COMING HOME?
ENGLAND SECURE PLACE IN LAST 16
ENGLAND are guaranteed a place in the last 16 of the Euros after Belgium’s victory over Finland last night.
The news came after key England stars Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell went into isolation last night after Chelsea teammate, Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour tested positive for Covid.
Grim-faced Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate said that midfielder Mount and left-back Chilwell were “quite a doubt” for tonight’s Wembley showdown with the Czech Republic.
But the England camp were relieved that the blow will not affect their progress into the knockout phase.
Southgate’s side will finish as – at worst – one of the four best third-placed teams after yesterday’s result. Gilmour is isolating for 10 days and will miss Scotland’s must-win Euro 2020 game against Croatia in Glasgow tonight.
He won the man of the match award in last Friday’s goalless draw with England at Wembley – his full international debut – after which the three Chelsea players were seen embracing. No other players were last night understood to have been affected or identified as close contacts, so the rest of the Scottish squad are available tonight. England’s squad of 26 all gave negative tests and trained yesterday for their final Group D game, the English Football Association said.
The FA added: “In consultation with Public Health England, Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount are isolating after interaction with Scotland player Billy Gilmour.”