SOUTHGATE WARNS COVIDIOTS

GARETH SOUTHGATE will not tolerate players derailing England’s Euros campaign by breaking Covid rules. Midfielder James Maddison was axed by Leicester on Sunday after attending a party, which could end his hopes of making Southgate’s (left) squad for the Euros.

Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden were sent home from Iceland after inviting girls to the team hotel, while Ben Chilwell, Jadon Sancho and

Tammy Abraham were also pictured at a party before England duty in October.

Southgate admitted he is still annoyed by the “distractions” which he said cost England a place in the Nations League finals.

And he will not allow a repeat this summer.

The Three Lions boss said: “When we went into the tournament in Russia in 2018, we had minimal distractions.

“But in the autumn, discipline off and on the pitch created the biggest issues and meant we didn’t get to the semi-finals of the Nations League that we were desperate to be in.

“It still annoys me when I look at that line-up – Italy, Spain, Belgium, France. It’s a brilliant line-up, games you want to be involved in.

“One of the key areas was that we didn’t have availability of players at certain times for on and off-the-field misdemeanours.

“Coming into the summer we’ve got to make sure we arrive at the camp giving ourselves the best chance to focus on football. I’m obviously very conscious that Leicester have dealt with the situation brilliantly.

“We’ve had issues ourselves in the autumn.

“It puts you in really difficult positions.

“I can only compare that with March, where we came into the camp with no dramas.

“It’s just a much better environment to prepare for football.”