Euro 2024: England pair Trippier and Rice train away from main group – live | Euro 2024

Until then, shall we engage in a bit more England tactics/lineup chat? Yeah, why not.

Shaun Tooze has been in touch on email:

Hi Dominic. I know this is only joining the list of ‘experts who know better’ but the more I think about it, a formation of 3-4-1-2 would suit me.

Stones – Guehi – Walker, with whoever is most comfortable being on the left of that, then (from left to right) Bowen/Foden – Rice – Mainoo/Wharton/Gallagher – Alexander-Arnold … Bellingham/Palmer (I’m leaning towards Palmer) in the 10, with Kane and Watkins/AN Other up top.

I think that would give us solidity when attacked and options going forward with the ball, and also wouldn’t have people tripping over each other like we’ve seen so far, especially in the middle and front-centre. Trippier, Saka and Bellingham have offered very little so I’d seriously consider other options now.

Dunno … just thinking out loud … what do you think ?

I’d take issue with Phil Foden being stuck at left wing-back (Saka would be better there). And not sure two up top is the way forward either.

Marc Guehi – who for me has, comfortably, been England’s best player at this tournament so far – is due speak to the media at 1.30pm BST. We’ll bring you some of his comments later.

Thoughts on this? Three Germans, one Slovenian, a Georgia goalkeeper … und keine Engländer.

It’s been great to see Willy Sagnol front and centre at these Euros. As a player for France in the 2000s, he often played second fiddle to the likes of Liliam Thuram and Bixente Lizarazu. He did once start a 2006 World Cup win over Portugal – the same opponent his Georgia side stunned last night to secure a last 16 berth.

Sagnol could hardly believe what his team has achieved.

“It’s still a bit difficult to realise what we have done,” he told Reuters. “When we go back to our homes and holidays, I think we are going to realise at this time exactly what we have done. Today I don’t have a lot of words … I am so proud of the players. What an image of Georgia they have shown.”

Slovakia are confident they can get a result against England in the last 16. Hey, why wouldn’t they be?

Slovakian sports journalist Lukas Vrablik has been on BBC Radio 5 Live today talking about the Three Lions.

“I’m quite disappointed by England’s performances, especially when you look at their individual quality have at their disposal,” he said. “I thought that England would be more convincing in those games, and Slovenia managed to neutralise the danger so it gives me big hope for Slovakia. I think this England team doesn’t look that strong as it did before the tournament.”

Thanks. Good to be here!

On John Brewin’s piece that Will mentioned earlier, I particularly enjoyed this paragraph about Gary Lineker’s side-project footy podcast:

The use of “shit” by Lineker in summarising England’s Denmark performance was hardly the Sex Pistols meet Bill Grundy but the BBC’s leading men staging their own, vin-rouge-fuelled production threatens to become one of those issues on which Amol Rajan reports for the BBC about the BBC on the BBC, quoting senior BBC sources.

Thank you very much for joining me this morning. Dominic Booth will run you through the lunchtime fun. Enjoy the rest of your football-free day, people.

Keir Starmer has told England fans there is “too much criticism” of Gareth Southgate’s team after their group stage performances in Euro 2024 – and urged supporters to “get behind them”.

Speaking on the campaign trail in Staffordshire, he added: “Get them over the line because this is a really important competition.

“England always do a bit of this at the beginning of competitions … but it’s a brilliant squad of players, all had great seasons for their respective clubs. Just get behind the team. I want less of the criticism, more of the support.”

Spain defender Nacho became the latest big name in European soccer to move to the Saudi Pro League, joining newly-promoted Al-Qadsiah after a 23-year stay at Real Madrid.

Khobar-based Al-Qadsiah, who won the Saudi First Division League in 2023-24 to move up to the top flight, announced Nacho’s signing on Thursday.
The 34-year-old joined Real in 2001 as a youth player and debuted for their first team in 2011. He won six Champions League titles at the Santiago Bernabeu as well as four LaLiga crowns and two Copa del Reys. Nacho will join his new club after Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign.

It is reported that Anthony Gordon fell off a bike at the training camp yesterday, resulting in a grazed chin. Get some stabilisers, lad.

Gareth Vaughan emails: “A lot of people (including me) have said a lot of less than flattering things about Gareth Southgate during this tournament (and long before it frankly). There is a growing noise from some sources that this is somehow vastly unfair and unjust given his previous tournament success. Well the fact is that this is both manifestly true and untrue st the same time.

“Clearly Southgate has brought us a period of consistent general success (without actually winning a trophy) during his tenure. And those who would say anyone could with the players he had, ignore the fact that there have been very talented England squads before this one who also failed to win anything and were far less successful.

“But the fact also remains that watching this England is a form of torture and Southgate has that haunted look on his face so reminiscent of every England manager who has spent too much time staring into the dark abyss. And recently, his decision to make certain players unstoppable no matter how poor their performances and instead select a fantasy football first 11 rather than the best team, suggests he’s cosplaying at England manager, rather than actually BEING the manager.

“I’d have more respect for him if he decided to ignore all the external white noise and pick the team he deep down thinks is the best for a tournament- which is probably a 3-5-1-1 formation similar to his 2018 World Cup team. A starting 11 of Pickford – Guehi, Stones, Walker – Shaw, Bellingham, Mainoo, Rice, Saka – Bellingham/ Foden- Kane will probably enrage most fans initially but would crucially allow us to control midfield and give the team a structure that has been lacking for the past 8 games.

”But it ain’t gonna happen…”

It might …

A few shots from England training.

“Loving today’s blog,” says Simon Klee, “and thinking about the England and Wales situation. Southgate likely to go after this tournament; Wales looking for a new head coach and are prepared to accept a non-Welshmen. Perfect for Gareth to walk from one job to the next.”

I do think Southgate might be more suited to international management that club.

We have the great John Brewin on the battle between ITV and BBC for our hearts and minds.

Speaking of goalscorers, William Saliba is confident France’s forward line will find their feet in the knockout stages. They face Belgium in the last 16 after failing to score from open play in their past four matches.

Their two goals in the tournament so far have been an own goal and a Kylian Mbappe penalty, which is underwhelming to say the least.

“It’s true we didn’t score many goals in the group stage. When you don’t score a lot, you have to be focused,” Saliba told a press conference. “But that’s how it can be when you are playing at the highest level. But I have no doubt that the attackers will be there in the round of 16 and deliver. It’s clear that we have to be more dangerous with our set pieces, especially me. I think I haven’t even touched one, so we can do better.”

And do remember to keep on top of the Golden Boot table.

For more opinions on how England could change, we have Karen Carney’s column from before the Slovenia match.

Trippier and Rice train away from main group

David Hytner

Wai Ming Loh emails: “I’m a Scotland supporter, just for context … I sent this message to two friends this morning and feel it relates nicely to your morning feed, with regards to this article

“I find this really interesting. It’s not something exclusive to England of course (talk of Clarke getting the boot despite taking Scotland to successive tournaments with a bunch of ok players and a few very good ones, and can only imagine it’s even worse in eg Brazil) but I find it amusing and tiresome in equal measure how many people “know” what needs to be done, despite having zero experience or qualifications as coaches, or former players who have either never been a manager/coach (eg Ferdinand) or are particularly noted for their abject performance when they were (eg Shearer, Neville).

“Southgate has taken England further than anyone other than in 1966, and actually across his tenure probably even better on average than that, in bigger events with many stronger teams.

“Yes, they’re dull at the moment, but all this gnashing of teeth, etc, just beggars belief. They qualified, will quite feasibly beat the Netherlands [edit now we know Slovakia], and thus find themselves in yet another semi, and possibly a final.

“Obviously, I don’t want that to happen but if it would make these people eat their words, it’d almost (but not quite) be worth it. Of course, that wouldn’t happen – lots of revisionism or forgetting their earlier complaints would see them all right behind Gaz and his Boys, long live the King, etc.”

Wouldn’t life be dull without opinions?

Wales are willing to appoint a non-Welshman as manager for the first time in 25 years. The Football Association of Wales has detailed the criteria required to succeed Rob Page after ending his three-and-a-half-year reign last week and invited “expressions of interest” from potential candidates.

Welsh football’s governing body has confirmed it is looking for an individual with a “proven track record of delivering success at club and/or international level” and plans to cast its net far and wide.

Thierry Henry, Yaya Toure and Patrick Vieira – charismatic playing greats who went through Wales’ admired coaching system – would all be welcomed to express interest by the FAW, although all three are currently in employment.

“The FAW knows how important coach education is to growing the game in Wales and offers a world-renowned service through its coaching courses,” said a FWA statement. “The Uefa Pro-Licence is a pre-requisite for coaches at the top level of the game and this qualification will be required to become Cymru’s next head coach. The Pro-Licence prepares candidates to work as a modern-day manager or head coach at club or international level. It develops their leadership and interpersonal skills to successfully implement their unique management style and philosophy.”

“I liked Kári Tulinius’s coastal metaphor (10.22am),” says Charles Antaki. “To carry on with it, Czech Republic were like a large displeased child trying to headbutt the seaside Punch & Judy show. Happily they shan’t bother us any further. There was, though, another large displeased child on show yesterday, and he will in fact still be with us into the next round.”

The news from inside the England camp is that Declan Rice and Kieran Trippier are training indoors, separately from the group. Phil Foden is also absent as he is attending the birth of his third child. The other 23 players are present and correct.

Where has the sense of fun gone with Gareth Southgate? Asks Jonathan Liew.

Manchester United Women are losing a lot of talent.

Who is the proud owner of these tattoos?

Jude Bellingham has told his England team-mates to forget about any negative supporters as he praised the fans who dragged him over the line against Slovenia despite being “absolutely dead” on his feet.

Despite drawing widespread criticism for their performances at Euro 2024, England topped Group C and avoided what appears to be the much tougher half of the draw for the knockout stages.

“I think you definitely draw on them for energy towards the end of games,” he said. “I felt like in the last game, I was absolutely dead but you hear them singing, hear them chanting and you can play at a level that’s not our best, it’s normal, it can happen. But I think the important thing is, when you’re wearing this badge and you’re representing those fans, is that you don’t give up and I think that they’re a constant reminder of that.

“I think it’s always interesting. I know there’s a lot of negativity outside the stadium and the camp but I always feel that when we get into the stadium, it’s so different. I think it’s important that as teammates and as a team, we remember that the ones in the stadium are the ones that are going to give us the energy so don’t worry about the ones that aren’t there. We’ve obviously got to keep using that energy, using that feeling that we get from them, to be successful in this tournament.”

On yer bike. Switzerland enjoy your downtime between the group and knockout stages.

A bit more on Bronze’s exit from Barcelona and the equally industrious Tom Garry.

Richard Hirst joins the party: “A revolutionary (or maybe a revisionist) suggestion I know, but why don’t we just leave Southgate alone to do his thing? France don’t top their group, Portugal lose to Georgia, Italy need a stoppage time goal – maybe Southgate isn’t doing too badly after all. And he has a good tournament record.
Just saying.”

The performances have been pretty poor, though. He needs to find a massive improvement.

“Turkey have played like a man trying to cross a spit of land that will be submerged once the tide rolls in,” says Kári Tulinius. “Austria have played like the tide. It could be fabulous to watch.”

“My random unscientific theory is all England managers post Sir Bobby (not including Venables and Big Sam (forgot about him) as they didn’t stay long enough) go slightly mad and try to be too clever in their selections,” suggests Will Cook (Chef to his friends). “Southgate’s started by playing 3 right backs and not taking a fit left back, not even peak Pep Champions league semifinal breakdowns would play with 3 right backs. Anyway, that’s my random thought, I should get back to work now.”

Luke Shaw will be available on Sunday …

“Hello from a baking hot summers day in Dubai, Will,” emails Brett Turner. “Since you asked here’s the team I’d put out –

Pickford

Trent Stones Guehi Walker

Bellingham Rice

Bowen Palmer Gordon

Kane

We need pace, aggression and flair to break down another stubborn team parking the bus. I’d rather have Trent in the team than Trippier when we need to create and Walker / Gordon gives us frightening pace down the left for Trent to hit with his quarterback passes. Foden can come on for Palmer and hook Kane for Watkins if he’s still not aggressive enough.

|This management lark is easy! Where’s my five million quid??

“Love your work.”

I have not seen much clamour for Bowen but the campaign starts here, it would seen. Dropping Saka and Foden is the bold.

Some Euros adjacent news from Matt Hughes.

Georgia’s celebrations in video form for those that like car horns.

Which last-16 tie clash are you most looking forward to? Despite neither team looking at their best, I think France v Belgium could be decent. There is plenty of quality in the two squad and maybe they will finally show it when it truly matters.

There were some fantastic scenes in Romania after they top their group to make it to the last 16.

How green is the Euros? Philippe Auclair takes a look.

Elsewhere it has been confirmed that England full-back Lucy Broze will leave Barcelona this summer after the conclusion of her contract.

Every man and his dog will be offering up their opinions on what England should do on Sunday against Slovakia. One such person is former striker Jermain Defoe who fancies seeing a bit more Ollie Watkins in this tournament.

“When Ollie Watkins came on (against Denmark), 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 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.”

How do we solve a problem like England? Jacob Steinberg has a big and bold suggestion: drop Jude Bellingham.

The team has looked incredible unbalanced in the three group games. If Southgate wants Rice and Mainoo to sit, maybe it is best for everyone is Bellingham sits it out on Sunday. What do you think?

What a night it was for Georgia. In their first European Championships and they have made the last 16.

Preamble