Euro 2024

ENGLAND legend Teddy Sheringham has told the FA to “break the bank” and get Pep Guardiola to replace Gareth Southgate.The former striker, 58, and the rest of the country are gearing up to cheer on our heroic Three Lions against Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday.The FA want Gareth Southgate to stay on as England managerCredit: GettyTeddy Sheringham knows exactly who he would go for as a replacement for himCredit: AFPEngland booked their spot in the Berlin showpiece with a 2-1 victory over Holland on Wednesday.Super-sub Ollie Watkins scored the 90th-minute winner in what many believe was the country’s greatest sporting moment for generations.Southgate has faced plenty of criticism throughout England’s journey to the final from both fans and pundits alike.But this week’s result silenced his critics as he became the first England boss to lead them to two major finals in addition to also reaching the 2018 World Cup semi-final.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Southgate will secure the first men’s major title in 58 years with a triumph over Spain – but even if he does not then the FA want him to remain in the job.Southgate’s current contract expires in December, but FA chief executive Mark Bullingham plans to hold fresh talks with him at the end of Euro 2024.Any new deal would take him through to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico – which would mark his 10th year in the job.Others believe that Southgate, who has overseen 101 games, could step down after this summer’s tournament.Most read in Euro 2024CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnd Sheringham, who was part of the same England team that reached the semi-final of Euro ‘96 as Southgate, knows exactly who should come in should he depart.And it is someone who comes from Spain – the same nation looking to inflict heartbreak on Southgate and England in 48 hours’ time.England fans who can’t make it to Germany vow to flock to SPAIN for Euros final & dub clash the ‘Battle of Benidorm’Sheringham told Online Poker: “If I were in the FA and given the choice, I’d break the bank for Pep Guardiola.“I don’t know whether he’d like to take the job – if he was given the opportunity he’d probably have a stab at the Spain job, although they seem to be in a good place with Luis de la Fuente at the moment.“We’ve obviously never seen him manage a national side before, but he’s worth taking the risk on.“He’d be my pick to replace Gareth Southgate – the FA could realistically afford it, so what’s there to lose?”You can say it hasn’t been pretty, but England are in the final… and we’re peaking at just the right time, says Jack WilshereAFTER what has been a tough tournament of times, what an opportunity Gareth Southgate and his team will have to end in the best possible way, writes Jack Wilshere.We might like a team that played better football. But it’s a results business.Germany, Italy, France, Portugal and of course Holland would love to be where we are.People will say we’re lucky because we’re on this side of the draw.But we won the group. France didn’t and then ran into Spain.You can say it wasn’t that pretty, but we’re there.Gareth and his coaches won’t have been happy with some of the performances.But I did like the way Gareth and his team have dealt with it.There was no panic coming out of the camp.Everyone gave the same message: ‘We know we can better, but we’re here still.’And on Sunday they will be in Berlin to play Spain.They will probably have to produce two halves of football as good as the first against Holland to beat them.We have improved as the tournament has gone on and that is how you win things.You want to peak in the final.If Gareth can lead England to that major trophy we’ve all been waiting for, it will be the perfect answer to the critics and a brilliant day for us all.Read Jack Wilshere’s England vs Holland verdict in full.Or check out all of SunSport columnist Jack’s Euros 2024 opinions…And when pressed on whether Southgate can lead us to a first trophy since 1966, Sheringham said: “It’s going to be a really tough game, but I’m expecting us to win.“We’ve seen how good the Spanish have been all tournament, they’ve probably been the best side out of the lot.READ MORE SUN STORIES“All of England’s players all over the pitch need to put in nine out of 10 performances, then collectively we need to be at our best as well.“I’m hoping that can be enough for us to win by the odd goal – I’m going with 2-1 to England.”The England legend urged the FA to ‘break the bank’ for Pep GuardiolaCredit: AFPEngland vs Spain recordEngland have played Spain 27 times in total – here is a look at every result…May 1929, Spain 4-3 England – International Friendly (L)December 1931, England 7-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)July 1950, Spain 1-0 England – World Cup (L)May 1955, Spain 1-1 England – International Friendly (D)November 1955, England 4-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)May 1960, Spain 3-0 England – International Friendly (L)October 1960, England 4-2 Spain – International Friendly (W)December 1965, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)May 1967, England 2-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)April 1968, England 1-0 Spain – European Championship (W)May 1968, Spain 1-2 England – European Championship (W)March 1980, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)June 1980, England 2-1 Spain – European Championship (W)March 1981, England 1-2 Spain – International Friendly (L)July 1982, Spain 0-0 England – World Cup (D)February 1987, Spain 2-4 England – International Friendly (W)September 1992, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain – European Championship (W)February 2001, England 3-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2004, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)February 2007, England 0-1 Spain – International Friendly (L)February 2009, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2011, England 1-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2015, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2016, England 2-2 Spain – International Friendly (D)September 2018, England 1-2 Spain – Nations League (L)October 2018, Spain 2-3 England – Nations League (W)Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain. 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ONE of the last conversations I had with my eldest brother was a week or so into this European Championship.The group stage was at its frenetic height. Three games per day, wall-to-wall football.Andy Dillon has bravely opened up about the death of his brotherCredit: Griffiths PhotographersAndy lost his brother John during the EurosThe first fortnight of any major international tournament suspends truth.It gifts escapism from routine, the sagging effect of everyday life that afflicts the majority of people from competing nations.Why Slovakia versus Ukraine at 2 o’clock in the afternoon is suddenly unmissable is a mystery, and should remain so.But it’s not really about the game. Who cares if it finishes goalless without a shot on target?READ MORE ON EURO 2024What’s great is that it’s now OK for work to be a thing you do between fixtures.My brother called it ‘Christmas for blokes’. Let’s forgive him the terribly un-PC phraseology.The festive season helps us forget what waits outside the front door, at the end of the commute to the office or on the building site when it’s comedown time. But it’s just 12 days.This Sunday, when England discover whether or not they are European champions for the first time, it will be a month since hosts Germany kicked off Euro 2024 against Scotland.Most read in Euro 2024Anyone missed real life? Four weeks of different flags, solemn national anthems, joyful ones, weird ones. Players nobody has heard of. Tiny nations standing next to giants.Bore draws, beer showers.England vs Netherlands Player RatingsInternational football tournaments whisk us away. And it’s where organisations like Uefa and Fifa still hold the trump card over the increasingly powerful clubs.During our chat, John, formerly chief sports writer on one of Fleet Street’s grandest titles, noted how the depressing themes of Profitability and Sustainability Rules and Financial Fair Play have virtually disappeared from the news agenda.When European Championships and World Cups hit town, it’s not about money… who has the most or where it came from.Instead of shady owners, spending caps, points deductions and appeal processes, there is the simple enjoyment of pitting one country’s best footballers against another’s. The dying art of the level playing field.There is still the bloody nuisance of VAR but you can’t have everything.Of course, with England stumbling their way to the final, with overnight heroes like mums’ favourite Ollie Watkins and the unifying cause, it’s been good news of late.But even if our national team had crashed out early, there would be plenty of football left to keep the fairytale alive.Emerging stars like Spain’s young sensation Lamine Yamal, the demise of Cristiano Ronaldo, the remarkable achievement of debutants Georgia, the crazy Turks, the love for wartorn Ukraine.Plus, in millions of households like mine, a meticulously-planned kitchen sweepstake keeping interest levels up, right to the finish line.We lost my big brother John just days after the group stage concluded.Snatched away at just 60, not long after he watched England labour to victory over Slovakia a week last Sunday.The follow-on game of Spain versus Georgia would have been on the TV bolted to the wall above the fireplace, at his modest home when the moment came.It’s tough. John’s death leaves behind a bewildered family, all of us too numb to be heartbroken yet. My parents are beyond grief.Dad, 88 last week, doesn’t obsess about football like his eldest son did but in recent years has watched more and more games on mainstream channels, with subtitles. That means mainly internationals.His interest blossomed hand-in-hand with England’s Lionesses progressing through Euro 2022.And since the worst thing ever to happen to him occurred a week or so ago, he and my mum, Sylvie, have found some respite watching Euro 2024.Quite a few games but mostly England.On Wednesday, dad was in his dressing gown with ITV on by 7pm. He then got roughly three hours in which to feel vaguely human again while drinking his customary tin of John Smith’s.Last Saturday, my folks brightened for a while sitting through the Switzerland game — an excruciating experience that in normal circumstances would see them switch over to watch The Chase within 20 minutes.But these aren’t normal circumstances.They never are when it’s tournament time and hopefully it stays that way forever.A 24-team Euros or 48-country World Cup looks wildly overblown but maybe it’s a good thing if it keeps the bad stuff at bay for ordinary people.It’s an idea we should keep firmly in mind as the money-mad clubs, increasingly dependent on the income stream from subscription TV and greedy for more, take football further out of reach.Greatest English sporting moments since 1966David Platt’s last-minute extra-time winner vs Belgium at Italia 90Paul Gascoigne’s wondergoal vs Scotland at Euro 96Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal to win the 2003 Rugby World CupAshes victory over Australia in 2005Super Saturday at London 2012Ben Stokes’ heroics to win 2019 Cricket World Cup finalLionesses winning 2022 Women’s Euros at WembleyKit shtick a bit ponyYOU could almost hear Dick Van Dyke’s cartoon accent as West Ham launched their latest attempt to persuade fans to part with their cash with the new ‘Cockney’ away kit.To most people it looks like a regular black shirt but, apparently, it’s inspired by East End tradition.It includes woven-in images of the iconic St Mary-le-Bow Church. Folklore dictates only those born within earshot of the church’s bells can claim to be true Cock-er-nees.Which is weird because North London’s Arsenal are a mile closer to Bow bells than West Ham.Throw in most of the Hammers fanbase has now emigrated from East London to the A13 corridor and you can only assume that they must have bloody good hearing.It retails at £75, by the way. That’s a ton take away a pony to you, Guv.It’s a proper problemIN this column just a few weeks ago we highlighted fears for the future of Chelsea’s renowned academy.There is an increasing flow of teenage talent coming into the club from outside sources, many from South America.So it’s no surprise to us that youth football guru Neil Bath has decided to step down after roughly 30 years at Stamford Bridge.Most recently, Bath oversaw the development of players such as Reece James, Mason Mount, Trevoh Chalobah and Fikayo Tomori.READ MORE SUN STORIESHis exit follows the departure of Under-21 coach Mark Robinson, who took a pay cut to manage League One Burton Albion.Both men are lifelong Blues fans but feel their futures lie elsewhere. Many supporters are concerned that, under American co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, their club is losing the identity which coined the phrase ‘proper Chels’. More

ENGLAND fans hope rubbing the paws of Phil Foden’s lucky lookalike cat will spell success for the Three Lions in the Euros final.The moody moggy went viral after fans noticed its face looked like Foden after Gareth Southgate benched him at the start of England’s 2022 Qatar World Cup campaign.Mystic mog could be the key to England’s Euros successCredit: InstagramPhil Foden, 24, is yet to score in this tournamentCredit: GettyAfter Glenn Kitson – a film director who regularly posts funny celebrity lookalikes on social media – pointed out the resemblance, the midfielder earned his way into the first team.Foden, 24, was vital to helping England reach the quarterfinals and is expected to start against Spain in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final.Fans will be hoping Phil’s lookalike cat could be the lucky omen the squad needs.One supporter said: “We know black cats are supposed to be lucky but there is something very special about this one moggy.read more on football”If we use the collective positive thoughts of fans everywhere maybe we can bring about a change of luck for Phil and England. “Rub the paws! Rub the paws!”Glenn’s Instagram page has more than 180,000 followers with the pic moody moggy being one of his most successful posts with over 28K likes.The film director revealed the cat lookalike during the last major tournament with the joke caption: ” Phil Foden is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the England national team.Most read in Football”He is considered one of the best young players in the world.”Hundreds of his followers loved the gag and left comments sharing their disbelief at the uncanny resemblance.England gets ready for almighty Euro 2024 final party with fans set to spend £800MILLION on beer and pizzaActor Jonny Lee Miller commented: “Are you f****** kidding me.””Your greatest ever,” added comedian Josh Widdicombe.Alex Brooker, a comedy star, wrote: “Hahahahaha this is brilliant.””Felines on the shirt,” joked one user.Another said: “Plays lefty wing for Manchester Kitty.”The England star looked gutted after he hit the post and had a shot cleared off the line before getting subbed off against Holland in Wednesday’s semi-final.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe game looked as if it was heading towards extra-time until Ollie Watkins came off the bench to bag a 90th minute winner booking them a spot in Sunday’s final.Fans hope petting the puss will improve Foden’s fortune in front of goal as England chase down their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup. More

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has told Gareth Southgate to “do it for me, Sir Bobby Robson and England” in an emotional plea.The Swede, 76, bravely revealed in January that he does not know how much longer he has left to live as he battles pancreatic cancer.Sven-Goran Eriksson has issued an emotional plea to the England bossCredit: PAGareth Southgate was a regular for the Three Lions under the SwedeCredit: GettyHe has since fulfilled a lifelong dream by coaching a Liverpool team at Anfield.One of Eriksson’s other goals is to see his adopted nation England finally end their long-wait for silverware.He enjoyed a five-year spell in charge of the Three Lions from 2001 while Southgate was still a player.Eriksson’s England record was defined by penalty shoot-outs as he was twice beaten by Portugal in quarter-finals on spot-kicks at Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Brazilian legends Rivaldo and Ronaldinho also secured the Samba Boys a comeback win over the Three Lions at the 2002 World Cup, the first tournament Eriksson was at the helm for.However, Southgate, who won 16 of his 57 caps under the Swede, will lead England to a second final under his charge when they face Spain in the Euro 2024 showpiece in Berlin on Sunday.And now his former manager has claimed that he will surpass 1966 World Cup winning Sir Alf Ramsey as England’s greatest ever boss if he can secure glory this weekend.He told The Telegraph: “The job of England manager brings with it a beautiful pressure.Most read in Euro 2024“You hear so much about 1966 and what Sir Alf Ramsey’s team did, and you know how much expectation there is on you to end all those years of hurt.“I felt it. Sir Bobby Robson felt it. Every one of the 13 managers since Sir Alf will have felt it. None of us succeeded, but no one has come closer than Gareth Southgate.The Sun’s Charlie Wyett praises England as Ollie Watkins 90th minute winner puts Three Lions into Euro 2024 final“By reaching a World Cup semi-final in 2018, a Euros final in 2020, the World Cup quarter-final and now a second successive Euros final, Gareth is certainly the best English coach since Sir Alf.“Win in Berlin on Sunday and I believe he should be considered better.”Eriksson continued: “Gareth has learnt from the mistakes we made – handling the mental block of penalties, in particular – and has gone further than any of us ever did.“Now he, his players and the entire nation must know England can win. If you believe in something it can happen, and that includes beating Spain in the final.”And looking ahead specifically to the game, the stricken Swede issued an emotional plea to his former defender.Greatest English sporting moments since 1966David Platt’s last-minute extra-time winner vs Belgium at Italia 90Paul Gascoigne’s wondergoal vs Scotland at Euro 96Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal to win the 2003 Rugby World CupAshes victory over Australia in 2005Super Saturday at London 2012Ben Stokes’ heroics to win 2019 Cricket World Cup finalLionesses winning 2022 Women’s Euros at WembleyEriksson added: “Sunday’s final will be an open game and I think England have a big, big chance.“And while I have not been feeling well over the past week or so, I will be watching the game from home.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I would love to see England win. So would every one of the managers who has tried and failed to win a major trophy since 1966.“Come on, Gareth. Do what we never could.”Kobbie Mainoo: From work experience kid to England hero… and latest generational talentBy Charlie WyettAND we all thought England had just the one generational talent.Kobbie Mainoo was effectively brought to Germany as a work experience kid but has emerged as the key kid behind this country’s attempt to rewrite history.After just five senior starts, England’s new boy wonder will now have a teenage tear-up against Spain’s Lamine Yamal in the Euro 2024 final.Last night, he did not merely become England’s youngest ever player to feature in a semi-final of a major tournament, aged 19 years and 82 days.Here, he took this semi-final by the scruff of the neck, delivered a performance which was a joy to watch, particularly in the first half, and now England are in their first final on foreign soil.If Jude Bellingham thought he was certain to be England’s main posterboy over the next decade, he has someone else who has now emerged in his rear-view mirror within just a few weeks.To bag an FA Cup winners’ medal at the age of 19 was impressive. To then win Euro 2024 a couple of months later would be extraordinary.As we saw with Manchester United, Mainoo has now fitted seamlessly into the team and provided a perfect mix of both style and substance.Give it a couple of years, and you can only imagine how good this lad is going to be.For much of this tournament, the focus has been on the disappointing form of Harry Kane, Bellingham and Phil Foden.So Mainoo, to a degree, had almost been off the radar. But against the Dutch, in tight, congested spaces, he is a class apart.When he was put under pressure, remained cool, navigated his way out of difficult situations and drove forward.Despite what was at stake, Mainoo once again looked extraordinarily composed and was England’s best player in the first half. He won possession, he rode tackles and he drove forward like an old master.He nearly delivered an assist at 1-1 with some brilliant play. He received the ball from Foden, turned and drove forward before returning the ball to his team-mate but the shot was hacked off the line by Denzel Dumfries.Mainoo delivered a terrific block to snuff out some serious danger in a lightning-quick Dutch counter attack.In the second half, he had less space in midfield but nevertheless still had bags of energy and kept his discipline positionally – and then he let subs Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins deliver the business.It is still mind-boggling that Mainoo is now heading to Berlin on Sunday, when you consider Mainoo only made his United debut against Charlton in the Carabao Cup in January 2023. His first Premier League start was just eight months ago.Yet it was his dazzling midfield form in an otherwise dysfunctional United team which earned him his first cap as a substitute against Brazil in March. He was then Man of the Match in a ridiculously-good performance in the 2-2 draw with Belgium.Mainoo’s form dipped in the last few weeks of the season. It was probably because he was knackered carrying some of his team-mates. But he then saved them again in the FA Cup final against Manchester City with a Man of the Match performance in a 2-1 win.A bit like Adam Wharton, he was part of England’s 26-man squad to soak up the experience, to learn what it is like to feature in a major tournament and maybe, if needed, to have a few cameo roles off the bench.And the fact he was effectively Southgate’s third-choice to partner Declan Rice here in Germany tells you exactly where he stood in a squad of 26.The Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield failed in the two opening games against Serbia and Denmark. Conor Gallagher – despite some bright performances as a sub in those games – really struggled in his start against Slovenia.Apart from a strong appearance as a substitute by Palmer, Mainoo’s performance against Slovakia was the only bright spot in a dismal and extremely fortunate win over Slovakia in the last 16.There was always a worry about Mainoo’s movement when England do not have possession but that will come with experience, like it would for any other central midfielder.Yet Mainoo has solved the problem for Southgate and now England can continue to dream big. And it is totally unthinkable from where you consider how they played in the group stages when they stunk out Germany.In Sunday’s final, England’s experienced players will be able to draw on the pain of both the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.For Mainoo, this will be a completely new experience but do not expect him to wilt. He’ll absolutely love it. More