Euro 2024

WEST HAM star Vladimir Coufal has been sent home from the Czech national team for “seriously breaking team rules”.Team-mates Jakub Brabec and Jan Kuchta have also been told to leave.
Vladimir Coufal has been sent home from international dutyCredit: Rex
The Czechs have not yet qualified for Euro 2024.
They face Moldova in a crucial final group stage game tomorrow.
Jaroslav Silhavy’s side need to avoid defeat to book their place in the tournament.
The players were meant to be resting for the match but less than 48 hours before kick-off the trio were reportedly out partying late into the night.
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A statement from the Czech team read: “Three players fundamentally violated the internal rules of the national team on Saturday night.
“Jakub Brabec, Vladimir Coufal and Jan Kuchta have left the national team meeting with immediate effect by the decision of the management.”
Czech publication iSport claims the trio – along with FA chief Tomas Neumann – visited plush nightclub Belmondo in Olomouc.
It is claimed they stayed at the hotspot until the morning hours and linked up with amateur players from the area who were celebrating the end of their season.
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All three of the players played in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Poland.
Coufal has 38 caps for the Czech Republic and he has played 15 times for West Ham this season.
Brabec, who plays for Greek side Aris, is another stalwart of the national team with 40 international appearances to his name.
Kutcha is on the books of Sparta Prague and he has been capped 14 times. More

KIERAN TRIPPIER has been forced to pull out the England squad due to a personal matter.The Newcastle star will miss Monday’s final Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia.
Kieran Trippier will not play against North MacedoniaCredit: Getty
Gareth Southgate is without a number of key players for England’s final qualification gameCredit: Getty
His club confirmed the news this morning and said the player is returning home.
Trippier played the entire 90 minutes in the 2-0 win over Malta on Friday.
The 33-year-old has 46 England caps to his name.
His withdrawal could see Kyle Walker or Rico Lewis start in his place at full-back.
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Trippier is the latest Three Lions ace to withdraw from the squad with Gareth Southgate dealing with a selection dilemma.
The manager has already seen Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Levi Colwill, James Maddison, Lewis Dunk and Callum Wilson pull out in the build-up to the two fixtures.
It led to Lewis, Cole Palmer and Ezri Konsa earning their first call-ups to the national team.
England have already booked their place in Euro 2024 and will finish top of Group C.
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The Three Lions are six points ahead of Italy in second with one game to go.
It is currently unclear when Trippier will return with Newcastle’s next match coming against Chelsea on Saturday 25.

They then face a crucial Champions League tie away at PSG three days later.
Eddie Howe will be hoping that Trippier returns swiftly amid an injury crisis at St James’ Park.
England stars trained without Kieran Trippier this morningCredit: Getty
The Three Lions have already secured top spot in Group CCredit: PA More

GARETH SOUTHGATE has told England’s crocks there is no room for Euros passengers.Squads for next year’s finals will return to the usual 23-man size after nations got to take 26 to Euro 2020 and Qatar 2022 due to the Covid pandemic.
Gareth Southgate admits he will not be able to take risks with squad selection ahead of the EurosCredit: Getty
England know from bitter experience the cost of taking unfit stars to major tournaments.
Captain David Beckham went to the 2002 World Cup weeks after breaking a metatarsal.
The Three Lions lost in the quarter-finals and assistant boss Tord Grip later said Beckham was only  75 per cent fit.
Wayne Rooney also admitted he should not have gone to the 2006 World Cup after breaking foot bones in the build-up.
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He tore his groin in training but  battled on until he was sent off for fouling Ricardo Carvalho in a last-eight loss to Portugal.
Questions were even asked about current skipper Harry Kane and his ankles following a couple of sluggish performances at the start of Euro 2020.
Southgate says the return to 23-man squads means he will be able to take fewer risks with the party he takes to Germany, putting many players on alert.
The Three Lions manager  said: “Those who play more than one position are helpful.
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“But players who are physically vulnerable, we will have to think very carefully about.
“I wouldn’t say all 23 have to be fit to get on the plane but we can take far fewer gambles than we could for the last two tournaments, where it was 26.”
That should ring  alarm bells with players like Reece James.
The Chelsea captain decided he was not ready to return to England duty this month after his own injury problems.
But with Kieran Trippier able to play both full-back positions and Trent Alexander-Arnold offering a midfield option, James could miss out.
Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell will also be concerned.
If Manchester United’s Luke Shaw recovers from his own long-term problems, he will be first-choice left-back and there might not be room for another specialist in that position.
Tottenham’s James Maddison went to Qatar despite carrying a knee problem and ended up not playing a minute.
Despite fine form, Maddison’s new ankle knock may put him in the “physically vulnerable” category.
Arsenal and England fans are also concerned about Bukayo Saka because he keeps playing despite picking up niggles and being roughed up by opponents.
On Saka, Southgate said: “He does invite contact at times because he receives well when he’s tightly marked.
“He is very important to us and  his club and is crucial to them being successful.” More

KYLIAN MBAPPE scored a hat-trick in France’s record-breaking 14-0 thrashing of 10-man Gibraltar as Holland, Switzerland and Romania booked their places at Euro 2024 on Saturday.Les Bleus set a new record margin of victory in European qualifying and a national record in a demolition of Gibraltar in Nice.
Kylian Mbappe netted three goals as France routed Gibraltar in a record 14-0 winCredit: Getty
Warren Zaire-Emery, 17, netted on his senior debutCredit: Getty
Ethan Santos’ own goal, Marcus Thuram and 17-year-old Warren Zaire-Emery on his international debut had already put France in command before Santos’ red card on 18 minutes allowed Didier Deschamps’ men to run amok.
Mbappe’s penalty made it 4-0 and Jonathan Clauss, Kingsley Coman and Youssouf Fofana all scored before half-time.
Adrien Rabiot, Coman again and Ousmane Dembele kept the score ticking over before Mbappe struck twice to seal his hat-trick.
Olivier Giroud then came off the bench to grab the final two goals and ensure the history books were re-written.
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But the scoreline will raise fresh questions over the need for such clashes between giants and minnows in a congested fixture calendar.
Just one goal was enough to ensure the Dutch joined France in qualifying from Group B with a 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland.
Wout Weghorst’s powerful drive separated the sides in Amsterdam in what is likely to be Irish boss Stephen Kenny’s final competitive game in charge.
Romania reached just a second major tournament since 2008 by ending Israel’s chances of automatic qualification with a 2-1 win.
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Despite being forced to play what should have been a home fixture in Hungary due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Israel went in front after just two minutes through Eran Zahavi.
But Romania hit back quickly to level through George Puscas and secured their place in Germany thanks to Ianis Hagi, son of Gheorghe Hagi who inspired the Romanians famous run to the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals.
Switzerland also qualified despite being held 1-1 at home by Kosovo.
Romania are now in pole position to win Group I with a draw at home to the Swiss on Tuesday enough to secure top spot.
Wales’ hopes of reaching a third consecutive European Championship were dealt a huge blow by a 1-1 draw away to Armenia.
Rob Page’s men began the day with automatic qualification in their own hands.
But Wales fell behind early on to Lucas Zelarayan’s strike from outside the box in Yerevan.
Nair Tiknizyan’s own goal brought the visitors level before half-time, but Wales failed to find a winner that leaves them needing Croatia to slip up.
The World Cup semi-finalists moved into second place in Group D thanks to a 2-0 win in Latvia as Lovro Majer and Andrej Kramaric struck inside the first 16 minutes.
Wales must beat already-qualified Turkey in Cardiff on Tuesday and hope Croatia fail to beat Armenia at home. More

ERLING HAALAND will not be playing at Euro 2024.That’s after Norway were knocked out of qualifying despite not playing until Sunday.
Erling Haaland and Norway will not be going to Euro 2024 after being dumped out of qualifyingCredit: Getty
Rangers star Ianis Hagi’s winner for Romania against Israel has made it impossible for Norway to qualifyCredit: AFP
Israel’s 2-1 defeat to Romania means Norway can no longer make next spring’s playoffs.
Haaland’s side needed Israel to win in order to keep a qualifying path open.
But Romania went top of Group I with their win, booking their place at Euro 2024.
Switzerland also sealed their spot at the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Kosovo.
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And it means Israel join Group J’s Bosnia as the top two in the Path B playoffs.
The Norwegians could only have made the playoffs – qualification for which is decided by results in the Nations League – if Israel had qualified automatically for the Euros ahead of Romania.
Norway’s exit will be hard to swallow for Haaland, with his country still to play Scotland tomorrow evening.
The Manchester City Treble winner is still yet to qualify for an international tournament despite forging a deserved reputation as the world’s best No9.
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Haaland had also already announced he was unavailable for the clash after picking up an ankle problem.
Haaland said: “Unfortunately, I am missing tomorrow’s game against Scotland.
“Wishing the boys all the best. Now treatment and trying to get back asap.”
Norway boss Stale Solbakken added: “It’s the movement in his foot that is the problem but it’s not a serious injury.
“Had it been a final, I don’t know (if he would have been fit to play).
“All parties agree it is probably a little too early (for him to play) but it is not a career-threatening injury.”
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will also miss out on the EurosCredit: Getty More

WALES’ hopes of reaching the Euros for a third successive time were left hanging by a thread after they again failed to beat Armenia.Rob Page’s Dragons came into the game knowing two wins would guarantee them a place in Germany this summer.
Wales’ hopes of reaching Euro 2024 hang by a thread after drawing with ArmeniaCredit: PA
Wales must win their final game and hope Croatia slip up on the wayCredit: PA
But it looks likely they will have to do it the hard way – via the Nations League play-offs in the spring.
Their only hope now is to beat Turkey in Cardiff on Tuesday – and hope Croatia slip up in one of their final two matches.
And if Wales do spend June on the beach rather than at the Euros, it will be the two games against Armenia which have cost them. 
They were embarrassingly beaten at home in the summer and just a point here was not enough in the circumstances.
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Despite the confidence from October’s win over Croatia, Wales made a slow start and went behind inside five minutes.
Lucas Zelarayan cut inside and then expertly fired into the bottom corner – kissing the post on its way in.
It was a lovely strike from the Argentina born midfielder who was also on the mark in his nation’s surprise win in Cardiff in the summer.
The Dragons came close to an instant response as David Brooks found space in the box but blasted his effort inches over the bar while Kieffer Moore’s flick header was just wide.
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A rash challenge from Chris Mepham saw him receive a yellow card – which rules him out of Tuesday’s final group game against Turkey.
The Bournemouth centre back was lucky not to get a second booking minutes later but it was all going wrong for Rob Page’s men.
They were struggling to create any chances of note in front of a hostile home crowd in Yerevan.  
Harry Wilson – the hero against the Croats –  saw a curling shot tipped around the post by home keeper Ognjen Cancarevic.
Page had taken the decision to leave out Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson – opting to keep faith with the team who performed so heroically against Croatia last month.
But it was hard not to think the pace of the former Nottingham Forest man as well as Dan James could have posed the home side a few more problems.
It had been a strangely flat half from the Dragons considering how much was at stake.
Armenia got themselves ahead after just five minutesCredit: EPA
Wales pulled one back with an own-goal just before half-timeCredit: PA
However in first half stoppage time, the visitors got a huge slice of good fortune.
Connor Roberts hurled in a long throw that was aimed for the head of Joe Rodon and the on loan Leeds man went up for it.
However Nair Tyknizyan got there first and got his header all wrong – sending it past his own keeper
Even so Wales knew they would have to do much better if they were to go on and win the game.
Page waited less than five minutes of the second half before deciding it was time to make a change – throwing on Johnson for Brooks.
Playing off the right, the £45 million ace immediately began posing some questions of his full-back.
But Armenia were fired up – knowing their own hopes of reaching Germany would still be alive with two wins.
Rob Page’s men look set to end up in the playoffs, with their fate also in Croatia’s handsCredit: AP
Wales’ stars will be determined to reach a third straight EurosCredit: PA
And they were agonisingly close to retaking the lead as Vahan Bichakhchyan dug out a shot that beat Danny Ward but hit the underside of the bar.
Zelarayan followed up but blazed high over the bar and Wales had a major let off.
Sub Dan James, who had replaced Wilson on the hour – teed up his namesake Jordan but his low shot was well saved by Cancarevic.
And full-back Neco Williams, cutting in from the left, fired a long range effort which just cleared the bar.
The only team a draw suited was Croatia so both teams were pushing for a win.
Armenia threw everything forward and a shot from Eduard Spertsyan required a great block by Neco Williams to send it over the bar.
And at the other end Kieffer Moore’s header was saved by Cancarevic – although the keeper made hard work of getting it away.
Johnson’s cross from the right looked perfect for sub Nathan Broadhead but was sliced over his own bar by a home defender.
In the dying minutes, Ward made a smart save from Edgar Sevikyan’s shot to at least salvage a point for the visitors.
It keeps them in second place – but their destiny is now out of their hands. More