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      England fans all say the same thing with Three Lions to wear AWAY kit against Germany at Wembley

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      ENGLAND host Germany at Wembley tonight – but Gareth Southgate’s stars are set to run out in their AWAY kit.The Three Lions will debut their new Nike red away shirt in this evening’s Nations League clash.
      England will wear their AWAY kit when Germany visit WembleyCredit: PA
      The Three Lions want to promote their new away strip ahead of the World CupCredit: PA
      That’s after wearing their HOME kit in Friday’s defeat to Italy in Milan.
      Fans have been left confused after England confirmed today that Harry Kane and Co will don the red away kit at HQ tonight.
      The new red shirt includes a navy collar and will be worn at the World Cup in Qatar later this year.
      And the decision to sport the number at Wembley is purely an attempt to promote the kit ahead of the tournament.
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      But wearing the away kit on home turf has not gone down well on social media.
      One supporter wrote: “Wearing an away kit at home, how much of a laughing stock we’ve become.”
      While another said: “It’s not like we just had an away game is it.”
      And a third joked: “Tbf it makes sense to wear new home kit away and new away kit at home. Brilliant idea.”
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      Southgate’s side host old foes Germany in their last outing before kicking off their campaign in Qatar against Iran on November 21.
      Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold has been AXED from the matchday team to face the Germans.
      But Brentford striker Ivan Toney could make his Three Lions debut after being included in the latest squad.
      Toney was left out for the 1-0 defeat to Italy. More

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      Why are England wearing red against Germany and what is the kit clash rule at the World Cup?

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      ENGLAND famously beat West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final wearing a red kit.The iconic image of Sir Geoff Hurst smashing the ball past Hans Tilkowski to clinch the Jules Rimet trophy is seared into every Three Lions fan’s mind.
      England’s away shirt is being worn in their Nations League tie against GermanyCredit: PA
      But there is a far more 21st-century reason why England are wearing red shirts, shorts and socks when they face Germany at Wembley, in their final match before the Qatar World Cup.
      Why are England wearing red against Germany?
      Quite simply, the Three Lions want to promote their new World Cup change strip.
      Therefore they will wear their new Nike kit ahead of tonight’s Nations League finale against Germany.
      Despite being the home team, the home side have opted to wear red at Wembley.
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      The jersey retails at an eyewatering £74.99 and Gareth Southgate’s side may wear the kit against either Iran or USA in World Cup group B.
      Wales play in red, so it is likely the two sides will play in their home kit in the final fixture of the group stages.
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      England’s home ‘stadium’ shirt retails at £105
      What is the price of the England kit?
      There are two tiers of pricing for England’s World Cup kits.
      The fans’ kit is about £75 from various different retailers.
      England also have a ‘stadium’ version of the kit, which costs a staggering £105.
      What are the rules on home and away teams wearing kits at the World Cup?
      What is the World Cup rule on kit clashes?
      There are some extremely extensive rules about who wears what at World Cup matches.
      The designated home side always takes precedence, though they can be made to alter the colour of their shorts if necessary.
      This is what section 24 of the Fifa guidelines has to say on the matter: “Each team shall inform Fifa of two different and contrasting colours (one predominately dark and one predominately light kit) for its official and reserve team kit (shirt, shorts and socks). Only these colours may be worn at the matches.
      “In principle, each team shall wear its official team kit as declared on the team colour form.
      “If the two teams’ colours might cause confusion, the host team shall be entitled to wear its official team kit and the visiting team shall use its reserve team kit or, if necessary, a combination of the official and the reserve team kits.” More

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      Bungling England promote Germany clash using two players AXED from squad leaving fans confused

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      ENGLAND have endured yet another embarrassing performance, but this time it’s not even on a football pitch. Ahead of tonight’s final Nations League game, England’s social media team released a seemingly regular post asking fans who made their starting XI to face Germany.
      England posted this to their social media ahead of tonight’s game, but two of the players pictured are not even in the matchday squad.Credit: Twitter

      The England squad pictured in training last weekCredit: PA
      The starting XI could see some changes to the last game against ItalyCredit: AFP
      The picture which accompanied the post showed a graphic with three players: Phil Foden, Fikayo Tomori and James Ward-Prowse.
      However, Tomori and Ward-Prowse are not even available for selection after being among five players omitted from Gareth Southgate’s squad.
      This means the promotion campaign for tonight’s game has two players who are not even being considered for selection.
      And England fans were quick to catch on to the blunder.
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      One fan said: “Two players in the pic aren’t even in the match day squad.”
      Others were far more scathing in their assessment, with another commenting: “Showing Tomori and Ward-Prowse when they aren’t even in the squad have some shame.”
      A disgruntled user said: “Tomori and JWP are dropped from the squad and admin is so mad he puts both in the pic.”
      Along with Tomori and Ward-Prowse, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Bowen and Jack Grealish (suspension) are all unavailable but Ivan Toney has been included ahead of his potential debut.
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      And another fan took a dig at these omissions as he revealed who he would want to see starting.
      They quipped: “Trent at right back, Tomori CB, Ward-Prowse in the middle and probably Bowen on the right.”
      England have been less than stellar in their build-up to the World Cup finals in November, having now lost three games in a row and having the ignominy of being relegated to the second tier of the Nations League following the 1-0 defeat to Italy on Friday.
      In fact, England are now on their worst run of form in eight years, having failed to win any of their last five games while simultaneously failing to score from open play from any of these.
      This damning form is further compounded by the revelation that San Marino are the only other country to have not scored from open play in the 2022/23 Nations League.
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      Southgate needs to find a winning formula again quickly, but he has been slammed for his continued omission of “England’s most creative midfielder James Maddison.”
      Many fans believe the former Middlesbrough manager’s time at the helm of the Three Lions is up, with a staggering 83 per cent wanting him ousted BEFORE the Qatar World Cup.
      Gareth Southgate has admitted he could be sacked if England flop at the World CupCredit: Getty More

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      England vs Germany: TV channel, live stream FREE, kick-off time and team news for tonight’s final match before World Cup

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      ENGLAND will be determined to put their Nations League nightmare to rest when they take on Germany TONIGHT.The Three Lions hit an all-time low having suffered a dreadful defeat to Italy in their most recent outing – a result which relegated England from their Nations League group.
      England’s loss to Italy means they have gone five games without a winCredit: Rex
      Jamal Musiala could feature for Germany against England – who he played for at youth international levelCredit: Getty
      And it meant that Gareth Southgate’s side will now face a tough Euro 2024 draw.
      English fans were left fuming having seen their side go winless for five matches and it lead to the manager being booed as he left the field.
      But there is still one final chance for the Euro 2020 finalists to lift their spirits before the World Cup and Southgate will name his squad 30 days before the tournament starts.
      However, the Germans will be eager to finish off on a high as they were stunned by Hungary on Friday night.
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      What time does England vs Germany kick off?

      England entertain Germany on Monday, September 26.
      It is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm UK time.
      Wembley Stadium in London will be the allocated arena for this intriguing match and it can host a staggering 90,000 fans.
      Harry Kane’s last-gasp penalty rescued a point for the Three Lions when the sides last met.
      England will wear a red kit, despite being the home side.

      Read More on England
      What TV channel is England vs Germany on and can I live stream it?

      England vs Germany will be broadcasted LIVE on Channel 4 in the UK.
      Pre-match build up is set to commence at 7pm UK time – one hour before kick-off.
      Viewers also have the option to stream the entire action live via the Channel 4 website or All 4 app.

      Can I watch England vs Germany for FREE?
      Yes you can! England’s final League A fixture against Germany is available to watch for FREE in the UK so long as you have a valid TV license.
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      Team news
      Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Bowen, Fikayo Tomori and James Ward-Prowse have all been left out of the England squad.
      Jack Grealish is suspended after picking up a yellow card in Milan.
      It means Ivan Toney could get an outing and make his Three Lions debut.
      Elsewhere, Germany head coach Hansi Flick is likely to rotate his side.
      Flick has the option to throw Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Thilo Kehrer in from the start.
      Latest odds

      England to win 29/20
      Draw 9/4
      Germany to win 19/10

      *Odds courtesy of Betfair are correct at time of publication More

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      How England could line up against Germany with five players AXED from squad in final warm-up for World Cup 2022

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      ONE last game stands between England and Qatar.Gareth Southgate’s under-fire Three Lions are taking on rivals Germany at Wembley on Monday.
      England could keep their three-at-the-back shape
      Southgate is under pressure with his team without a win in FIVECredit: PA
      In terms of the Nations League, the game holds no weight for England as they’ve already finished bottom of their group and have been relegated to the second tier.
      However, the game is of great importance heading into the Qatar World Cup this November-December with England without a win in FIVE – their longest winless run since 2014.
      The Three Lions have lost three and drawn two, and their last win came in a friendly against Ivory Coast earlier this year.
      And they need to try and get back to winning ways in their final warm-up game with optimism for the major tournament extremely low.
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      Southgate recognises his job is on the line in Qatar – despite signing a new contract after England’s run to the Euro 2020 final.
      He said: “Ultimately, I will be judged on what happens at the World Cup.
      “Contracts are irrelevant as managers can have three, four or five-year deals but you accept that if results are not good enough, it is time to go your separate ways.
      “Why would I be any different? I am not arrogant enough to think my contract is going to protect me in any way.”
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      Fans will pack out Wembley, but will not be able to see Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrod Bowen, Fikayo Tomori, James Ward-Prowse or Jack Grealish.
      The five have been omitted from the 23-man squad.
      Alexander-Arnold’s dropping comes after former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf slammed Alexander-Arnold as “Championship level” defensively.
      He told Journal du Dimanche: “Look at Trent Alexander-Arnold. I love the guy, his offensive qualities. But defensively, he’s Championship level.”
      Alexander-Arnold is fit to play the game and has taken part in all training sessions, according to The Athletic.
      Grealish is out due to suspension while the other three were available but omitted.
      BACK THREE
      Southgate is expected to stick with a back three against the Germans.
      Nick Pope could keep his place in goal, and be protected by a returning John Stones, Conor Coady and Kyle Walker.
      Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier will provide the width at wing-back.
      Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham are expected to be handed more time playing together ahead of the winter tournament.
      And Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and Phil Foden may lead the Three Lions’ frontline.
      Alternatively, Southgate could use Monday’s game to test out a few of his fringe stars.
      Alternatively, Ramsdale, Guehi, Henderson, Chilwell and Toney could start
      With starter Jordan Pickford injured, Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale could be handed a chance to impress.
      Marc Guehi, who was preferred over Italian title-winning defender Tomori, would play in defence if called upon.
      Returning Ben Chilwell would be comfortable on the left, but has played very few minutes this season.
      Read More on The Sun
      Jordan Henderson has been preferred to Ward-Prowse and could start in the midfield alongside Rice OR Bellingham.
      And Ivan Toney would be quite the handful up front if given his debut. More

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      World Cup favourites Brazil helped by versatile West Ham new boy Lucas Paqueta, who gives them plenty of options

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      BRAZIL did full justice to their status as World Cup favourites on Friday when they swept aside Ghana in fine style in a magnificent first half to win 3-0.It was a match where they unveiled Plan C; this Brazil side can now switch between three different formations, a process which showcases the versatility of recent West Ham signing Lucas Paqueta.
      Lucas Paqueta offers Brazil versatilityCredit: Rex
      The main formation features two wingers – Raphinha on the right and Vinicius Junior on the left, with Neymar floating as a false nine and Paqueta operating in his most natural position of an attacking midfielder.
      The system of play has done Brazil proud since losing the final of the Copa America to Argentina last year.
      One of the stand outs has been the easy understanding between Neymar and Paqueta through the middle of the field.
      The first alternative is to include a centre forward, most likely recent Tottenham signing Richarlison.
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      In this case one of the wingers misses out – probably Vinicius, though this would be a very big call in the World Cup, and Paqueta instead plays from the left flank.
      He lacks the extreme pace of a winger, and so is more likely to cut infield, where, once again, his relationship with Neymar is key to the team’s attacking construction.
      This is the way that Brazil may well line up in Tuesday’s friendly against Tunisia, their last warm up before facing Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in Qatar.
      But what if they want two wingers, a centre forward and Neymar? 
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      This was the question that coach Tite answered against Ghana on Friday.
      Lucas Paqueta then drops into a deeper midfield role, taking the place of Manchester United’s Fred.
      This is not without risks. Paqueta is a creative player, who requires the freedom to take chances.
      Operating in this role there is always the chance that he will give the ball away too close to the Brazil goal.
      But, as West Ham fans have already seen, he is not a luxury player.
      Defensive duties may not be the most natural side to his game, but he is fully prepared to put in a shift – and, as was clear against Ghana, starting deeper does not inhibit his ability to rumble forward as an element of surprise.
      The ultra-attacking formation that Brazil tried on Friday worked because the whole team put in a shift, pressing hard to win back possession as soon as they had lost the ball and effectively making sure that almost the entire first forty minutes took place in the Ghana half.
      It is hard to sustain such intensity for the full ninety minutes, but this is a system that Brazil have now added to their repertoire.
      Three formations and three different functions for Paqueta – and he has a fourth string to his bow. He can also play at centre forward.
      West Ham fans will be delighted with the ability of PaquetaCredit: Getty
      There have been times for Brazil when he has carried out three different functions in the same game.
      It might take time for all of these virtues to become apparent at West Ham.
      Paqueta is essentially a combinations player, and will need to get on the same wavelength as his new team-mates.
      But David Moyes must surely be excited by the chance to work with a player of such talent and versatility. More

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      Argentina’s FA ‘set to tell Man Utd and Tottenham to rest stars like Martinez and Romero in last match before World Cup’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED and Tottenham will be asked by the Argentine FA to rest certain players ahead of the World Cup, according to reports.The Premier League continues until just a week before the tournament begins in Qatar and Argentina chiefs don’t want to see their star players risked by their clubs in the final domestic game.
      Lisandro Martinez could be rested by Man Utd if they grant the Argentinians their wishCredit: Getty
      Cristian Romero is set to be a key man for Argentina at the World CupCredit: Reuters
      This means that Man Utd could be told to rest Lisandro Martinez in their fixture versus Fulham on 13 November.
      And the same goes for Spurs defender Cristian Romero in their clash with Leeds on 12th November.
      Argentina are in Group C in the World Cup and start their campaign against Saudi Arabia on 22nd November.
      They then face Mexico and Poland all within the space of eight days.
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      According to a report by Doble Amarilla, Argentina are concerned by the congested fixture list.
      It is not just Man Utd and Tottenham who could be affected by the Argentine FA’s request.
      The likes of Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Brighton ace Alexis Mac Allister are also expected to be in the squad going to Qatar and therefore they could be excused from club matches.
      Man City’s Julian Alvarez could also make the 26-man team.
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      The reports suggest that a request like this is unlikely to be accepted by any Premier League clubs.
      However, it also states that more countries could act like Argentina and begin to contact clubs asking for players to be rested.
      Argentina just beat Honduras 3-0 and will continue their World Cup preparations as they face Jamaica later this week. More

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      Trent Alexander-Arnold among five players axed from England squad to face Germany but Ivan Toney in line for debut

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      TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD has been AXED from Gareth Southgate’s matchday England squad for tonight’s game against Germany. But Ivan Toney is IN, and could make his Three Lions debut at Wembley.
      Trent Alexander-Arnold is not in England’s matchday squad to face Germany, but Ivan Toney isCredit: Reuters
      Alexander-Arnold was an unused sub in the defeat to ItalyCredit: Getty
      Alexander-Arnold has been left out after being an unused sub in the 1-0 defeat to Italy on Friday.
      The omission comes after former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf slammed Alexander-Arnold as “Championship level” defensively.
      He told Journal du Dimanche: “Look at Trent Alexander-Arnold. I love the guy, his offensive qualities. But defensively, he’s Championship level.”
      Alexander-Arnold is fit to play the game and has taken part in all training sessions, according to The Athletic.
      Read More On England
      But the defender has been omitted from the matchday squad.
      Elsewhere, Jarrod Bowen, Fikayo Tomori and James Ward-Prowse also miss out for this evening’s Nations League clash against Germany.
      England’s official Twitter account asked fans to make their team for the game using pictures of Tomori and Ward-Prowse, despite neither being in the matchday squad.
      Jack Grealish will not be involved too as he serves a suspension after picking up a yellow card during the defeat in Milan.
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      England used pictures of James Ward-Prowse and Fikayo Tomori when asking fans to build their team for the game, despite neither being in the matchday squadCredit: https://twitter.com/England
      Liverpool ace Alexander-Arnold will not play for the Three Lions before the World Cup kicks off in November.
      Toney though will be hoping to impress Southgate enough to secure a seat on the plane, if he features at Wembley.
      The 26-year-old received his first England call-up after a brilliant start to the Premier League season with Brentford.
      But he was then left out of the matchday squad to face Italy.
      Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips, Marc Guehi, Ben Chilwell and John Stones were also not in the matchday squad on Friday.
      After leaving Toney out of the team to play the Azzurri, Southgate cast doubt over the striker’s involvement in today’s game over the weekend.
      He said: “I understand the push as it is so close to the World Cup but there is life for Ivan Toney beyond the World Cup as well.
      “He is very much in the frame and what he does with his club between now and then is also really important.

      “First and foremost, it has been great for Ivan to be with us and see how we work. Everybody wants to get into the team and on to the pitch.
      “But you have a better chance of doing that if you have been in the group longer and are used to how we play and feel more comfortable with the players.”
      Now though Toney is poised to make his Three Lions debut after being named in the 23-man squad for this evening’s Nations League clash against Germany.
      It’s the last chance for Southgate’s stars to impress in an England shirt ahead of the World Cup.
      The Three Lions kick off their campaign in Qatar on November 21 against Iran.
      That will be followed by a clash with USA four days later, before they take on Wales in their final Group B game on November 29.
      And Southgate has admitted he could be given the BOOT if his side flop at the tournament.
      He said: “Ultimately, I will be judged on what happens at the World Cup.
      Read More on The Sun
      “Contracts are irrelevant as managers can have three, four or five-year deals but you accept that if results are not good enough, it is time to go your separate ways.
      “Why would I be any different? I am not arrogant enough to think my contract is going to protect me in any way.”
      The Three Lions take on Germany tonightCredit: Reuters
      Gareth Southgate’s side were relegated from their Nations League group after being beaten by Italy on FridayCredit: PA More