Euro 2024

EURO 2024 is just four days away — and SunSport have assembled a dream team of star columnists to keep you in the picture.Jack Wilshere, Jurgen Klinsmann, Harry Redknapp and Gordon Strachan kicked off the countdown to the finals with a Q&A night in front of Sun football fans.Harry Redknapp, Gordon Strachan, Jack Wilshere and Jurgen Klinsmann are the Euro 2024 SunSport columnistsCredit: Darren FletcherThe dream team of stars put on a superb preview night for The Sun football fansCredit: Darren FletcherThe quartet were quizzed on the key issues by The Sun’s Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS . . .WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE FINAL 26-MAN ENGLAND SQUAD?Redknapp: “My confidence is not as strong as it was before the squad was announced.“I’m sorry to see Harry Maguire not there. You put your life on him. He isn’t the most talented but we’ll miss him.“Jack Grealish is a big loss. Maybe he needs to get back to concentrating on his football. His form this year has gone to pieces. I’m not sure he’s Gareth Southgate’s cup of tea.”READ MORE ON EURO 2024Wilshere: “The biggest shock for me is James Maddison. He creates space, occupies players and can make that final pass.“I would put Kyle Walker in centre-back with his experience. Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton are fearless, especially Mainoo playing for Manchester United. He’s got the mentality to cope.”PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
HOW BIG A ROLE WILL HARRY KANE PLAY?Klinsmann: “Harry Kane is hungry as hell. Being at Bayern will help, not only scoring a phenomenal amount of goals but experiencing all the stadiums, the country. People love him in Germany.“Maybe it’s meant to be that he finally wins his first trophy with England in Germany.”Most read in Euro 2024Dream Team’s Nick Elliott previews this summer’s Euros fantasy gameRedknapp: “We’ve got the best No 9 in the world. He’s very important. He’s a complete all-round footballer and can do everything.”Strachan: “I like Harry. There’s a humility about him that every kid could concentrate on. Forget Instagram and TikTok, watch him. He’s wonderful at playing football.”IS THIS JUDE BELLINGHAM’S TOURNAMENT?Wilshere: “I’ve never seen anything like it with that mentality, humility but also a top, top player who has got everything.“He’s so young but when you listen to him, he’s like a mature 30-year-old man. We should be so excited about him.”Klinsmann: “His courage to go abroad is priceless. He speaks German, he’s learning Spanish. He needs to see this as school and stay loving the game . . . have fun, enjoy it with a smile. The whole world recognises him already.”Harry Kane’s experience in Germany could prove crucialCredit: GettyJude Bellingham will hope to lead England to gloryCredit: PAHOW DOES THE SCOTLAND SIDE SHAPE UP?Strachan: “Steve Clarke’s built a team around the best players, he’s got a wonderful midfield. Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Billy Gilmour and Callum McGregor.“Up front, they need somebody to complement the midfielders because they’ll score goals. Every team will find it hard playing against them.”Wilshere: “I love Gilmour. What a player. Brighton have done unbelievable things with him.“I used to hate playing against McGinn, you couldn’t get the ball off him. Scotland have characters in there.”WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM HOSTS GERMANY?Klinsmann: “I’m confident. After huge disappointments in the last two World Cups where maybe optimism became arrogance, it’s time this generation shows a different face. Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are exciting youngsters.“Toni Kroos retires here. Kai Havertz is wonderful. It’s a good mix of young and old.The experts reckon Scotland’s midfield will make them very tough to beatCredit: EPAFlorian Wirtz and Toni Kroos epitomise the youth and experience in the Germany squadCredit: Getty“They need a good result and good performance in the opener against Scotland. If they do, they can ride a wave and make the semis.”Redknapp: “I’m interested in Germany because it’s about time they produced again.“Being at home, they’re going to be dangerous. For England, Germany and Portugal would be the teams I would fear most.”IS THE PRESSURE OF PENALTIES STILL A WORRY FOR ENGLAND?Wilshere: “We practised penalties but you can’t recreate playing for your country in a full stadium in training. “What Gareth has done is he’s brought in a new method to the practice where he takes a few players away and they really focus on the technique.“I would trust us more now in that situation but still, there is this anxiety around penalties.”Strachan: “I took 60, scored 54. It was quite simple at Aberdeen under Alex Ferguson, because you were dead if you missed, your life became a misery, I was petrified.“On many occasions, England could’ve gone for more goals.“Determine your own future, how the game goes. If they get that mentality, then they won’t have to go to penalties.“You’ve got the players to win this. You’ve got players that the whole of Europe are scared of. Well, go and scare them.”SHOULD SOUTHGATE LEAVE AFTER THE EUROS?Redknapp: “If they don’t win it, I think Gareth probably goes. But if they win it, he’s in an amazing position. “He stays if he wants to or he goes out as a winner and I’m sure Manchester United would be knocking on the door.”Strachan: “If I was Gareth, I would go and be a full-time club manager somewhere.“Whatever happens, I would say, ‘Thanks very much, great experience, see you later’. If you don’t win it, in the first interview you say, ‘I’m off’.”ARE ENGLAND THE FAVOURITES?Klinsmann: “The timing is just right. After Russia, the Euros final and Qatar, the team is mature enough to deal with all the expectations and pressure.“Gareth Southgate has matured and learnt, too. I can really imagine that this is the moment for England.”England will be desperate not to lose on penalties after their final heartache three years agoCredit: GettyGareth Southgate may leave his job after the tournamentCredit: GettyRedknapp: “I think we’ll win it. If we get to the semi-final and get knocked out, we haven’t done well.“This team needs to win it. This is an amazing group of young players, especially going forward. I’d like to see us have a right go and tear teams to pieces. If we do that, I can’t see anybody stopping us.”Wilshere: “We’re definitely favourites. If we don’t win it, it will be seen as a failure. Gareth’s done such a great job and he’s brought hope.“We’ve got the best players on paper but I know the game’s not played on paper.”Strachan: “I’m a fan of some of the players. But no, you are bad enough and unbearable as a nation without winning anything. “So if you win something, it’ll be a complete nightmare and I’m moving to Iceland where I can enjoy myself, change my nationality to Icelandic and bask in the glory of beating England!”WHO WILL WIN EURO 2024?Klinsmann: “England.”Strachan: “Germany.”READ MORE SUN STORIESWilshere: “England.”Redknapp: “England.”Wilshere offered his expert insightCredit: Darren FletcherStrachan entertained the crowd with his superb anecdotesCredit: Darren FletcherHarry Redknapp is on the team for SunSportCredit: Darren FletcherJurgen Klinsmann completes the teamCredit: Darren FletcherThe Sun’s Head of Sport Shaun Custis hosted the eveningCredit: Darren Fletcher More

DECLAN RICE chose posh nosh out with his family for the sweetest of send-offs for Euro 2024.The England midfielder looked incredibly relaxed, even signing autographs outside, as he dined with childhood sweetheart Lauren Fryer and their 22-month-old son Jude.Declan Rice was seen outside a restaurant loved by top starsCredit: BackGridRice looked happy to pose with supportersCredit: BackGridGirlfriend Lauren Fryer enjoyed the family meal outCredit: BackGridThey chose the eatery of football legends – London’s Novikov – ahead of the tournament of the Three Lions’ dreams.Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Harry Kane, Ronaldo, Neymar and Paul Pogba are amongst other celebrity players who have visited the restaurant in Mayfair.Main courses include sea bass, salt crusted with crudaiola sauces for an eye-watering £125.Wood oven roasted langoustines will set you back £50, while the black pizza with seafood will see you part with a cool £58.READ MORE TOP STORIESRice wore a dark-green cap and light-green hoodie as he held Jude and looked around outside the venue, where you can buy a two-course lunch for £26.But he grinned widely as he put his arms around two fans for a pic taken by one of their friends.The £115million Arsenal stars is one of England’s main hopes at the Euros in Germany – mainly thanks to his midfield partnership with Jude Bellingham.The duo are young enough and good enough to be paired together as long as rice has been with Lauren – more than eight years.Most read in Euro 2024Rice and Lauren were casually dressed for their trip outCredit: BackGridThey’ve been together since they were teenagers and welcomed their first child in August 2022.Rice marked that occasion with a pair of tattoos. His son’s name and date of birth are inked on – plus Jude’s Leo star sign.Is it coming home? Football legends discuss England’s chances for Euro 2024 at The Sun’s preview nightEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSRice and Lauren prefer to keep their relationship out of the public eye.But there was an unfortunate glimpse into their private life two months ago.That was when Lauren deleted all her Instagram pictures after bullying from online trolls.Now Rice hopes to make those sad social media types eat their words – as he prepares to jet to Germany for the Euros after his family feat of a send-off.Rice will soon be heading to Germany with the rest of the England squadCredit: BackGridPLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament. More

FANS of a certain vintage will never forget the original “Panenka” penalty that sealed the 1976 European Championships final win over West Germany.Nearly half a century on, and now representing only half the old Czechoslovakia, much travelled former 55-capped midfielder Ivan Hasek has returned for a second spell at the helm.The Czechs made the quarter-final of Euro 2020Credit: EPAThe Czechs finished behind Albania and forced Poland into the play-offs in qualifying. West Ham fans have seen plenty of Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek over the past few years and there non-stop hard work will be on show at the Euros.Three years ago, they eliminated Scotland at Hampden Park and stunned Holland before being edged out by Denmark in the last eight. Repeating that run might be a stretch but they love the big occasion. read more on the eurosManager: Ivan HasekOnly appointed in January, he played for Czechoslovakia at the 1990 World Cup and is also a lawyer.Key man: Patrick SchickFormer Sampdoria, Roma and RB Leipzig striker has seen his role at German champions Leverkusen reduced a tad this season under Xabi Alonso – mainly being used off the bench. But he remains a massive threat and an excellent target man. Plus who can forget his goal from the halfway line at the last Euros against Scotland, which helped him share the Golden Boot with Cristiano Ronaldo.EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSLikely line-upInside the ten stunning Euro 2024 stadiums including historic final venueHow they attackThe Czech Republic will be playing in their seventh consecutive Euros this coming summer.Most read in FootballAnd having reached the quarter final stage in two of the last versions of the competition they will have high hopes in Germany. They have been drawn in one of the more even groups with Portugal as the favourites to qualify along with Turkey and Georgia.In qualification and in recent friendly matches the Czech’s have been versatile tactically moving between a 3-4-3and a 4-2-3-1 system. While they have technical players that are comfortable in possession of the ball they will not typically overplay or take chances with the ball on their first line. If the opposition press high then expect to see them play in a more direct manner.The opposition look to press high the Czech side are not going to overplay. Instead they are willing to go long to attack the space behind the opposition pressAs they move into the more established attacking phase they are not possession orientated and they are more likely to attack through quick attacking transitions. When playing in their 3-4-2-1 shape especially the two advanced midfielders behind the striker will make regular runs to attack space in the opposition half.The goal is to play quick and direct passes to release players into space behind the opposition defensive lineThe aim for the Czech Republic is to play forward to attack space behind the opposition defensive line. If the opposition do drop back to take this space away, though then expect to see them look to push players forward to occupy space and force the opposition even deeper.The opposition have been forced back and into a deep defensive block by the CzechsHow they defendTypically the Czech Republic will be flexible with the way that they defend in this summer’s tournament. They press forward and chase and engage the ball but they do so with one or two players while others hold a deeper position to defend space and make it difficult for the opposition to play out from the back.The Norway goalkeeper is in possession deep and the Czech forward bends his run to block the clearance. There are three players in a relatively high position but they are not pressing and are waiting to react to the short pass should it comeThe aim out of possession from the Czech side is to force the opposition into playing a longer pass to play through the first line of the defensive structure. The Czech midfield will then react to these long passes and press the ball centrally.Poland have been forced to play long as the Czech defensive structure pushes high and forces them to go longer away from the pressWhen the opposition do break into their half we can expect to see the Czech defensive structure drop back to take away space and to defend the area. When they play in their 3-4-2-1 shape then the wide midfielders drop back in to form a block of five.And then at least two of the midfielders will stay deep to defend the central areas.Poland have pushed on and attack high into the Czech half and the defensive line has dropped into a five. They are willing to defend deep and allow the opposition to have the ball in wide areasPredictionPortugal and Turkey are tipped to progress from Group F.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut with all three likely to pick up three points against Georgia, the Czechs will be hopeful they can sneak through as third-place or even runners-up.Latest oddsWilliam Hill have got them as 150/1 outsiders to go all the way and lift the trophy in Berlin and they’re 11/10 to finish inside Group F’s top two.PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament. More