SOUTHGATE FEARS FOR 2021 EUROS

...BUT INSISTS ENGLAND WILL STEP UP

Chief Football Writer GARETH SOUTHGATE fears the Euros could be scrapped – but insists England are ready to step in to host the whole tournament.

The Three Lions boss said: “We would definitely be capable of hosting. We are due to host a lot of games at Wembley anyway – so I don’t think that will change. But it really is an unknown as to what the format might end up looking like.”

UEFA face growing concerns about whether the European

Championship can still go ahead because of the coronavirus crisis.

The Euros are scheduled for next summer across 12 different countries, in 12 different cities and that clearly has potential dangers, with parts of Europe under lockdown and fears about the virus spreading.

But it might be an additional boost for skipper Harry Kane (above) and his team-mates if the tournament was moved entirely to England.

Southgate cannot say for certain it will still go ahead as planned amid worrying rates of infection and games still being played behind closed doors.

But he believes that the FA, with group matches and latter stages including the final scheduled for Wembley, could stage the whole tournament if it was safer to contain it in one country.

Southgate said: “I think what is possible and what looks possible will change frequently over the next few months. We honestly don’t know.

“You couldn’t stand with any certainty and say the Euros will take place next year... or say it will take place in the expected format.

“Towards spring things might look a bit brighter but it is impossible to predict. We have to be ready to adapt to whatever is thrown our way.”