Euro 2024

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD is in “pole position” to start in Gareth Southgate’s midfield for England’s opening game of the Euros against Serbia, according to reports.There has been much debate surrounding the third spot in the middle of the park, with Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham certainties for Sunday’s clash.Gareth Southgate looks set to make a bold call in midfieldCredit: RexTrent Alexander-Arnold looks set to start in midfield with Declan RiceCredit: GettyConor Gallagher, Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton have all been considered as options.Some have also called for Bellingham to play deeper, freeing up Phil Foden to move from the left into the No10 position.But according to The Telegraph, Liverpool man Alexander-Arnold is the front-runner to kick off the tournament in Southgate’s side.Having progressed into midfield from right-back, he impressed for his country in a 3-0 win over Bosnia last week.READ MORE ON ENGLANDAlexander-Arnold, who has been given the No8 shirt for the Euros, scored a superb volley to round off an accomplished display in which his stunning range of passing was front and centre.He also came off the bench in Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Iceland – taking his number of caps to 25.A source told The Telegraph: “A lot can change, obviously, but Trent was given the No 8 shirt for a reason.”England flew to Germany from Birmingham Airport on Monday, six days before they begin a campaign they will be hoping runs until July 14.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSThe most like England team for the game against Serbia on SundayGareth Southgate will take the handbrake off at Euro 2024… because he has no choiceBy Charlie Wyett

GARETH SOUTHGATE will have no choice but to take the handbrake off his England team at Euro 2024.
The defensive crisis gripping the Three Lions means the only option in Germany, within ­reason, will be outright attack.
Southgate has often been lambasted for his safety-first approach — even if he points out you must go back to Walter Winterbottom’s sides in the 1950s to find an England manager with a better scoring record.
But with the crocked Harry Maguire left out, Luke Shaw not fit enough to start the tournament and John Stones having made just 12 ­Premier League starts this season, this is not a defence you would stake your life on.
The last time England went to a major tournament in Germany — the 2006 World Cup — the four centre-backs selected were Sol Campbell (68 caps), Rio Ferdinand (47), Jamie Carragher (25) and John Terry (24).
This time, when England fly out on Monday, the quartet will be Lewis Dunk (six), Joe Gomez (14), Marc Guehi (ten) and Ezri Konsa (three).
It makes Southgate’s decision not to recall the 49-cap Eric Dier for his ­provisional squad even stranger — especially considering his strong end to the season with Bayern Munich.
The elder statesman in his defence — and the one who absolutely has to stay fit — is 71-cap Stones.

And it is understood Southgate will be keeping a close eye on a number of his players when they begin training amid fitness concerns.John Stones, Bukayo Saka, Foden, Bellingham and Luke Shaw are all carrying various issues.Inside England’s stunning five-star Euro 2024 base with robot waiters that will cost £800,000PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.

Stones was substituted at half-time in the loss to Iceland, while Saka has yet to shake off a groin injury picked up at the end of the Premier League season.Foden and Bellingham are also being monitored, while Shaw is near a return to selection but is not expected to be ready for the Serbia game.This is likely to mean Kieran Trippier will start at left-back for their Euros opener, before they face Denmark on June 20 and Slovenia five days later.England’s base for the Euros is the luxury Weimarer Land Golf Hotel and Spa in central Germany.The FA snapped up the 350-acre resort — including a Wembley-quality training pitch and three golf courses — in an £800,000 deal in November.Alexander-Arnold was snapped arriving in Germany on MondayCredit: Paul EdwardsThe England squad arrived in Germany after jetting off from Birmingham AirportCredit: GettyAlexander-Arnold is set to link-up with Jude Bellingham in England’s midfieldCredit: Paul EdwardsWhat Southgate said about axed England stars
WHAT Gareth Southgate said about his axed England stars after confirming his 26-man England squad for Euro 2024.
Harry Maguire
“The decision on Harry [Maguire] is totally about his physical condition and his recovery from the injury. There is no other reason as he is one of our strongest centre-backs.
“Harry has made some progress, but it’s been complicated and we wouldn’t have had him in the group stages. There were too many hurdles to get through without being clear where we might get to.
“Knowing we haven’t got a clean bill of health across the rest of the backline, we need players who are fit and ready to go from the start.
“It was a really difficult call, you know how I feel about Harry, what he’s done for England and for me as a manager. ”
Jack Grealish
“I have just delivered a really difficult conversation to a lad who is devastated.
“I think the world of him as a kid.“It certainly doesn’t get any easier.
“You put yourself in the shoes of a player, a parent. You understand that for these players this is a devastating moment.
“We knew we had a couple of really difficult days coming up.”
James Maddison
“Madders [Maddison] and Jack [Grealish] would have provided us with something different as well and they’ve been tough calls.
“They’re calls we’ve gone over and over and over as a group of staff to try to be fair and to try to use the right rationale.
“We back our decisions but we recognise we could have gone a different route. The boys are big characters, fabulous team-mates and great boys to work with.
“It’s sad to have to deliver that news to them.”
Jarrad Branthwaite
“It’s a bit early for Jarrad [Branthwaite]. He has had a fabulous season, it was good to get him on the pitch the other night.
“But of course, in an ideal world, you’d like that balance of left-footers. For him to be in ahead of the others, I don’t think it would have been the right call at this stage.”
Jarell Quansah
“Jarell Quansah has stayed with us. He’s not had the experience of an England international at Wembley. It’ll be great for him to be us for the game.
“Hopefully we’re not needing to call anyone else in.” More

JACK Grealish appeared to get a helping hand while walking through a luxury hotel, as he let his hair down on a well-earned sunshine break.The Man City legend, sensationally axed from England’s Euros squad last week, was ushered through a Dubai concourse towards a beach bar in front of shocked guests.Jack Grealish needed a helping hand as he walked through a luxury hotel at 6.30pmCredit: SuppliedThe star was ushered through a Dubai concourse towards a beach bar in front of shocked guestsCredit: SuppliedOnce they had exited the hotel building, Jack and his friends jumped on a buggy which whisked them towards the resort’s beach barCredit: SuppliedGrealish missed out on Gareth Southgate’s final England squadCredit: GettyEURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENTHe looked a little unsteady on his feet at one point, wearing white socks and slip-ons, a yellow T-shirt and board shorts.As a friend from his entourage took the Manchester City ace’s arm to help him along, a security guard asked onlookers not to take pictures.One witness at Dubai’s 5-star Jumeirah Beach Hotel told The Sun: “It was shocking to see Jack looking so refreshed at 6.30pm, but after everything he’s been through he deserved a kick-back.”He and his team parked up outside the hotel entrance in a black wagon then breezed through the foyer towards the venue’s beach bar.Read more Sports News”It looked like the group had been on a good session already. He’s clearly taking time to work through his Euros rejection.”At least he had his friends around him. The episode did nothing to dampen his ‘party boy’ reputation, but it was very hard not to feel sorry for him.”A friend placed an arm around the player’s waist, and ushered him along.Once they had exited the hotel building, Jack and his friends jumped on a buggy which whisked them towards the resort’s beach bar.Most read in FootballJack could be seen slumped behind the driver, seemingly lost in thought.England boss Gareth Southgate axes stars from Euro 2024 squadThere was no sign of the multi-millionaire’s girlfriend Sasha Attwood in his tight-knit group, which appeared to include four women dressed in sexy leisure wear.The onlooker said: “It looked like the rejection by Gareth Southgate had hit hard.”EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSWhat Southgate said about axed England stars
WHAT Gareth Southgate said about his axed England stars after confirming his 26-man England squad for Euro 2024.
Harry Maguire
“The decision on Harry [Maguire] is totally about his physical condition and his recovery from the injury. There is no other reason as he is one of our strongest centre-backs.
“Harry has made some progress, but it’s been complicated and we wouldn’t have had him in the group stages. There were too many hurdles to get through without being clear where we might get to.
“Knowing we haven’t got a clean bill of health across the rest of the backline, we need players who are fit and ready to go from the start.
“It was a really difficult call, you know how I feel about Harry, what he’s done for England and for me as a manager. ”
Jack Grealish
“I have just delivered a really difficult conversation to a lad who is devastated.
“I think the world of him as a kid.“It certainly doesn’t get any easier.
“You put yourself in the shoes of a player, a parent. You understand that for these players this is a devastating moment.
“We knew we had a couple of really difficult days coming up.”
James Maddison
“Madders [Maddison] and Jack [Grealish] would have provided us with something different as well and they’ve been tough calls.
“They’re calls we’ve gone over and over and over as a group of staff to try to be fair and to try to use the right rationale.
“We back our decisions but we recognise we could have gone a different route. The boys are big characters, fabulous team-mates and great boys to work with.
“It’s sad to have to deliver that news to them.”
Jarrad Branthwaite
“It’s a bit early for Jarrad [Branthwaite]. He has had a fabulous season, it was good to get him on the pitch the other night.
“But of course, in an ideal world, you’d like that balance of left-footers. For him to be in ahead of the others, I don’t think it would have been the right call at this stage.”
Jarell Quansah
“Jarell Quansah has stayed with us. He’s not had the experience of an England international at Wembley. It’ll be great for him to be us for the game.
“Hopefully we’re not needing to call anyone else in.”

Reports said the former Aston Villa man was left “stunned and upset” following his cull from England’s final Euro 2024 squad.Jack, 28, was one of seven players who failed to make the cut as Southgate trimmed his 33-man squad down to 26.Fans have taken to his silky skills on the pitch and loveable ‘party boy’ lifestyle off of it.Last month he led the wild celebrations as City secured a historic fourth Prem title.The star was seen sporting a £2,000 Gucci suit – a brand for which he is an ambassador – and posted a video of him singing Natasha Bedingfield’s Unwritten as the party at a Greek restaurant went on until 5am.He has become synonymous with riotous end-of-season parties during well-earned breaks in Ibiza and sun-kissed resorts.The Manchester City star joined James Maddison, Harry Maguire, Curtis Jones, Jarrel Quansah, Jarrad Branthwaite and James Trafford in being sent home early from England duty last week.Jack believed he had done enough to make the cut after an encouraging cameo off the bench last Monday against Bosnia and Herzegovina.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt was reported that Jack handled his exit “professionally” and passed on his best wishes to the players and staff ahead of the tournament.Fans questioned the decision to leave him out of the squad for Germany, especially after going down 1-0 to minnows Iceland in the final warm-up match at Wembley Stadium.He looked unsteady on his feet in white socks and slip-ons, a yellow t-shirt and board shortsCredit: SuppliedA friend placed an arm around the player’s waist, and ushered him alongCredit: SuppliedAs a friend took the Manchester City ace’s arm to help him along, a security guard asked onlookers not to take picturesCredit: SuppliedJack could be seen slumped behind the driver, seemingly lost in thoughtCredit: SuppliedThere was no sign of the multi-millionaire’s girlfriend Sasha AttwoodCredit: GettyInside German castle England Wags plan to stay at for Euro 2024England’s Wags plan to stay in a luxury German castle during the Euros this summer.

A source revealed they are keen to let their hair down after abiding by strict rules at the World Cup in Qatar, and are planning a stay in a private, secluded area.
The Wags have scouted the five-star Schlosshotel resort in Kronberg, where rooms cost up to £1,750 a night, and the Schloss Auel Boutique Hotel in Lohmar.
The hotel also offers a limousine service for guests, comes with on-call masseuses and butlers and boasts a Porsche rental service.
The group are also looking at Schloss Auel Boutique Hotel in Lohmar.
It offers cocktail bars, Michelin star chefs and a team of personal assistants to assist with any requests.
The group could include Kieran Trippier’s wife Charlotte, Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan, Harry Maguire’s wife Fern, Kyle Walker’s wife Annie and Luke Shaw’s partner Anouska Santos.
Read more on the Wags’ plans for the summer. More