Euro 2024

ENGLAND must get the best out of Harry Kane in order to win Euro 2024, claims Jamie Carragher.The Three Lions skipper was a peripheral figure for large spells of his side’s 1-0 win over Serbia last night.Harry Kane endured a frustrating evening against SerbiaCredit: EPAPhil Foden looked to occupy many of the same spaces as Jude BellinghamCredit: ReutersBellingham bagged England’s winning goal in GelsenkirchenCredit: PAKane, 30, touched the ball just twice during the first half – playing on the fringes of the match.He eventually finished with 24 touches, one of which was a 77th minute header from substitute Jarrod Bowen’s cross, which was tipped on to the crossbar.In his column for the Telegraph, Carragher compared Kane’s output against Serbia to that of Erling Haaland at Manchester City.But the former England defender, 46, reckons that Gareth Southgate and Co will need more from Kane if they are to go all the way in Germany.READ MORE ON EURO 2024He also raised the issue of Southgate having to try to accommodate both Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham behind the Three Lions captain.”If Southgate persists with the same system for the rest of the tournament, his No9 will be heavily compromised,” wrote Carragher.”Possibly too much. Having come into the Euros with a Phil Foden conundrum, after one game Southgate has a Kane one.”In the first half, Kane registered just two touches of the ball. For a player of his class, that is deeply worrying.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”By full time that had risen to 24, showing that he was more involved in the second half – ironic given that England were less dominant in possession.”There is a tactical curiosity that when England played well, Kane was not involved at all. When they didn’t, he nearly scored and had more possession.”England player ratings: Jude Bellingham delivers masterful Euro 2024 performance but Phil Foden not at his sharpestEURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYFoden was deployed off the left flank, with Bellingham occupying the main space behind Kane.This worked to good effect for England’s winning goal, with Bellingham crashing into the box to head home Bukayo Saka’s deflected cross after 13 minutes.Carragher went on to explain how in previous tournaments, Kane has dropped deep to pick up the ball before swivelling to look for pacey runners in behind including Saka, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford.This time around, however, only Saka is in the team to try to dart in behind.Carra went on to suggest that the likes of Anthony Gordon or Ollie Watkins could have been introduced from the bench to offer that kind of speed.While he also suggested that the inclusion in midfield of Trent Alexander-Arnold, in addition to the likes of Bellingham and Foden, left things too congested.He did, however, point to one famous example of an international boss making a comparable conundrum work – albeit with some of the world’s greatest, most experienced players.Carragher went on: “Southgate’s situation with this profile of the England squad reminds me of the decisions facing Vicente del Bosque with the legendary Spanish side which followed its World Cup success by defending the Euros in 2012.”Del Bosque had several players who all occupied the same position, and somehow had to accommodate Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, David Silva and Cesc Fabregas.”His solution was to pick them all, Spain winning the final without any recognised striker. Great players made it work.”England have a long way to go to warrant comparisons with one of the greatest international sides ever, but it is an example of how managers will ultimately be lured to ensuring they get all their best players on the pitch at the same time.READ MORE SUN STORIES”Short-term, I would expect Southgate to persist with Sunday night’s plan. But going forward, getting the most from Kane is the only way in which England can win the competition.”The Three Lions will return to action on Thursday at 5pm, when they face Denmark in Frankfurt.Trent showed he’s a central character for England… he deserves to keep spot, says Wilshere

THIS game felt a bit like an audition for Trent Alexander-Arnold in centre midfield, writes SunSport columnist Jack Wilshere.
I think he passed it and deserves another chance to show all the qualities that he can bring to the role.
I was pleased when I saw Trent in the starting line-up.
It’s a little bit braver than we have normally seen from Gareth Southgate and I like that.
It was: ‘Go on, go and play!’ It didn’t necessarily work out like that but that wasn’t Trent’s fault.
Southgate was experimenting with him in there, seeing if it worked.
If we get later in the tournament against the big teams, you will need someone who has played in there a few times and understands the position a bit.
The combination between Trent, Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka is a promising one.
You see Trent naturally drift over to that right side and receive it almost like a full-back.
It’s interesting what happens then with Walker.
He was still getting involved in and around the outside, which was good to see, and it was Walker who got forward to help create the Jude Bellingham goal.
That link-up is something we need to exploit more. We should probably have used it more last night as well.
At the start, he was a little bit shaky. He gave the ball away a couple of times, and one of them led to that decent chance for Aleksandar Mitrovic.
When he plays for Liverpool he comes inside. But it’s different when you’re in there from the start. It’s 360 degree pressure, from all sides.
I always found international football that bit quicker. You’ll often receive it with your back to the game and you’ve scanned, but you need to get more on the half turn to see what’s coming.
But it was difficult for Trent, especially in the first half, for him to show his range of passing. When you’re playing against a back five, with four in front, and they’re stubborn and just waiting . . . it is very hard.
There’s no space in behind, they’re very tight and organised.
And when the ball is going over your head, your job then becomes jumping on second balls, disrupting and trying to shield the big two up front.
Trent’s positioning was good and he made some good interceptions. I think he can — and should — hold on to the ball a bit more, draw the pressure, and then play the ball forward.
If someone comes to him, that frees up space for  someone else. And he and Declan Rice have the ability to find Bellingham and Phil Foden through the lines. I would like to have seen more of that. As the game opens up, Trent is a player who can pick the right pass.
Especially in transition, like he did with a lovely one down the side for Saka in the first half and another early in the second.
It was also good to see him get forward for a decent long-range shot.
But Trent was not helped by England’s performance in the  second half. We weren’t aggressive enough, we didn’t press well enough.
Trent’s audition lasted just under 70 minutes in the end. I believe  it is something Gareth should  persist with.
He is more than intelligent enough to work it out. And as the tournament goes on, I’m sure he will be fine in there. More

THIS game felt a bit like an audition for Trent Alexander-Arnold in centre midfield.I think he passed it and deserves another chance to show all the qualities that he can bring to the role.Trent Alexander-Arnold passed his England midfield audition against SerbiaCredit: PAJack Wilshere wants to see the Liverpool right-back continue in the heart of the teamI was pleased when I saw Trent in the starting line-up for the 1-0 win over Serbia.It’s a little bit braver than we have normally seen from England boss Gareth Southgate and I like that.It was: ‘Go on, go and play!’ It didn’t necessarily work out like that but that wasn’t Trent’s fault.Southgate was experimenting with him in there, seeing if it worked.READ MORE ON EURO 2024If we get later in the tournament against the big teams, you will need someone who has played in there a few times and understands the position a bit.The combination between Trent, Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka is a promising one.You see Trent naturally drift over to that right side and receive it almost like a full-back.It’s interesting what happens then with Walker.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSHe was still getting involved in and around the outside, which was good to see, and it was Walker who got forward to help create the Jude Bellingham goal.That link-up is something we need to exploit more. We should probably have used it more last night as well.England player ratings: Jude Bellingham delivers masterful Euro 2024 performance but Phil Foden not at his sharpestAt the start, he was a little bit shaky. He gave the ball away a couple of times, and one of them led to that decent chance for Aleksandar Mitrovic.When he plays for Liverpool he comes inside. But it’s different when you’re in there from the start. It’s 360 degree pressure, from all sides.I always found international football that bit quicker. You’ll often receive it with your back to the game and you’ve scanned, but you need to get more on the half turn to see what’s coming.But it was difficult for Trent, especially in the first half, for him to show his range of passing. How England rated vs Serbia… as Bellingham shines but TWO big names get 5s

JUDE BELLINGHAM was England’s head boy as Gareth Southgate’s side made a winning start in Germany.
The Real Madrid superstar oozed class throughout and broke the deadlock with only 13 minutes played thanks to an excellent header, dispatching Bukayo Saka’s deflected cross.
But, despite the brilliant start, it was a nervy affair here in Gelsenkirchen.
Serbia exerted significant pressure in the second half, with a few narrow escapes for Southgate’s men.
Harry Kane barely had a kick and the Premier League’s player of the year Phil Foden struggled to have any influence on the left of the Three Lions’ front three.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated England’s stars… with TWO stars getting just a 5.

When you’re playing against a back five, with four in front, and they’re stubborn and just waiting . . . it is very hard.There’s no space in behind, they’re very tight and organised.And when the ball is going over your head, your job then becomes jumping on second balls, disrupting and trying to shield the big two up front.Trent’s positioning was good and he made some good interceptions. I think he can — and should — hold on to the ball a bit more, draw the pressure, and then play the ball forward.If someone comes to him, that frees up space for someone else. EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYAnd he and Declan Rice have the ability to find Bellingham and Phil Foden through the lines. I would like to have seen more of that. As the game opens up, Trent is a player who can pick the right pass. Especially in transition, like he did with a lovely one down the side for Saka in the first half and another early in the second.It was also good to see him get forward for a decent long-range shot.But Trent was not helped by England’s performance in the second half. We weren’t aggressive enough, we didn’t press well enough.READ MORE SUN STORIESTrent’s audition lasted just under 70 minutes in the end. I believe it is something Gareth should persist with.He is more than intelligent enough to work it out. And as the tournament goes on, I’m sure he will be fine in there. More

JUDE BELLINGHAM made history as he stole the show for England in their Euro 2024 opener.And the Three Lions hero has now eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Owen as he fired England to a 1-0 win over Serbia.England’s Jude Bellingham made history against SerbiaCredit: APThe star headed the Three Lions into the lead in their Euro 2024 openerCredit: AFPGareth Southgate’s men had their Wags and loved ones cheering them on as they made a dream start to Euro 2024.And it was the star who carried on his incredible form for Real Madrid, where he lifted the Champions League and LaLiga in his first season there, by breaking the deadlock.Bukayo Saka’s deflected cross was headed home by Bellingham from close-range after just 13 minutes in Gelsenkirchen, and that proved to be the only goal of the game.However, from the moment the first whistle went to start the game, the star had already made history. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAt the age of 20 years and 353 days, Bellingham surpassed England legend Owen (22 years and 170 days old) as the youngest player to play at three major international competitions.His first taste came three years ago at Euro 2020 before he burst on to the global stage with his brilliant World Cup performances.However, there was also another iconic name that Bellingham knocked off a perch.His feat surpassed even Portugal great Ronaldo.Most read in Euro 2024CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSHe was 23 years and 123 days old when he made his third appearance at an international tournament.Bellingham now has 30 caps for his country and his goal tally has now moved to four.Watch Pickford’s passionate antics live on BBC as England kick off Euro 2024 campaign with Carragher left in stitchesHow England rated vs Serbia… as Bellingham shines but TWO big names get 5s

JUDE BELLINGHAM was England’s head boy as Gareth Southgate’s side made a winning start in Germany.
The Real Madrid superstar oozed class throughout and broke the deadlock with only 13 minutes played thanks to an excellent header, dispatching Bukayo Saka’s deflected cross.
But, despite the brilliant start, it was a nervy affair here in Gelsenkirchen.
Serbia exerted significant pressure in the second half, with a few narrow escapes for Southgate’s men.
Harry Kane barely had a kick and the Premier League’s player of the year Phil Foden struggled to have any influence on the left of the Three Lions’ front three.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated England’s stars… with TWO stars getting just a 5.

And over half of them have also come at a major tournament.Bellingham scored the first in the 6-2 win over Iran at the 2022 World Cup.Now he has followed that up by starting Euro 2024 with a bang too.He shone throughout the first period against Serbia, and it even led to ex-Premier League midfielder Jamie O’Hara comparing him to one of the all-time greats.Cridtiano Ronaldo’s first international tournament was as a teen at Euro 2004Credit: GettyEURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYMichael Owen burst on the scene for England at the 1998 World CupCredit: Times Newspapers LtdHe told talkSPORT: “For me, he is England’s [Zinedine] Zidane.“He’s going to be the closest thing that anyone has seen since Zidane.“Just when I watch him, his physique, the way he stands and the way he gets on the ball, it’s so Zidane-esque.”England survived a late Serbian flurry to hold on to the win, with Bellingham telling BBC afterwards: “I thought they are a very tough side. Very robust, strong and a big group of lads and it was important that we prepared well.“The staff got it right. We prepared all week very well. We knew the roles we had to do. We try to keep to our own standards and try to do our own job.“It’s important that we got off to a good start. Positive inside the camp and onto the next one.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I have got used to getting into the box, getting wide and trying to do that. I got into that habit at Madrid and I wanted to carry my form into the Euros.“It’s a great start for me personally to get my confidence up and to help the lads get the win is the most important thing.”Meet Jude Bellingham’s stunning girlfriend, lingerie model Laura Celia ValkBy Jon Boon
LAURA CELIA VALK is the stunning Dutch fashion model who has stolen Jude Bellingham’s heart.
The Sun exclusively revealed that she’s been staying at his place in Madrid and is completely smitten with him.
Laura boasts a huge social media following and regularly travels the world, enjoying a luxurious lifestyle.
From underwear modelling to showing off Pretty Little Thing’s latest wear, she regularly collaborates with fashion houses around the globe.
Wherever she is, Laura makes sure to drop into Chanel – her favourite designer.
She’s also quite the foodie, with pizza and strawberries being her favourites.
It won’t be long before we see her at the Bernabeu enjoying a prawn sandwich!
Find out more about Laura.
Or read all the latest Jude Bellingham news. More