Euro 2024. Spain’s Dani Olmo (three goals, two assists) is in the box seat though.
Also a reminder that there is no third/fourth play-off at the Euros, so that won’t play a part in the above.
Euro 2024, Keir Starmer has said amid calls for an extra bank holiday in the event of victory. The prime minister appeared to suggest he would not commit to an extra day off as he said did not want to “jinx anything” by pre-empting the result of Sunday’s final between Gareth Southgate’s team and Spain.
The Liberal Democrats have led calls for an extra bank holiday after England claimed a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday. Starmer previously supported calls for a bank holiday when England’s women’s football team made it to the World Cup final last year.
Asked whether he would back a bank holiday if Southgate’s team is victorious, the prime minister told broadcasters in Washington DC: “We should certainly mark the occasion, I don’t want to jinx it. I went to the last Euros final, I don’t want to go through that again. I don’t want to jinx anything but we must mark it in some way. But the most important thing is getting it over the line on Sunday.”
European Championship final, I’d ever managed, so if I didn’t get everything right apologies for that but we’ll try and do better this week.”
And on injuries he said Harry Kane “took quite a big knock when he won the penalty”, while Kieran Trippier “had a little bit of a problem” but “could be OK” for Sunday.
“We didn’t want to take any chances and we had it in our minds that bringing Luke into the game with that balance at some point. We’re still deciding how long he could play for, but we felt to be able to bring him into the game and finish with that balance was better than to start it and then have to take him off. We’ll have to see how our Tripps is but, I mean, he’s been an absolute soldier for us. To fill in the way he has and produce the level of performance on the wrong side of the pitch with the injuries he came into the tournament with as well has been absolutely phenomenal.”
Luis de la Fuente says that England play a different style to Spain: they’re good physically and have players who like to run a lot. He’s right, of course, but he’d do well nor to think that’s all they are. Football is changing and has changed: nowadays, the big lads who don’t mind charging about also have feet and brains.
“I’m old enough to remember when certain pundits were firmly of the opinion that too many foreigners playing in the Premier League explained England’s disappointing tournament performances,” says Tony Clare, “and that England would never produce a squad good enough to challenge for a trophy without a cap on overseas players being introduced. Not many pundits seem to be repeating that twaddle these days. Any idea why?”
I guess in some ways, this reflects a more open society – fewer potentially elite footballers are going undiscovered – and the money in football makes the game a seriously attractive career option for those sufficiently talented. But yes, I agree: players who raise the level inspire and improve those around them. Josh McEachran would not be bossing midfield for England had Chelseas pursued a different transfer policy.
“If England defeat Spain, there are plans being made for a celebration in London on Tuesday, which would see the squad travel by open-top bus from the Guildhall in the City to Buckingham Palace, where there would be a reception, the Guardian understands.
The players would meet Keir Starmer the day before, with the prime minister expected to attend the final in Berlin on Sunday.”
“Cannot disagree more with the premise that winning knockout matches in adverse circumstances is the sign of a poor or undeserving team,” says John Oswald. “It happily bucks the earlier Southgate trend – in fact, completely inverts the trend – of an England prone to scoring early and conceding late (remember those Croatia and Italy matches). I know which version of England I prefer! They’re building extraordinary resilience as a group and now we should expect them to win if they concede an early goal. I hope…”
I agree with you about resilience, though I think it’s more a factor of loads of great attacking options on the bench. Against Spain, though, it’s a little different, partly because they’re in a different league to any side England have faced so far and partly because the way they play means going behind is a bigger problem in terms of getting enough of the ball to build pressure. But belief in destiny is a powerful thing.
Also going on:
Source: theguardian.com
