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    England in World Cup 2026 boost as major Uefa change all but guarantees Three Lions top seed in qualification

    ENGLAND are set to receive a massive World Cup seeding boost – after a Uefa rethink.Euro chiefs had indicated that seeding for December’s qualification draw in Zurich would be determined entirely by Nations League places, with the best 12 performers getting the advantage.England have received a massive boost ahead of the 2026 World Cup drawCredit: AFPThat meant England, relegated to League B after their 2022 horror show performances, could not gatecrash the top seeding pot even with a 100 per cent record under interim boss Lee Carsley.Three Lions’ sources had accepted the apparent reality and the risk of having to beat one of the likes of France, Spain, Portugal to Germany to take an automatic place in the USA, Canada and Mexico.But it has now emerged that Nyon chiefs have refined the seeding plans – effectively guaranteeing England top spot unless they suffer a major meltdown over the next two months.Instead of the top 12 League A sides being seeded, the new plan will see the top two in each of the four pools earning that ranking.Read More on EnglandBut the four remaining top seeds will be the best four sides in Fifa’s world rankings that have not earned their spots through the Nations League.And with England’s position in fourth in that Fifa table – behind only Argentina, France and Spain – strengthened by the back-to-back wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland, it is almost certain that they will be rewarded by a place in the top pot.The expansion to a 48-nation tournament means Europe will get 16 teams in the revamped tournament, up from 13 in 2022.Uefa agreed to downsize qualifying groups to ensure all the group matches are played between March and November next year.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThere will be 12 groups, six of which will have four teams and the others containing five sides.Only the group winners qualify, with the runners up joined by four sides from the Nations League campaign in a series of sudden-death play-offs for the final four places in March 2026.Lee Carsley reveals he is ‘not speaking’ to Ben White as he gives update on Arsenal star’s England careerWinning their League B pool would ensure England have a fall-back place in the play-offs even if they blow up in the qualifying campaign.But even as top seeds, England will still probably be in one of the five team groups with at least two qualifying matches before the end of this season, in the March and June international breaks.England ratings vs Finland: Kane bags double on his big day… but he’s not the Three Lions’ star manTRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD showed his brilliance as Harry Kane’s brace saw England beat Finland.Interim boss Lee Carsley maintained his 100 per cent win record in charge of England.SunSports Tom Barclay has given their ratings of the England players…Jordan Pickford – 6Had nothing to do.Trent Alexander-Arnold – STAR MAN 9England’s best player as he supplied some beautiful balls from deep that on another day would have led to a glut of assists.He did get one in the end, although that was more thanks to Harry Kane’s lethal finishing.Ezri Konsa – 6Showed his ability on the ball with a super ball through for Bukayo Saka on the half hour.Twisted his ankle early in the second half, surprisingly played on before being replaced on the hour.John Stones – 6Played at left-sided centre-back before shifting when Levi Colwill came on.Solid though not much to deal with. Now 19 short of 100 caps.Rico Lewis – 7In the right place to snuff out early danger from ex-Norwich man Teemu Pukki.Came close to a goal on his second England cap when prodding wide after the break.Declan Rice – 5Lost possession to give Finland their one and only big chance which Topi Kesinen should have squared to Pukki, but instead fired wildly over.Angel Gomes – 7Wanted the ball from the off, just like Lee Carsley thought he would. Deliciously drilled cross-field ball to Alexander-Arnold early doors showed his range.Bukayo Saka – 7Almost scored and almost assisted in a lively display.Unlucky that Kane was millimetres offside after the centurion had headed home the Arsenal man’s wicked delivery.Jack Grealish – 7Enjoyed being in the heart of the action at No10 again, as he did on Saturday against the Republic of Ireland.Carsley clearly likes him – it will be fascinating to see what happens when Mssrs Bellingham, Foden and Palmer all return.Anthony Gordon – 7Caused problems down the left with his rapid pace – how we needed some of that in the Euros.But did not have on his shooting boots as he fluffed a decent chance early in the second half.Harry Kane – 8Two blistering finishes took the centurion to an astonishing 68 goals in 100 caps.Was denied the chance of a hat-trick in front of his family when subbed off to a standing ovation for the final ten.Kane said he fancies his chances of reaching a ton of international goals – and it does not seem fanciful.SUBSLevi Colwill (on for Konsa, 61) – 6Next to no threat from Finland by the time he came on.Eberechi Eze (on for Gordon, 66) – 6Raced on to yet another special Trent pass but could not loop it over the keeper.Noni Madueke (on for Saka, 66) – 7Looked to make an impact every time he got the ball on debut. Excellent one-two with Trent saw the Chelsea man tee up Kane’s second.Marc Guehi (on for Stones, 80) – 6As with Colwill, little to do.Jarrod Bowen (on for Kane, 81) – 6Played up top after Kane went off for the final minutes, as he has done for West Ham. More

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    Cole Palmer one of three big names left OUT of Chelsea’s Uefa Conference League squad

    COLE PALMER could miss out on a possible European trophy this season because of the workload facing young stars.Chelsea have taken the dramatic step to leave their best player out of their squad for this season’s Uefa Conference League in order to rest him.Cole Palmer has been left out of Chelsea’s Uefa Conference League squadCredit: GettyInjury-jinxed midfielder Romeo Lavia and centre back Wesley Fofana have also been left out of the 27-strong group to contest the third-tier competition.Palmer, 22, featured in both legs of the play-off round against Swiss side FC Servette – coming off the bench in the second half both times.But he will not play in the league stage which comprises six games up to December before the knockout rounds begin next year.Palmer has withdrawn from the latest England squad due to ongoing issues – believed to be a relatively minor hamstring problem.READ MORE ON CHELSEAChelsea played their first game of the season on August 18 but will be competing in next summer’s expanded Club World Cup in America.It runs from June 15 to July 13 and features 32 teams, including Premier League champions Manchester City.The Europa Conference League final takes place on May 25 in Poland.Chelsea are concerned at the number of games which could be heaped upon their rising star who played a key role in England’s run to the final of Euro 2024 in the summer.Most read in FootballRomeo Lavia has also been excluded from the squadCredit: AlamyWesley Fofana has missed out tooCredit: AFPChelsea’s Conference League fixturesThursday, October 3Chelsea vs GentKick-off: 8pmThursday, October 24Panathinaikos vs ChelseaKick-off: 5.45pmThursday, November 7Chelsea vs FC NoahKick-off: 8pmThursday, November 28Heidenheim vs ChelseaKick-off: 5.45pmThursday, December 12FC Astana vs ChelseaKick-off: 3.30pmThursday, December 19Chelsea vs Shamrock RoversKick-off: 8pm.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe club took the decision to leave him out of the Conference League squad because of ‘load management’ as they enter the second month of a season which sees them competing in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, Conference League and Club World Cup.Palmer has just been shortlisted for this year’s Ballon D’Or award as a reward for his rapid rise following a £40m move from Manchester City to Chelsea last summer. Man Utd flop Jadon Sancho makes bizarre claim about Enzo Maresca being reason he joined Chelsea but it doesn’t add upFofana missed the whole of last season with a knee injury, while Lavia has suffered with a series of fitness issues since joining Chelsea last summer for £53 million.There could still be a chance for Lavia, Palmer and Fofana to play in the Conference League this season though.That’s because Chelsea are able to add three more players to their squad following the initial league phase of the tournament.So should the London club advance into the latter stages then Maresca may then call the big name trio up to the squad.The Stamford Bridge outfit will play Gent, Panathinaikos, FC Noah, Heidenheim, FC Astana and Shamrock Rovers during the league phase of the competition.Their clash with Panathinaikos next month is sandwiched between Premier League games against Liverpool and Newcastle, while their FC Noah match will be in-between battles with Arsenal and Man Utd.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat busy schedule of tough head-to-heads represents one example for why Maresca has excluded some of his best talents.Chelsea will still have plenty of options for the Conference league with stars such as Christopher Nkunku, Enzo Fernandez, Noni Madueke and new arrival Jadon Sancho all included in the 27-strong squad.Chelsea’s Uefa Conference League squadA look at Chelsea’s squad for the Uefa Conference League in full…GoalkeepersRobert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen, Lucas BergstromDefendersAxel Disasi, Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Josh Acheampong, Renato VeigaMidfieldersEnzo Fernandez, Noni Madueke, Carney Chukwuemeka, Christopher Nkunku, Jadon Sancho, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Moises Caicedo, Cesare Casadei, Tyrique George, Kiano DyerAttackersPedro Neto, Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix, Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu More

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    Uefa confirm major change to European football in huge boost to Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal fans

    UEFA have announced a major change to ticket prices for this season’s Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.The European governing body confirmed a price cap for away fans following their favourite club in various stadium visits around the continent.UEFA have announced a price cap on away tickets for this season’s competitionsCredit: ReutersAway tickets will be reduced further more next season in Uefa competitionsCredit: GettyThe maximum ticket prices for away fans will be €60 (£51m) in the Champions League, €40 (£34) in the Europa League and €20 (£17) in the Conference League.Things will get even better next season as visiting supporters will pay no more than €50 (£42) in the Champions League, €35 (£29) in the Europa League and €20 (£17) in the Conference League.Uefa came to the decision following an agreement with European Clubs’ Association and Football Supporters’ Europe.A statement read: “Starting with the 2024/25 season, the maximum ticket prices for away fans will be €60 in the UEFA Champions League, €40 in the UEFA Europa League and €20 in the UEFA Conference League. Read More on Football”This will be further reduced in the 2025/26 season to a maximum price of €50 in the UEFA Champions League, €35 in the UEFA Europa League and still €20 in the UEFA Conference League.”The news will be welcomed by the Premier League’s representatives for this season’s Uefa competitions.Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa fans are set for four trips in the Champions League.The same goes for Tottenham and Manchester United supporters in the Europa League.Most read in FootballChelsea fans, on the other hand, will be going on three away games in the Conference League.There will be more trips in the knockout stages if the Premier League clubs finish in the top 24 places in their competition.Cristiano Ronaldo reveals bizarre thing that ‘turns him on’ during live Champions League drawIf they finish in the top eight of their respective league phase then they will qualify straight to the Last 16 and avoid the play-off round. More

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    Chelsea risk being BANNED from European competitions over finances as Uefa close controversial loophole

    CHELSEA are facing a challenge to comply with Uefa’s financial rules and could be barred from European competitions.It comes after the European body confirmed it’s stance on registering income.Chelsea face a race to comply with Uefa’s financial rulesCredit: AlamyUefa will NOT allow clubs to register earnings from selling assets to sister companies, which Chelsea have done to ease losses this summer.Todd Boehly and Clearlake have offset some of the club’s deficit by selling two of Chelsea’s hotels to a sister company for £76.5million. The women’s team, meanwhile, was sold to the club’s parent company two days before the end of the financial year in June.The Premier League has yet to close loopholes that have allowed Chelsea to register the sales as registered income. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBut Uefa will prevent clubs benefiting from income through selling assets this way, reports The Times.Any sanction or settlement for a breach of Uefa’s financial rules would not affect Chelsea in this season’s Conference League.However, in theory, if Chelsea fail to comply they could be excluded from European football next season amid a host of other punishments.Uefa did stress that all cases would have to be assessed individually by its independent panel. Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThis loophole is banned by the English Football League for clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two.Uefa financial regulations are already more difficult to comply with than the Prem’s.Mykhailo Mudryk reveals his cheat meal and best Chelsea pals in Q&A Profit and Sustainability Rules, used by the English top-flight, permit clubs to lose a maximum of £105m over a rolling three-year period.But Uefa’s ‘football earnings’ rule allows clubs to lose only £34.5m over two seasons.Chelsea’s most recent accounts were published in April, and in them Boehly reaffirmed that the club are in line to subscribe with Uefa rules.The owners at Stamford Bridge have spent just shy of £1.2BILLION on transfers since arriving in May 2022.The club have raised cash through selling the likes of pure profit academy graduates Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid and Ian Maatsen to Aston Villa.But they have once again spent significantly more than they have earned, with Pedro Neto and Joao Felix among their raft of new signings as they continue to eye another striker before Friday’s deadline.What’s happened so far between Uefa and Cheslea?In September 2022, Chelsea were placed on a “watchlist” by Uefa’s Club Financial Control Body.They were among 19 European clubs who escaped action only because of Covid-related allowances. However, as they failed to qualify for Europe for the 2022-23 season they were not liable to any enforcement of Uefa’s financial rules.In June last year, Uefa closed another loophole that allowed clubs to spread the cost of a transfer fee over the length of the player’s contract. Uefa imposed a five-year maximum for players signed after July 1.Chelsea are still without a main front-of-shirt sponsor after two games of the season for the second consecutive year as they fetch a more lucrative deal.Back in 2019, AC Milan reached a settlement with Uefa to serve a one-year ban from European competition due to multiple financial breaches.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd in 2020, Manchester City were banned from the Champions League for two years and hit with a £25million fine after breaking FFP.The Citizens ban was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25NOTHING stays the same forever.And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25. More

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    How much each Premier League club will earn from Europe without even kicking a ball with Chelsea set for paltry payment

    PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are set to earn a pretty penny from Uefa before they even kick a ball in Europe this season.Seven English clubs will be competing across the three Uefa club competitions, which have undergone a radical format change.The format in Uefa competition will see Premier League clubs earn some cool prize money without kicking a ballCredit: AFPPep Guardiola’s Manchester City are in line to earn the mostCredit: RexArsenal will earn a lovely windfall before kicking a ballCredit: GettyChelsea will earn only a comparatively small figure after being bumped down in the Conference League by Man Utd’s FA Cup successCredit: RexThis new set-up puts them in a Swiss-style league system, instead of the previously adopted eight groups of four with the top two progressing.Now, each club will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams overall play opponents of similar difficulty.The top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over ten midweek slots.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut how much will each team earn from the new Uefa package?Kicking us off are Premier League champions Manchester City.Pep Guardiola is hoping to land a second European title with the club this season.Winning every match in the Champions League alone could see them earn somewhere in the region of £140million-£145m.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBut before a ball has even been kicked they are in line to receive £53m from the new package.Liverpool will earn at least £51m from the deal, Arsenal about £46m and Aston Villa give or take around £33m.SunSport’s Latest Transfer HeadlinesBy comparison, the Europa League offers a far less bountiful starting prize pool.Tottenham, who qualified for the competition through a fifth-place league finish, will earn £12m.This figure is the same as what Manchester United, who qualified through winning the FA Cup, will also receive.Meanwhile, Chelsea – who were knocked out of the Europa League and into the Europa Conference League because of United’s FA Cup triumph – are in line to earn just £5m.The new automated Champions League league phase draw is due to take place at 5pm on Thursday evening at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo, Monaco.The Europa League and Conference League draws are then due to take place the following day at 12pm and 1.30pm respectively.New Champions League formatEach club will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.The top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The new Champions League format also sees the implication of two additional qualifying spots.They will be awarded to the nations that are top of the “country coefficient” chart each season.The pots for the Champions League are as follows:Pot 1:Real MadridBayern MunichParis Saint-GermainInter MilanBorussia DortmundRB LeipzigBarcelonaManchester CityLiverpoolPot 2:Bayer LeverkusenAtletico MadridAtalantaJuventusBenficaClub BruggeShakhtar DonetskAC MilanArsenalPot 3:FeyenoordSporting CPPSV EindhovenCelticWinner of Young Boys v Galatasaray play-offWinner of Dinamo Zagreb v Qarabag play-offWinner of Lille v Slavia Prague play-offTBD (see below)TBD (see below)Pot 4MonacoAston VillaBolognaGironaVfB StuttgartSturm GrazBrestWinner of Malma v Sparta Prague play-offTBD (see below)Who will fill the TBD spots?The spots that you can not accurately predict come down to three play-off games – here are the matches in question:READ MORE SUN STORIESMidtjylland v Slovan BratislavaBodo/Glimt v Red Star BelgradeDynamo Kyiv v Red Bull SalzburgThe qualifying side with the lowest coefficient will go into Pot 4, with the others going into Pot 3. More

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    Gareth Southgate lands shock new job until end of season just weeks after stepping down as England manager

    GARETH SOUTHGATE has landed a shock new job just weeks after stepping down as England manager.Southgate resigned following eight years as Three Lions boss following the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain in July.Gareth Southgate has returned to work after quitting as England bossCredit: GettySouthgate will be back in the stands at football matches as a Uefa technical observerCredit: GettyBut according to Henry Winter, Southgate is back in work already.It is reported that the former England gaffer will be employed by Uefa until the end of the season as a technical observer.The role – which David Moyes has also taken on – sees him attend matches and report back to European football’s governing body, analysing games from a coaching perspective.The observations – alongside the use of video and stats – are designed to help Uefa spot new trends in football to improve coaching education. READ MORE ENGLAND NEWSFabio Capello, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Avram Grant, Aitor Karanka and Frank de Boer all worked as Uefa technical observers at Euro 2024 as Southgate led his side to back-to-back finals. However, after the 2-1 defeat to Spain, he handed in his notice to the FA and walked away from the job.Southgate, 53, taking on the new role for the remainder of the 2024-25 season suggests he is not planning to return to management during that time. The ex-Middlesbrough boss was heavily linked with replacing Erik ten Hag at Manchester United this summer.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHowever, Sir Jim Ratcliffe decided to stick with the Dutchman, who signed a new contract at Old Trafford. The FA are yet to appoint a permanent successor to Southgate, who has made the most of his time unemployed by snapping up five new homes worth £2.4million for his growing investment firm and soaking up the sun on holiday in Portugal with his family.Gareth Southgate at centre of channel bidding war for glossy documentary after quitting as England bossLee Carsley has stepped up from Under-21s gaffer to the senior team on an interim basis. He will take charge of his first games in the Nations League next month with an away trip to Ireland before hosting Finland at Wembley.But Carsley has already made a bold call – binning off lead performance analysts Mike Baker and Stephen O’Brien from the senior set-up.Ashley Cole, Joleon Lescott, analyst James Ryder and goalkeeper coach Tim Dittmer are all set to be promoted from their duties with the U21s to help Carsley with the seniors. The search for the next permanent manager continues, though.Southgate’s highs and lows as England bossGARETH Southgate took charge of 102 games for England before quitting in the aftermath of the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.But what were the best – and worst matches – from the popular gaffer’s eight-year reign before that devastating Sunday night in Berlin? Here we take a look.THE HIGHS:Colombia 1-1 England (3-4 on pens,) 2018 World CupThis was the night that long-suffering supporters finally started to believe that it was coming home.Despite conceding a late equaliser, England held their nerve to advance to the quarter final of the World Cup 2018 on penalties.It was our first shootout victory for 22 years.Spain 2-3 England, 2018 Nations LeagueFollowing on from the World Cup, England won in Spain for the first time in 31 years with a brilliant Uefa Nations League victory.Southgate’s boys stunned the Seville crowd into silence with a thrilling performance that saw them lead 3-0 at the break thanks to a Raheem Sterling brace and Marcus Rashford.Although the hosts scored two after the break, the way the Three Lions tore La Roja apart excited every fan.England 2-1 Denmark, Euro 2020 semi-finalSouthgate led England to their first major final in 55 years as they beat Denmark after extra-time in the Euro 2020 semi-final.Having fallen behind after half an hour, the Three Lions battled back to send it to extra-time courtesy of an own goal.Then it was captain Kane who converted a rebound after Kasper Schmeichel originally saved his penalty in extra-time to win it.England 3-0 Sengal, 2022 World Cup last 16England had already blown Iran and Wales, 6-2 and 3-0 respectively, away in the World Cup 2022 group stages before they breezed past Senegal.The free-scoring Three Lions recorded another big win to set-up a mouthwatering quarter-final against France – what could go wrong?Italy 1-2 England, Euro qualifiers, 2023On a night when Harry Kane became England’s all-time top scorer, the Three Lions recorded a first away win over Italy since 1961.It was the first game since their 2022 World Cup exit, and it ensured a perfect start to their Euro 2022 qualifying campaign.England 2-1 Holland, Euro 2024 sem-finalThe nation doubted Southgate’s men in the semis of Euro 2024, but they responded with a barnstorming display.Xavi Simons opened the scoring for the Dutch but Harry Kane’s penalty drew us level.And Ollie Watkins slotted in a brilliant winner in injury time to see the Three Lions into their second successive Euros final.AND THE LOWS….Croatia 2-1 England, World Cup semi-final, 2018Having led England to a first World Cup semi-final since 1990, Southgate men made a dream start as Kieran Trippier put them ahead in the early exchanges.But Ivan Perisic equalised as the Croats began to take control.Some of Southgate’s substitutions were then questioned after his team were beaten in extra-time, although many gave him the benefit of the doubt as he returned a hero.Italy 1-1 England (3-2 pens) Euro 2020 finalWill probably never get a better chance to have secured a trophy for the Three Lions than this final of the last European Championship.Luke Shaw gave us the lead after just seconds, but just like against Croatia three years earlier, we sat back and let our rivals back into it.Leonardo Bonucci duly equalised in the second half and the game eventually went to penalties.The unfortunate Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all brought on to take a spot-kick, but the brave trio all missed as the Azzurri broke our hearts to take the prize.England 0-4 Hungary, Nations League 2023A year on from the Euros and it was utter embarrassment for Southgate in this Nations League game at Molineux.It was our biggest home defeat since 1928 and the result led to England being relegated from the top group of the Nations League and back to one that contained the Republic of Ireland, Finland and Greece.England 1-2 France, World Cup 2022 quarter-finalsAnother case of what could have been.Having been free-scoring throughout Qatar 2022, many fancied us to go all the way at the World Cup despite taking on the holders in the quarters.We fought back from going behind to level through Kane and many believe that France were then there for the taking had Southgate deployed a more attacking approach.Instead, they seemed content with what they had until Olivier Giroud pounced 12 minutes from time to win it.But there was still one more twist of the knife for England as the usually-reliable Kane skied a late penalty over the bar uncharacteristically as we crashed out.Carsley may well be in the frame if he impresses during his temporary stint.Eddie Howe and Graham Potter both remain in contention while Harry Redknapp wants either Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard to get the gig.Teddy Sheringham, though, wants to see the FA “break the bank” and go all out to land Pep Guardiola at the end of the season, when his current Manchester City deal expires.Sheringham said: “If England want to take the last step and win a major trophy, if they want to go one step further from where Gareth – who was phenomenal – has taken us, then you have to look at Pep Guardiola.”Go out and have the ambition to get him, paying him whatever it takes to get involved.READ MORE SUN STORIES”The England job might suit Pep at his age.”It might be a perfect situation for him, and it offers him a completely new challenge: managing an international team.”Southgate suffered defeat in back-to-back Euros finalsCredit: EPASouthgate’s England legacy should be celebrated, not torn downBy Tom BarclayGareth Southgate claimed that only winning Sunday’s final would earn England the respect of the footballing world.Spain proved a last-gasp comeback too far in Berlin, but defeat did not change the fact that Southgate’s eight-year transformation put respect back into the world of England football.Critics will pick apart his cautious tactics, his selection choices and his record in the most high-pressurised games – with some legitimacy.Yet what is quickly forgotten is the laughing stock our national side had become before he took over in 2016.A shambolic Euros exit to Iceland that summer had been followed up by Sam Allardyce quitting just one game into his tenure thanks to his pint of wine with undercover reporters.Then came Southgate, with his decency, his humility, his understated eloquence and his vision for a better, different future.He had analysed why England had so often failed in the past, from lack of preparation at penalty shoot-outs to players being bored out of their minds during major tournaments.Southgate took those findings and implemented a culture where players wanted to play for their country again – and it led to back-to-back finals for the first time in our history.Instead of going to war with the media, he opened his doors to them and discovered, shock, horror, that it was met, generally, with support. It did not stop him from being criticised when required – we are no cheerleaders, here – but the vitriol of yesteryear – or today on social media – was largely gone.No manager is perfect and neither was Southgate. We cannot pretend his teams played like those of Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp.But in the fullness of time, his feats will likely be revered because the results speak for themselves.Hopefully his successor can go one step further and bring football home. To do that, they must show respect to what Southgate has created and build on it, rather than rip it down.To read more from Tom Barclay click HERE. More

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    Who will Chelsea play in Uefa Conference League play-off?

    CHELSEA begin their Premier League campaign with a daunting clash against defending champions Manchester City.But ahead of that game the Blues will also have one eye on a match in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday night.Chelsea await their opponents in the Uefa Conference League a week ThursdayCredit: AlamyThat’s because Enzo Maresca’s side will find out who they play in their Uefa Conference League play-off.Who can Chelsea face in the Uefa Conference League play-off?Qualifying for the Uefa Conference League main draw has been in full swing for more than a month – the first phase started on July 11, just before the Euro 2024 final.Chelsea will enter the competition at the play-off round, the FOURTH and final stage ahead of the group phase.The draw for that round took place on August 5, with Chelsea drawn against either Swiss club Servette or Portuguese side Braga.Those two teams are actually playing for a place in the Europa League – the winner will go on to face a play-off for a place in that competition and the losers face Chelsea.The first leg was played in Portugal on July 8 and favourites Braga – who finished fourth in the Primeira Liga – could only manage a 0-0 draw with Servette, who finished third in the Swiss Super League.They now head to Geneva for the second leg on Thursday, July 15.When do Chelsea start their Uefa Conference League campaign?Once the result is settled on Thursday night, Maresca and his coaching staff can begin preparation for the first leg.Most read in FootballMan City come first on Sunday, of course, but the Blues will only have to wait until Thursday, August 22 to begin their European adventure.The first leg will be played at Stamford Bridge – kick off is still TBC – with the second leg played away on Thursday, August 29.It will be a busy start for Chelsea, who also travel to Wolves on August 25 and host Crystal Palace on September 1.Should they progress against Braga or Servette, the for the group phase takes place on August 30 and the first game is on October 3. More

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    Uefa slap FA with huge fines for fan behaviour in FOUR England games at Euro 2024

    UEFA have slapped the FA with a huge fine for England fans’ behaviour in four of the Three Lions games at Euro 2024.England were fined a total of £45,015 (€53,375) for the disruptive incidents during the European Championships in Germany earlier this month.Uefa has fined the FA over £45,000 for England fan’s behaviour during Euro 2024Credit: GettyGareth Southgate’s England campaign at the Euros was frustrating for fans to watch at times.From the Round of 16, the Three Lions managed to scrape a win in each game to eventually secure their spot in the final in Berlin.But fell short of securing the trophy again after La Roja beat England 2-1.And it has now been calculated the fans have cost the FA over £45,000 for the disturbances they caused during England’s clashes against Slovakia, Switzerland, Denmark and Spain.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLFootball reporter Henry Winter tweeted: “Another fine message. Uefa fines FA €10,000 for ‘crowd disturbances’ & €1,000 for ‘lighting of fireworks’ in #EURO2024 game v Slovakia.”€40,875 for ‘throwing of objects’ in game v Switzerland; €3,000 for ‘lighting of fireworks’ in semi v Dutch and €1,500 in final v Spain.”The incident of the €10,000 (£8400) fine was after fans booed the playing of the Slovenia national anthem.Supporters were heard loudly jeering ahead of the two nations’ final Euro 2024 group game in Cologne on June 25.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSIn the quarter-final clash against Switzerland England narrowly secured a victory on the penalty shootout (5-3).And then in the semi-final, it was Ollie Watkins’s last-minute strike that saw the Three Lions head into their second consecutive Euro final.Every Premier League club’s most famous and also most surprising fanBut with fans expecting ex-boss Southgate’s side to breeze through the tournament as they headed in as one of the Euro 2024 favourites it became clear the supporters grew frustrated with the squad’s performance.The FA’s penalty contributes to a total of 1,270,000 euros worth of fines Uefa have dished out for offences committed by either the host nation or supporters during the tournament.THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball. More