ENGLAND’S BATTLE TO AVOID RELEGATION

ENGLAND are bottom of their Nations League group with two games to play — against Italy in Milan tonight and Germany at Wembley on Monday. Defeat by Italy would confirm finishing fourth and relegation to League B for Gareth Southgate’s side, but they will avoid going down if they win both matches. England are the only team in the group who cannot reach the Nations League finals after a winless first four games, including a 4-0 home loss to Hungary in

June. Relegation would mean England could be drawn to play the likes of Kazakhstan and Georgia in the next competition in 2024.

It would also damage England’s UEFA ranking, meaning a tougher qualifying group for Euro 2024.