Euro 2024

KIERAN TRIPPIER says his biggest regret is the ‘sour’ way he left Tottenham in 2019. Trippier, who is heading to Germany for Euro 2024, sat down with the Overlap as pundit Gary Neville asked him 26 quickfire questions.Kieran Trippier revealed he regrets the manner in which he left TottenhamCredit: GettyTrippier had been a staple in Mauricio Pochettino’s TottenhamCredit: Getty – ContributorThe Manchester United legend quizzed him on his biggest football regret.And Trippier, 33, confessed that it was the way he left Tottenham in 2019.He told SkyBet’s The Overlap: “It was sour on both ends.”The way I left was difficult. I had talks with Daniel Levy and the manager. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”Thinking am I part of the plans? I was getting thrown around like a yo-yo.”As a player you just want clarity. If I need to move on, that’s all I need to hear. Just a bit of honesty.”Trippier made the surprise £20m switch to Atletico Madrid in 2019 after Liverpool beat Spurs 2-0 in the Champions League final.During his spell in Spain, Trippier won the only trophy of his senior career to date as he helped Atletico Madrid lift the LaLiga title in 2020/2021.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe joined Newcastle for £12m in 2022, marking the club’s first signing under their new Saudi owners.Trippier hilariously admitted that Diego Simeone is the favourite manager he’s played under, adding a “Sorry Eddie” to Newcastle manager Eddie Howe after.England star Kieran Trippier reveals ‘lunatic’ team-mate drove TRACTOR to training and did donuts on the pitchHis favourite goal was the stunning freekick he scored against Croatia in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in Moscow.He picked Diego Costa as the best character he’s played alongside, and David Beckham as his childhood idol. More

ENGLAND boast the most valuable squad at this summer’s Euros.Gareth Southgate’s side produced a disappointing display in their final warm-up game before heading to Germany as they lost 1-0 to Iceland at Wembley on Friday night.England’s squad has been valued at £1.29billionCredit: GettyFrance are the only other country with a squad value of more than £1bnCredit: GettyBut they remain the favourites to win the Euros due to the plethora of superstar players in their squad.Names such as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer and Bukayo Saka contribute to them being the highest-value nation at the tournament.Southgate’s squad is understood to be worth a staggering £1.29BILLION.And that figure could have been even higher had the England boss not left the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish out.READ MORE ON EUROSTheir squad value is £250million more than the next country on the list – World Cup finalists France [£1.04bn].England and France are the only squads worth more than £1bn – which goes some way to explaining why they are the two outright favourites to triumph this summer.Behind them come Portugal [£890m] and Spain [£820m], while hosts Germany [£722m] round off the top five.Portugal are blessed with a hugely talented squad with Rafael Leao, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Joao Paulinha all valued in excess of £50m.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 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.”

They also have Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks, but with the Saudi-based superstar now aged 39, his value is considered closer to £12m.Spain’s most valuable star is Man City powerhouse Rodri, who alone is considered to be worth over £100m.Inside Gareth Southgate’s love life including secret Tesco car park meetingsFor hosts Germany, it is two 21-year-olds who are considered their most prized assets.Florian Wirtz, who just helped Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga, and Jamal Musiala of Bayern Munich are both worth in excess of £100m.The Netherlands [£717m] and Italy [£599m] complete a seven-country list of squads with an excess of £500m in talent.Portugal sit third in the list of highest squad values ahead of rivals SpainCredit: GettyThe rest of the top 10 consists of Belgium [£496m], England’s group opponents Denmark [£367m] and Ukraine [£322m].England begin their Euros campaign when they take on Serbia on Sunday, June 16.The Serbs, who have lethal striker Aleksandr Mitrovic leading their line, are considered the 14th most valuable side in the competition.PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament. More

ENGLAND’S squad numbers for the Euros have been confirmed – with a huge hint at who will replace Harry Maguire in the starting XI.Gareth Southgate confirmed his 26-man squad for the tournament in Germany on Thursday evening.The squad numbers for England’s Euro 2024 campaign have been confirmedCredit: GettyDeclan Rice has kept his No4 shirtCredit: GettyThe big omissions saw Harry Maguire, Jack Grealish and James Maddison dropped from the initial training squad – while Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson were not even in that original 33. Maguire has worn No6 at recent tournaments, including at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.However, injury ruled him out of the Euros.And Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi looks on course to be the first-choice centre-back partner for John Stones after being handed the No6.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLOther notable numbers see Bukayo Saka get No7, the number Grealish wore in Qatar, while Jude Bellingham claims the famous No10.Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role appears to be confirmed by the Liverpool star getting No8 – traditionally a central midfielder’s number rather than a right-back’s.Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, Luke Shaw, Declan Rice and John Stones take the first five numbers as guaranteed starters if all fit.England skipper Harry Kane is, of course, leading the line in his iconic No9 while Phil Foden nabs No11 from Rashford – a hint that he may well start on the left against Serbia next Sunday. Most read in Euro 2024PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.

Kieran Trippier keeps No12 for the fourth major tournament in a row while Aaron Ramsdale is ahead of Dean Henderson in the pecking order – the Arsenal man has No13 while Henderson has No23.Youngsters Adam Wharton (No25) and Kobbie Mainoo (No26) have the highest numbers.Inside England’s stunning five-star Euro 2024 base with robot waiters that will cost £800,000Ivan Toney gets to play for England in the same number he wears in club football at Brentford, the No17.England finalised their pre-Euros prep with a disappointing and worrying defeat to Iceland at Wembley last night.In scenes reminiscent of Euro 2016, the Three Lions were booed as they came unstuck against their bogeymen from the volcanic island after an error from Ramsdale. Kane squandered a glorious chance with a shinned volley and looked off the pace – although Mainoo and Guehi gave reason for optimism.England have now kept just two clean sheets in their last seven matches and the absence of Maguire could be sorely missed in Germany. To make matters worse, Stones was taken off at half-time after taking an early knock.England will head out to their stunning five-star luxury base in Blankenhain on Monday – after Germany got kicked out.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe tournament hosts were keen to star at the swish Weimarer Land Golf Hotel and Spa but were forced into leaving to appease kit sponsors adidas.As a result, Southgate and The FA swooped to book out the 350-acre resort for the entire Euros for £800,000.Harry Kane will wear the No9 in GermanyCredit: GettyMarc Guehi has claimed the No6 jersey from Harry MaguireCredit: Getty More

GARETH SOUTHGATE has given his thoughts on the angry reaction from the Wembley faithful after defeat to Iceland under the arch.England were looking for the perfect send off before heading out to Germany for the Euros, but instead were booed off the pitch by their own fans after a lacklustre effort saw them lose 1-0.Gareth Southgate has spoken out after England were booed at WembleyCredit: AlamyThe Three Lions lost 1-0 to Iceland under the archCredit: AlamyPLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
The friendly was supposed to be a breezy confidence builder against a team some 68 places below England in the Fifa world rankings, with a population the size of Bournemouth.Instead it knocked players’ confidence as they trudged off the pitch to the disappointed boos of Three Lions fans – a noise Southgate can only hope doesn’t ring in their ears through until next weekend’s opener.But the England boss isn’t hiding from what was a shocking performance as he sympathised with the opinions of the boo boys inside Wembley.When asked what his message was to the booing supporters, he said: “I completely understand [the boos]. We didn’t play well enough to keep them excited within the game.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”We had some very, very good chances which normally would be finished which could have given a different complexion to the game and of course would have affected the confidence of the opponent.”But that would have masked some flaws that were apparent tonight. From my perspective, I’ve learned a lot from the game.”It does focus the mind that any sort of complacency that talent is going to get us this trophy and that we only have to stroll in…football is not like that. “You’ve got to be spot on in every aspect of the game to win any game at this level and we were a long way short of that tonight and Iceland deserved their win.”Most read in FootballEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSHe went on to reiterate that he understood why the fans would hit out at their own team after such a performance.Adding: “I have no qualms with the supporters’ reaction.England make their official Euros 2024 squad announcement “To have the fans with you here obviously makes a massive difference, but you have to give them enough goalmouth action.”You have to play well enough, press and win the ball with intensity to keep them with you during the game.”It’s not the night we wanted, the performance was not on the level it needed to be.”It’s far from an ideal night, I’m not going to dress up the disappointment but we have to stay calm because we know what needs to be put right.”England can put it right next Sunday when they take on Serbia in their first game of Euro 2024.Southgate must take tactical gamble to save Euros dreamGARETH SOUTHGATE needs to go back to the future in Germany, writes SunSport’s Charlie Wyett.
It certainly worked in Russia at the 2018 World Cup. And due to various issues with the defence – as illustrated in this dismal and embarrassing performance at Wembley – Southgate needs to look at playing with five at the back.
We can talk all night about England’s power-packed attack and how they should definitely be getting out the cigars in Berlin on July 14.
Yet there is now a genuine cause for panic as we are now just eight days away from the first game against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen and the defence is a total mess.
England have kept just two clean sheets in the last seven games. If Southgate’s team are to play seven games at Germany – and that would mean an appearance in the final – there must be a bloody great improvement.
The Three Lions will get out of their group because it is virtually impossible not to. But if England do not improve, they will end up getting knocked out in the last 16, like they did against Iceland in Euro 2016.
Speaking at Middlesbrough’s training ground on Sunday, Southgate was asked about whether he has thought about a back five which in Russia, saw his team reach the semi-finals.
He said: “We haven’t as yet. Clearly we could. We know all the strengths and weaknesses of doing that. It’s interesting to read about it being proposed, because I think we were pretty much killed for doing it for quite a long period. 
“But given our tactical flexibility, we’d look at everything and it would be silly to rule something out. You can play a three in different ways.
“You build with a three now anyway, so some aspects of our game could have a three involved.
“But for me, it’s less about shoehorning players into the team, it’s about having the best team and players to come into it, because you need that at tournaments.”
It was only after the World Cup in 2018 that Southgate revealed the reason why he played with three central defenders. This was because he was worried about the inexperience of Harry Maguire who had played just five times before going to Russia.
Due to Maguire’s omission from the squad due to his fitness, Marc Guehi will take his position and this was only his 11th cap.
Guehi was England’s best defender but against better opposition in a more pressured environment, he will be tested more. Against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he did not play particularly well.
Yet last night, John Stones – having started just 12 Premier League games for Manchester City in his worst season for the club –  really struggled before being replaced by Ezri Konsa at half-time.
It did not help that Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson fell on him early on but Stones did not cover himself in glory when the same Icelandic player scored the winner.
Luke Shaw, sidelined since February with a thigh injury, will not be fit until the second game at the earliest.
And with Ben Chilwell not even making the provisional 33, Southgate currently only has right-footed defenders.
Kyle Walker is arguably the best right-back in Europe but his form dipped in the last two months of the season for Manchester City.
He was caught out for the first goal as he appeared to have left his turbo boosters at Tottenham’s training ground. He then blamed Phil Foden for not covering properly.
After making his mass changes for the final quarter,  England’s back four was Trent Alexander-Arnold, Konsa, Guehi and Joe Gomez. That is not a defence you would want to see in the latter stages
So, Southgate needs to look at having a back three with Walker switching into the central three like he did in Russia, alongside Stones and Guehi.
Trent Alexander-Arnold would be more comfortable at right-wing back with Trippier on the other side before the return of Shaw.
With a five-man defence, Southgate would partner Declan Rice with Kobbie Mainoo or Adam Wharton but you would lose an offensive player.
Bukayo Saka would have to make way and you would have Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden as the offensive midfielders playing behind Harry Kane.
Southgate also played with a back five against Italy in the final of Euro 2020 although since then, has discarded it.
But regardless, if he sticks with a back four, he will want his players to do the basics better. And then, we can think about maybe winning a match in the last 16.
As for reaching the final, let’s put that one on the back-burner.

But it won’t be an easy affair against star players like Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic and former Premier League bagsman Aleksandr Mitrovic amongst the ranks for the Serbs.Southgate could have to do it without his best central defender too as more injury woes hit the England camp during the 1-0 defeat to Iceland.John Stones went down in the first half and needed lengthy treatment on the pitch before being hooked for his own good at half time.However, Southgate doesn’t seem overly concerned that the Man City star will be out of action long term.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe explained: “John we decided at half-time there was no point in taking any chances because we’re obviously so close to the tournament and he’s a very important player for us. “We think he’s probably okay.”England could be without John Stones for their opening clash next weekendCredit: Getty More

GARETH SOUTHGATE needs to go back to the future in Germany.It certainly worked in Russia at the 2018 World Cup. And due to various issues with the defence – as illustrated in this dismal and embarrassing performance at Wembley – Southgate needs to look at playing with five at the back.Gareth Southgate watched his side lose 1-0 to Iceland at WembleyCredit: RexThe Three Lions produced a meek display in their final Euro 2024 warm-upCredit: GettyWe can talk all night about England’s power-packed attack and how they should definitely be getting out the cigars in Berlin on July 14.Yet there is now a genuine cause for panic as we are now just eight days away from the first game against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen and the defence is a total mess.England have kept just two clean sheets in the last seven games. If Southgate’s team are to play seven games at Germany – and that would mean an appearance in the final – there must be a bloody great improvement.The Three Lions will get out of their group because it is virtually impossible not to. But if England do not improve, they will end up getting knocked out in the last 16, like they did against Iceland in Euro 2016.READ MORE ENGLAND NEWSSpeaking at Middlesbrough’s training ground on Sunday, Southgate was asked about whether he has thought about a back five which in Russia, saw his team reach the semi-finals.He said: “We haven’t as yet. Clearly we could. We know all the strengths and weaknesses of doing that. It’s interesting to read about it being proposed, because I think we were pretty much killed for doing it for quite a long period. “But given our tactical flexibility, we’d look at everything and it would be silly to rule something out. You can play a three in different ways.”You build with a three now anyway, so some aspects of our game could have a three involved.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSPLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
“But for me, it’s less about shoehorning players into the team, it’s about having the best team and players to come into it, because you need that at tournaments.”It was only after the World Cup in 2018 that Southgate revealed the reason why he played with three central defenders. This was because he was worried about the inexperience of Harry Maguire who had played just five times before going to Russia.The meteoric rise of England star Adam WhartonDue to Maguire’s omission from the squad due to his fitness, Marc Guehi will take his position and this was only his 11th cap.Guehi was England’s best defender but against better opposition in a more pressured environment, he will be tested more. Against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he did not play particularly well.Yet last night, John Stones – having started just 12 Premier League games for Manchester City in his worst season for the club –  really struggled before being replaced by Ezri Konsa at half-time.It did not help that Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson fell on him early on but Stones did not cover himself in glory when the same Icelandic player scored the winner.Luke Shaw, sidelined since February with a thigh injury, will not be fit until the second game at the earliest.And with Ben Chilwell not even making the provisional 33, Southgate currently only has right-footed defenders.Kyle Walker is arguably the best right-back in Europe but his form dipped in the last two months of the season for Manchester City.He was caught out for the first goal as he appeared to have left his turbo boosters at Tottenham’s training ground. He then blamed Phil Foden for not covering properly.After making his mass changes for the final quarter,  England’s back four was Trent Alexander-Arnold, Konsa, Guehi and Joe Gomez. That is not a defence you would want to see in the latter stagesSo, Southgate needs to look at having a back three with Walker switching into the central three like he did in Russia, alongside Stones and Guehi.Trent Alexander-Arnold would be more comfortable at right-wing back with Trippier on the other side before the return of Shaw.With a five-man defence, Southgate would partner Declan Rice with Kobbie Mainoo or Adam Wharton but you would lose an offensive player.Bukayo Saka would have to make way and you would have Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden as the offensive midfielders playing behind Harry Kane.Southgate also played with a back five against Italy in the final of Euro 2020 although since then, has discarded it.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut regardless, if he sticks with a back four, he will want his players to do the basics better. And then, we can think about maybe winning a match in the last 16.As for reaching the final, let’s put that one on the back-burner.How England should line up in opening game, according to SunSportJohn Stones was in action against IcelandCredit: GettyMarc Guehi lacks experience at international levelCredit: AFP More