Euro 2024

ROBERT PAGE fired Wales up for their brilliant Euro 2024 victory over Croatia – by listening to superstar DJ Calvin Harris.The Dragons boss got his side pumped for Sunday’s 2-1 triumph in Cardiff with a two-minute motivational video for his heroes.
Robert Page led Wales to a superb 2-1 win over Croatia, ranked number six in the worldCredit: GETTY
Harry Wilson was the hero for the Dragons last Sunday night with two goals in CardiffCredit: Rex
The pre-match montage was played in the changing room and accompanied by Harris’ smash hit ‘Let’s Go’.
Harris’ lyrics were apt for Wales’ desperate bid for qualification as Page’s men needed a Group D win against last year’s World Cup semi-finalists to keep a top-two finish alive.
The lyrics included, ‘Make no excuses now’, ‘Your time is running out’ and ‘Let’s make it happen tonight’.
Wales certainly did the latter by brushing aside Noel Mooney’s ‘unhelpful’ pre-match comments in style to beat Croatia.
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This came after the FAW chief executive stated Page’s position would be reviewed if automatic qualification was not achievable.
Harry Wilson’s double ensured Wales were on song and the superb victory leaves Page’s men in with a belting chance of reaching Germany next summer.
Page said: “We showed the players a montage of clips from the camp, our key principles and how we are going to play.
“I said in the changing room, it makes you emotional and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when you see what they are capable of doing.
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“That two minute montage with music is incredible. It’s a great tune.
“I said, ‘Go and show everyone what you are capable of doing. I’m proud to be your manager.’ And they did.”
Page’s Wales are now in second spot behind qualified Turkey and above Croatia in third.
Victories for Page’s men away to Armenia and at home to the Turks next month will book a finals spot.
It would represent Wales’ third successive appearance at the Euros after the semi-final run under Chris Coleman in 2016 and last-16 in the 2020 tournament.
Rob Page had Calvin Harris blasting out in the dressing roomCredit: Rex More

JERMAINE PENNANT has revealed his biggest concern for England ahead of Euro 2024.The Three Lions sealed qualification for Germany next summer with a 3-1 comeback win over Italy on Tuesday night.
Jermaine Pennant has had his say on England’s Euro 2024 chancesCredit: Simon Jones
Pennant, 40, is impressed with the current crop of players at England’s disposal.
But he fears that boss Gareth Southgate is “too negative” to steer the Three Lions to glory.
Speaking to the Mirror, the former Arsenal and Liverpool star said: “My only concern is the manager, Gareth Southgate.
“I think he hasn’t got the knack to win.
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“I think he’s too negative. With the players that we’ve got, we should be more on the front foot rather than going into games not wanting to concede or not wanting to lose.
“We should be going in there knowing that we’re going to dominate.
“With the players we’ve got going forward, attacking-wise, we should always be on the front foot.
“And I just think sometimes he’s a bit slow in making changes and decision-making.
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“By the time he’s made the changes too late, the game’s gone by.”
Southgate, 53, has led England to a World Cup semi-final, Euros final and the quarter-finals in Qatar since taking charge as boss.
Despite his reservations about the Three Lions boss, Pennant reckons he’d have received a call-up under him during his playing days.
Having never played for England despite playing in the 2007 Champions League final, Pennant added: “I think if it was in this era, I’m sure I would have got a cap because they seem to be giving up caps like Skittles.
“You don’t need to play to get called up these days.”
Gareth Southgate is ‘too negative’ claims PennantCredit: Rex More

WHEREVER England base ­themselves at next summer’s Euros finals, one venue is out of the question.Baden-Baden — so mad they named it twice — hosted an extraordinary WAG circus at the 2006 World Cup, the last major football tournament to be held in Germany.
Gareth Southgate and England will not make Baden-Baden their base next summerCredit: Rex
The German resort was made infamous by England’s Wags at the 2006 World CupCredit: Rex
That plush Black Forest spa resort became synonymous with all that was wrong with England’s football team during the celebrity-obsessed regime of manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and captain David Beckham.
The grounded good sense of Gareth Southgate — who played with Goldenballs and loathed Beckham-mania — means the set-up could hardly be more different 18 years on.
The Three Lions squad led by Eriksson arguably boasted more world-class players — yet was always weaker than the sum of its parts.
And when the squad’s wives, girlfriends and many other family members started downing the peach bellinis and dancing on tables in Baden-Baden, their antics overshadowed the football.
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England, bang-average throughout that World Cup, lost to Portugal on penalties in a quarter-final that saw Wayne Rooney sent off for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho’s gonads.
Eriksson’s side might not have fared any better had their nearest and dearest behaved impeccably or stayed at home — but the overall impression of the inherent silliness of that England regime was accurate.
Those based in Baden-Baden tell extraordinary tales of that ludicrous month — a book or a TV drama on the whole shebang would be fascinating and hilarious.
Instead we have  the current Netflix documentary on Beckham — part of the spiral of celebrities courting publicity, then courting further publicity by moaning about publicity.
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Victoria Beckham was one of the most high-profile Wags at the tournamentCredit: Getty
The wives and girlfriends were filmed dancing on tables during their tripCredit: Rex
It is a spiral Southgate has been determined to avoid, from early in his reign after Rooney was swiftly ditched following a wedding-crashing episode at the team hotel.
A generation from now it is highly unlikely we will be sitting down to watch similar documentaries about Jude Bellingham and his partner.
Bellingham, a far more complete footballer than Beckham, is quite the opposite in terms of his media profile.
His father Mark, a former police officer, ensures his son is the only member of England’s squad  not allowed to speak to the written Press.
Southgate has always encouraged his players to speak honestly and openly while on international duty and, as a result, his team is considered far more likeable than the failed ‘Golden Generation’ — not that many of them were bad blokes.
But Bellingham, an engaging and erudite young man, is an exception.
Still, under Southgate, England are unified, happy and utterly focused on their football.
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Three Lions side crashed out to Portugal in the last eightCredit: Getty
They are good at it, too, having performed well in three successive tournaments and topped their Euros qualifying group with two games to spare thanks to a Bellingham masterclass in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over reigning champions Italy.
If England are fully fit, they have obvious  options in eight or nine of their 11 starting places. Barring injury, Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Declan Rice, Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane will almost certainly start in England’s first Euros match next June.
Marcus Rashford could yet be replaced by a resurgent Raheem Sterling. And Luke Shaw, who has enjoyed two fine tournaments, is favourite at left-back, where Kieran Trippier can provide excellent cover.
England are only weak in the  second centre-half and second  central-midfield roles — not helped by Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips not playing regularly at their clubs, while Jordan Henderson has ditched elite-level football altogether.
With hosts Germany in disarray, Italy, Spain and Holland indifferent and Belgium fading, only France and Portugal can be argued to have as good a chance as England of winning next summer’s tournament.
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The draw in Hamburg on December 2 will be eagerly awaited and after that, Southgate and the FA will name their training base.
And there will not be a peach bellini in sight. More

THE SQUAD size for countries competing at Euro 2024 will be back to 23 players – giving Gareth Southgate an even bigger selection headache.Nations were allowed to take up to 26 players – up from the usual 23 – for Euro 2020 due to the disruptive effect of Covid-19 on squads.
Gareth Southgate is set for a number of selection dilemmasCredit: Rex
That was then carried on by Fifa for the World Cup in Qatar a year later for the same reason, as well as the fact that it was a mid-season tournament where the injury risk was higher.
But the number will return to 23 for next summer’s Euros in Germany, as per Article 48 of Uefa’s regulations.
Competition for places in Southgate’s squad is tough enough already, with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Ben White and Nick Pope missing out of the latest camp.
The squad size returning to 23 will mean many more players will be sweating on their place for the finals.
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Particularly the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Lewis Dunk, Levi Colwill, Ollie Watkins, Jarrod Bowen and Eddie Nketiah, who all featured this month in the matches against Australia and Italy.
Southgate’s main men were in good form to beat the Italians 3-1 at Wembley last night.
The Three Lions came back from a goal down via two Harry Kane strikes sandwiching a Marcus Rashford effort.
After the match, the England boss said: “We need to make sure we are one of the top seeds next month.
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“We need to win our next two games. We want to be in control of that.
“We need to keep building. There is more to come from this team.
“This was the toughest qualifying group, with the seedings.
“People have criticised us for not beating the top teams enough. But we have performed really well.”
England beat Italy 3-1 at Wembley last nightCredit: Getty More

ENGLAND supporters were saying Gareth Southgate unlocked a “cheat code” as a tactical tweak helped the Three Lions come back and destroy Italy.Our boys secured their spot at Euro 2026 with two games to spare against the Azzurri at Wembley on Tuesday.
Jude Bellingham stole the show again for England against ItalyCredit: Alamy
Jude Bellingham was voted Player of the Match vs Italy
Italy took the lead through Gianluca Scamacca on 15 minutes but Harry Kane drew England level from the penalty just before half time.
However, the second half was a completely different story as the Three Lions stepped it up and ran out 3-1 winners thanks to brilliant strikes from Marcus Rashford and Kane.
But it was the 20-year-old Bellingham, who was fouled for the penalty and then provided the assist for Rashford, that stole the show.
The Real Madrid superstar was deployed as a number 10 last night behind Kane in attack – and once again he blew everybody away with his display.
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He was England’s Player of the Match, as he was on his previous outing for the national side against Scotland.
Amazingly, he has been Player of the Match NINE times in total this season, in just 13 games for club and country.

Bellingham has become one of the biggest stars in the world following his £115m move to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.
And now he has fans dreaming of going all the way in Germany next summer after the midfielder’s performance in a more attacking role yesterday.
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One fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Bellingham in the 10. Cheat code.”
“Bellingham has got Zidane vibes,” said a fellow admirer before adding: “Unbelievable talent.”
Another fan said: “Bellingham in the 10. The only way watching England is bearable.”
While another fan declared: “Bellingham is an 8, a 10 and a 9 all in one.”
Another also believes that Bellingham could be the man to line-up deeper alongside Declan Rice – although they admit it is a big call to make after his stunning performance.
Jude Bellingham’s amazing record of NINE Player of the Match awards
Jude Bellingham played higher up the pitch than he has done in earlier England games
Jude Bellingham is blossoming into England’s key player
They wrote: “Bellingham is an interesting dilemma – looks like an absolute baller in the no10 role, but the spot next to Rice is a weak point.
“So do you keep playing Phillips, or move Bellingham back and play Foden/Maddison instead. Think most would do the latter, Gareth definitely doing the former.”
Meanwhile, the man himself says he knows he must continue to produce the goods.
Bellingham, who has ten goals in ten games for Madrid, said: “With the big transfer the fact is I have to deliver, whether it is a goal or assist or a match-winning performance.
“This is the club I want to be at for the next 10-15 years of my life. I am loving it there.
“When you are around those mentalities and quality of players every day… it takes you to a new level mentally, physically and technically.”
Jude Bellingham’s amazing display against Italy
Boss Gareth Southgate deployed the Real Madrid star in a No.10 roleCredit: Getty
England have made qualification look easy despite being drawn in their group with defending champions Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and minnows Malta.
They have recorded five wins and a draw out of their opening six but Southgate insists there is still a lot more his squad can bring to the table once the tournament gets underway.
He said afterwards: “We need to keep building. There is more to come from this team. This was the toughest qualifying group, with the seedings.
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“People have criticised us for not beating the top teams enough. But we have performed really well.
“We’ve had one of the toughest groups, you’ve seen over recent years some big nations not going to major tournaments, so to do it [qualify] with two games to spare just shows the path we are on.” More