it together and it looks like we’re going to be able to do a bit more of that this summer.
      “None of us know exactly what it will look like. But it has been brilliant to see fans starting to come back to games. We hope we can create some fantastic memories for everybody.
      In an exclusive interview with The Sun he reiterated the importance of football and community spiritCredit: Getty
      “I could see at the League Cup final, the fans in the stadium and what it meant to them.
      “It is socially such a big part of people’s lives, the community of people they meet at the ground, the routines they have on a match day.
      “It has been heart-breaking to travel to stadiums where I have been able to go into the games and not see people enjoying themselves.
      “Football is so much more than the experience of the game itself.”
      He spoke live from Wembley Stadium where he took on Peter Crouch, right, in EE’s first ever 5G AR football tournamentCredit: Rex
      Gareth spoke to The Sun from Wembley stadium, where he took on Peter Crouch in the world’s first EE 5G AR football tournament at Wembley.
      Gareth and former Southampton player Peter, 40, headed up two different teams but while Gareth was the early victor over his rival – Peter’s team won out in the end.
      Speaking about the event, Gareth said:  “It is always great to be at Wembley, although I have to say it was a totally different experience to what I am used to with the team.
      Former Southampton player Peter was beaten by Gareth but led his team to victory overall in the competitionCredit: DYMOND

      “Being a part of EE’s world’s first 5G AR Foosball Tournament and seeing old friends has been brilliant.
      My direct opponent was Crouchy. We were the oldest, they kept us away from the young guns.
      “Because we were playing off our phones, I think his long fingers actually inhibited him.” More

    • 225 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      England squad increased to 26 players for Euro 2020 in huge boost for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jadon Sancho

      by

      GARETH SOUTHGATE will be able to choose a 26-man squad for the Euros after a UEFA rethink.Members of Uefa’s national team committee agreed to extend squads from the normal size of 23 players as a result of the demands of the Covid-condensed season.
      Gareth Southgate will be able to pick a 26-man squad for this summer’s EurosCredit: Rex
      That news will provide a big boost to Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Euro hopesCredit: Rex
      The decision will be ratified by Uefa’s ruling executive committee later this week.
      But it means Southgate will be given more flexibility in his thinking when it comes to his squad for the finals which start in June.
      Southgate suggested last month he would be happy to stick with the normal 23.
      And he appeared to hint that Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold was likely to miss out.
      But the extra places represent good news for Alexander-Arnold and also for players like Bukayo Saka at Arsenal and Dortmund teenagers Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho.
      It is also a boost for Aston Villa starlet Jack Grealish.
      He appeared to have played himself into the squad with his impressive England performances earlier this season but has been out through a shin injury since mid-February.
      The England boss is understood to have fixed ideas about the majority of his squad – injuries permitting – but the ability to name three extra players will make his final decisions a great deal easier.
      BETTING SPECIAL – GET £60 IN FREE BETS FOR PUNCHESTOWN

      It also allows him the chance to include Bellingham even if the Dortmund ace may not get much playing time, with the youngster set to become a key part of the England set-up over the coming years.
      Southgate is all too aware of the history of England taking injured players to tournaments and rueing those decisions.
      That might have made him reluctant to fail to heed the lessons of the past.
      But the option of naming 26 players means the flipside of taking a gamble on a player who might not quite be fit enough to play would be significantly lessened by the extra flexibility of numbers in the squad.

      Gareth Southgate says Luke Shaw’s passes are beautiful after England win More

    • 213 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Zlatan Ibrahimovic faces Euro 2020 ban over alleged financial interest in betting company as Uefa confirm investigation

      by

      ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has been put under investigation by Uefa – and it could cost him his place at Euro 2020.Uefa disciplinary chiefs announced a formal inquiry into the Swedish superstar’s links with a betting company.
      Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be banned for the Euros pending a Uefa investigationCredit: Getty
      Ibrahimovic is part-owner of Malta-based Bethard, seemingly in direct contravention of both Uefa and Fifa regulations.
      It leaves the AC Milan and Sweden star facing a massive fine and potential ban – which may spell the end of his chances of appearing at this summer’s Euro.
      A Nyon spokesman said: “In accordance with Article 31(4) of the Uefa Disciplinary Regulations, a Uefa Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has today been appointed.
      “The Inspector will conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding a potential violation of the Uefa Disciplinary Regulations by Mr Zlatan Ibrahimovic for having an alleged financial interest in a betting company.
      “Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
      Fifa’s ethics code, which is shared by Uefa, prevents players or others in football from having “any interests, either directly or indirectly” in companies that “promote, arrange or conduct betting”.
      Ibrahimovic was therefore technically in breach of the Fifa code when he played in Sweden’s World cup qualifier against Georgia last month and Uefa’s regulations when he appeared in Milan’s Europa League campaign.
      The maximum penalty is a three YEAR ban and fine of £85,000.

      Ibrahimovic returned for Sweden in March having retired from international football nearly five years ago.
      He provided an assist against Georgia and another in the next game with Kosovo, becoming the oldest player in the Swedish national team’s history.
      Ibra has a total of 118 caps for his country, scoring 62 times.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores impressive header goal after a knee-slide across the pitch in training More