Euro 2024

CHRIS SUTTON has named his preferred England line-up for Euro 2024 – and there are some notable absentees.The former Three Lions star wants Gareth Southgate to pick an attacking side with Declan Rice his only defensive midfield pick.
Chris Sutton does not believe Kalvin Phillips should play at the EurosCredit: PA
Marcus Rashford was also left out of Sutton’s preferred Three Lions teamCredit: Getty
Sutton, 50, dismissed an argument for Kalvin Phillips to start because he has barely featured for Manchester City since joining last year.
The pundit also left out Manchester United star Marcus Rashford amid the forward’s stuttering form.
Rashford has just one Premier League goal this season so Sutton has opted for Phil Foden instead, with Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane making up his front three.
Sutton has been more adventurous with his midfield trio – opting for the attacking pair of Jude Bellingham and James Maddison.
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Explaining his decision to leave out Phillips, Sutton told the It’s All Kicking Off podcast: “I do not, in any way, shape or form, understand this continued argument for Kalvin Phillips.
“Nothing against Phillips, but how on earth can England go into a major tournament and play somebody who is very unlikely to play for Manchester City, or certainly will not play regular football?
“England will want to go into a tournament and win a tournament with a guy who hasn’t kicked a ball in the best part of two seasons.
“That is a risk too big to take for Gareth.”
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Chris Sutton picked an attacking midfield
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Sutton also name Lewis Dunk as his choice to partner John Stones despite the fact the Brighton defender has failed to make a competitive appearance for England.
He also picked Jordan Pickford in goal with Kyle Walker and Luke Shaw full-backs. More

THE FIFTH worst team in Europe are just one win away from booking a place at Euro 2024.Despite winning only two of their seven qualification matches, a victory for Moldova tonight will confirm their spot at the tournament in Germany next summer.
Victory against Czechia tonight would see Moldova qualify for their first international tournamentCredit: EPA
Moldova are currently fourth in the Group E qualification standings but victory against Czech Republic tonight would launch them above the second placed side and confirm automatic qualification.
They would join group leaders Albania in Germany, who lead the group on 14 points following a 3-0 win over the Czech Republic last time out.
Group favourites Poland are already out of the running to qualify having played all eight matches and only gaining 11 points.
They are currently third in the standings but would fall below Moldova should the Tricolours win to secure a historic qualification.
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Moldova are two points behind opponent’s Czechia who currently sit on 12 points in second.
Victory over the Czechs would see them qualify for the first tournament in their history.
The minnows are currently ranked 157th in the Fifa world rankings.
Moldova were handed a huge boost ahead of their showdown with Czechia after three of the Czech’s first team players were sent home from the squad in disgrace this weekend.
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West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal was booted out alongside Jakub Brabec and Jan Kuchta for “seriously breaking team rules”.
The players were meant to be resting for tonight’s match but less than 48 hours before kick-off the trio were reportedly out partying late into the night.
Qualification would represent a massive achievement for Moldova who only played their first professional international match in 1991 following the break up of the Soviet Union.
With the exception of the 2008 Euro qualifiers, Moldova have finished last or second-bottom in their group in all qualifying campaigns they have entered so far, dating all the way back to the Euro 1996 qualifiers. More

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