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      Paul Gascoigne on England going all the way in Euro 2020 and his goal that crushed Scotland in ’96

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      PAUL Gascoigne relived the glory goal which crushed Scotland in Euro 96 — and fired up England for tonight’s Euro 2020 showdown by roaring: “We can go all the way this time.”The Geordie, 54, smashed home an amazing volley against the “Auld Enemy” to seal a 2-0 win and send the Three Lions on a thrilling run to the semi final.
      England legend Paul Gascoigne is tipping his team to go all the way in Euro 2020Credit: Dan Charity / The Sun
      Now he says Gareth Southgate’s young squad can top that by winning the tournament.
      Gazza declared: “We have brilliant players and are good enough to go all the way. Our strikeforce this time is unbelievable.
      “We have so much power going forward we’re going to be very hard to beat at Wembley.
      “And we’re going into the Scotland game having beaten Croatia, who I thought were good enough to win the tournament.
      Gazza jinxes past Scotland’s Colin HendryCredit: Reuters
      “The Scots were unlucky in their first match and have their strongest squad in ages. They’ll be bang up for playing us at Wembley and it’ll be a hard game.
      “But, if we can play like I did that day and knock them out, we have our best chance in years of lifting a trophy.”
      The Newcastle, Spurs, Lazio and Glasgow Rangers legend — who has battled booze and drug demons — also paid tribute to his England team-mate Southgate, 50.
      The Three Lions boss missed his shootout penalty against Germany in the dramatic 1996 semi-final.
      Gazza said: “I’m so proud of Gareth  and how he’s come back from the disappointment.
      Gazza cheekily mimicked the infamous ‘dentist chair’ stunt by sprawling on his back with teammates grabbing  a bottle of water to squirt at him
      “I scored my penalty against the Germans even though it was a miss-kick. He missed his and put us out of the tournament. But I ended up in rehab and he ended up manager of the most successful England team in decades!
      “Gareth’s been a good friend down the years and I respect him for what he’s done with the team.”
      He added: “Covid and all these lockdowns have been a f*****g nightmare and an England run in the Euros is just what the country needs right now.”
      Gazza had the nation in raptures with his Wembley moment of magic which came — like tonight’s Battle of Britain showdown — in the second of three qualifying group games.
      Running towards goal on the left edge of Scotland’s penalty area,  he deftly lifted the ball over defender Colin Hendry’s head before letting it drop on his right boot and lashing it past ’keeper Andy Goram.
      Gazza celebrates the goal that ‘crushed’ Scotland in the Euro ’96 clash
      Gazza said: “It’s the best goal I ever scored in an England shirt and the greatest goal ever scored in 100 years at Wembley.
      “I had a little glance and I could see Colin coming across towards me. If he had stopped, I would have controlled the ball then beat him. But when he kept coming, I knew I had him.
      “I flicked it over Colin’s head with my left and banged it past Andy Goram in goal with my right.
      “Colin was left on his a*** and the whole of Wembley just erupted. It was pure joy. No words can describe that feeling.
      “I’d worked on being a two-footed player from the age of eight, banging a ball against a wall with only my left foot to train myself and that was the day it paid off.”
      The squad in ‘96 had been criticised after holding an infamous pre-tournament bonding party in Hong Kong where some players had booze poured into their mouths while sitting in a bar’s novelty dentist’s chair.
      Gazza says: ‘It’s amazing to see so many youngsters coming through in Gareth’s squad’Credit: Getty
      Gazza cheekily mimicked the stunt by sprawling on his back with team-mates grabbing  a bottle of water to squirt at him.
      He recalled: “I said in the dressing room before the game, ‘Lads, whoever scores, let’s do the dentist’s chair’.
      “The mad thing is that people remember the celebration as much as the goal.
      “I’d put the bottle there to prepare for it and just lay there with my mouth open waiting for the lads to give me a good soaking.
      Colin Hendry can only watch as the ball is fired towards the netCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “The goal was made even sweeter by the fact that I was a Glasgow Rangers player in those days and had never managed to score a single goal against Andy Goram in training.
      “But I did it at Wembley in front of 100,000 people and millions on TV when it mattered.
      “I daren’t look at him after I finished celebrating because I knew he’d be fuming and he would probably have knocked my f*****g head off! It made me a bit anxious about going back to  Rangers after but I decided, ‘F*** — I’ll wind ’em up anyway when I get back’.
      “So when I rejoined the team in the dressing room, I stuck pictures of the goal on the walls.
      “Then I got a mop which looked like Colin Hendry’s head, flicked a ball over it and volleyed it straight at Andy.
      Marcus Rashford has already shown he has pace and power and is lethal up front, says PaulCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “He went off his f*****g head and had to be held off me. He said, ‘If you ever do that again, I’ll knock you out’.”
      Now it’s the turn of a new generation of stars to make the headlines. Gazza said: “Jack Grealish is great to watch and wants the ball all the time just like I did. Phil Foden is also going to be an incredible player.
      “And Marcus Rashford has already shown he has pace and power and is lethal up front.
      “But, if I’m honest, I don’t think there’s one player in the England team or in the tournament who could score my greatest goal! It was a one-off.”

      He went on: “It’s amazing to see so many youngsters coming through in Gareth’s squad.
      “They look so strong and skilful and seem to be able to handle the pressure.
      “All they have to do against the Scots is attack their opponents and play with passion. My message  to them is, ‘Don’t hold back. This is your time, lads, so go for it! Go for it’.
      “I’ll be watching all the games on TV on my own because I get cross when I see players who don’t celebrate in front of the fans like I did when they score.
      “I’ve had my problems with drink but if we win the tournament I won’t care — I’ll be straight off the wagon and down the pub.
      “There’ll never be a better excuse for the whole country to celebrate.
      “And mine will be a pina colada if anyone wants to buy me one!”
      HENDRY’S GOAL WOETHE Scotland centre-half bamboozled by Gazza before the wizard’s Euro ’96 wonder-strike says he is still ribbed about it.
      Colin Hendry, now 55, was left for dead when Gazza flipped the ball over his head before smashing it home.
      Former Blackburn star Hendry, right, said he had only a moment to decide whether to foul Gazza and be sent off — or hold off.
      He said: “I held back and the rest is history but I feel no shame about being beaten that day — despite the ribbing I’ve had  since. I’m still teased about it.
      “It took England’s greatest footballer to beat me by scoring the best goal of his life.” England won 2-0. 
      Former Scotland captain Hendry reckons England will be “too strong” today.

      TARTAN ARMY IS WAY OF LIFE
      By Ally Ross
      HERE we go again. It’s England versus Scotland, at Wembley — a soulless place. 
      You set off at dawn, you’re back at four the next morning with a hole in your heart, Covid in your bloodstream and nothing to say for yourself except: “Never, EVER again.”
      Sun columnist Ally Ross in London’s Trafalgar Square for the 1988 England Scotland clash
      So, no, in answer to your polite question, I won’t be going to today’s game. Nor could you pay me enough to do so.
      That might seem a little odd given that, as The Proclaimers’ song suggests, I have walked 500 miles and I have walked 500 more for the national football team I adore. 
      I’ve loved almost every step of the journey that’s taken me from Kazakhstan in the east, to Mexico in the west.
      I’ve got a total of 31 Tartan Army stamps on my passport and seen countries I would never have dreamed of visiting, like Georgia, Macedonia, Lithuania (twice) and beautiful little Slovenia, where I  watched our under 21s play next to a “Warning, bears” sign.
      The Tartan Army marches onCredit: Getty
      I’ve also woken up on railway station platforms in Switzerland, made friends for life in sleepy little Liechtenstein, made my excuses and left Amsterdam’s Banana Bar and even managed to witness the miracle of Scotland winning once or twice.
      So, more than anything, during lockdown, I’ve craved following the Scotland football team again. Not just to the countries I haven’t yet visited with my friends, like Austria, Hungary and Denmark, but to some places I’ve already seen.
      If Scotland were playing France, Germany, Holland, Malta, Israel, Slovakia, Poland, the Galapagos Islands or even Belgium, in a friendly tomorrow, I promise you I would be there.
      Why? Because the Tartan Army is as much fun as you can have in your life, once you’ve passed the age of 40. 
      Add 2,000 men in kilts and other fragments of national dress to some obscure corner of Eastern Europe or Asia and you have a city that’s transformed. 
      The party has arrived, the beer and the stories never stop flowing and before you know it, downtown Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan, is looking like a Tartan Rio carnival. 
      As anyone who does “Scotland trips” will tell you, supporting Scotland is a way of life. 
      That’s why I have my heart set on attending our World Cup qualifiers, in Copenhagen and Vienna, in September and even gave Monday’s horrendous game against the Czech Republic, in Glasgow, a go.
      So why not Wembley? The bits I haven’t enjoyed have all been in London. 
      Bad timing on my part, to an extent. I was born in June 1967, just two months after Scotland famously became world champions by beating England 3-2.
      I also wasn’t old enough to attend the great invasion of 1977 when the troops headed back home singing: “England one, Scotland two, nicked yer pitch and yer goalposts too.”
      By the time I was of an age to attend my first “Auld Enemy”  encounter (I hate that phrase) the atmosphere had turned nasty and Scottish football was on a long slow path to nowhere.
      I didn’t even make this first trip to Wembley until 1986. A disappointing 2-1 defeat that, if it’s remembered at all, is remembered for Graeme Souness thumping Ray Wilkins.
      Graeme Souness thumping Ray Wilkins made a disappointing 2-1 defeat more memorable in 1986Credit: Getty
      The great days had long gone by then, but I got the all-night train down from Aberdeen to see us lose 1-0 in 1988 and was back again, in 1996, watching the famous Gazza goal at a Dixons showroom, in Wembley, because I couldn’t get a ticket.
      Just as a stopped clock is right twice a day, you will see Scotland beat England if you wait long enough. I nearly did, in 1999, but I was ejected from the stadium, “for my own safety”, in the 37th minute, after Don Hutchison scored what would be our winning goal.

      That’s partly why I won’t go back. The fact some dumb people take this particular game of football far too seriously means Wembley is not an enjoyable day out in any shape or form.
      It’s also not what the Tartan Army should be all about, which is the joyful adventure of football, heading somewhere new, with friends you love and being able to say, a few years down the line: “I went to Celje once. Cracking place. There was a Hoover convention going on in the city and I saw Scotland beat Slovenia 3-0.”
      So, if you don’t mind, I’ll sit out this next game.
      Gazza on his best and worst gaffers More

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      England Euro 2020 stars prepare to face Scotland by working out with bizarre fruit-shaped underwater footballs

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      ENGLAND footie stars have been twisting their melons to sink Scotland tomorrow — by working out with fruit-patterned under­water balls.Players love kickabouts with “watermelon balls” at their training base. The soft, coloured globes can be kicked or thrown up to 10ft under water.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Tyrone Mings of England smiles in the swimming pool following the England training session at St George’s ParkCredit: Getty
      The team — managed by Gareth Southgate — had a splashing time at St George’s Park yesterday as the final countdown began to the Battle of Britain Euro 2020 showdown at Wembley.
      Coaching staff at the camp in Burton-on-Trent, Staffs, introduced the bizarre balls in place of the unicorn pool inflatables which players loved at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
      They allow the stars to enjoy fun games with minimal impact on tired joints and muscles. Tyrone Mings, 28, Phil Foden, 21, Kyle Walker, 31, and Jordan Pickford, 27, were snapped with their new toys.
      A Three Lions source said: “The atmosphere in the camp is very relaxed but very focused.
      “The players seem to be enjoying themselves.
      “It’s hard training then recovering from the physical and mental stress of such big games.
      “Having fun is a big part of keeping them happy and sharp for the next challenge. The watermelon balls have been a big hit.”
      Phil Foden, Jordan Pickford and Kyle Walker of England head a ball to each other in a swimming pool during a recovery sessionCredit: Getty
      The lads appeared to be having funCredit: Getty
      The Sun revealed yesterday how players are relaxing between games in a cocoon-like yoga “Hotpod” with chill-out tunes and relaxing aromas piped in.
      The Watermelon Ball combo pack like those used by the stars costs just £9.99. They include one patterned like a green watermelon and another multi-coloured version.
      Makers Cardonely say on their website: “Watermelon Ball is a water-filled ball that mimics the flotation of a watermelon, the ball will sink slowly then rise to the surface when thrown in the water.
      “The ball can be bounced, dribbled and passed under water making it great for all sorts of water games.”
      The England team released snaps on social media of Aston Villa centre back Mings poised to throw one of the balls and Manchester City’s Foden and Walker and Everton goalie Pickford joining the fun.
      The photos were captioned: “Making a splash”. But some fans said they missed the inflatables. Luke Oliver tweeted: “Where’s the unicorn?”.
      Kyle Walker controls the ball during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group D match between England and CroatiaCredit: Getty
      Tyrone Mings acknowledges the fansCredit: Getty

      Jack Blake added: “Need Maguire on a unicorn” and Nicola Ferris said: “Get the unicorns out.”
      A win for the Three Lions over Scotland would ensure them a place in the tournament’s last 16.
      Wales took a huge step towards that stage by beating Turkey 2-0 yesterday, despite star man Gareth Bale missing a penalty.
      Jordan Pickford of looks on during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group D matchCredit: Getty
      The team — managed by Gareth Southgate — had a splashing time at St George’s Park yesterday as the final countdown began to the Battle of Britain Euro 2020 showdown at WembleyCredit: Reuters
      England’s secret weapon against the Scots is this yoga Igloo where players are stretched to their max with chill out tunes and calm aromas More

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      How water-loving Cristiano Ronaldo made millions with a string of junk food deals… including Coca-Cola

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      CRISTIANO Ronaldo shunned fizzy drinks giant Coca-Cola by moving bottles off-screen and telling fans to drink water – but the footballer has made millions from advertising ‘unhealthy products’ in the past.The Portuguese star’s stunt at a press conference, ahead of his team’s 3-0 Euros victory against Hungary, cost the brand $4billion (£2.8bn).
      Cristiano Ronaldo wiped $4bn off the value of Coca-Cola with his stunt during a Euros press conference
      The Portugal international told fans ‘agua’, meaning ‘water’, as he pushed Coca-Cola bottles out of sight of the cameras
      The share price for Coca-Cola, which is one of the competition’s sponsors, dropped from $56.10 to $55.22 – lowering their market value from $242bn to $238bn.
      While the 36-year-old footballer is known to be a health fanatic, in the past he’s lent his name, image and support to junk food and fizzy drink companies in the past.  
      Sponsorship deals have helped to top up the £28million-a-year Juventus salary by hundreds of millions.
      Ronaldo’s recent Coca-Cola swipe comes in spite of him promoting countless products, which according to Forbes made him football’s first billionaire.
      Fizzy drink
      Despite blasting the carbonated drinks company, the football ace seemed more than happy to promote them in the past.
      Ronaldo appeared in a Coca-Cola advert during his early careerCredit: Coca-Cola
      In the clip, he showed-off a few of his legendary football skills and drank Coca-ColaCredit: Coca-Cola
      In the resurfaced clip, Ronaldo was featured on the front of a Coca-Cola can and displayed a number of his legendary football skills. 
      Early into the advert, the star beamed after giant droplets of the fizzy-drink fell into his mouth. 
      After scoring a goal into the top-right-hand corner of the net, the mulleted star raced towards the screen in celebration before the ad ended. 
      ‘His views on Coke are BS!’
      It’s not known how much he was paid to appear in the advert, which was believed to have been broadcast in 2006.
      On Monday, Ronaldo took aim at his former employer, Coca-Cola, and told fans “agua” – the Portuguese word for water – as he pushed the bottles out of view of the camera.
      Some eagle-eyed fans were quick to point out the hypocrisy of the footballer’s decision online, including one who said “his views on Coke is BS”.
      Ronaldo has made millions from advertisers in the pastCredit: EPA
      His comments after of the star scoring twice in Portugal’s 3-0 victory over HungaryCredit: Getty
      A second questioned how Juventus would “generate the astronomic pay he gets” without big sponsors and a third claimed Ronaldo was “silly” for moving the bottle “to prove his point”.
      Fast food
      In an advert for the “finger lickin’ good” chain KFC, fans were offered free food if they purchased items endorsed by the footballer.
      They included a snack plate on the house for anyone who purchased Ronaldo headphones or cheesy wedges for buying a Ronaldo water flask.
      The series of adverts, which were aired in the Middle East, also included the footballer tucking into a bucket of wings and telling fans “so good” before winking at the camera.
      One of the slides in the clip stated “KFC Cristiano Ronaldo Limited Edition Premiums”, which had a silhouette of the star protruding from one of the letters.
      Ronaldo promoted KFC in the Middle East for a reported $2.25m in various online and TV adverts
      The footballer took a bite from KFC wings bucket before telling fans ‘so good!’Credit: KFC
      In data shared with The Sun, GlobalData valued the deal at $2.25million (£1.6m) between 2013 and 2016 – or $750,000 (£531,000) per year. 
      Energy drinks
      Ronaldo was also the face of energy drink Soccerade and appeared on their 500ml bottles for an unreported sum in 2008.
      The caffeine-free beverage, which claimed to provide natural energy, had flavours including wild berries, orange and cold blue.
      The brand, which was owned by Iceland company Leppin, aimed to take-on rival sports drinks Powerade and Gatorade.
      Ronaldo is now a brand ambassador for Herbalife Nutrition, whose sponsorship deals have earned him more than $12.5million (£8.85m) in the past eight years.
      Ronaldo became the face of Soccerade – an energy drink to rival Gatorade and PoweradeCredit: WENN
      The Porugal international will have earned more than $12.5m from being an ambassador for Herbalife at the end of 2021Credit: CAPITAL PICTURES
      According to GlobalData, he first signed a five-year agreement with the sports brand in 2013 for $5million (£3.54m).
      As part of the agreement they launched a Ronaldo-inspired drink named ‘Herbalife24 CR7 Drive’, which he promoted online and in adverts.
      When his first deal came to an end in 2018, the footballer signed-up for another three years for $7.5million (£5.31m).
      Herbalife are now flogging a Ronaldo-endorsed H24 Hydrate electrolyte drink that is free of artificial colours or flavours and is calorie free until 2021. 
      Here for the beer
      GlobalData also claimed the star signed a $2.3million (£1.6m) deal to promote the Brazilian beer company Ambev – now known as ABInBev.
      NINTCHDBPICT000058058313Credit: Handout
      NINTCHDBPICT000114529686Credit: Handout
      This year, Ronaldo was reported to have signed a one-year $1.75m (£1.4m) deal with Therabody, who create massage gun products.
      He also agreed to a $2million (£1.42) deal with LiveScore, who report sports results, fixtures and more, for two years.
      This joins a list of other sponsorships of the past including Nike, Emporio Armani, Samsung, Toyota, Emirates Airline, PokerStars.com, Egyptian Steel and more.
      Player backlash
      After Ronaldo pushed away the Coca-Cola bottles, teetotal Paul Pogba moved a bottle of Heineken out of shot. 
      Conrad Wiacek, Head of Sports Analysis at GlobalData, said it was “quite interesting” to see how athletes have started to fight back against advertisers.
      A KFC ad claimed Ronaldo had a “passion” for fried chickenCredit: KFC
      Ronaldo promoting his own brand of pants
      He told The Sun: “You’ve got this interesting dynamic happening at the moment where athletes are more aware of their personal brand than anything else.
      “Someone like Ronaldo railing against Coca-Cola and promoting water speaks of his personal brand – he has the power and success to affect that sort of change.
      “If you’d have asked me five years ago if Ronaldo would have done this, I would have said no but now we’ve seen a lot of athlete activism, they are forces for change.
      “For example, I think there is a slightly hypocritical message having a highly-tuned-in performance athlete sitting in front of a bottle of Coca-Cola.”
      Mr Wiacek felt brands “need to be more aware” ahead of bigger competitions because sports stars “are no longer willing to sit there, nod and play along”.
      He told The Sun: “Athletes now have a voice and a means of speaking to fans and the public outside of their clubs, national teams and things like that. 

      “That change is empowering and a lot of them are saying they are not comfortable with it more than ever before. 
      “It’s not their sponsor, so for Ronaldo it will not affect his personal sponsorships and he is well insulated. 
      “The cost of him doing that is minimal but if an athlete who had a lower-profile was punished for it the public backlash would be significant.” More

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      Euro 2020: England star Kalvin Phillips says ‘Mum skipped meals for me…I ran to her when we scored’

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      NEW England hero Kalvin Phillips last night told how he dedicated his match-winning performance against Croatia to his mum.During a stunning all-round display, playmaker Phillips, 25, beat two Croatians before pinpointing a perfect pass for Raheem Sterling to grab the winner on Sunday.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Kalvin Phillips, 25, beat two Croatians before pinpointing a perfect pass for Raheem Sterling to grab the winner on SundayCredit: Getty
      He dedicated his man-of-the-match showing to mum Lindsay Crosby who guided him on his path to stardom during his tough childhood in Leeds — and was in the stands at Wembley celebrating her birthday.
      The man dubbed The Yorkshire Pirlo after the genius Italian midfielder said: “I’m buzzin’ — it’s hard to put it into words.
      “I can’t even remember doing it [setting up the winner] — it was just a blur, then the ball hit the back of the net.
      “It was my mum’s birthday the day before and she was right at the front in the stands right at that side so I felt I was celebrating with her.”
      Superstar Kalvin is now a millionaire Premier League ace with a stunning childhood sweetheart in Ashleigh Behan.
      But his tale of rags to riches is all down to proud mum Lindsay, who has been instrumental in her son’s success.
      It’s an inspirational tale of hard work and the selfless devotion of amazing women in his life, in the face of tragedy.
      Kalvin was born a triplet but his sister Lacreasha died when she was just a couple of months old.
      Growing up in Armley, West Leeds, Kalvin would often find mum Lindsay crying in the kitchen, playing music that reminded her of her daughter.
      It forced him to grow up and, in the absence of his father, Mark, become the man of the house.
      Growing up in Armley, West Leeds, Kalvin would often find mum Lindsay crying in the kitchen, playing music that reminded her of her daughterCredit: INSTAGRAM/KALVIN PHILLIPS
      He said: “Seeing her like that made me feel I’ve got to help her out, make tea, look after my brother and sisters when she was working.”
      Every year, he and his twin, Deren, say “happy birthday” to Lacreasha on their special day and place flowers on her grave.
      And every time he scores, he kisses his arm where he has a tattoo in her honour and points heavenward for the sister he never got to know.
      At the family’s three-bed home, a stone’s throw from Leeds’ Elland Road ground, Lindsay slept on the sofa so Kalvin, Deren and younger siblings Terrell and Tasiana, could have the bedrooms.

      Lindsay worked two jobs but money was scarce and she would skip meals to ensure her children were well fed.
      Kalvin said: “There have been times where my mum didn’t eat at night because she had to feed us.”
      Kalvin’s beloved grandma, Valerie Crosby, who died in February, aged 82, would “chip in for food”.
      Like his fellow England international, Marcus Rashford, Kalvin relied on free school meals at The Farnley Academy, Leeds.
      Lindsay worked two jobs but money was scarce and she would skip meals to ensure her children were well fedCredit: INSTAGRAM/KALVIN PHILLIPS
      He said: “I’d see kids coming in with packed lunches, having sandwiches and chocolate bars.
      “Some kids would laugh at me, saying, ‘You’re getting free school meals’. I’d come home and say, ‘Mum, why can’t I have a packed lunch?’ She’d say, ‘We can’t afford it’.”
      And like Marcus, who succeeded in funding food parcels for low-income families through the pandemic, Kalvin now donates to a food bank.
      Lindsay has only recently stopped working one of her two jobs, as a receptionist and cashier at Harpo’s Pizza, Leeds.
      On Sunday, the takeaway tweeted a picture of Kalvin grinning in his post-match interview, with the caption: “Our Kalvin! Well done, great assist!”
      Kalvin’s Jamaican father, Mark, has been in and out of prison since Kalvin was a boy.
      Kalvin with his little brotherCredit: INSTAGRAM/KALVIN PHILLIPS
      Kalvin told the Times last year: “He got into the wrong crowd, drugs, fighting, anything you can name.”
      He has visited him at HMP Wealstun, not far from Leeds’ Thorp Arch training ground, but prefers to speak to Mark on the phone every couple of weeks.
      He called him after Leeds were promoted to the Premier League and could hear inmates singing the club’s anthem, Marching On Together, in the background.
      Kalvin said of his dad: “He is proud of me. He’s lived in Leeds all his life.”
      As well as his mum, sister and grandma, there is one other woman who holds a special place in Kalvin’s heart — girlfriend Ashleigh Behan, a make-up artist he’s been with for 11 years, having met at school.
      Kalvin said: “I don’t want to meet anybody else because we’re that close. I keep my circle tight, keep newcomers at a distance.”
      Superstar Kalvin is now a millionaire Premier League ace with a stunning childhood sweetheart in Ashleigh BehanCredit: TWITTER/KALVIN PHILLIPS

      Kalvin made his international debut last September against Denmark and admitted joining the squad was nerve-racking.
      He said last year: “Every single day, I go home to my girlfriend, see my mum and grandma, and I always talk about football.
      “It’s what I live for, it’s what I do, and they have always supported me 100 per cent. I don’t think I’d be here right now if it wasn’t for my mum and grandma.”
      Kalvin made his international debut last September against Denmark and admitted joining the squad was nerve-rackingCredit: Rex
      Kalvin was born a triplet but his sister Lacreasha died when she was just a couple of months oldCredit: INSTAGRAM/KALVIN PHILLIPS
      England manager Gareth Southgate names Leeds star Kalvin Phillips named for first time More

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      How Christian Eriksen’s partner Sabrina Kvist Jensen gave up career to become WAG, mum & best pal to Harry Kane’s wife

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      THE world gasped in shock when Christian Eriksen collapsed on the pitch on Saturday, in the middle of Denmark’s clash with Finland.But for loyal love Sabrina Kvist Jensen – who leapt over the barriers to run to his side – it was a moment of pure terror.
      Sabrina, Chris and little Alfie in a recent InstagramCredit: Instagram
      Peter Schmeichel said Sabrina believed her partner “had died” during the shocking Euro 2020 incident, which was later confirmed to be a cardiac arrest.
      The legendary goalie’s own son, Kasper Schmeichel, had to reassure mum-of-two Sabrina the Danish midfielder, 29, was still breathing after he collapsed.
      The 26-year-old, who has stood by his side for nine years, moving around the world as his football career blossomed, was by his side when he woke in hospital.
      Sabrina sacrificed her own life in Denmark to move to London, ditching her hairdressing career to become a WAG when Christian, 29, signed for Tottenham in 2013.
      Christian is helped by medics after collapsing in Euros matchCredit: Reuters
      Terrified Sabrina climbs over the barrier to run to her manCredit: AFP
      After building a life in London, including a close friendship with Harry Kane’s wife Katie Woodland, she upped sticks again to followed him to Italy when he signed for Inter Milan last year.
      The couple, who met when Sabrina was 18, are as devoted as ever and despite Christian’s huge salary of £6.5m a year, they have always shunned the wild parties in favour of quiet dinners with friends and nights out at music gigs.
      The couple have shared romantic holidays in Dubai, Tanzania and Malaysia in recent years as well as rubbing shoulders with Danish royalty.
      While other WAGS spend their days in beauty salons and shopping in designer stores, Sabrina keeps a low key existence, looking after three-year-old Alfie and his sibling, born in January this year.
      Sabrina is comforted by Kasper Schmeichel after Eriksen’s collapseCredit: AP
      Chris and Sabrina met in 2012Credit: Instagram @chriseriksen8
      Quiet life in a £7m Hampstead mansion 
      Born in Tommerup in Denmark, Sabrina was 18 and studying to be a hairdresser when she began dating Christian in 2012.
      When he signed for Tottenham the following year, she initially stayed in Denmark to complete her beauty course, before following him to London where she briefly worked for a clothing brand.
      Christian has admitted that adjusting to life as a premier league player in London was difficult for both of them.
      The couple work out in their private gymCredit: Instagram
      “You have to learn how to cope physically and mentally, but I can handle the pressure and the demands because I live seven days a week for my job,” he says.
      “That is very tough for my girlfriend. Of course I would like to go out in the city with her and friends, but it just doesn’t fit in with playing in England.”
      In 2016, Christian signed a new longterm contract with Spurs and splashed out on a mansion in Hampstead, where a five-bed house costs between £7m and £28m.
      Chris’s 26th birthday celebrations at home
      Snow in the garden of their Hampstead houseCredit: Instagram
      Fine dining and a date with royalty
      Even before becoming parents, the couple shunned red carpets and glitzy parties for intimate meals with their closest friends, Harry Kane and Katie Woodland.
      Tottenham Striker Harry, 26, took the Danish player under his wing as soon as he joined the club and Sabrina and Katie became close friends very quickly.
      They bonded further over their pregnancies, with Katie giving birth to daughter Ivy just four months after Alfie was born, and both giving birth to a second child early this year.
      The couple dine out with Harry Kane and wife KatieCredit: eriksen.christian24/Instagram
      On couples’ nights out, before the couple moved to Milan last year, they choose high end London restaurants including Zuma, in Knightsbridge or Aqua Shard – where a steak costs upwards of £40.
      Sabrina and Christian also love live gigs, and were spotted singing along at a Major Lazer gig in London before the pandemic. The four friends recently got together for a Bruno Mars concert, in 2019.
      Although they swerve the limelight as much as possible, they do make exceptions for royals.
      In 2014, they met the Danish Queen Magrithe II at an official bash in their native country, posting a glamorous picture from the event.
      Chris wrote: “An absolute honour to meet the Queen of Denmark yesterday! A night to remember!”
      The couple after meeting the Queen of DenmarkCredit: Instagram
      Christian on the pitch with buddy HarryCredit: Rex Features
      Holidays in Dubai and a safari in Tanzania
      The couple like to travel and are adventurous in their destinations.
      In 2017, before Sabrina fell pregnant, they took an extended break in Tanzania, where they went on a luxury safari holiday, costing around £5000 a head.
      The couple were thrilled to see elephants, rhinos and lions as well as enjoying some downtown on stunning golden beaches.
      Other pre-lockdown trips have included Dubai, where they were pictured riding a camel, and Malaysia, where they stayed in Kuala Lumpur.
      The romantic pair have also taken breaks in Rome and Amsterdam, where they visited Christian’s old Ajax haunts.
      Chris pictured with an elephant in TanzaniaCredit: Instagram
      The couple on a camel in DubaiCredit: Instagram
      A short break to AmsterdamCredit: Instagram
      Beach destinations are a favourite getaway tooCredit: Instagram
      Romantic partner born on Valentine’s day
      With a birthday on Valentine’s Day, it’s not surprising Christian likes to get a little slushy on his Instagram posts.
      Every August he posts an anniversary picture, writing in 2017: “Five years with this incredible and wonderful person.”
      In December 2017, the couple announced they were expecting their first child with a cute shot of themselves cuddling, with Chris holding the scan pic and Sabrina wearing a shirt reading “coming soon.”
      He wrote: “Mum and dad to be. #proud” with a heart emoji.
      And fatherhood has made him even more romantic.
      On February 14, 2019, he posted a picture of Sabrina and Alfie with the message: “My birthday, Valentines and any other day of the year crew.”
      On holiday last year, he posted a picture of Sabrina kissing Alfie with the words: “Not enough love for these 2!”
      In January this year, Eriksen announced the arrival of baby number two – although the tot has never been publicly named.
      Sharing a picture of himself with Sabrina, Alfie and the newborn, he wrote: “Family of four.”
      The couple shared the birth of baby number two in JanuaryCredit: Instagram @chriseriksen8

      The pair announce Sabrina’s pregnancy onlineCredit: Instagram
      Sabrina joins her partner at a Spurs matchCredit: EPA
      Rocked by fake ‘scandal’
      The path of this true love was running smoothly until 2019, when false cheating rumours put a bump in the road.
      The couple were forced to rubbish online rumours that Sabrina had cheated on him with married team-mate Jan Vertonghen.
      The original tweet spreading the fake news read: “Christian Eriksen’s wife has reportedly been caught having an affair with his team-mate Jan Vertonghen.”
      But Christian stood by his partner, answering with a simple “Bulls***”.
      Chris posted this with the words ‘Not enough love for these 2’Credit: Instagram
      Christian shares a sweet moment with Alfie, threeCredit: chriseriksen8/Instagram
      The Tweet also claimed the Spurs squad were involved in a bust-up – with Harry Kane involved – attaching pictures of Jan Vertonghen sporting a black eye.
      But Jan replied with a series of emojis, including a heart next to Christian’s Twitter handle.
      The Sun revealed that the injury was instead from an ‘accidental’ training ground collision with Eriksen earlier this season.
      The vicious gossip would test any relationship but Christian stuck by his girlfriend as steadfastly as she has always stuck by him.
      Christian with baby Alfie in a Daddy shirtCredit: Getty – Contributor

      In the terrifying moment, this weekend, when she thought she had lost him, Sabrina’s world looked like it was crumbling.
      But whatever his future holds, she’ll be thanking her lucky stars the love of her life is alive, on the mend, and will still be there to see their precious family grow up.
      Peter Schmeichel says Denmark game shouldn’t have continued after Christian Eriksen collapsed on pitch More

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      Euro 2020: The glamourous women taking to terraces to support their superstar footballer partners

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      IT just wouldn’t be the beautiful game without the beautiful Wags.As the Euros kick off tonight, some of the Continent’s most glamorous women will be taking to the terraces to show their support for their superstar partners.
      Georgina Rodriguez will be cheering on Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2020Credit: @effek
      They include the business mogul wife of Chelsea’s Croatian star Mateo Kovacic, who has been likened to a “Croatian Shakira”.
      Then there’s the Russian Wag who has been snapped hanging around with President Vladimir Putin.
      Others include bikini models, beauty pageant winners — and even a karate master.
      Here’s our guide to the top 2020 Euro Wags. 
      IZABEL GOULART (Kevin Trapp, Germany)
      Model Izabel Goulart is dating Kevin TrappCredit: Steve Earle/Lickerish Syndication
      Kevin Trapp’s girlfriend Izabel was mocked for her looks at schoolCredit: Getty
      MOCKED for her looks at school, the former Victoria’s Secret model has since been voted one of the world’s sexiest women.
      And the 36-year-old Brazilian beauty is so beloved in her homeland she was chosen to lead a parade of 200 dancers at the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics in 2016.
      She has also made guest appearances in US TV shows including Two And A Half Men and Entourage.
      MIA McCLENAGHAN (Reece James, England)
      Mia McClenaghan recently celebrated finishing her law degreeCredit: Instagram/@miamcclenaghan
      Mia’s dating Chelsea right-back Reece JamesCredit: PA
      LAST year was a great one for Chelsea right-back Reece, who made his England debut and got together with girlfriend Mia .
      The 5ft 2in student recently celebrated finishing her law degree with a string of photos on Instagram.
      Mia’s account also has snaps of her in designer clothes and spending time with 21-year-old Reece.
      MIRJANA ZUBER (Steven Zuber, Switzerland)
      Mirjana Zuber was a Miss Switzerland finalist in 2014Credit: Instagram/@mirjanazuber
      The 28-year-old is dating Steven ZuberCredit: AFP
      FROM being a Miss Switzerland finalist in 2014, the 28-year-old went on to host her own successful podcast, Spielerfrauen On Air (the German word for Wag), sharing insights from her private life.
      Continuing to break convention, she has since shared clips of herself training in the US to perform as a TV stuntwoman.
      MAJA NILSSON LINDELOF (Victor Lindelof, Sweden)
      Maja Nilsson Lindelof enjoys flash holidays and motorsCredit: Instagram/@majanilssonlindelof
      Maja is married to Manchester United player Victor LindelofCredit: Getty
      WHILE she enjoys the flash holidays and motors, 27-year-old Maja doesn’t love everything that comes with being the wife of a Manchester United player.
      She complained about the cost of executive boxes at Old Trafford, saying on her podcast Life In The Stands: “It’s a disgusting amount. If you don’t buy one, you’re considered a loser.”
      EDURNE GARCIA (David De Gea, Spain)
      Edurne Garcia represented Spain at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, coming 21st out of 27Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Edurne is the wife of Man Utd goalkeeper David De GeaCredit: AFP
      SINGER Edurne, wife of Man Utd keeper David, 30, knows a thing or two about competing on a Continent-wide stage herself.
      The 35-year-old represented Spain at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, coming 21st out of 27.
      She has also recorded a promotional song for Coca-Cola and is now a judge on Spanish TV singing contest show Idol Kids.
      TEREZA KADERABKOVA (Pavel Kaderabek, Czech Republic)
      Tereza is the daughter of a football refereeCredit: Instagram/@terezakaderabkova
      Tereza married Pavel in 2017Credit: Getty
      THE daughter of a football referee, 30-year-old Tereza was brought up in the game.
      But she made her name as a model, taking the Miss Czech beauty pageant crown in 2012.
      She has since ditched the catwalk to cover football as a TV reporter.
      Tereza married Pavel, 29, in 2017 and the couple have two daughters, Ema and Elva.
      KATRINE FRIIS (Andreas Christensen, Denmark)
      Katrine is usually pictured in warmer climates than her native DenmarkCredit: Instagram/@katrinefogtfriis
      Katrine’s dating Andreas ChristensenCredit: Getty
      BIKINI model Katrine is usually pictured in warmer climates than her native Denmark.
      She has also shared photos of swanky shopping trips to Harrods and Cartier in central London.
      Katrine, 23, was pictured grinning ear to ear on a confetti-strewn pitch after Andreas, 25, helped Chelsea win the Champions League final in Portugal last month.
      LEONITA LEKAJ (Granit Xhaka, Switzerland)
      Leonita was first spotted cheering on hubby Granit, 28, at the 2016 Euros against her native AlbaniaCredit: Instagram/@leonita.x

      Leonita and Granit have been together for six years and have two childrenCredit: Getty
      THE 29-year-old Instagram model was first spotted cheering on hubby Granit, 28, at the 2016 Euros against her native Albania, for whom Granit’s brother Taulant plays.
      It was the first time two brothers had faced each other at the tournament.Leonita and Granit, who plays for Arsenal, have been together for six years and have two children.
      VLADA SEDAN (Oleksandr Zinchenko, Ukraine)
      Vlada is married to Man City’s ZinchenkoCredit: Instagram/@v.lada_sedan
      Zinchenko popped the question on the pitch of the Olympic Stadium in KievCredit: Getty
      MARRIED to Man City playmaker Zinchenko, Vlada, 25, is a TV sports reporter by trade.
      Zinchenko, 24, popped the question on the pitch of the Olympic Stadium in Kiev following Ukraine’s qualification for the Euros.
      But he had to issue an apology on their wedding day last year after she publicly criticised City boss Pep Guardiola’s tactics.
      INES DEGENER TOMAZ (Bernardo Silva, Portugal)
      Ines hooked up with Manchester City midfielder Bernardo, 26, during lockdownCredit: Instagram/@inesdegenertomaz
      Romantic Ines shared a soppy compilation video of the couple together to celebrate their first anniversaryCredit: Reuters
      THE 22-year-old model, who hooked up with Manchester City midfielder Bernardo, 26, during lockdown, loves sharing racy bikini snaps with her 60,000 followers on Instagram.
      Romantic Ines also shared a soppy compilation video of the couple together to celebrate their first anniversary in May.
      ANNA LEWANDOWSKA (Robert Lewandowski, Poland)
      Anna is the wife of Bayern Munich star Robert LewandowskiCredit: Instagram/@annalewandowskahpba
      Anna married Robert in 2013 and they’ve since had two daughtersCredit: Getty
      THE 32-year-old wife of the Bayern Munich goal machine is an athlete in her own right, having won medals at karate championships around the world.
      Anna married Robert, 32, in 2013 and they’ve since had two daughters. Last year, they donated one million euros to help in the fight against coronavirus.
      MICHELE DE BRUYNE (Kevin De Bruyne, Belgium)
      Michele de Bruyne liked one of his tweets while he was on loan in Germany, but he was too nervous to replyCredit: Instagram/@lacroixmichele
      Kevin got one of his friends to write his first message to MiseleCredit: Getty
      MICHELE saw the potential in the 29-year-old Manchester City playmaker long before he was considered one of the best players on the planet.
      The 27-year-old beauty liked one of his tweets while he was on loan in Germany, but he was too nervous to reply, so got a friend to draft a message on his behalf instead.
      APRIL IVY (Ruben Dias, Portugal)
      Proud Wag April topped the iTunes chart in her native Portugal with her single Be OKCredit: Instagram/@aprilivymusic
      April praises her boyfriend Dias often on social mediaCredit: Getty
      POP star April, 21, topped the iTunes chart in her native Portugal with her single Be OK.
      But she is a proud Wag, too.
      She recently posted a pic of her and Dias, 24, on Instagram – with the caption “Keep shining, this is only just the beginning” – after he was named the EA Sports Player of the Season following his debut year at Manchester City.
      ALICE CAMPELLO (Alvaro Morata, Spain)
      Alice Campello is the wife of Spanish striker Alvaro MorataCredit: Instagram/@alicecampello
      Morata and Campello have three kids, but hope to adoptCredit: AP
      THE 26-year-old wife of the Spanish striker is an Italian model and fashion designer.
      Morata, 28, proposed to her on stage during a magic show just eight months after she had ignored his flirty messages on Instagram.
      The couple have three kids, but hope to adopt, too.
      VICTORIA THOMSON (Lyndon Dykes, Scotland)
      Victoria and Lyndon are married and have a son togetherCredit: INSTAGRAM/@LYNDON SYKES
      Aussie-born Dykes is 13 years younger than VictoriaCredit: SNS
      VICTORIA and striker Dykes met when he played at Queen Of The South – and she was married to his manager Jim Thomson.
      When they split, Aussie-born Dykes, 25, who is now at QPR, started dating Victoria, 13 years his senior.
      They’re now married and have a son together, while Victoria has two daughters from her time with Jim.
      JESSICA MELENA (Ciro Immobile, Italy)
      Jessica moved in with Ciro Immobile after just one week of datingCredit: Instagram /@jessicamelena
      The couple have three kids togetherCredit: Getty
      LAZIO striker Immobile, 31, was so struck by Jessica, they moved in together just week after they started dating in 2012.
      Jessica, 30, studied criminology and forensics and had ambitions to become a crime scene investigator.
      But she changed tack after becoming pregnant with the first of the couple’s three kids.
      EMMA RHYS-JONES (Gareth Bale, Wales)
      Emma and Gareth have been together since they met at school in CardiffCredit: Instagram/Emma Rhys-Jones
      Emma has three kids with GarethCredit: Getty
      THE 29-year-old has been with the Tottenham ace since they met at school in Cardiff.
      She has three kids with Gareth, 31, but has a strained relationship with her own father, who was jailed for money laundering and was believed to have wanted to bring an unknown woman to Emma and Gareth’s planned 2018 wedding.

      GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ (Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal)
      Georgina met Cristiano when working at a Gucci shop in MadridCredit: Mega
      Georgina shacked up with Ronaldo after he split from Russian model Irina ShaykCredit: EPA
      SHE was working in a Gucci shop in Madrid when she met Ronaldo, 36, then playing in the Spanish capital.
      The 27-year-old beauty, whose father Jorge spent ten years in jail for being a cocaine and cannabis kingpin, now boasts 24.5million Instagram followers.
      Georgina shacked up with Ronaldo after he split from Russian model Irina Shayk, 35, who is now rumoured to be dating rapper Kanye West.
      Meet the Euros 2020 WAG squad – from models, pop stars to lawyers More

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      in Soccer

      We were only allowed out for one night before Euro 96… I ended up in dentist’s chair, says Teddy Sheringham

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      WHEN we think of Euro ’96, several beautiful images come to mind — Gazza’s goal, Pearce’s ­penalty and all of the win against Holland.But two unpleasant images pop up too — one being a heartbroken Gareth Southgate after his penalty miss in the semi-final against Germany.
      Teddy Sheringham was pictured in the ‘dentist’s chair’ in Hong Kong before Euro 96Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      And, from a month or so before that, the photos of the infamous night out in Hong Kong.
      Teddy Sheringham, his clothes inexplicably in shreds, was one of many faces staring out of our front pages along with a spirit-soaked Gazza, obviously enjoying an almighty pre-tournament bender.
      They were indulging in the “dentist’s chair” — a notorious drinking game where bartenders poured a succession of drinks into the open mouths of punters.
      As preparations for an international tournament went, it was not a good look.
      A quarter of a century on, Teddy allows himself a sheepish smile at the memory. “It was a great night out, yes. Great fun.
      “I mean, you’re with 20 of your mates. You know you have four weeks of staying in and are allowed this one night out.
      “It’s not great pictures, I know, how it turned out. But you know you want to enjoy yourself for that one night — and we certainly did.”
      Boozing Paul Gascoigne pictured alongside Teddy in shredded clothingCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Teddy sheepishly says the Hong Kong was ‘great fun but not great pictures’Credit: The Sun
      But Teddy recalls how England boss Terry Venables somehow managed to turn it into a positive.
      “We know it didn’t look very good to the public and Terry wasn’t best pleased about it and he let us know in no uncertain terms. But what he did afterwards with the Press was pure genius.
      “He said, ‘Look, I allowed them out; it’s on my shoulders.’ And he protected the players. He defended us and we loved him for it.”
      Indeed, the whole furore seemed to end up bringing the whole group together.
      “I think that is exactly how it brought us together. When you’re in each other’s company, you get to know people.
      “And then when someone defends you like (Terry did), it gives you a sturdiness in your group and a unity that perhaps you wouldn’t have got if we had stayed at home and stayed at (team hotel in England) Burnham Beeches and all been on a quiet front.”
      It’s unlikely that Southgate will have the dentist’s chair as part of his strategy for this year’s tour­nament. He gave the night a pass thanks to Stuart Pearce’s sage advice.
      But Euro ’96 will be front of mind for England’s current coach, reckons Teddy, partly because of what the current coach learned from the whole experience.
      Teddy recreates dentist’s chair with GazzaCredit: Getty
      Teddy admits England boss Terry Venables ‘wasn’t best pleased’ about the photographsCredit: Action Images
      Paul Gascoigne celebrates his goal with Teddy Sheringham in the Euro 96 clash against ScotlandCredit: PA:Press Association
      “I’m excited with what Gareth’s doing. I like that he’s worked under Terry Venables.
      “He’ll take a lot from what Terry did in Euro ’96 — the way he tried to build that team spirit, that unity, that club feel. We’ve got some fantastic players.
      “I love the look of Mason (Mount). I love the look of Foden. I love the way they take it to the opposition.
      “You know, Declan Rice has come of age in that position. I’m excited about (Jack) Grealish coming on to the scene too.”
      This enthusiasm for England’s young stars is quite something, coming from a player who in his career won a Champions League, three Premier League titles and an FA Cup, yet wasn’t picked for England until he was 27. Why?
      “Good question,” says Teddy, without any noticeable bitterness. “I was probably in better form when I was around 24 or 25, and just when my form was dipping a little bit, I got the chance when I was least expecting it.”
      Until then Teddy was exactly what he is now — a proper England fan. Of the Italia ’90 semi-final against West Germany, he says, “I remember being at a pub, I think down in Southend, and just getting ­carried away with it.
      “I was a professional footballer by then but I was just enjoying being part of the crowd watching, and the excitement it brought to so many people, watching Gazza turn it on and England coming so close to being in the final.
      “Once you’re a professional footballer, you dream that maybe one time it might happen to you.” Thankfully, for him and the rest of us, it did happen.And the next time England were so close to being in a final he was there, a great player in a great side with a wonderful manager.
      Teddy says the Hong Kong night out incident brought his England team togetherCredit: Getty
      Teddy thinks England could go all the way in the Euros if they ‘come together as a real unit’Credit: The Sun
      Teddy, along with most footballers you talk to who were coached by Venables, say his genius was in how brilliantly he explained stuff to them.
      He had a way of making you understand what was expected.
      Teddy says: “With a lot of managers, if you were told a lot of things, it would all get muddled.
      “But he had a way of making it clear. I mean, it sounds very easy, doesn’t it?
      “But so many managers I’ve played under make it hard work — when you come out of the meeting, you’re like, what was that? And you can see other players thinking that too. With Terry, it was different.”
      As well as bringing the group together, the dentist’s chair drama also, of course, led to a celebration worthy of a sublime goal from Gazza against Scotland.
      Teddy’s memory of it remains razor sharp. “I remember it very clearly. David Seaman hit a long ball up from a goal kick and it dropped quite kindly for me.
      “I laid it off to Darren Anderton who played a beautiful floaty ball over the top and rest is just Gazza’s pure genius.”
      The lads celebrated by recreating the dentist’s chair episode, Gazza lying on his back as Teddy sprayed his water bottle into his mouth.
      Teddy admits some careful planning had gone into it. “I think we were all party to it, agreeing if we scored we could have a bit of fun with it.
      “I took a while to get there as I was probably still coming over the halfway line and I’m not the quickest, but I had to be involved.”
      Teddy thinks this England side have the same kind of talent, but he has a warning that they, and us fans, should heed — England, for all their class, didn’t have it all their own way in ’96.
      Darren Anderton, Paul Gascoigne and Steve McManaman celebrate with goal scorer Teddy SheringhamCredit: Getty
      Terry Venables talks with Teddy Sheringham and Stuart Pearce at an England training session during Euro 96Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      They laboured against Switzerland, the first half against Scotland was a struggle and the Scots’ missed penalty was crucial.
      “Sometimes you just have to dig in. Even looking back at the Holland game, the Dutch had three or four very good chances. It was actually a very even game between two very good teams, but we took our chances, and they didn’t.”
      His point being that when it does get sticky, the players must work through it and, crucially, the fans have got to be patient and stay behind them.
      Teddy’s other advice, in so many words, is not to lose the semi-final.
      Because it hurts like hell. I’d forgotten that the first sudden death penalty, effectively, fell to him.
      “It’s the most nervous I’ve ever been on a football pitch. Taking a penalty for your country, especially the fifth penalty, you know if you miss you’re going to get ridiculed for the rest of your life.”
      He scored, Gareth didn’t, and you know the rest. The horror of that moment has stayed with Teddy. From all the excitement and all the euphoria, that feeling we’re going all the way to, cut, that’s it. Got to go home. Wow. That’s it. It was surreal, awful.”
      He thinks England could go all the way, but says: “You’ve got to come together as a real unit, because any little splits in the camp will get shown up at some stage.
      Adrian Chiles with England legend Teddy SheringhamCredit: The Sun

      “Get into it. Stick together. Fight like hell at times
      “Show your skill, but make sure you give your all because I’m here now 25 years later still swearing ifs and buts.
      “Give it your best shot and come back as heroes. That is what I say.”
      Enough said. More

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      in Soccer

      Leading out England at Wembley was the proudest moment of my life but inside I was a wreck, says Tony Adams

      by

      TWENTY-FIVE years ago England’s football fans really were believing that years of hurt could end when football came home for Euro ’96.This week The Sun reveals the secrets behind our hosting of Europe’s biggest international tournament, starting with hero skipper Tony Adams. 
      Tony Adams captaining his country for the Netherlands clash at Euro ’96Credit: Rex
      Now 54, he tells how after years of battling addiction, he banished his demons in the summer of 1996 and found redemption – and says Gareth Southgate’s side can do the same when the delayed Euro 2020 kicks off this Friday.
      Now an armchair fan like the rest of us, the former Arsenal defender says: “We can win this! It would mean so much for all of us from Euro ’96.”

      WHEN England were to brush agonisingly close to glory in 1996, Tony Adams was at the heart of it all.
      He was the captain the whole team looked to, from the moment he led them on to the pitch at Wembley for the opening match against Switzerland. 
      The England legend as he is todayCredit: The Sun
      “It was the top, you know,” he says. Even now his eyes glisten at the memory and his voice starts to crack.
      But Tony’s Euros story doesn’t begin here. Nor does it start with anything in the build-up, the dentist’s chair drinking games in Hong Kong or any of that carry-on. 
      No, for Tony it started eight years earlier with his first tournament for his country, the European Championships of 1988. 
      “I had a horrific tournament,” he says. “On and off the pitch, it was damaging.”
      England lost to Ireland and were then dismantled by Holland with the rampantly brilliant Marco Van Basten hat-trick. 
      For Tony, it was all nothing short of traumatic. 
      He reveals: “I was so young, you know, 22 years of age, playing against the Dutch and probably the greatest player on the planet at the time.
      “I got turned inside out for a couple of the goals and it was like all the blame was coming towards me.
      Tony wears a Sun bowler while training for 1996 EurosCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      SCARED TO DEATH
      “I had no tools to cope. I had a good drink after we went out of the tournament and ended up weeing the bed. The chambermaid found it. 
      “When I went down for breakfast with the squad, all the lads stood up and they were going, ‘Pee, pee, pee, pee’.” Tony wafts his hand under his nose, mimicking them.
      He continues: “The humiliation and the shame — I laughed it off and put the front up but inside that really did hurt. That really killed me.”
      And there was more humiliation to come for Tony when the squad returned to England. 
      The great season he’d just had with Arsenal, winning the Littlewoods Cup against Liverpool and being awarded the Fiat Uno Young Player Of The Year award, now counted for nothing. 
      He says: “Oh my God, I remember when we landed at Luton and running to my Fiat Uno with about three busloads of England supporters chasing me.” 
      And that was the last Tony saw of tournament football with England for eight long years. Off the field, sinking ever deeper into his addiction to alcohol, his life was in chaos. 
      Tony and David Seaman sing the national anthem before Euro ’96 clash with Spain
      He didn’t make the squad for Italia ’90, and barely even remembers the famous semi-final and Gazza’s tears. 
      “I watched it in a social club just where I lived, drinking and getting smashed,” he recalls. “I felt no emotion about anything at that point.
      “I was completely oblivious to it all, completely oblivious.” Tony was injured for Euro ’92 and England failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the USA, so it wasn’t until Euro ’96 that he made his return to international duties. 
      Having shown his natural leadership at Arsenal, new England manager Terry Venables named Tony as captain — but the build-up to the competition could hardly have been more inauspicious for him. 
      In January his then wife — like him, losing a battle against addiction — went into treatment. 
      In February an injury in training put him out of action for several weeks. And all the time alcohol was tightening its grip. 
      He says: “In March I passed out while looking after my three kids.
      Tony kisses David after he stops Scotland penaltyCredit: Rex
      “It was a Sunday afternoon and I’d drunk six or seven bottles of Chablis and passed out. I woke up with my mother-in-law smacking me around the face, saying she’d take the kids off me.
      “By April, I had kind of come to the place where I knew something was up. There was something about that tournament.” 
      For Tony to become the leader and player he needed to be, the drinking had to stop until the tournament was over. He would, as he puts it, “white-knuckle it” for as long as it took.
      “I said, ‘All I am going to do is train, train, train, play, play, play. I am going to do this’. 
      “I had this mask on, this wall of denial. I am the skipper, I am the captain. So when they said to me, ‘Would you want to go down to a club with a dentist’s chair?’ and all that, I said, ‘Go on, you go and have fun’.
      “I was absolutely scared to death because I knew at that point if I had that first drink I couldn’t stop.
      “And I knew somewhere deep inside of me I had to stop or there was no tournament for me.
      “I was sweating and shaking, and I remember knocking on their doors the next morning, saying, ‘Come on lads, training’ — so I was all training and the football pitch.
      Arsenal win Premier League trophy in 2002Credit: Allsport – Getty
      VERY ASHAMED
      “I knew how to not drink and play football, and football was the thing that was kind of holding me together at that point.
      “The paradox of all this is that the proudest moment of my life was leading out my country at Wembley.
      “But personally, I was a complete and utter wreck. Such a conflict going on. And it was so intense.” 
      Tony was just relieved to get through that first match against Switzerland, which was a 1-1 draw.
      He said: “Even if you just take a point, you taste the atmosphere. You know what it is going to be like, you are in the competition.”
      Now he felt he was really back in business: “I had been around the block. I was 13 years into my professional career. I was a seasoned pro, being captain at Arsenal for nine years, so I think I knew what I was doing on the football pitch.
      “I didn’t know what I was doing off of it, but I knew what I was doing on it.” 
      Against Scotland, disaster struck when he gave away the penalty, but he got away with it. “This England captain felt very ashamed, and the minute I did it I kind of went, ‘Oohh’. But the goalie did me proud and I went across and gave him a big kiss on his forehead.” Moments later, Gazza scored his wonder goal, and that game was done. Next up, for Tony, was the big one — Holland. Still scarred by the defeat at their hands eight years earlier, this was the victory he wanted more than any other. 
      “It was my redemption, to be honest with you, from ’88 and losing heavily, a young boy at 22 getting ridiculed, and it was just a little bit of revenge. It was really emotional personally.” 
      The quarter-final against Spain is another match Tony frames in terms of redemption — in that case for Stuart Pearce and his penalty.
       “That was his redemption from 1990, getting up and smashing it in and going to the fans. I was so proud of Stuart because he totally deserved that.” But there were no further redemptions that summer — against Germany in the semi-final it all fell apart. 
      After England lost on penalties, having drawn the game 1-1, the skipper held it together for a few moments longer to console Gareth Southgate, who missed the crucial spot kick, and the rest of the team.
      Tony in action for England at Euro ’96Credit: Alamy
      SORDID PLACES
      He says: “I remember thinking, ‘OK, I will go and break down later, but first and foremost you are the captain of the team, you need to go and help this person’.” 
      An hour or so after that, someone handed Tony a can of beer, and that was that. “I was away on a six-week bender during which I did everything I’d done in the previous 12 years of drinking — weeing myself, blackouts, things coming out the windows. I went to some sordid places.”
      Euro ’96 turned out to be the last sticking plaster holding Tony together. When it was torn away, he soon went to pieces completely.
      “I’d got to the end. I was 29 years of age and I didn’t want to live, I didn’t want to be here any more. The pain was too much. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
      And now, finally, he got the help he needed to address his issues and change his life for ever. Euro ’96 somehow ended up being the turning point in his life story. 
      He reveals: “We got so close to winning it, and I will be forever grateful for that. It still hurts me, but personally I had a significant shift in my emotional experience that completely changed my life for the better.” Since then he has given up alcohol for good.
      And what about one more redemption, this summer, for Gareth? Tony will be suffering with the rest of us praying for it.
      “We have got some super players that are every bit as good as Euro ’96.
      Adrian Chiles sits down with Tony Adams for a chatCredit: The Sun

      “Technically good defenders? We are awash with them! Harry Maguire, John Stones and Tyrone Mings are all so talented. Mings, he’s bigger than me, really strong.
      “I am more engaged now watching it. I’ve joined the real fans,” he laughs. “I’m like you now.” More