Euro 2024

ENGLAND will win Euro 2024 according to expert predictor EA Sports.The Three Lions failed to impress in two tournament warm-up games against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland.England will win the Euros say EA SportsBut they have been tipped to overcome group stage opponents Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia before breezing through the knock-out stages.According to EA Sports, England will meet hosts Germany in the final where a late Harry Kane winner will see Gareth Southgate’s side claim a famous 2-1 victory.Incredibly, the video game company has accurately predicted the winner of the previous four World Cups.They even correctly predicted Lionel Messi would score in the final in Qatar.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLEngland are one of the favourites to win the tournament but face a tricky path to Berlin.The Three Lions could be drawn against Italy and France if they win their group, or against Germany, Spain and Portugal if they finish as runners-up.A supercomputer has calculated England have a 19.9 per cent chance of winning the Euros after simulating the competition 10,000 times.France – who reached the final of the 2022 World Cup – have a 19.1 per cent chance of winning the competition – although they are 30.4 per cent likely to make it to the final.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSMeanwhile a psychic orangutan named Walter has predicted the winner of the opening game between Germany and Scotland.Jack Wilshere previews England’s Euro 2024 chances and praises Wayne Rooney while remembering his time as part of Three Lions squadEURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENT More

ITALY boss Luciano Spalletti has been caught up in a massive PLAY STATION row with his players – as they prepare to start their Euros defence.The former Napoli chief, who replaced Roberto Mancini at the Azzurri helm, has been accused of banning his squad from using the consoles.Italy manager Luciano Spalletti has been accused of banning his team from playing video gamesCredit: GettySpalletti has also put a restriction on mobile phonesCredit: GettyHardliner Spalletti has also introduced strict rules on time-keeping and implemented a post-dinner block on stars using their mobile phones.But the old-fashioned approach has caused anger and frustration among the players, and saw Spalletti on the back foot as he was grilled ahead of tomorrow’s opening clash with Albania in Dortmund.Spalletti, visibly furious, shot back: “Sometimes I’m very sad and disappointed to have to comment on things like this – and I can’t understand why I have to comment.“We have a games room where there are two modern cutting edge Play Stations. I’ve even had a go on it myself.Read More on Euro 2024“But they do so within the scope of the right time of day. What matters is that they sleep at night.“I’m not bothered about what they do but I don’t want them up all hours so they are not properly rested and unable to train properly.“We are here to play important games and if you want to do that you simply can’t be awake in your rooms until 3 or 4am.“That’s not acceptable. You need to sleep at night – and all the studies by professors and psychoanalysts have proved that.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSItaly Euro 2024 guideTHEY are reigning champs and have a habit of defying the odds – yet little is expected of this Azzurri side.
At least they qualified, given a nasty recent habit of missing major tournaments.
MANAGER: Luciano Spalletti
The 65-year-old who, in 2023, led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years will not stand for any nonsense.
STAR MAN: Gianluigi Donnarumma
The PSG goalkeeper is Italy’s only genuine goalkeeping superstar, as England know to their cost after losing the Euro 2020 final on penalties.
How Italy attack
Spalletti’s Italy will be dogged from a defensive perspective but also flexible and fun to watch in possession.
They can be patient and composed on the ball but also attack in a much more direct way when the opportunity comes.
How Italy defend
Italy no longer play the deep, defensive football they were known for in the past.
They will look to press high out of possession, led by their two wide forwards – likely Federico Chiesa and Lorenzo Pellegrini.
Read the full Italy Euro 2024 guide here, including predicted line-ups, odds and Wags

“So we need to impart on the player the need for a correct lifestyle to produce our best football. And that means you cannot be up all night on the Play Station.”Spalletti’s tetchiness summed up the feeling that Italy have arrived in Germany as holders without much honour and European Champs who turned back into World Cup chumps.How to do Germany on a budget for Euro 2024Three years after their shoot-out triumph under the Wembley Arch, the night of mayhem and misery for England and delirious joy for Roberto Mancini, a very different-looking Italian team, still scarred by the failure to reach Qatar 2022,  kick off fearing the worst.That old dependable back line led by Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci is long gone, while West Ham flop Gianluca Scamacca is the unlikely but unquestioned first choice striker.Yet the expectations of the supporters in Rome, Milan, Naples and Turin will be no less demanding, even though Spalletti’s side, well beaten home and away by England in qualifying, only scraped through when Ukraine were denied a nailed-on spot kick in stoppage time of their decisive final group game.Former Azzurri coach Arrigo Sacchi claimed an Italy victory would be “almost a miracle considering our strengths on the pitch and those of our opponents”, suggesting France, England, Germany and Portugal are all stronger.He added: “Luciano can convey innovative ideas and give the team a game-plan but we must not burden them with too much responsibility.“And we must avoid useless and harmful criticisms which will do nothing but create a strong instability in the whole environment.”Hardly a ringing endorsement and skipper Gianluigi Donnarumma, one of just five likely surviving starters from the team that began at Wembley three years ago, spoke of Albania as a “banana skin”.He said: “We cannot afford to be at 70 or 80 per cent. We have to be 100 per cent. This match will be hugely important for us.“The team has changed since 2021 but when you prepare to embark on something like this we have to be motivated and our spirit will be the same as three years ago. We will try to reproduce those magical nights.”For Spalletti, this is about his players ignoring the doom-sayers.Gianluigi Donnarumma is set to captain ItalyCredit: GettyHe added: “We need to feel we are part of something, not just the 11 on the pitch and the rest of the squad in Germany but the 60 million Italians who will be playing with us.“We’re not merely asking them to cheer us on – we want them out there, beside us, on the pitch itself.“My players are now taking a starring role.“They are out there for every Italian who came back after school with a ball under their arm and came home hours later with their shirt dripping in sweat and grazed knees.“We are the dream for all of them. For our people we are heroes, we are giants, so we cannot possibly not put 100 per cent on the pitch.“That means showing the stuff of players who don’t struggle with the atmosphere or the importance of the match. We must go and show we are giants and heroes and have no fear.”Scamacca’s impressive season for Atalanta will have been a huge shock to Hammers fans, although not as much as hearing Spalletti claim: “He has really improved a great deal. He’s a complete striker, he really has everything.”Yet, maybe NOT everything, given the coach then warned: “He needs to compare himself to the other guys occasionally and make the sort of runs other strikers make.READ MORE SUN STORIES“If you make 10 runs, you might get the ball five times. So you have to make 20 runs, in case you get it 10 times.“That is tiring, yes, but there is a certain number of efforts you need to do in a match. You must make as many runs as any other player in that position.”EURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENT More

A PAIR of Scotland fans are staring down the prospect of wearing nothing but their kilts for the next two weeks in Germany after their suitcases went missing.Die-hard Scots Billy Maxton, 67, and Bob Burnett, 69, have joined the Tartan Army party in Munich ahead of the Euro 2024 curtain-raiser between Scotland and Germany.Kilt-wearing Scots have flooded into Germany for the EurosCredit: EPATwo unfortunate fans have been left in a pickle after they lost their suitcasesCredit: PAAnd they may now be forced to wear the same clothes for the next three weeksCredit: ReutersThe pair, hailing from Dalkeith in Midlothian, ensured they were fully kitted out as they flew from Edinburgh to Germany on Tuesday to support Steve Clarke’s team.They would have hoped to be able to swap into casual wear between games.However, that opportunity was taken away from them when they discovered their suitcases were not with them when they touched down in Munich.And having already spent three days without a change of clothes, Billy and Bob revealed they would be facing two weeks of the same attire.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSpeaking to the Daily Record, Billy said: “We travelled across from Edinburgh on Tuesday but when we got here our cases hadn’t arrived. “We’ve been trying to chase it up but no one knows where they are.”We’ve been looking like this for three days now and if we don’t get our cases it will be two weeks, at least, in our kilts.”The retired council worker continued: “If they don’t turn up you will see us sitting in a bar with a big empty space around us due to the smell.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”We’re just lucky, though, that we were wearing the perfect outfits before the cases went missing, and our kilts weren’t in the bag!”Despite the setback, the dynamic duo haven’t let it dampen their spirits. Scotland fans singing in a bar in Munich before Euro 2024 opener with GermanyFormer hospital worker Bob added: “The weather and the atmosphere has been amazing. We’ve got tickets for all the games too so we just can’t wait.”It’s been a long time coming, getting to a tournament abroad, so it’s a brilliant feeling. I think we will get through the group stage then who knows how far we could go from there.”We’re supposed to be going home after Stuttgart but we will cancel our flight if we do get through. “If that means another week in these outfits, then so be it. Three weeks in the same clothes – what more can you ask for?”Scottish fans have been living it up in Munich this week.And one German TV reporter got more than they bargained for when filming some Scottish fans out and about.READ MORE SUN STORIESA fan wearing a Germany shirt and kilt saw their kilt lifted by another supporter, leaving his manhood exposed to viewers on live TV, which left the TV host looking flustered.Scotland fans have also suffered a nightmare scenario after they drunk airport bars and pubs DRY while on their trip.Scotland Euro 2024 guideQUALIFYING for back-to-back Euros is an achievement in itself and the Tartan Army are sure to make the most of it.
The Scots recorded a famous 2-0 win over Spain in qualifying, but come into the Euros off the back of seven games without a win.
MANAGER: Steve Clarke
Only Jock Stein, Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown have managed Scotland in more games than Jose Mourinho’s former assistant.
STAR MAN: John McGinn
The Aston Villa star has reached new levels under Unai Emery’s tutelage and is crucial to a midfield that provides most of Scotland’s goals.
How Scotland attack
Scotland’s three-man midfield will be crucial with the likes of McGinn and Scott McTominay providing lung-busting runs and coming up with most of the goals.
Target man Lyndon Dykes is set to be a big miss with Che Adams likely to step in as the lone striker in a 5-4-1 formation.
How Scotland defend
Scotland will put ten men behind the ball in a deep 5-4-1 block out of possession.
They will work extremely hard to deny the opposition central spaces between the lines, forcing them to resort to wide play and crosses which the Scots feel more comfortable defending.
Read the full Scotland Euro 2024 guide here, including predicted line-ups, odds and Wags More