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      Chelsea hero Poyet explains controversial decision to omit two stars from Greece squad including one Pep Guardiola loves

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      GREECE manager Gus Poyet has opened up on his decision of leaving top Greek stars Kostas Fortounis and Tasos Douvikas out of his recent squads.Ethniki have dramatically improved under Poyet, who led them to Nations League success as they got promoted to League B and have a certain play-off ticket for the Euros waiting just in case.
      Greece manager Gus Poyet left two top stars out of his last two squad selectionsCredit: Sportsfile
      And now the Uruguayan tactician is looking to get the 2004 European champions to Germany but faces severe competition from France and the Netherlands, who are in the same qualifying group along with Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar.
      The Chelsea legend’s two latest squads left several fans confused – considering the daunting task at hand – as he left out some top talent, like Olympiacos captain Fortounis and Celta star Douvikas.
      The 55-year-old tactician explained in May before the qualifiers against Ireland and France that he omitted Fortounis because he didn’t fit in to his tactical plans for those games.
      The attacking midfielder is considered by many as the best Greek player with 10 assists and four goals in 28 matches last season as well as three goals and eight assists in 12 appearances so far this term.
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      The 30-year-old was also publicly praised by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, who called him a “high-quality player” three years ago when his team faced Olympiacos in the Champions League.
      Fortounis went on to announce his international retirement last month just before Poyet revealed his squad for the games against the Netherlands and Gibraltar.
      Douvikas is still not included in the ex-Brighton boss’ plans as he was left out of the team that will face Ireland and Holland on Friday and Monday respectively.
      The striker enjoyed a stunning season with Utrecht as he finished as the Eredivisie’s top goalscorer with 20 goals in 34 matches and he’s already registered two goals in five LaLiga games with Celta this term.
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      The Tottenham great explained that he mainly plays with one centre-forward and thus avoids calling up too many frontmen.
      Poyet told SunSport: “I have spoken about my decisions in Greece before. When you look at the negativity around Chelsea and Manchester United in England, the same thing happens in Greece.
      “In the last two squad selections the first question has always been about the players who aren’t selected, you are never asked about the players who have been selected, but that’s just the way football works.
      “There are different reasons for leaving players out but now Kostas Fortounis has retired from the national team and he was great with me because he called me to let me know his reasons – it was a personal decision and I always support the decisions of the players. I don’t like to push players one way or the other with my opinion.
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      Celta star Tasos Douvikas was the Eredivisie’s top scorer last seasonCredit: Rex
      Kostas Fortounis is considered by many as the best Greek player and was praised by Pep GuardiolaCredit: Getty
      “Leaving out Tasos Douvikas is a different situation. I am the type of national team coach who doesn’t just pick all the players who are performing well at that time to shake up the team.
      ” At the moment we have five strikers who are scoring in their own leagues and I need to pick the ones that I need for two games. I don’t need five strikers when I mainly play with one up front.
      “I don’t pick players to make people happy and avoid questions about why I didn’t pick certain players. In the end I will be judged by my achievements and my main objective which is qualifying for the Euros.
      “We have a list of players playing abroad and most of them are there, and then I will make a decision knowing which ones are fully fit for the two games we need them for. It is nothing more than needing a certain player for a certain game.
      “Sometimes you will play deeper and need more pace, other games you will be in the opponent’s half and need more of a presence in the box.
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      “In the end, I won’t call players up just to make people happy, I call players up if I am convinced that they are the players best suited to help me win football matches.”
      Gus Poyet was speaking to The Sun on behalf of bitcoincasinos.com More

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      Wembley Stadium to undergo major £4.3million revamp to stamp out yob chaos at Euro 2028

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      WEMBLEY Stadium will be turned into a fortress with a £4.3million security revamp for the Euro 2028 final.It comes after the venue vowed to avoid a repeat of the Euro 2020 final chaos when 2,000 yobs broke in.
      Wembley is getting a £4m upgrade to help prevent the chaos of the Euro 2020 finalCredit: AP
      Ticketless thugs ruined the Wembley showcase by storming through turnstiles and swarming securityCredit: Getty
      Ticketless thugs ruined the Wembley showcase by storming through turnstiles and overwhelming security staff.
      But rings of steel complete with 12ft anti-climb fences and 50 high-resolution cameras will keep invaders out in 2028.
      Security improvements at the 90,000-seat stadium were demanded before England last week secured sole bidding status for the finals as part of the joint campaign to host the event with Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
      UEFA are expected to rubber stamp the bid tomorrow, with Wembley almost certainly the venue for the final.
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      Barriers manned by better-trained security staff will include a new gated portal with enclosed roller shutters to fortify the Club Wembley entrance.
      And a new external entrance lobby with reinforced interlocking doors will stop unauthorised entry from the Olympic Steps.
      Bigger, stronger gates will be fitted to VIP, staff and media entrances.
      And extra perimeter fences at entrances will be built.
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      The Covid-delayed 2020 final was played at Wembley on July 11, 2021. England lost to Italy.
      A Wembley spokesman said: “We’ve made significant investments to enhance security.”
      A Wembley Stadium spokesman said: ‘We’ve made significant investments to enhance security’Credit: Getty More

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      Bukayo Saka named in England squad for Australia and Italy clashes despite injury but Man Utd’s Mason Mount misses OUT

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      JARROD BOWEN and Ollie Watkins have been recalled to the England squad by Gareth Southgate.And Bukayo Saka has also been included despite injury concerns.
      Jarrod Bowen has scored five goals in seven Prem games this seasonCredit: Getty
      Watkins returns to the England squad for the first time since March 2022Credit: Getty
      Bukayo Saka makes the cut despite injury fearsCredit: Getty
      England’s Euro 2024 qualifying group
      Bowen and Watkins have both enjoyed goalscoring starts to the season with the latter netting a hat-trick against Brighton on Saturday.
      Both have done enough to impress Southgate and are part of the squad to face Australia on Friday week and Italy the following Tuesday – but Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling miss out.
      Watkins returns to the squad for the first time since March 2022, while Bowen could win his fifth England cap, having last featured in the 4-0 defeat to Hungary in June 2022.
      England have been boosted by the inclusion of Saka, who was an injury doubt after being forced off during Arsenal’s defeat to Lens on Tuesday.
      But Mount is absent once again, despite returning to action for Manchester United after overcoming a hamstring problem.
      However Southgate still faces a dilemma in defence with United defender Luke Shaw still injured.
      Kieran Trippier could fill in at left-back after performing well in that position against Scotland last time out.
      But his defensive options have been bolstered by the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold – even though he is named among the midfielders – who has overcome a hamstring problem.
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      Manchester City star John Stones also returns to the squad. The centre-back is yet to play this season but will be hoping for minutes in the friendly against Australia.
      Harry Maguire also makes the squad once more despite his limited appearances for the Red Devils.
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      Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze will also miss the next few weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury against United last Saturday.
      The returning Jack Grealish means the Three Lions boss still has plenty of options in attack, despite Callum Wilson’s injury.
      England face a Wembley double-header starting with the visit of Australia.
      Then there is a replay of the Euro 2020 final as Italy return to the national stadium for a Euro 2024 qualifier.
      Southgate has revealed Saka will be assessed ahead of the game against Australia, with the winger a doubt for Arsenal’s clash with Manchester City on Sunday.
      The England boss said of Saka and Wilson’s injuries: “He is still being assessed and he obviously have a big game this weekend and then there is another seven days before we play Australia and ten days before we play Italy.
      “Callum Wilson is carrying an injury so we are not sure if he will be fit.
      “Ollie has started the season well and has hit a bit of scoring form in the last couple of weeks although you have to be careful with that in terms of bias on recent games. But he is in good form and is coming in on a high.”
      Southgate was also asked about the absence of Raheem Sterling, who has now missed the last two squads.
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      He said of the Chelsea winger: “We spoke before the last squad. We have been happy with the wide players in the performances in the last four games and the two in March.
      “The team are playing really well and there is stability there although we have added Jarrod Bowen who has added five goals in seven games.”
      England squad to face Australia and Italy
      Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale
      Defenders: Levi Colwill, Lewis Dunk, Marc Guehi, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker
      Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice
      Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Eddie Nketiah, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Ollie Watkins More

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      Wrexham’s Paul Mullin in shock Wales standby call for Euro 2024 qualifier against Croatia

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      PAUL MULLIN is on stand-by for Wales’ Euro 2024 qualifier with Croatia.The Wrexham striker, 28, has scored 78 goals in 97 games for the League Two outfit since joining in 2021.
      Wales boss Robert Page has a few striker issues which could open the door for Paul MullinCredit: EPA
      Mullin has been Wrexham’s talisman to return to the EFL under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenneyCredit: Getty
      But Wales are without Brennan Johnson, who has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
      And there are concerns over the fitness of Millwall’s Tom Bradshaw, who also has a hamstring issue so Mullin could be in the mix for a debut call-up for the October 15 clash in Cardiff.

      Wales boss Robert Page, whose side also faces Gibraltar in a friendly next Wednesday, said: “Paul is on standby for the squad.
      “I watched Paul against Sheffield United last year, and Jack Lester – my coach, who was at Sheffield United at the time – sang his praises.
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      “We’ve had a few conversations about Paul, so the next step is he’s now on standby and he’s one step away.
      “We monitor the Welsh players, and Paul is certainly one we’ve taken note of – and he deserves that. This is the next step of his development.”
      Mullin was born in Liverpool but qualifies for Wales through his grandmother.
      Johnson was due to be in the squad until Page received a late call on Tuesday night as the forward is set to miss Tottenham’s Premier League clash at Luton on Saturday.
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      Page added: “It’s not a serious one. But unfortunately the timing dictates this and so if he is not going to be right for Spurs then it’s not fair for us to pick him and try to play him.”
      Wales are without captain Aaron Ramsey due to a knee injury with Spurs defender Ben Davies set to lead the Dragons.
      Uncapped duo Charlie Savage, 20, and son of former Wales and Leicester midfielder Robbie and Owen Beck, 21, earn their first senior call-ups.
      Meanwhile, Wales fans have branded chief executive Noel Mooney a ‘p*** taker’ for trying to hike ticket prices for Euro 2024 qualifiers.
      The hard-up Dragons are looking to maximise every financial resource available to them.
      Football Association of Wales chief Mooney proposed a ticket price increase midway through the qualifying campaign.
      But Welsh fans represented at a Football Supporters’ Association meeting strongly opposed the idea due to the cost-of-living crisis plus a poor run of two wins in their 14 matches.
      Mooney backed down for now but the Irishman wants a price review ahead of a possible Euro 2024 play-off next March.
      The minutes from the meeting read: “A few people in the meeting expressed their disappointment and concern that any increase in the near future is even being considered, due to the current financial crisis.”
      Wales fan John McAllister tweeted: “Mooney and the FAW are taking the p*** here. Glad the FSA shut them down on it.
      “Raising prices mid tournament would’ve been an absolutely p*** take of fans who for the most part are struggling financially already.”
      Wales attracted a sparse crowd of just 13,668 – their lowest home attendance, Covid aside – in four years against South Korea last month with fans criticising the prices of £25 plus a £3 booking fee.
      Only yesterday did the Dragons put the sell-out signs on Wrexham’s Racecourse Ground for the October 11 friendly against Gibraltar.
      While the FAW have sold 26,000 tickets for the Euro 2024 home qualifier against Croatia four days later and expect a capacity crowd of 33,000 at the Cardiff City Stadium.
      Page’s Wales have been cutting costs in recent months and SunSport revealed players sharing hotel rooms and purse strings tightened on opposition analysis. 
      Wales squad
      Goalkeepers: Hennessey, Ward, A Davies
      Defenders: B Davies, Rodon, Lockyer, Mepham, Poole, Cabango, Williams, Beck, Roberts
      Read More on The Sun
      Midfielders: Burns, Ampadu, Savage, J James, Levitt, Sheehan, D James, Broadhead, Wilson
      Forwards: Brooks, Cullen, Harris, Moore, Bradshaw. More

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      Inside the abandoned stadium covered in weeds which is set to host Euro 2028 games after UK and Ireland win bid

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      EURO 2028 will be hosted by a now derelict stadium after the UK and Ireland won the bid to host the tournament.Turkey have withdrawn from the bidding process – leaving the UK and Ireland as the sole candidate, with the hosting choice to be formally determined at a meeting of Uefa’s ruling executive committee on Monday and then publicly confirmed in Nyon the next day.
      Casement Park is currently derelictCredit: Pacemaker
      There are plans to turn it into a 34,500 seater stadium to host games at Euro 2028Credit: Pacemaker Press
      Ten stadiums will host Euro 2028
      Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson insists construction will begin on Casement Park now that the UK and Ireland have been successful in their bid.
      When complete the arena will be able to hold 34,500 fans.
      Windsor Park, where Northern Ireland currently play home games, does not meet minimum capacity requirements for the Euros.
      So the unbuilt Casement Park is part of the UK and Ireland’s joint bid.

      It has been unused since 2013, but was once Northern Ireland’s top Gaelic football ground.
      According to the BBC, redevelopment of the site has been met with a legal challenge from local residents.
      It’s reported there were objections to its size and the impact it will have on the local area.
      However, the £77.5million development was given the go-ahead last summer after a West Belfast residents’ group lost its legal challenge.
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      The redevelopment of Casement Park has been met with a legal challengeCredit: Sportsfile
      Plans to redevelop the stadium were given the green light last summerCredit: Sportsfile
      And the ground has been designed by the architects responsible for Tottenham’s incredible £1billion stadium.
      Casement Park is one of two grounds in the UK and Ireland’s bid that are currently unbuilt.

      The other is Everton’s Bramley-Moore Dock, which is due to be completed by 2024.
      That is the same year work on all potential Euro 2028 host stadiums must have started by.
      The UK and Ireland’s bid to host the iconic tournament is being rivalled by Turkey.
      If successful, the likes of Wembley, St. James’ Park, Villa Park, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Etihad will be among ten grounds to stage games during the competition. More

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      I’m quietly confident UK and Ireland will host Euro 2028, Rishi Sunak says

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      RISHI SUNAK is “quietly confident” UK and Ireland will host the 2028 Euros – saying its time to recreate the joy of 1996.The PM shrugged off concerns over the 2021 Euros final that saw scenes of fan carnage at Wembley, insisting: “We do this stuff better than anybody.”
      Rishi Sunak is ‘confident’ the UK will host Euro 2028Credit: Dan Charity
      Rishi said England fans ‘do it better than anybody’Credit: The Sun
      Sunak told The Sun he has made a ‘personal effort’ to bring the Euros to WembleyCredit: Alamy
      The joint bid is set to be formally given the green light in the coming weeks after Turkey and Italy dropped out of the running in July.
      Sunak said: “I’ve put in a lot of my personal effort and making calls and talking to all the right people.

      “You know, I’m quietly confident but you never know until it’s announced.”
      He added: “I’d love us to host this thing. And that’s why I put a lot of my personal time into trying to get over the line.
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      “One of the my favourite childhood experiences was Euro96. Like that is like a defining experience.”
      Sixteen at the time when the England last hosted the full tournament, he added: “Somewhere I’ve still got a t shirt probably from that.”
      “These moments can become very special in our history, and I speak as a massive football fan.
      “So if we can pull this thing off, it will be brilliant for the country. I put a lot of effort into it. But let’s see how we get on. We’ll find out soon.”
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      It comes as the Prime Minister tells The Sun tonight: “I’m slamming the brakes on the war on motorists – it’s as simple as that.” More

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      Wales captain Aaron Ramsey suffers injury blow and is major doubt for crunch Euro 2024 qualifier with Croatia

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      AARON RAMSEY is to see a knee specialist amid fears the Wales captain could miss the crunch Euro 2024 qualifier with Croatia.The Cardiff midfielder, 32, faces a race against time to be fit for the October 15 clash in Cardiff after sustaining the ligament injury to his right knee in training this week.
      Aaron Ramsey is set to miss three weeks after picking up knee injuryCredit: Getty
      Ramsey scored from the spot in Wales’ 2-0 win in Latvia earlier this monthCredit: AP
      Ramsey’s Bluebirds manager Erol Bulut has ruled the ex-Arsenal star out for up to three weeks but club and country are now sweating on the results of scans to find out the extent of the injury.
      Ramsey posted on Instagram: “Absolutely gutted to say that last week I picked up an injury in training.
      “I will be seeking the specialist advice on next steps. I’m determined to get back and help the team as quickly as I can.”
      Ramsey has not played since Cardiff’s South Wales derby 2-0 victory over Swansea on September 16 when he scored the second goal from the penalty spot.
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      Since then Rambo has missed league games against Coventry and Sunderland as well as Wednesday’s Carabao Cup defeat to Blackburn.
      Wales boss Robert Page names his squad next Wednesday in Wrexham for the showdown against Group D leaders Croatia.
      The Dragons also face Gibraltar in a North Wales friendly on October 11.
      Wales lie in fourth spot after five matches but trail the Croats, who have played one game less, by three points.
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      And losing Ramsey would represent a major blow as they bid for a top-two place to secure automatic qualification for Germany next year.
      Cardiff boss Bulut said: “Aaron picked up him the injury in training on Monday.
      “It is a ligament injury in the back of his right knee – the same knee on which he had an operation a few years ago.
      “The medical report says he won’t be available for three weeks.
      “We don’t know if it is a rupture, we are still awaiting the scans to see how serious it is. I hope that we can have him back after the international break.
      “We will miss him. We need a player like him who can keep hold of the ball and read the game.”
      Wales’ suffered back-to-back summer defeats to Armenia – a shock 4-2 home loss – and Turkey.
      The 2-0 win in Latvia threw Page’s side a lifeline with the Dragons now just three points behind second-placed Turkey and Armenia.
      The Football Association of Wales are in contact with the UK Foreign Office ahead of November’s qualifier in Armenia following conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
      The territory, which had been controlled by Armenians for three decades, was seized by Azerbaijan last week.
      Uefa are monitoring the situation with the tie due to be played in Yerevan – 171 miles from Nagorno-Karabakh.
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      Meanwhile, Gareth Bale will join a Welsh delegation for the Euro 2028 announcement in Geneva on October 10.
      The UK and Ireland bid faces competition from Turkey. More

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      Germany CONFIRM Julian Nagelsmann as new manager with ex-Bayern Munich chief targeting ‘special’ Euro 2024 campaign

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      JULIAN NAGELSMANN has been confirmed as the new German national team coach and is now preparing for a “special” Euro 2024.The 36-year-old was sacked from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich just six months ago.
      Julian Nagelsmann has been confirmed as the new German national team head coachCredit: Getty
      The former Bayern manager has been out of work since last season as he was replaced by ex-Chelsea and PSG coach Thomas Tuchel.
      The 36-year-old signed a contract for the German national team until 31 July 2024 at the DFB Campus in Frankfurt.
      A statement released by the German FA confirmed the news: “Julian Nagelsmann will lead the senior men’s national team as national coach to next year’s European Championships in Germany.”
      Nagelsmann takes over the national team as successor to Hansi Flick, who was relieved of his duties on September 10th.
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      The German boss opened up about his new role and his plans for the squad.
      He told DFB said: “We have a European Championship in our own country. This is something special – something that happens once every few decades.
      “I subordinate everything to this fact of having a great tournament in a great country. I have a great desire to take on this challenge.
      “The performance in Dortmund was the beginning. We’re going to be a tight-knit bunch in the coming year.”
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      Germany will host the Euro 2024 and aim to redeem themselves after suffering some huge losses in the last few years.
      The 2014 World Cup champions suffered two group-stage exits at the last two World Cups and crashed out of Euro 2020 in the last 16 to England.
      They have recorded just three wins from their last 12 fixtures – beating Oman, Costa Rica and Peru.
      The German FAsporting director Rudi Völler said: “Julian Nagelsmann was our preferred candidate as national coach when the search began.
      “He is not only an absolute football expert, but has already proven at all his clubs, at a very young age for a head coach, he can motivate and inspire a team and the entire environment.
      “His passion for football is palpable and contagious.”  More