Euro 2020 news LIVE: Harry Maguire trains with England ahead of Croatia tournament opener
Follow all the latest updates the day before the tournament kicks off in Rome
Welcome along to all the latest coverage ahead of Euro 2020 which gets going tomorrow in Rome. That’s come around quickly. Italy vs Turkey is the first game taking place at 8pm BST on Friday night, preceded by an opening ceremony of some kind – presumably scaled back given the pandemic. UK viewers can watch it all unfold on the BBC and online via the iPlayer.
There is a relaxed feel around the England camp, underpinned by Jack Grealish’s jovial press conference yesterday where he joked about Aston Villa’s lack of set-piece quality to take advantage of him being so regularly fouled, laughed off comparisons with Paul Gascoigne and – more bizarrely from one Italian journalist – Francesco Totti. Later Declan Rice discussed carrying “no fear” into the tournament and why he chose England over Ireland.
All the talk is about Gareth Southgate’s first selection for the opener with Croatia on Sunday with suggestions growing he could well opt for a back three with four full-backs in the line-up including Luke Shaw at centre-half. Harry Maguire trained for the first time this morning as he bids to prove his fitness for the tournament.
We will have all the latest news and updates right here ahead of the tournament finally getting under way this week, with press conferences from the Scotland, Wales and England camps all to come today.
Euro 2020 news: Enrique waiting on tests before squad trains together
More from Spain head coach Luis Enrique, who gave an update regarding his team following captain Sergio Busquets’ positive test.
“We will have to wait one or two more days, based on what doctors say, with negative tests all round, before we can train together again as a group.We are really looking forward to that, but we are still in great condition and excited going into the tournament.”
Enrique also commented on the fact that he does not know which players will start in Spain’s opening game versus Sweden on Monday.
“I don’t know which eleven is going to play. Of the 23 that are here, anyone can start. Even the players who train in the bubble in the morning could be starters.”
Spain have called up 11 players to train in a ‘parallel bubble’, essentially staying on stand-by in case of a Covid-19 outbreak within the main group.
Euro 2020 will reveal whether England have outgrown Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate has done a fine job in his five years as England manager. He took over the position when the national side was in chaos and was the right man to nurse along a new wave of talent. Even more exciting for the 50-year-old is that another crop of exceptional players has developed under his tenure.
Now Southgate faces a huge test. Too often over the years England’s potential in major tournaments has been overhyped. But in the next month they have a real chance of becoming European champions. The manager has a squad with the class to win the competition but that is only half the equation. The question is whether he has the tactical acumen to channel the talent. He was the right man for the role but has the team outgrown him?
Southgate needs to answer that question quickly. On Sunday, England play Croatia at Wembley, the side that knocked them out of the World Cup semi-finals three years ago.
Euro 2020 will reveal whether England have outgrown Gareth Southgate
England will not win the Euros by being cautious. The time has come for them to be bold
Euro 2020 news: Enrique backs Portugal as favourites
Spain head coach Luis Enrique has been discussing his side’s chances ahead of the European Championships.
“The favourite is the reigning champion. If I remember correctly, in the last World Cup the four semi-finalists were European. We’re up there amongst the best.
“We’re in the top 5-6 teams as favourites without a doubt.”
He also mentioned that Sergio Busquets’ tournament hopes may not be over despite his positive Covid-19 test.
“I’m going to wait for Busquets. He will be in the list, for sure.”
Jack Grealish explains why he can play alongside Harry Kane for England at Euro 2020
Jack Grealish believes that he is capable of playing alongside Harry Kane at Euro 2020 but admits that he can improve on running in behind defence to make the most of the England captain’s creativity.
Kane has shown a more inventive side to his game this season, dropping deeper to provide for runners like Son Heung-min, who he assisted nine times this season for the most prolific combination in the top flight.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker ended the campaign with more assists than any other top-flight player as well as being the top scorer.
Jack Grealish explains why he can play alongside Harry Kane
Grealish reveals text message encouragement from manager Dean Smith
Euro 2020 news: UEFA demand change to Ukraine jersey
Uefa have demanded that Ukraine make changes to their jersey for Euro 2020 to remove a ‘political’ slogan that sparked protests from Russia.
European football’s governing body said the message ‘Glory to our Heroes’, a rallying cry during the 2014 anti-Russian protests in Ukraine that is featured inside the shirt, was “clearly political in nature”.
The uniforms in the blue-and-yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag feature the silhouette of Ukraine that includes Russia-annexed Crimea and the separatist-controlled regions of Donetsk and Lugansk as well as the words "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!"
Euro 2021 fixtures: Venues, groups, dates and tournament schedule
Euro 2020 gets under way on Friday when Group A favourites Italy take on Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
England and Scotland will meet in the second round of Group D matches, and the two neighbours will also be pitted against Croatia and Czech Republic. Wales face Switzerland and Turkey in Baku before heading to Rome to take on Italy.
The undoubted ‘group of death’ this summer features the 2014 World Cup winners Germany, the reigning world champions France, and the reigning European champions Portugal. Hungary are the unlucky nation dropped in Group F and will need to produce something special to come out the other side.
Euro 2020 fixtures, groups, venues and tournament schedule
The tournament has been rescheduled for this summer and will be the first European Championships to be played across the entire continent
Euro 2020 news: Verratti set to miss opener vs Turkey
Marco Verratti again trained separately from his Italy teammates, so it appears Manuel Locatelli will start against Turkey in Friday’s Euro 2020 opener.
PSG midfielder Verratti is still struggling to recover fully from a knee injury and once more today did not train with the rest of the team toda. Sassuolo midfielder Locatelli should take his place.
It is likely to be the same XI that started in Italy’s 4-0 friendly win over the Czech Republic last week.
Italy (per Football Italia): G Donnarumma; Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola; Barella, Jorginho, Locatelli; Berardi, Immobile, Insigne
The game kicks off the entire tournament at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome at 19.45 UK time on Friday.
Finland Euro 2020 squad guide
Finland will compete at a major international tournament for the first time in their history at Euro 2020 this summer.
Norwich’s Teemu Pukki inspired the country to qualification, scoring 10 goals in their group to finish second behind Italy, edging out the likes of Greece, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia and Liechtenstein.
They have been handed a tricky group, with world No 1 ranked side Belgium joined by Russia and rivals Denmark, however, if Pukki can sustain his sensational club form, having scored 26 goals as the Canaries secured promotion back to the Premier League, they could still pose a threat.
Finland Euro 2020 squad guide, fixtures and ones to watch
Teemu Pukki inspired Finland to the first major international competition appearance in their history
Euro 2020 news: Harry Maguire returns to training
Some good news for England fans...
Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire has joined up with the team in training for the first time since his injury.
Maguire suffered ankle ligament damage against Aston Villa on 7 May.
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