Euro 2024

ENGLAND are facing a club vs country row over Newcastle and Tottenham’s end-of-season Australian friendly.The two Premier League sides are playing in Melbourne on May 22, just days before Gareth Southgate’s squad meet to begin their final preparations for Euro 2024.Gareth Southgate is facing a club and country rowCredit: PASpurs will be heading to Melbourne on May 22 for a friendly days before England begin preparations for EurosCredit: RexTottenham will be playing against Newcastle in AustraliaCredit: RexNewcastle are expecting Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon to be involved despite the fact they could be preparing for England duty ahead of the tournament in Germany.Tottenham will not confirm their travelling squad until closer to the time but have not ruled out international players being involved.Both squads, who will make a 21,000-mile round trip, include players who will be involved in the Euros or Copa America.While the Euros does not begin until June 14, the England squad will start to gather at St. George’s Park from May 27, with Southgate naming his training camp squad on May 21.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLTrippier, Gordon and Tottenham’s James Maddison are all likely to be included in that group, meaning Southgate will not want to see them flying to the other side of the world for a meaningless fixture.England are relaxed about the situation but are expected to hold talks with both clubs following the March international break as they gear up for the summer.Southgate likes to give players a week off after their final club game before they come into camp for a major tournament.And with England he expects player arrivals to be staggered due to potential involvement in the FA Cup or European finals.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERIf an agreement cannot be reached between club and country to stop Three Lions players travelling to Australia, Southgate will make allowances to give those involved some time off before joining the squad.Any accommodations made for the players involved in the friendly would mean them missing out on training sessions ahead of warm-up games against Bosnia and Iceland.Ian Wright digs out Gareth Southgate over star’s England squad omission and asks Man Utd legend Roy Keane for backupSpurs are pitching the match, to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, as a homecoming for boss Ange Postecoglou, who grew up in the city and played for and managed South Melbourne as well as Melbourne Victory. More

ENGLAND fans are over the moon with the team’s new kits after pictures of the strips were released on Monday morning.Players from the men’s, women’s and para teams were part of a photoshoot showing off the fresh Nike attire.A host of England stars came together to reveal the country’s new kitsCredit: https://twitter.com/EnglandEngland men’s captain Harry Kane wearing the Three Lions’ new home shirtCredit: https://twitter.com/EnglandLucja Wyrwantowicz, part of England’s Para Lions, showing off the new England home kitCredit: https://twitter.com/EnglandLionesses forward Lauren Hemp wore the second strip in the photoshootCredit: https://twitter.com/EnglandBukayo Saka was another England star showing off the second stripCredit: https://twitter.com/EnglandAmong the stars included Harry Kane, Mary Earps, Phil Foden, Beth Mead, Declan Rice, Lauren James and Bukayo Saka.The home kit is the classic white with a blue collar and blue shorts.Meanwhile, the second strip is all purple and has received widespread praise from fans.Lastly, the keeper’s will line up in between the sticks in eye-catching orange jerseys.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAlongside a social media picture of the kits, the England account added the caption: “Our England. Our pride. Our family. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿”The men’s collection, which Gareth Southgate’s players will wear at this summer’s Euros, will be released on March 21, while the women’s kits will go on sale in June.England’s men’s team are expected to debut the home kit when they take on Brazil in a friendly on Saturday, before they host Belgium three days later.The Lionesses’ next game is a Euro 2025 qualifier against Sweden at Wembley on April 5.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSEngland fans are thrilled with the look of the strips as they took to social media to hail the designs.One said: “So that’s what Kane will look like when he lifts the Euros trophy this summer.”Young stars set to shine at Euro 2024Another added: “Nah that blue kit is actually incredible.”A third replied: “WE ARE GOING FOR GOLD.”While a fourth responded: “Omg we’re actually winning it all.”And a fifth said: “Honestly some of our greatest kits ever.” More

ETHAN AMPADU has been hailed as a future Wales captain and a frontrunner to break Gareth Bale’s caps record.The Leeds skipper is set to win his 50th cap – at just the age of 23 – in Thursday’s crunch Euro 2024 play-off semi-final against Finland in Cardiff.Ampadu has already played at a Euros and the 2022 World Cup where Wales lost 3-0 to EnglandCredit: GettyThe Wales midfielder became Leeds captain back in JanuaryCredit: PAAaron Ramsey and Ben Davies are Wales captain and vice-captain respectively but Ampadu is tipped as the long-term successor for the armband.And Bale’s appearance record of 111 Welsh caps could also be under threat if the ex-Chelsea star continues racking up the games at such lightning speed.Wales boss Robert Page said: “He’s a future Wales captain. 100 per cent because he’s already the captain of Leeds and that’s a big club.”He’s a great lad, very humble, doesn’t get carried away with things and he’s a model pro on and off the pitch. That’s why he has the Leeds armband.READ MORE FOOTBALL”His performances are consistent week in, week out. I’ve seen him in training and he trains as if it’s a game. That’s what you want. You can’t have half measures. He leads by example so credit to him.“It is a big responsibility to be Leeds captain but they wouldn’t have given it to him if they didn’t think he could cope with it. I know him and I can see why he’s taken it so well – he’ll enjoy it.”When asked if former Wales talisman Bale, who won his final cap against England at the 2022 World Cup before retiring, should be worried over losing his caps record to Ampadu, Page replied: “Yes. But we’ve got a few, haven’t we? “Ethan’s the youngest on the caps but we have younger players who are coming through as well.”Most read in Euro 2024Ampadu, who will reach the half-century milestone alongside Leeds winger Dan James, 26, was given his debut as a 17-year-old by former Wales manager Chris Coleman in a 2-0 friendly defeat to France in Paris back in November 2017.Former U21s boss Page, who became Wales chief in November 2020 following the arrest of Ryan Giggs, added: “Ethan is only 23 but it seems like he’s been around forever because of the age he was when he got his debut.Watch Gareth Bale nail his first ever hole-in-one then celebrate wildly but video goes down like lead balloon with fans”He didn’t come through me in the U21s, he was already in the senior team hence why he’s getting his 50th cap now. But from the minute I’ve worked with him, I have loved everything about him.”Ampadu will captain Championship promotion hopefuls Leeds into battle against Millwall at Elland Road today (Sun).Then he leads Whites foursome including James, Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts to join their Welsh pals in Cardiff.The versatile star plays central midfield for his country but club boss Daniel Farke has paired him with countryman Joe Rodon at centre-back and the duo have conceded just three goals in 11 games.But Page is keen to stick with Ampadu, who has played for Exeter, Chelsea, Leipzig, Sheffield United, Venezia, Spezia and Leeds in a colourful career so far, remaining in the engine room as Wales bid to reach a third successive Euros finals.Page, 49, said: “We’ve always known Ethan can play centre back and I do like him there. “He keeps you high up the pitch, you can play a high line because he’s not worried or phased about pace in behind because of his athleticism and aggression. “It’s great to have that luxury that he can play more than one position. He’s a great asset to the team. “He and Joe have struck up a good partnership keeping clean sheets and of course you’re going to think about it.READ MORE SUN STORIES”But when I’ve got a three (Rodon, Ben Davies and Chris Mepham) that are playing well and doing okay I don’t like making changes for the sake of it.”Ethan’s just as good playing as a six in midfield as he is at the back. On the ball we’ve needed that physically and him and JJ (Jordan James) have struck up such a strong partnership.”   More

TOM LOCKYER has accepted Robert Page’s invite to link up with the Wales squad next week.The Luton skipper suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Bournemouth on December 16.Lockyer returned to the scene of his caradiac arrest last Wednesday when Bournemouth beat Luton 4-3Credit: GettyWales stars including Ben Davies, Aaron Ramsey and Kieffer Moore took part in a CPR class last SeptemberBut Lockyer, 29, will have a reunion in Cardiff with his Welsh pals, who are gearing up for a crunch Euro 2024 play-off semi-final against Finland next Thursday.Page, who named his 28-man squad on Wednesday, said: “I had a good conversation with Locks on Tuesday. He’ll be a part of it.”We don’t know what days or for how long yet. But he’s keen to come in and we’re keen to have him around the lads.”Lockyer played for Wales against Turkey in November’s Euro qualifier and the 1-1 draw set up their route via the play-offs.READ MORE SPORT STORIESVictory over Finland would tee up a final against either Poland or Estonia for a place at the finals in Germany this summer.Lockyer was technically dead for two minutes and 40 seconds before medics resuscitated him at the Vitality Stadium.He returned to Bournemouth for the rearranged Prem fixture last Wednesday and met the heroes who saved his life.The Hatters centre-back had also collapsed during Luton’s Championship play-off victory over Coventry at Wembley last May and wants more people to learn CPR.Most read in FootballCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVALAnd Page has revealed the Welsh squad including skipper Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies and Kieffer Moore undertook a class last September to raise awareness.Page added: “Yes, the medical team came in, we did the class. Tom is championing CPR at the minute, and rightly so.”Wales have a tight-knit squad which his been strengthened by the medical case of Lockyer.When he collapsed in the second half of fixture on the south coast, Dragons team-mates Chris Mepham, David Brooks and Kieffer Moore were all in the Bournemouth squad that day.Brooks, now on loan at Southampton, has also made a full recovery from cancer and Page believes the unity in the Welsh ranks is powerful.Page said: “There’s more to life than football, and when you see them on camp, take football away from it, they’re a good group together, they are good mates.”I can only imagine how hard it was for Meps, Kieffer and Brooksy when they played that fixture and saw their mate on the floor like he was. “They had contact straight after and they’ve been in touch since, but it’ll be nice to have them all back in the group together. “Like I said, forget football, just being together as mates is powerful for them.” More