UEFA Nations League

MAURICIO Pochettino would be open to an approach from England if Gareth Southgate quits after the Euros.Poch is on the market following his shock departure from Chelsea after less than a year at the Stamford Bridge helm.Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea by mutual consent earlier this weekCredit: GETTYGareth Southgate’s contract with England expires in December 2024Credit: GETTYPochettino is open to replacing Southgate as Three Lions gafferCredit: GETTYThe Argentine former Spurs and PSG chief will be targeted by Manchester United and Bayern Munich – with the German giants able to offer him the chance to link up once more with Harry Kane and Eric Dier.But while Pochettino will weigh up his options over his next move – and is determined to prove the problem was Chelsea rather than him – he has not dismissed the possibility of becoming the next Three Lions chief if the role becomes available.Southgate has made it clear he will park all and any discussion about his England future until after the tournament in Germany this summer.The England manager’s contract runs to the end of the year and FA chiefs want him to stay at the helm up to the 2026 World Cup.READ MORE ON POCHETTINOAll the indications are that Southgate will be minded to continue if he believes the nation and his squad want him to remain in charge but that he has set the performance bar for his players as a high one.Yet Pochettino’s sudden and unexpected availability could see him become a viable candidate.Pochettino remains close to Kane and Dier, while he has overseen the development of Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill.His relationships with Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier are more tricky after they both left Spurs under a cloud during his N17 reign.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSPochettino’s Chelsea record
MAURICIO POCHETTINO had just started to turn Chelsea around.
An impressive run of end-of-season form saw the Blues leapfrog the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle to finish sixth in the Premier League – and earn a Europa League spot.
But it wasn’t enough to keep him in a job as it was announced on Tuesday evening that the Argentine had left.
Here are all Pochettino’s Stamford Bridge stats:
Premier League – 6th
FA Cup – Semi-finals (lost to Man City)
Carabao Cup – Runners-up (Lost to Liverpool)
Total record:
Games 51Wins 26Draws 11Defeats 14
Goals for 103Goals against 74

But both are coming to the end of their England careers, making a Poch appointment less problematic if the FA are inclined to go down that path.Pochettino’s knowledge of the England players is unquestioned after his three spells in Prem management – including at Southampton where he developed the likes of Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez into Three Lions internationals.Mauricio Pochettino LEAVES Chelsea despite promising end to season as Blues line up four potential new bossesWalker, Trippier, Dier, Dele Alli and Kane all became England fixtures under his Spurs tutelage, while Harry Winks, Ryan Mason and Andros Townsend earned caps while playing for him.This season Palmer’s remarkable first full Prem term has been another tick on the development box for Poch, who knows he will be a man in demand. More

IT’S an England squad where all the attacking decisions were over who to leave out.Yet as Gareth Southgate surveys his 33-man training party ahead of Euro 2024, there’s one surprising stat that might lead you to the opposite conclusion.Harry Maguire has been a regular throughout Gareth Southgate’s reignCredit: GettyIt’s no surprise Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane top England’s scoring listsCredit: GettyAnd ironically it concerns a Manchester United team-mate of Marcus Rashford – the biggest name axed.Fans perusing the facts and figures over Southgate’s provisional squad were shocked to see the list of England’s highest scorers.Way out in front of course is skipper Harry Kane with the Three Lions’ all-time record of 62 – from 89 appearances.Arsenal marauder Bukayo Saka is comfortably in second place, albeit with “just” 11 in 32 games.READ MORE TOP STORIESBut it’s who comes next that raises eyebrows even higher than the man in question jumps in the penalty box.Step forward – and leap up – Harry Maguire!The Red Devils’ centre-back, 31, has bagged seven goals in 63 internationals, mainly thanks to his dynamic heading ability.Maguire has managed to win round Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag after struggling for game-time early in the season.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAnd although he’s a leader on the pitch, it’s the quiet way he knuckled down to the challenge that has impressed most observers.Maguire has remained an England regular pretty much since making his debut in 2017, a year into Southgate’s reign.Marcus Rashford and Henderson OUT of Gareth Southgate’s England Squad for Euro 2024He switched from Leicester to the Red Devils for £85million in 2019, a then-world record for a defender.And after a honeymoon period there were a few wobbles at United.But for England his consistency has rarely dropped.And he became a fans’ favourite at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.Partly that was because he was snapped during downtime riding an inflatable unicorn.But mostly it was due to his rousing performances, capped by a soaring, scoring header in the 2-0 quarter-final win over Sweden.Nonetheless, supporters are still intrigued to see a current England squad packed with frontline options where Maguire is so high up the goal list.Manchester City’s Phil Foden is fourth on four goals.Then come five stars on three – Real Madrid’s main man Jude Bellingham, Aston Villa’s bang-in-form forward Ollie Watkins and Arsenal anchorman Declan Rice, plus defenders Luke Shaw and John Stones.Remember, Southgate’s squad also includes flair players like Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Cole Palmer, plus Brentford striker Ivan Toney and an exciting batch of rookies.One fan posted: “THE THIRD HIGHEST GOAL SCORER IS HARRY MAGUIRE” – followed by shocked emojis.”Another wrote: “This squad lacks goalscorers which is why he should’ve taken Rashford instead of Grealish, I mean you already have Saka and Foden if you want creativity, that decision might bite him.”READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd a third responded: “Yet another reason why you have to take Rashford.”Meanwhile, as that selection debate rages on, you can expect Maguire to once again just let his feet – and head – do the talking. More

GARETH SOUTHGATE has left himself with a selection headache ahead of the Euros.The England boss has announced one of his most surprising and exciting provisional squads since taking the job back in 2016.Gareth Southgate is set for a selection headacheCredit: GettyJames Trafford could be one player cut from the squadCredit: PALewis Dunk faces tough competition to make it to GermanyCredit: PAWhile 33 players have been selected, the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell have all been omitted.However, after friendlies against Bosnia and Iceland, Southgate needs to cut a further seven players to make the 26-man cut for the Euros by June 7 – so who is likely to get the chop?SunSport’s Jordan Davies selects his unlucky men to miss out:JAMES TRAFFORD
GOALKEEPER
BURNLEY
AGE: 21
CAPS: 0
READ MORE IN FOOTBALLA mixed season at Burnley under Vincent Kompany, playing a bold and expansive style of play that was ultimately found out in the Premier League and saw them relegated.Has a bright future ahead of him, but even he would admit that this tournament has come too soon.LEWIS DUNK
CENTRAL DEFENDER
BRIGHTON
AGE: 32
CAPS: 5
Despite England’s issues in the centre of defence, Dunk is likely to miss the cut, especially after his calamitous outing against Belgium and Romelu Lukaku back in March.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSPerhaps harsh on the Seagulls stalwart, in what is his last chance to make a major tournament with England, but Southgate cannot afford to have any passengers.JARELL QUANSAH
CENTRAL DEFENDER
LIVERPOOL
AGE: 21
CAPS: 0
A real statement of how much progress the Reds youngster has made that he has even been considered for the Euros.Marcus Rashford and Henderson OUT of Gareth Southgate’s England Squad for Euro 2024Southgate will use this time to take a good look at him ahead of future squad announcements. It would be a huge shock if he was to get on the plane to Germany.CURTIS JONESCurtis Jones is yet to be capped by EnglandCredit: PA
CENTRAL MIDFIELDER
LIVERPOOL
AGE: 23
CAPS: 0
Jones will be excited at the potential of winning his first senior cap for his country in the upcoming friendlies having starred for England’s U21s in recent years.Anything more than that will be a real bonus for Jones, who is up against the likes of Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham to win a starting spot…JARROD BOWENJarrod Bowen scored 16 Premier League goals this seasonCredit: PA
WINGER
WEST HAM
AGE: 27
CAPS: 7
He started the season on fire with 11 Prem goals between August and January, but his form since then has come at the exact wrong time, ending with 16 Prem goals this term.A decent tally, but those sorts of numbers are just not enough to break into one of the most exciting attacking groups England have ever had.JAMES MADDISONJames Maddison struggled to keep his form up all seasonCredit: PA
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER
TOTTENHAM
AGE: 27
CAPS: 6
Injury halted his impressive start for Spurs this campaign, as well as his form. The assists dried up as the North Londoners blew a Prem top-four spot.Having failed to make an appearance from the bench at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Maddison finds himself in a dangerous position of missing out on the Euros altogether.OLLIE WATKINSOllie Watkins may be edged out of the squadCredit: PA
STRIKER
ASTON VILLA
AGE: 28
CAPS: 11
READ MORE SUN STORIESOllie Watkins or Ivan Toney? That is the burning question Southgate will need to answer, and it may well come down to who can perform better in a shoot-out.Watkins has had a stunning season with 27 goals in all competitions, but Toney is the best penalty-taker in the world – can you really afford to leave that at home?’Mr Conservate takes machete to squad’
By Jordan Davies
INTERNATIONAL football’s Mr Conservative has taken a machete to his squad in one of the most brutal England squad shake-ups in recent memory.
Gareth Southgate has built a reputation in the Three Lions hot-seat by sticking to what he knows, and who he knows, in order to navigate major tournaments without any dramas.
Reliable, experienced faces with trust in the bank and little to no surprises on offer that have managed to reach finals and semi-finals in tournaments gone by.
But ahead of this summer’s Euros – a competition that England are expected to win and win well – Southgate appears to be throwing caution to the wind in a bid to excite and amaze.
Ben Chilwell, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling have all been left out of Southgate’s provisional 30-man squad – the latter three boarded the plane to Qatar in November 2022.
And in come the young guns – Crystal Palace duo Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Burnley keeper James Trafford.
Is Southgate finally picking on current form and potential instead of past heroics? It looks that way.
The future is bright, and Southgate is ready to shake things up in order to reflect that. More

RUTHLESS Gareth Southgate has sensationally axed Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson from England’s provisional Euro 2024 squad.The two Three Lions regulars were left out along with Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell and Reece James as Southgate axed a host of former favourites.Gareth Southgate’s Full England Squad For Euro 2024Marcus Rashford has been left out of Gareth Southgate’s preliminary Euro 2024 squadCredit: ReutersSouthgate has also snubbed former mainstay Jordan HendersonRaheem Sterling has also been snubbedCredit: Richard Pelham / The SunBen Chilwell has also missed out on a call-upCredit: RexAs have former Liverpool stars Henderson and Sterling.And Chilwell and James, when they’ve been fit, have been one of The Three Lions chief’s preferred left and right backs.But Southgate has decided to leave the United, Ajax and Chelsea stars out of his provisional 30-plus squad for this summer’s tournament.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Southgate has made EIGHT shock inclusions in his provisional squad.Curtis Jones, James Trafford, Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton, Marc Guehi, Jarell Quansah, Jarrad Branthwaite and Dean Henderson are all part of the squad.The snubbing of Rashford may not come as a surprise to some given his poor form last season.The 26-year-old found the back of the net eight times in 42 appearances for the Red Devils.Most read in FootballThe exclusion of Henderson from the provisional squad has come as a huge surprise.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe 33-year-old has been part of the squad for the three tournaments which have taken place during Southgate’s reign.He played in a further three tournaments under former Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson.Gareth Southgate looks ahead to his provisional Euro 2024 squad after suffering England injury blowRash Decision?

By Jordan Davies
MARCUS RASHFORD will be hurting, but he can have no complaints.
His omission from Gareth Southgate’s 30-man provisional Euros squad has been a long time coming with his Manchester United form plummeting week on week.
And this term has seen England boss Southgate – a loyal selector of the United forward during his darkest moments – make one of the toughest calls of his tenure to date.
Rashford, 26, has scored just eight goals in all competitions for Erik ten Hag’s side this campaign – his joint-second worst return in his entire career.
He had a decent impact at the Qatar World Cup last November, scoring twice, and netted most recently in a 3-1 home win over Italy in Euros qualifying last October.
But they were just fleeting moments in what has been dismal period for the Red Devil. Hopefully this is the catalyst that will prompt him to turn his career around.

It’s unclear if the snub from the Euro 2024 squad will mark the end of Henderson’s international career. It could very well be that Southgate believes he’s not played enough first-team football to warrant a place in the squad. He made 12 appearances in all competitions for Ajax last season. But he was out for almost six weeks due to injury, although he did return for the Dutch giants’ final three league matches of the season.Henderson’s loss has been the gain of teenage Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.Southgate handed the teen his first caps in England’s recent matches against Brazil and Belgium and was blown away by his displays.He said: “He seems very calm. You can see he is taking everything in”Talking to him tactically, he seems able to take all those concepts on. A lot of young players now, with their academy education, are able to do that. You can see his comfort with the ball and receiving in tight areas.””There are a lot of steps being taken in a very short period of time, but you saw in the brief cameo the other day [against Brazil] some of the qualities he has. “Sometimes, with the really young ones, they are not even thinking about that.”The omission of Sterling hasn’t come as a surprise given his mixed form for Chelsea this season.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe winger made 43 appearances for the Blues last season, scoring ten goals and providing eight assists.Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is set to be England’s starting left back in the absence of Chilwell, who only made 21 appearances last season due to injury.Southgate wields the axe
By Jordan Davies
INTERNATIONAL football’s Mr Conservative has taken a machete to his squad in one of the most brutal England squad shake-ups in recent memory.
Gareth Southgate has built a reputation in the Three Lions hot-seat by sticking to what he knows, and who he knows, in order to navigate major tournaments without any dramas.
Reliable, experienced faces with trust in the bank and little to no surprises on offer that have managed to reach finals and semi-finals in tournaments gone by.
But ahead of this summer’s Euros – a competition that England are expected to win and win well – Southgate appears to be throwing caution to the wind in a bid to excite and amaze.
Ben Chilwell, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling have all been left out of Southgate’s provisional 30-man squad – the latter three boarded the plane to Qatar in November 2022.
And in come the young guns – Crystal Palace duo Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Burnley keeper James Trafford.
Is Southgate finally picking on current form and potential instead of past heroics? It looks that way.
The future is bright, and Southgate is ready to shake things up in order to reflect that. More

GARETH   SOUTHGATE hopes to lead a huge party in Trafalgar Square to mark England   winning  Euro 2024.Yet before the FA can start thinking about any open-top bus tour of central London, their manager has to survey the wreckage of a car crash season for many of his stars.England chief Gareth Southgate has plenty of big decisions to ponderCredit: GettyHarry Kane’s back issue is said to cause him pain just trying to moveCredit: GettyAnd only then, can he think about plotting a route to the final on July 14 in Berlin.A mixture of injuries and players struggling with form has ensured that Southgate is juggling a number of serious issues.He will today name a training squad of at least 30 players before reducing it to 26 for the tournament.England face Bosnia and Herzegovina at Newcastle on June 3 with their second warm-up game against Iceland at Wembley four days later.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSSouthgate will submit his final squad to Uefa later that evening, with England’s first match of the Euros against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on June 16.While England, arguably, have more world-class talent than the  Golden Generation, it is nonsense to suggest the squad is stronger in terms of depth. In fact, there are a few potentially-damaging weaknesses.HARRY PAINThe most recent medical report to arrive on Southgate’s desk concerns captain Harry Kane.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSIf there is no Kane, 30, in Germany, there will certainly be no party in London.Most read in Euro 2024Although his back injury is not thought to be too serious, it is hardly ideal timing that Kane missed Bayern Munich’s final two games of the season with an issue which, according to manager Thomas Tuchel, has left the forward in pain each time he has attempted to move.I was Gareth Southgate’s best man and walked out on Arsenal – now I’m managing EFL’s newest club after Wembley promotionHowever, Southgate is unlikely to select both Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney in his final 26.Toney scored from the penalty spot in England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium in March and was a bright spark in that game.But following his return from a betting ban, the Brentford forward struggled. He failed to score in any of his final 12 club matches of the season.Meanwhile, Watkins, 28, goes into the summer on the back of a red-hot, 27-goal season with Aston Villa so at least he is one player who is brimming with confidence.Southgate will now hope a few of his other players can also rediscover their best form.Toney fits the Kane role more closely than Watkins, but the 28-year-old Villa man is in hot form. A tough call.STICKS AND STONESEngland’s major concern is in central defence. John Stones, 29, is England’s key player at the back but he has had a rotten season in terms of playing time.He has suffered a few injury issues and when he has been fit, the centre-back has often found himself on the  bench. In Manchester City’s latest title success, Stones started just 12 games.Defensive partner Harry Maguire, 31,  has also suffered another tough season and has only started 18 top-flight games for Manchester United.Marc Guehi, 23, and Ezri Konsa, 26, could feature but lack Three Lions experience. This is why Bayern’s Eric Dier, 30, surely gets a recall in Southgate’s long list.Southgate is unlikely to pick both Ivan Toney and Ollie WatkinsCredit: GettyEric Dier’s experience should earn him the nod for Euro 2024Credit: GettyAt left-back, Luke Shaw, 28, looks likely to miss out on the Euros due to a thigh injury, while there are also concerns about the form and fitness of Ben Chilwell, 27, who was not involved for Chelsea on Sunday.As a result, right-back Kieran Trippier, 33, looks certain to start on the left. Even at right-back, Kyle Walker, 33, has not been playing well for City.MIDDLE MANAGEMENTAnother key issue is who plays next to Declan Rice, 25, in the double pivot of Southgate’s  preferred 4-2-3-1 system.Kalvin Phillips must have become the first England player ever to play his way out of a squad simply by, er, playing.Phillips, 28, remained in the squad when he was being ignored at City  but he was so bad on loan at West Ham that Southgate has been given an easy decision — axe him.Ajax’s Jordan Henderson, 33, is set to remain a squad player but is unlikely to start so Southgate is likely to continue his experiment with Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield.But frustratingly the Liverpool right-back, 25, has only played in three of the last eight England games due to injury.Southgate’s other options are to play Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher or Kobbie Mainoo in a deeper role next to Rice.WING AND A PRAYEROut wide, and again, some of England’s players have suffered average seasons.Yes, the likes of Phil Foden and 22-year-old Bukayo Saka have been incredible but City’s Jack Grealish, 28, and 27-year-old Spurs man James Maddison have hardly stood out.On form alone, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, 26, should not be picked after a disastrous campaign. But he played well for England in the autumn so is likely to be selected and he does have major tournament experience.Jarrod Bowen, 27, and 25-year-old Eberechi Eze are competing for one, maybe two, spots.This is because the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season Cole Palmer, 22, and Anthony Gordon, 23, have both been outstanding for Chelsea and Newcastle respectively and look certain to get the nod.READ MORE SUN STORIESMuch will depend on whether Southgate decides to play Foden, 23, centrally, where he has starred for Pep Guardiola’s champions, or from the right.Decisions, decisions, Gareth.Jack Grealish and James Maddison might be sweatingCredit: Richard Pelham / The SunCole Palmer’s brilliant Chelsea form surely makes him a shoo-inCredit: Getty More

LUKE SHAW has lost his race to make the Euro’s after being ruled out of Manchester United’s final two games of the season.But Harry Maguire, who has missed the last three games with a muscle injury, is set to make the FA Cup Final and the list for Germany.Luke Shaw will miss the EurosCredit: ReutersGareth Southgate will name his squad on TuesdayCredit: GettyShaw, 28, is the Three Lions first-choice left-back but has not played since February due to a hamstring injury.He was fighting to get back but his rehabilitation suffered a recent set-back.Gareth Southgate names his provisional 26-man squad next Tuesday for next month’s finals.United boss Erik ten Hag said: “F*or the cup final we’re working on it.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLMaguire, 31, has a fair chance that he will be available, Luke is more complicated in this moment.”Let’s say it’s less of a chance he will make it but still a very small chance. He had a setback, now we have to find out how far it is.”United, who stand eighth, take on Brighton this Sunday with the Europa Conference their only chance of European football through the league.Victory in the FA Cup Final would, however, get them in the Europa League.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSIt is a long way from this time last season when they had the Carabao Cup on the mantelpiece and were heading towards a third placed finish and a Cup Final.The win over Newcastle on Wednesday was only their second in nine in the league.Dream Team’s Nick Elliott previews this summer’s Euro 2024 tournament gameFor Ten Hag, however it was proof the players still believe in him.Indeed, he thinks only the 4-0 defeat away to Crystal Palace in that run was worthy of criticism.He said: “It was one very poor performance and all the others was a very good spirit.“I would almost say that across the season, with all the problems we had, the spirit in the team, the fighting spirit was always there, the dynamic was always there.“We had some good performances even when the best players were not available.”Ten Hag is set to start Lisandro Martinez on Sunday after he came on as a second-half sub in the game against Newcastle.He had previously played just once since February 4. More