ENGLAND v BRAZIL
HARRY WILSON is backing his Wales generation to earn a European Championship place via the play-offs.
With talisman Gareth Bale retired and other stars like Joe Allen having called time on their Wales careers, 26-year-old Fulham winger Wilson said: “We have a really good group around my age.
“Some younger players have shone in our training sessions, looking really up for the challenge.”
The Euro draw has been kind, with Thursday’s semi-final in Cardiff, and the winners playing Poland or Estonia, again in the Welsh capital.
Wilson added: “Being at home is a massive advantage. Having our fans behind us is brilliant.”
GARETH SOUTHGATE has warned Marcus Rashford that Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer are gunning for his Euro 2024 spot.
The 26-year-old Manchester United attacker has had an underwhelming campaign to date – netting just seven times – while his actions away from the field have also created unwanted headlines for Erik ten Hag.
Back in October, Rashford partied in a Manchester nightclub just hours after United were hammered 3-0 by rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford before he refused to show for training in January after a boozy bender in Belfast.
However, England boss Southgate has stuck by his top goalscorer from the 2022 World Cup for upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium – and there is hope he will now justify his selection.
Southgate said: “Marcus has a battle on his hands with Gordon, with Palmer, with [Phil] Foden… so we’ve got big competition for places in that area.
“What happens while players are with their clubs are club matters because they know the full story.
“Obviously, we observe everything, we don’t miss anything. I don’t say behaviours off the field are irrelevant because clearly they’re not.
“But the key thing is we are mainly focusing on the performances on the field. He’s got big competition. So has Jack [Grealish].”
It is the first time Gordon has made the England senior squad.
Jarrod Bowen has also forced his way in on merit after bagging his 18th goal of the season in West Ham’s 5-0 demolition of Freiburg on Thursday night.
Southgate added: “These guys are playing well. Gordon, Bowen… they’re scoring regularly, they perform well for the team, they defend well, they work hard, they compete. I can’t guarantee anybody makes it.
“We know what
Marcus can bring, but equally everybody has got to perform well between now and the end of the season.”
On Gordon, Southgate added: “I really liked him at Everton. I like the way he competes, he’s aggressive with the ball and positive.
“He has quality, he can retain the ball under pressure, he’s quick – speed is something that frightens full-backs and he has that.
“And he scores goals, he’s added that little bit more consistency to his goalscoring in the last couple of years.”
Southgate has no concerns that the intensity of the Premier League title race will have any negative impact upon the harmony of his squad, with Arsenal, Liverpool and City currently vying to be crowned champions.
“It hasn’t been a problem
ENGLAND BOSS Gareth Southgate has ruled out Mason Greenwood gatecrashing his Euro 2024 plans – despite hinting he could potentially return to the fold after the tournament.
The Manchester United winger, currently on loan at Getafe, has flourished in Spain after all criminal charges against his name were dropped in February 2023 following the withdrawal of key witnesses. Greenwood (left) is expected to leave United on a permanent transfer for us previously,” added Southgate.
“Pre-euros, last time around [2021], we had a Champions League Final between Chelsea and Manchester City, so we’re never going to have a more difficult situation than that.
“Before the Nations League in 2019, it was a Liverpool versus Tottenham final. Of course, the title race will bring challenges and competition between the players, but I think all of our players recognise that, when they’re with England, they’re together and it’s wiped under the table.
“Reluctantly, they’re happy for each other and they manage to bury their own disappointment.
“But I don’t have any concerns about that part.”