Euro 2020

JADON SANCHO is relishing the chance to bring his cage football skills to the Euros.The winger left Ukraine players for dead during England’s stunning 4-0 quarter-final win, bringing a little bit of South London to Rome.
Jadon Sancho is relishing bringing his cage football skills to Euro 2020Credit: AFP
Sancho cut his teeth on the streets of Kennington – before providing his own pitch for Lambeth TigersCredit: https://www.instagram.com/sanchooo10/?hl=en
New Man Utd star Sancho bamboozled Ukraine with his wing wizardryCredit: Getty
Sancho, born and raised in the tough suburb of Kennington, learned to play football as a kid on the streets and at the nearby Frederick’s Adventure Playground.
And yesterday, after his dazzling display in the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday night, Manchester United’s new £73million signing from Borussia Dortmund admitted: “I’ve never changed. In the cages it was about nutmegging and taking people on.
“I’ve always tried, when I get in one-on-one situations on the pitch, to do the things I used to do in the cages.
“There could be a situation with three men around you and you do one mad skill to beat all three. The cage skills are tight skills.”
Sancho has never forgotten his roots and teamed up with England sponsors Nike two years ago to build a pitch for the kids in his community.
Sancho’s own JS initials are etched in the centre circle and around the edges of  the distinctive black and orange turf in the colours of Lambeth Tigers, a club committed to helping underprivileged kids access football.
At its unveiling Sancho said: “Growing up in Kennington has made me the man I am today. I owe a lot to South London for nurturing the way I play.
“I hope the local kids feel empowered to tell their own stories through football and follow in my footsteps — this pitch being just the ignition point.”

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Sancho first turned up at Frederick’s aged  six — and stood out.
Social worker and football coach Norman Dawkins said: “He used to ‘nuts’ people, you’d just hear the kids going: ‘Wooaahhh, how did you do that?’
“He did it against older boys, too.  He played against men; he was that good.
“Everybody wanted to be on his side. There would always be a bunch of kids following him around, he would go out jogging and they would run after him!”
 Peter LeAndre, who worked with  Norman, was another of Sancho’s early victims. He said: “He had that ability. He was doing little tricks at that time,  trying to nutmeg me and other players.
“I used  to play at Luton, so I know how to play, but he was doing things to me  I had never seen. It was like he had elastic bands on his feet. It was quite ridiculous. The kid was unique.”

Sancho added: “Growing up with street football, you’re just different. Now people are looking up to me in my own area. It’s a fantastic feeling.”
The midfielder was delighted to start his first game at the Euros in the same week that his long-awaited move to Old Trafford was agreed.
But the 21-year-old star is thinking only of  England, not his new club.
He  said: “It’s been quite a week, yeah, definitely. To be fair, I don’t want to talk about Manchester United. Right now I just want to focus on England.
“I’m feeling over the moon. It was a must-win game and I’m just happy to have got an opportunity to play.
“My family will be proud of me and I’m just happy all the coaching staff gave me the opportunity to play tonight.

“It’s always frustrating not to be in the starting XI but I knew my chance would come, so in training I’ve just given it everything.
“It’s something that I’ve been dreaming of since I was a kid, especially putting on the shirt for my family. To be representing England in a major tournament is a dream come true.”
And Sancho is living that dream with Jude Bellingham, 18, his former  team-mate at Dortmund who came on in the second half against Ukraine.
Sancho added: “The sky’s the limit for the guy. He’s a great footballer. He’s very mature for his age. When I was his age, I was not that mature, I was childish.”
Yet Sancho is up against Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden for a starting spot on the right flank in Wednesday’s semi-final against Denmark at Wembley.
Sancho said: “We’re going to give everything and hopefully we’re going to get to the final for you guys.”
Man Utd wages revealed as Jadon Sancho becomes club’s second highest-paid star on £350k a week after £73m transfer More

ENGLAND ace Declan Rice has joked ‘why always me’ after Harry Kane accidentally chocked him during a goal celebration.The team were celebrating their second goal against Ukraine in their Euro 2020 quarter-final when Rice was caught by his skipper.
Declan Rice, Harry Maguire and Harry Kane celebrate England’s second goalCredit: Getty
Captain Kane jumps on Rice and MaguireCredit: Getty
And gets the West Ham star in an accidental headlockCredit: TWITTER / BBC MOTD
Rice laughs once Kane’s grip loosensCredit: TWITTER / BBC MOTD
After Harry Maguire doubled England’s advantage, Rice was the first man to catch up with the Manchester United defender as he celebrated his goal.
Kane was next to the party, jumping on top of Maguire and Rice and accidentally putting the latter in a headlock.
The West Ham star was held by the captain for a few seconds before the adrenaline faded and Rice could smile again.
BBC Sport then shared a video of the hilarious incident on twitter – and the 22-year-old joined in the fun by quote tweeting it.
Rice joked: “Why always me?”
The England midfielder will be hoping Kane gets him in another celebratory headlock during the team’s semi-final against Denmark at Wembley.

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Gareth Southgate’s side will be full of confidence after hammering Ukraine 4-0, with Kane scoring a brace in Rome.
Rice has started every game at Euro 2020 and put in a stellar quarter-final performance, picking up a 7/10 rating from SunSport.
The former Republic of Ireland international has been linked with a move this summer and has reportedly rejected two contract offers from the Hammers.
Reports suggest Manchester United are interested in signing Rice after agreeing a fee with Borussia Dortmund for England winger Jadon Sancho.
And the youngster has been linked with Chelsea – the club he left in 2014 to join West Ham’s academy.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Mason Mount loving life at Euro2020 with England pal Declan Rice but hates the early wake-up calls More

GARETH SOUTHGATE has warned his England players that Denmark will be riding ‘a powerful wave of emotion’ heading into Wednesday’s Euros semi-final.The football world was stunned when Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest during his team’s tournament opener against Finland.
Gareth Southgate believes that Denmark are ‘riding a wave of emotion’Credit: Getty
The Danes have shown incredible togetherness at Euro 2020Credit: AFP
And the England boss believes that trauma has strengthened the Danes’ team spirit.
Southgate said: “We talk about perspective in sport but we rarely have it and this was a moment (Eriksen’s collapse) that brought it home for all of us.
“I can also imagine what it has done for the Danish team, their bond.
“What they went through that day – the way their captain (Simon Kjaer) acted and the way the group was – and how that would have connected with their supporters.
“That’s pretty powerful.
“They are riding a wave of emotion for certain and that’s a powerful force that’s coming to Wembley.
“Those things definitely have an impact on your thinking. We talk about pressure a lot and we lose perspective of what that might be when we play sport.
“But I know our players are at their best when they are calm and playing another game and the thinking process is really clear.”
While not on the pitch, Christian Eriksen is still with the Danish team in other waysCredit: AP
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Denmark lost their opening game 1-0 to Finland, before looking on the brink of going out after falling 2-1 to Belgium.
They squeezed into the Round of 16 with a 4-1 thumping of Russia, however, before routing Wales 4-0.
Just hours before England’s resounding 4-0 win over Ukraine, Denmark booked their place in Wednesday’s semi with a 2-1 win over tournament surprise package Czech Republic in Baku.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Harry Kane vows to avoid repeat of World Cup heartbreak as England face Denmark in Euro 2020 semis More

GARETH SOUTHGATE describes them as his “tribal elders”.Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire.
Harry Maguire celebrates England’s demolition of UkraineCredit: AP
Jordan Henderson came off the bench to score his first England goalCredit: EPA
Raheem Sterling celebrates Harry Kane’s second goal in the Rome winCredit: AP
England’s four goalscorers on this march to the semi-finals of the Euros and four men who have been widely doubted in recent weeks.
Sterling arrived at this tournament after a prolonged dip in form for Manchester City – but scored England’s first three goals.
Kane began with two below-par performances and was hauled off 15 minutes from time in the goalless draw with Scotland.
Maguire and Henderson were both included in the 26-man squad, despite injuries which left Southgate admitting he was unsure whether they would play any part in the Euros.
Yet he picked them on reputation, rather than form or fitness and has been vindicated in spectacular style.
In the afterglow of Saturday’s 4-0 thumping of Ukraine – in which Kane scored twice, Maguire and Henderson added one apiece and Sterling was again outstanding – the Three Lions manager explained the importance of that quartet in the building of this, the best England squad in half a century.
Southgate said: “Within any team there’s a core group that drives everybody on and I don’t think you can overestimate the importance of that.
“Young players that come in have high ambition but there’s a bond between groups that forms over time, where you know when challenges are made, when there’s a need to dig in, when things are happening around the camp – and that core group is really important.
Bukayo Saka and several members of the Three Lions squad were pictured playing with inflatable toys at St George’s Park on SundayCredit: Getty
Declan Rice was pictured with the famous unicornCredit: Getty
And Chelsea star Mason Mount showed he does his diving off the pitchCredit: Getty
The Chelsea ace was messing around with his best mate RiceCredit: Getty
The mood in the camp is sky-high after the Three Lions reached their first European semi-final in 25 yearsCredit: Getty
Jack Grealish also got involved in the fun and gamesCredit: Getty
And Jadon Sancho got in the spirit of things after shining against UkraineCredit: Getty
Dominic Calvert-Lewin didn’t look bothered by his lack of game timeCredit: Getty
And Marcus Rashford showed off his ball skillsCredit: Getty
“I would argue that Henman came up against opponents who were incredible in their era.
“The lads that were with us at the World Cup in Russia, the lads you just mentioned, Kieran Trippier is another, Jordan Pickford another, they’ve been through these experiences together.
“They pass that on to the younger group and they take the lead from the tribal elders. It’s not just about talent. Team building is about so much more than that.
“It’s about relationships and the strength of those bonds.
“That core group has allowed a younger group to come in and have a profile, based on the hard work of those who had gone before.
“The newer players recognise that and appreciate the way those older guys have made them feel welcome.”
Henderson’s inclusion in the squad was particularly controversial, with the Liverpool skipper having not played between February and June following groin surgery.
Before England’s final warm-up game, Roy Keane asked whether Henderson was only there to “do card tricks and lead sing-songs”.
Yet Henderson arrived as a sub to net England’s fourth goal in Rome – his first in 62 internationals – as Southgate’s men cruised towards Wednesday’s semi-final against Denmark.
Kane found his form at the right time after a slow start to Euro 2020Credit: Getty
And Southgate said: “I loved the reaction on the bench when Hendo scored, because you could see the younger players were totally delighted for him.
“There’s a lovely moment with Jude Bellingham, that shows you what Hendo brings to our environment, that the players were so pleased for him. We all were.
“He’s really accepted that this was going to be a difficult and different challenge but he’s totally thrown himself into it.
“When I talked to him ahead of the first training camp, we talked through this scenario and he was adamant he just wanted to contribute any way he could.
“It’s brilliant for Hendo that he’s had a moment like that and he’s been crucial around the camp.
“Conor Coady was the first one off the bench, jumping in the air replicating Hendo’s header.
“And that type of character, Conor – who is one of the loudest voices in the dressing room before a game and on the training pitch every day – you can’t put a value on those sorts of people.”
Maguire suffered a personal nightmare the last time England faced Denmark at Wembley, when he was sent off after half an hour of October’s 1-0 Nations League defeat.

Declan Rice and Mason Mount unwind on inflatable unicorns back in EnglandCredit: Getty Images – Getty
That followed the Manchester United skipper’s arrest in Mykonos in August.And Southgate said: “The beginning of this season was very difficult for Harry on a number of fronts, so it’s brilliant to see how he has emerged with so much more confidence as a leader.
“Being captain of Manchester United is a massive challenge, a massive responsibility but it’s brought a lot more out of him.
“He’s more confident in himself and has gone on to another level, not just in his game but in his maturity.”
Building a strong squad ethos has been a process that goes back to Southgate’s time as Under-21s boss, where he and assistant Steve Holland first teamed up in 2013, starting with a 1-0 win over Moldova, with John Stones and Luke Shaw in defence and Kane arriving as a late sub.
And while Southgate has taken his players on army training sessions as team-building exercises, he says real-life experiences have truly melded England into a successful unit.
That includes suffering the vile racist chanting aimed at England’s black players by Montenegro and Bulgaria supporters in the Euros qualifiers.
Those experiences have made Southgate and his team so steadfast in their desire to take the knee in support of racial equality, despite booing from some England supporters.
He added: “We went to the army camp and did stuff which definitely helped – but going through games together, going through those real-life experiences together, really builds teams. There’s no shortcut to that.
“With taking the knee, what happened in Montenegro and Bulgaria was the start for us.

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“We had really open conversations where people got to know each other better, got to know each other’s feelings and respected their views.
“So it was clear in my head how we would need to respond.
“They are decisions that haven’t been universally popular but they are what we stand for as a team and, even though that might have disappointed some people, it was critical for us to support team-mates.”
Harry Kane accidentally chokes Declan Rice while celebrating England goal at Euro 2020 More

HARRY KANE is stockpiling Golden Boots.He is already the winner of three Premier League ones for finishing top scorer with Tottenham, as well as the 2018 World Cup prize.
Harry Kane is determined to finish the Euros as top goalscorer as he eyes another Golden BootCredit: AP
Before this tournament, the England captain expressed his desire to add a Euros boot to his collection.
Following his failure to score in the group stages, Kane looked more likely to land a wooden spoon for firing blanks.
Yet as has proved repeatedly in his international career, he can be at his most dangerous during a goal drought and so it has proved again.
Kane is one of seven players who have struck three times but five-goal Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo and Patrik Schick of the Czech Republic — who have both been eliminated — are in his sights.
The Three Lions star will firmly believe he could take his tally to six and this would surely see him bag Golden Boot No 5.
And more importantly, a three-goal haul over two games would mean England had likely  won the tournament.
Everyone’s feet at St George’s Park are on the ground but the players have their heads in the clouds and are dreaming.
What a difference a 2-0 win over Germany makes.

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Against Croatia, Scotland and Czech Republic, Kane looked to be playing at 75 per cent. He seemed off the pace and was lacking confidence although the service was awful.
After wasting a good chance in the first half against the Germans, Kane returned to his best both on and off the ball.
And it needed a flying save from Ukraine keeper Heorhiy Bushchan to deny Kane from scoring a Marco van Basten-style volley which would have been his hat-trick.
Kane, finally, has joined the Euro party.
And he will be hoping to hold off challenges from the likes of three-goal Dane Kasper Dolberg, plus Italians Ciro Immobile, Manuel Locatelli and Spanish trio Alvaro Morata. Pablo Sarabia and Ferran Torres who are all still in the running for that Golden Boot.
Speaking yesterday at the team’s Staffordshire HQ, England boss Gareth Southgate said: “It’s hugely important for us as a team that he’s starting to hit the back of the net.
“We said that after the goal against Germany that could be a significant moment for Harry and would have been a massive release.
“I think we saw that with the finishes against Ukraine and then the volley — that was an incredible volley.

“In terms of how he’s grown, yes, I suppose you see all of these lads when you work with them at 19, 20, 21.
“A large part of their  character is formed then but it is brilliant to see how they continue to progress.
“They become fathers, they become experienced players, they go through this journey of life. That’s one of the beauties of coaching  really, that you get to witness those things and influence them in a very small way.
“But at the end it’s down to the players, they have to find their own way. And Harry is a brilliant example of somebody that will get the maximum out of himself because he’s always searching for anything that can make him a better player.
“He’s got that drive to be the best he possibly can.”
Most crucially, it looks as though Kane and 26-year-old Raheem Sterling have finally developed a telepathic understanding. It has been a long time coming.
Sterling has rightly been praised for scoring his three goals but in the last two games, his link-up play with Kane has been much better.
While Kane puts the team first, strikers by their very nature are different characters to the rest of the team.
Because their successes are obviously judged on goals, they tend to be more selfish.

As a result, Kane will enjoy looking at the all-time England scoring charts.
To hit 37 goals in 59 games is an outstanding achievement.
He is sixth overall, three off Michael Owen and 16 behind Wayne Rooney. 
The former Manchester United striker took 120 games to reach a record 53 but Kane will pass that number at a much faster speed.
Another record that Kane, 27, is certain to break is Gary  Lineker’s achievement of ten goals at major tournaments.
Kane’s tally is nine — so he could even pass Lineker’s mark against Denmark on Wednesday with two goals at Wembley.
That would surely then mean Kane will be leading the team out in the final.
But that will only be half the job for Spurs man.
He will want to bag a big  silver trophy on Sunday evening with, maybe, a bonus Golden Boot in the process.
Harry Kane accidentally chokes Declan Rice while celebrating England goal at Euro 2020 More