Express Sport brings you all the latest Euro 2024 news throughout the day
England will take on Slovakia in the last 16 of Euro 2024 after the group stages came to an end last night. The clash will be played in Gelsenkirchen at 5pm on Sunday and the Three Lions will be desperate to put on a show for their fans after whimpering through their first three games.
England secured top spot in Group C after defeating Serbia 1-0 in their opening match, before drawing 1-1 with Denmark and 0-0 with Slovenia.
But Gareth Southgate’s side have come in for heavy criticism for their timid displays and will need to show vast improvements if they are to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
Georgia were the talk of the town last night as they stunned Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 2-0 to book their place in the last 16 courtesy of a third-place finish in Group F. The country will now take on Spain in the first knockout round on Sunday, while Portugal will go head-to-head with Slovenia a day later.
Turkey also progressed as runners up of Group F and will play against Ralf Rangnick’s Austria in the last 16 on Tuesday, three hours after Romania’s showdown with the Netherlands gets underway. Meanwhile, France face Belgium on Monday in their first knockout game.
The last 16 encounters are set to begin on Saturday, with Switzerland taking on Italy at 5pm, before hosts Germany take to the pitch against Denmark.
Follow Express Sport’s live coverage of all the talking points from Euro 2024 below.
That’s all!
That’s all from us tonight! Make sure to check in with Express Sport tomorrow as we continue to keep you up to date with all the latest Euro 2024 news.
Clive Tyldesley speaks out on shock ITV decision
Clive Tyldesley has spoken out after it was revealed that he would only be commentating on one more game at Euro 2024.
Alongside Ally McCoist, the legendary football commentator will be covering his final match for ITV when Germany face Denmark in the round-of-16.
Speaking to the Daily Mail about the decision, Tyldesley said: “I’ve known for five to six weeks. The ITV football editor phoned me to tell me I would be going home after the last 16. I asked if there would be any other opportunities and he said that ITV would not be offering me another contract and so that will be it after 28 years.
“ITV has been very good for me and my career and I’d like to think I have been good for them. It’s a shame it’s coming to an end but it’s a matter of opinion and their opinion is that this is the right call. I don’t know why they think that. I’ve never fully understood but I have to accept it. I still think my work is strong enough to resonate with old and young.”
Kobbie Mainoo ‘set to start’ against Slovakia
Kobbie Mainoo is ‘in line’ to start for England against Slovakia this weekend, reports The Telegraph.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher have both been given the chance to partner Declan Rice in midfield, and it now appears that Manchester United teenager will be given the opportunity to prove his worth and cap off a sensational campaign.
Mainoo came on at half-time against Slovenia in the Three Lions’ final group game and managed to inject a spark into the system, though the overall team’s performance still left plenty to be desired.
Phil Foden set to return to Germany soon
Phil Foden is reportedly flying back to Germany this evening (Thursday) to return to the England camp following the birth of his third child.
The Manchester City star left the squad following Tuesday’s draw with Slovenia, with his partner Rebecca Cooke giving birth to a baby boy.
According to The Mirror, Foden is set to return to Germany this evening from the United Kingdom. He is therefore expected to train with the rest of the squad on Friday and remains in contention to feature in the Euro 2024 last 16 this weekend.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold says it’s ‘silly’ for England not to believe
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold believes it would be ‘silly’ for England not to believe that they can win Euro 2024.
Despite a disappointing three games in qualification, the Three Lions remain favourites to land the spoils thanks to a favourable draw and the expectation of improvement from key players.
Speaking on the Lions’ Den, Alexander-Arnold revealed that the prospect of winning the tournament remains the motivation, saying: “I think for us as players it will be silly of us, coming out here without the thought of winning a trophy in our head.
“That’s something you have to have and use as motivation. If you look throughout the whole team there are a load of winners, all at different levels, ages and experiences and we have to draw on that.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold has featured in midfield for England
Guehi plays down ‘easy side of the draw’ claims
Marc Guehi does not believe that England are on the easy side of the draw, despite being able to face the likes of France and Germany before the final – if they reach that stage of the tournament.
He said: “About the draw, I think everyone has seen in this competition that I don’t think there is a favourable side of the draw.
“Every team, every opponent that you come up against is really tough to play against. But I think we just need to remain calm. That’s the environment we set ourselves. We put pressure on ourselves but it is a calm and focused environment and we just need to focus on one thing at a time.
“We haven’t done any team analysis on them [Slovakia] but we all watch the games and we know they are a really good side. They came third in the group and qualified. They have got some really good players in their side — [Stanislav] Lobotka being one, the obvious one from Napoli — but a lot of good players.”
Bellingham says Slovakia ‘difficult to break down’
England ace Jude Bellingham has insisted Slovakia will be “difficult to break down” on Sunday. The Three Lions are preparing to face their Euro 2024 rivals in the last 16 after finding the back of the net just two times in their three group matches.
“I think that you’re always going to have tough games at this point in the tournament,” Bellingham said on the Lions’ Den.
“I think people look at the draw and see Slovakia and think it will be an easy game. It definitely is not the case because they will be a different type of threat and will be difficult to break down. I think when you play nations who come at you a bit more, it’s a lot more open.
“It will be an interesting game, it will be one that we’re confident that we have enough to win even though we know we haven’t been quite at the levels that we need to be at.”
Ronaldo jumped at by fan
Cristiano Ronaldo survived a near-miss when a fan jumped out of the stands and landed inches away from him after Portugal’s Euro 2024 clash with Georgia.
Footage on social media captured the incident, with Portugal losing the game 2-0.
A whole host of fans have entered the pitch to have selfies with Ronaldo during the tournament, sparking questions over security.
\ud83d\udcdd\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9#Portugal \ud83c\uddec\ud83c\uddea#Georgia #CristianoRonaldo #Euro2024: Georgia 2:0 Portugal: A fan almost fell on Cristiano Ronaldo’s head after the Georgia-Portugal match
According to eyewitnesses, he wanted to hug his idol. Fortunately, he miscalculated the trajectory a little.
The match\u2026 pic.twitter.com/phqqH5DWlZ
— \ud83c\udf10World News 24 \ud83c\udf0d\ud83c\udf0e\ud83c\udf0f (@DailyWorld24) June 27, 2024
Gordon bruised after falling off bicycle
Anthony Gordon was battered and bruised as he took England training on Thursday. The Newcastle United winger reportedly fell off a push bike at the Three Lions’ training base near Erfurt earlier this week.
Gareth Southgate’s squad have been riding bikes around their training complex during the tournament to help with recovery. On Wednesday’s ride, according to BBC Sport, the unfortunate Gordon took a fall.
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England train without key trio
England will train without key trio Declan Rice, Phil Foden and Kieran Trippier today ahead of their Euro 2024 last 16 showdown with Slovakia on Sunday.
According to the BBC, Rice and Trippier are following their own individual programmes and will not be involved in today’s group training session. Foden, meanwhile, has temporarily returned to England for the birth of his third child.
Southgate told to play Watkins
England hero Jermain Defoe has told Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate to play Ollie Watkins. The Aston Villa striker came off the bench for 20 minutes during England’s 1-1 draw with Denmark but didn’t feature against either Serbia or Slovenia.
“When Ollie Watkins came on he looked really sharp,” Defoe told the PA news agency. “He is someone who can get us up the pitch because he is so dynamic. He runs in behind, the ball doesn’t only come to his feet.
“I would love to see him involved a little bit more, because Harry Kane can drop into that 10 position to roam and do his stuff.
“Harry is such a world-class finisher and it is almost like he can play in two positions, having almost mastered the number nine position as a focal point and can then also play in at number 10 because his passing rate is one of the best.”
England have been told to give Ollie Watkins more gametime at Euro 2024
England’s route to the trophy
If England overcome Slovakia in their Euro 2024 last 16 encounter, they would then face the winner of the clash between Switzerland and Italy. That quarter-final showdown would be scheduled to be played in Berlin on Saturday, July 6.
A semi-final clash against either the Netherlands, Romania, Austria or Turkey would then await in Dortmund on Wednesday, July 10.
England would only meet one of the remaining giants – Germany, France, Spain, Belgium or Portugal – should they progress to the final.
Lukaku bags unwanted record
Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has bagged himself an unwanted record as he has now missed six big chances at Euro 2024.
That’s twice as many as any other player at this year’s tournament and the joint highest of any man at a major tournament since 1980, according to ESPN.
Lukaku has drawn three blanks at Euro 2024 so far but did get an assist in Belgium’s 2-0 victory over Romania. He will be hoping to finally get off the mark in his team’s last 16 showdown with France.
Ronaldo kicks out
Cristiano Ronaldo kicked out at the turf in frustration after being substituted during Portugal’s 2-0 defeat to Georgia last night.
The former Manchester United star endured a miserable evening as he failed to find the back of the net, despite being presented with a number of opportunities.
Ronaldo is yet to score at Euro 2024 even though he started all three of his team’s Group F matches and was withdrawn by manager Roberto Martinez 66 minutes into last night’s clash.
Cristiano Ronaldo kicked out at the turf in frustration after being substituted against Georgia
Shaw declared fit
England left-back Luke Shaw has handed Gareth Southgate a massive boost ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2024 showdown with Slovakia after declaring himself fit to play, according to The Mirror.
The Manchester United ace has been training since arriving in Germany but has also been working on his own programme, with his fitness being closely managed by England’s medical team.
Kieran Trippier filled in at left-back during England’s group matches, with the Three Lions conceding only one goal.
Southgate planning urgent Bellingham talks
England boss Gareth Southgate is planning urgent talks with Jude Bellingham to help the Real Madrid star rediscover his form ahead of the Three Lions’ last 16 clash with Slovakia on Sunday afternoon, according to The Mirror.
Bellingham put in a scintillating display and scored his country’s first goal of the tournament in their opening victory against Serbia but struggled in the draws against Denmark and Slovenia.
And Southgate explained after the Slovenia bore draw: “I will have those messages with him rather than plaster them over the papers.”
Good morning!
Good morning and welcome to Express Sport’s live coverage of Euro 2024. The group stages concluded last night, with Georgia defying the odds to reach the last 16 after shocking Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 2-0. There aren’t any matches today but there will be plenty of breaking news, so stay tuned throughout the day.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1915896/Euro-2024-LIVE-England-Gareth-Southgate-Jude-Bellingham-Cristiano-Ronaldo