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      England team for Euro 2024 opener vs Serbia REVEALED with Bukayo Saka set to start after winning fitness battle

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      BUKAYO SAKA is expected to start for England against Serbia on Sunday.There had been a slight doubt over Saka’s fitness after he missed the final game of Arsenal’s season with a groin injury.Gareth Southgate’s expected starting xi against Serbia has been revealedCredit: RexBukayo Saka is expected to start for England after winning a fitness battleCredit: GettyHe is set to play behind captain Harry KaneCredit: GettyHe came on for the final 25 minutes of the shock 1-0 defeat to Iceland at Wembley last Friday.The winger has not completed all the training sessions in the last ten days.But SunSport understands the 22-year-old, the second highest scorer in the Three Lions squad after Harry Kane with 11 goals, is in line to play from the off in Gelsenkirchen.Trent Alexander-Arnold is also expected to start his first game at a major tournament in six years alongside Declan Rice in midfield, getting the nod over Conor Gallagher.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLJohn Stones is set to start in a backline also including Kyle Walker, Marc Guehi and Kieran Trippier, with Jordan Pickford in goal.The Manchester City centre-back, 30, is ready to go despite missing training on Wednesday with a sickness bug.He trained on Saturday along all 25 other players in Southgate’s squad.Skipper Kane will start up top with a trio of Saka, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden behind him, barring injury.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSTrent Alexander-Arnold is also expected to start in midfieldCredit: GettyThe game kicks off at the Veltins-Arena at 8pm tomorrow and will be broadcast on BBC One.England and Serbia have only faced off once back when the latter competed as Serbia and Montenegro.Play Foden & Bellingham centrally & go for it! | Jack Wilshere’s plan to win the EurosThe expected line up for England’s game against SerbiaThe two teams met in 2003 during an international friendly at the King Power Stadium.The Three Lions won 2-1 thanks to goals by Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole, while Nenad Jestrovic temporarily equalised for his country.England also hold a better record from back when Serbia competed as part of Yugoslavia.The national team won five out of 14 matches, of which they lost four.The likes of AC Milan’s Luka Jovic and Juventus’ Filip Kostic available to fire up the attack of manager Dragan Stojkovic.Al-Hilal’s Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could also prove a problem in midfield.England saw Scotland get thumped 5-1 by hosts Germany in the tournament curtain raiser last night.England Euro 2024 guideGARETH SOUTHGATE is under no illusions coming into this competition – it is win or bust.
      The Three Lions have never had a better opportunity to end their 58-year wait for a major international trophy given the talent and experience they have in their armoury.
      MANAGER: Gareth Southgate
      The former England star has come closer than anyone since Sir Alf Ramsey to ending the Three Lions’ trophy hoodoo.
      Southgate is aware that the nations expects, and has even suggested he will quit if he doesn’t deliver the European Championship.
      STAR MAN: Jude Bellingham
      The Real Madrid star is arguably the world’s best player at the moment and gives England the platform they need to dominate big games.
      How England attack
      England will look to dominate the ball against almost everybody.
      Declan Rice is crucial in progressing the ball, Bellingham, Saka and Foden will rotate to pull defenders out of position and Kane can both score and drop deep to provide chances for others.
      How England defend
      England press man-to-man with the midfield pushing up to support Kane when the ball is lost and look to win it as close to the opposition goal as possible.
      However, the left-back spot could be a cause for concern, particularly with Luke Shaw entering the tournament with fitness worries.
      Read the full England Euro 2024 guide here, including predicted line-ups, odds and Wags.

      EURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENT More

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      Royal Mail bans its 100,000 posties from flying England flags during Euro 2024 to avoid sparking streets clashes

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      Royal Mail has banned its 100,000 posties from flying England flags during the Euros.Bosses say displaying mini flags on vehicles and letter trollies could spark streets clashes – and claim the red and white emblems could even cause crashes.Royal Mail has banned its 100,000 posties from flying England flags during the Euros – claiming they may spark clashes on the streets, or even crashesCredit: GettyAll flags – of England, Scotland and other countries – are barred from the Royal Mail’s 48,000 vans and lorries, and from tens of thousands of walking postal workers’ trollies.Posties in south London – who used to fly flags at big tournaments – claimed the ban was really a PC ruse and the mail giant had gone woke.But the Royal Mail confirmed yesterday that its flag ban – which has been operated during previous tournaments – would also apply this summer.A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “Flags on vehicles can be a distraction to other road users and poorly positioned items can block vision.READ MORE ON EURO 2024“Poorly fitted items can fall off and be an obstruction or hazard. “Flags also introduce risk of confrontation with other road users or pedestrians.“For this reason we do not permit celebratory flags to be displayed on any of our vehicles.”England start their campaign on Sunday evening as they take on Serbia. Most read in Euro 2024England fans’ must watch guide to Gelsenkirchen ahead of Three Lions’ Euro 2024 clash vs Serbia More

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      German cops who slapped beer ban on England fans say they should smoke cannabis instead

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      GERMAN cops who slapped a strong beer ban on Three Lions fans say they should smoke cannabis instead.Fears of booze-fuelled trouble at Sunday’s game against Serbia saw stadium chiefs told to serve only weak beer or shandy.German cops who slapped a beer ban on Three Lions fans say they should smoke cannabis insteadCredit: GettyBut cannabis was legalised in Germany on April 1, and a Gelsenkirchen Police spokesman told The Sun yesterday that fans getting “Harry Kaned” on pot will be allowed to puff in peace.Stephan Knipp said: “It’s no problem for fans to smoke cannabis on the street.“If we see a group of people drinking alcohol and looking a bit aggressive, and another group smoking cannabis, of course we’ll look at the group drinking alcohol.“Drinking alcohol can make someone more aggressive, and smoking cannabis puts people in a chill mood.READ MORE WORLD NEWS“We want to prevent violence and keep people safe.“Our focus will be on fans who are drinking and potentially getting violent — that’s why we in place safety precautions on alcohol.”While fans will be able to smoke dope in many public areas, it will not be allowed inside the 62,000-seat Veltins Arena, nor in fan zones, bars or city squares.And bars in “sensitive areas” of the city will stop serving booze immediately before and after the game.Most read in FootballFears of violence rose over intelligence reports suggesting 500 Putin-supporting Serbian ultras would turn up. What do cannabis plants look and smell like? More

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      England’s Wags send secret packages to surprise players ahead of Euro 2024 opener against Serbia

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      ENGLAND’S Wags sent secret parcels to their heroes ahead of Sunday’s Euros opener against Serbia, we can reveal.The surprise packages were placed on the players’ beds before they arrived at the team’s five-star Weimarer Spa training base in Blankenhain.England’s Wags sent secret parcels to their heroes ahead of Sunday’s Euros opener against Serbia (pictured: Harry Kane’s wife Kate)Credit: World Cup News Pool (WCNP) – England vs FrancePlayers with children also got notes from their kids wishing them luck (pictured: Megan Pickford)Credit: Dan CharityThey included sealed letters from Wags that are to be opened on specific days during the tournament in Germany.Players with children also got notes from their kids wishing them luck.Special teddies, family photographs and meaningful keepsakes that smell of home were also included.A source said: “Each Wag made up a box containing special items.read more on euros”They wrote letters which are to be opened on set days during the tournament to give the players that extra boost.”They also include photographs of family and friends that they can stick on the wall of their hotel room.”Teddies and pillows laced with perfume are in the bundle too.”The package is designed to make them feel more at home at their training base.Most read in Euro 2024″The players will hopefully be away from their loved ones for over a month – so every little detail has been seen to.”At previous tournaments, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has rewarded the players for getting out of the group stage with a family day.MYSTIC WAG ‘Super spiritual’ England star Phil Foden and his Wag Rebecca Cooke visit PSYCHIC in bid to help England win Euro 2024He is expected to follow the same approach in Germany as England bid for glory.The Wags are expected to roar on the Three Lions inside Gelsenkirchen’s 62,000-seat Veltins Arena as they kick off their campaign on Sunday.They will include Jordan Pickford’s missus, Megan, skipper Harry Kane’s wife, Kate, and John Stones’s other half, Olivia Naylor.England face Denmark on June 20 before ending the group stages against Slovenia on June 25. More

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      ‘Super spiritual’ England star Phil Foden and his Wag Rebecca Cooke visit PSYCHIC in bid to help England win Euro 2024

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      THREE Lions ace Phil Foden and his Wag Rebecca Cooke hope England winning the Euros is on the cards after visiting a psychic.The Manchester City wizard, 24, was given a tarot card reading by mystic Chloe Smith, 25, just days before the tournament kicks off tomorrow in Germany.England star Phil Foden and Wag Rebecca Cooke have visited a psychic in a bid to help the Three Lions win Euro 2024Credit: Eamonn and James ClarkeChloe says she ‘loved’ reading for ‘very spiritual’ Phil and BeccaCredit: SWNSSpiritual Phil’s visit for a tarot card reading with his pregnant partner Rebecca Cooke was just days before Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany.Chloe, who claims to be able to tune into clients’ energy, said: “I loved reading for Phil and Becca, both very spiritual and kind-hearted people! A lot of luck is coming Phil’s way for sure!”It comes as England prepare for their opening group game against Serbia on Sunday, with Foden, 24, tipped to feature after a stellar ­season with Manchester City. A source said: “Phil was as keen as Rebecca to get the reading done, especially with such a big tournament on the horizon.READ MORE ON EURO 2024“Hopefully Chloe told him she saw football was coming home! Phil is very in touch with his feelings and was keen to see if Chloe could give him any insight into the future.“A lot of top players spend time doing positive visualisations ahead of games in the hope it helps. If it relaxes them and makes them feel good, that can only be positive.”Mum-of-three Chloe, from Uttoxeter, Staffs, said she decided to become a medium after seeing the spirit of her grandmother at her funeral four years ago.The 25-year-old, who initially did free readings for friends before charging around £35 a session, said: “I started seeing angels and dead people at home.Most read in Euro 2024“It was such a positive feeling, I didn’t feel anxious or scared.”She asks most customers to bring along a photo of a loved one, and counts dozens of celebrities as clients including Helen Skelton, Daisy May Cooper and Maura Higgins.Three reasons why Phil Foden is world-classShe explained: “Your past loved ones can’t come forward and say ‘hi’. I basically see symbols and signs or they use my body as a channel. I use tarot cards to confirm information, but I only do positive information. I don’t tell you when you’re going to die.”Phil was so impressed by Chloe he offered a discount code for followers on Instagram.Last month the £200,000-a-week star won his fourth Premier League title in a row with Man City, bagging a staggering 24 goals.Ex-England star Wayne Rooney has urged Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate to “build the team around him”. His mystic visit will hopefully go better than England’s last attempt to seek divine intervention to win a trophy.Phil was so impressed by mystic Chloe he offered a discount code for followers on InstagramCredit: GettyManager Glenn Hoddle enlisted the services of “faith healer” Eileen Drewery at the 1998 World Cup.Some players including Paul Merson said she helped. But Ray Parlour famously mocked her by sitting down and asking for a “short back and sides”. England went out in the round of 16.
      FA President Prince William will head to Germany for England’s second group game against Denmark at Frankfurt next Thursday, Kensington Palace confirmed.
      WAGS’ PACK BOOST
      By Paul Sims
      ENGLAND’S Wags sent secret parcels to their partners ahead of this Sunday’s Euros opener against Serbia, we can reveal.
      The surprise packages were put on the players’ beds before they arrived at their five-star Weimarer Spa training base in Blankenhain.
      A source said: “Each Wag made up a box containing special items.
      “They wrote letters to be opened on set days during the tournament to give the players that extra boost.
      “They also include photos of ­family and friends that they can stick on the wall of their hotel room.
      “Teddies and pillows laced with perfume are in the bundle too.
      “The package is designed to make them feel more at home. The players will hopefully be away from their loved ones for over a month — so every little detail has been seen to.”
      At previous tournaments, boss Gareth Southgate rewarded the players for getting out of the group stage with a family day. He is likely to do the same in Germany.
      The Wags will roar on the Three Lions at Gelsenkirchen’s 62,000-seat Veltins Arena on Sunday. More

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      England stars spend thousands boosting their home security to foil burglary gangs while they are at Euro 2024

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      ENGLAND stars have spent thousands boosting their home security to foil the Away Day burglary gangs while they are at the Euros.Members of Gareth Southgate’s squad have installed military-grade equipment to avoid a repeat of the raid on Raheem Sterling, 29, during the World Cup.England stars have installed military-grade equipment to foil gangs while they’re at the EurosSterling, 29, had to rush home from the tournament in Qatar in December, 2022, when a gang stole £300,000 worth of designer watches from his house while his fiancée and their two children were home.High profile raids on other stars’ homes have continued to grab the headlines since that break-in at the Chelsea star’s mansion in Surrey, Cobham.Manchester City ace Jack Grealish, 28, and Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, 24, have both fallen victim while they were away from home.And now that the Three Lions have landed in Germany they have taken every precaution possible to secure their luxury mansions during the tournament.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLA source said: “Players don’t want any worry or distractions whilst away.“They’ve seen what’s happened previously and want to make sure their focus is on the tournament, at any cost.”No expense has been spared as security firms installed cutting edge security technology including night vision cameras with a detection range of around 150ft and 8K resolution.Ex-Army personnel with highly trained guard dogs will also be patrolling the grounds of their homes and will even operate surveillance drones with 360-degree vision which fly too high for attackers to disable them.Most read in FootballThe tightening up of the stars’ defences on the home front follows reports of the Wags splashing out £100,000 on private bodyguards for the tournament.They are set to hire ex-military specialists amid fears of terror attacks following chilling ISIS threats issued ahead of Champions League matches this season.Newcastle’s £100m striker Alexander Isak’s mansion hit by gang of robbers in latest raid on Prem aces’ homesSecurity experts applauded the players’ plans to increase their home security.Christian Hill, managing director of security firm Intelligent Protection, said: “Footballers competing in the Euros should absolutely consider security for their homes and families whilst away as a matter of priority.“This should be at the forefront of their minds as robberies have become front-page news over the past few years and more than likely have involved players they know or even their own teammates.“These high-profile players can relieve the anxiety, stress and worry they must all get when leaving their families by contacting a security company and allowing them to provide support.“This will help the player to be fully focused on doing their job on the pitch.”The squad landed in Germany on Monday and headed to their Euros base at the 350-acre Weimarer Golf Hotel and Spa at Blankenhain, eastern Germany.Boss Southgate, 53, was keen to get his squad onto the training pitch yesterday to prepare for their tournament opener against Serbia on Sunday following the woeful 1-0 defeat to Iceland last week. More

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      England stars will be served by ROBOT in German team colours at their luxurious Euro 2024 team hotel

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      A ROBOT in German team colours will serve England’s stars at their plush Euro 2024 team hotel.The real-life WALL-E named Kehrbart delivers meals to tables and even has a Deutschland motif and the squad number 24.Kehrbart the robot will serve the England team and staff at their team hotelEngland will be staying at the Weimarer Land Golf Resort and Spa in GermanyCredit: Darren FletcherEngland’s player suffered defeat to Iceland in a friendly on Friday nightCredit: GettyIt was previously called Robby but got a host nation makeover when the German team stayed there recently.And it has mischievously kept its new look for the arrival of old rivals England.Three Lions stars including Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham will fly to their tournament base tomorrow.And Kehrbart — thought to be a jokey German name for sweeper — was still in his home country’s colours yesterday as he prepared to greet Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad.READ MORE EURO 2024Sources quipped that it brought back memories of former England striker Peter Crouch’s famed robot goal celebration — also performed in a No24 shirt in 2006.One source told the Sun on Sunday: “Robby is usually a slate grey colour with flashing blue eyes and helps staff deliver plates and dishes.“But the German team stayed at the hotel recently so he was given a new look and new name to support them.“I’m not sure whether the England team will want to change his look when they arrive but a Three Lions shirt and an English name might be a good idea.Most read in Football“Perhaps Bobby the Robot after Bobby Moore?”The source added: “If Peter Crouch was still playing for England, he could do his famous robot dance goalscoring celebration with him.”Inside England’s stunning Euro 2024 hotel with golf course, spa and robot Kehrbart will help 160 staff at the 350-acre Weimarer Golf Hotel and Spa at Blankenhain, eastern Germany, which the squad will call home for up to a month.The droid says phrases in German including “Excuse me” and “Please let me get on with my work”.It works in the six gourmet restaurants in the hotel where England — who put in a robotic performance in Friday’s 1-0 warm-up defeat against Iceland — have sole occupancy of all 94 rooms.A squad source told us last night: “We’re looking forward to meeting our new robot friend. “We don’t have any plans to rebrand him but will let you know if that changes!”It has been suggested the robot could get renamed in honour of Peter Crouch, famous for his robot celebration, the ace seen in 2006Credit: In-Focus More

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      Clive Tyldesley says football commentators should be allowed to use F-word ‘once a season without losing their job’

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      CLIVE Tyldesley says he and other footie commentators should be allowed to use the F-word.The veteran game caller, 69, who spent 20-plus years at ITV, said: “Sometimes it’s the only word that will do.”Clive Tyldesley says he and other footie commentators should be allowed to use the F-wordCredit: ITVHe added: “I just think once a season a commentator should be allowed to use the F-word without losing their job. “Some goals, some moments, some misses, simply demand a swear word — the swear word — to capture their full impact.”Speaking to former manager Martin O’Neill on their Football Authorities podcast, Clive added: “I would need to choose the moment carefully . . . but sometimes you need to say what you see.”In 2018, pundit Gary Neville was heard on Sky Sports saying something was “f***ing obvious”read more on footballTyldesley, 69, who appears on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, also blasted Wembley security after pitch invasions marred last Saturday’s Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.The pundit – who has covered five World Cups, 17 Champions League finals, and nine FA Cup finals – said: “Pitch invasions at the start of Saturday’s game were not a laughing matter. “I think there are all kinds of implications now for Wembley’s ability to stage major international matches. “It’s a real worry.”Most read in FootballThe most bizarre football rules you may not have heard of More