The buildup to Euro 2024 is almost complete and the tournament itself is just one day away, with Germany playing Scotland on Friday night and 22 other nations following suit in the days and weeks ahead.
For England it’s now about final preparations and ensuring Gareth Southgate’s starters are in peak form, with one notable absence in John Stones missing training on Wednesday. The centre-back is expected to be a cornerstone of the Three Lions’ hopes, with Trent Alexander-Arnold thought to be starting in midfield in the opening game.
Meanwhile, the manager himself has already suggested he could depart the job if England are not successful this summer, following a couple of near misses beforehand.
Follow below for all the latest news updates regarding England, Scotland and the rest of the tournament participants on Thursday, ahead of the eagerly anticipated start of the Euros.
Euro 2024 golden boot: Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and the outside contenders in Germany
Europe’s best strikers will be vying for individual honours as well as team success at they aim to top the scoring charts at Euro 2024.
Mike Jones13 June 2024 20:15
Czech Republic midfielder to miss Euro 2024 after bike accident – one day after captaining his nation
The 24-cap international, who plays his club football in Netherlands with FC Twente, was riding his bike during an individual training programme following a friendly match on Friday, when he apparently fell off and suffered a severe cut to his leg.
Following a medical assessment, the national team decided he would be able to play no part in the upcoming tournament and issued a statement that he would be departing the group – having worn the captain’s armband only a day earlier in the win over Malta.
Mike Jones13 June 2024 20:00
Negativity around Portugal due to high expectations, claims Bruno Fernandes
Portugal won all 10 of their qualifiers but their preparations for the June 14 to July 14 tournament in Germany have been far from perfect with losses to Slovenia and Croatia in recent friendlies.
Mike Jones13 June 2024 19:45
‘We want to make history’: Declan Rice says England head to Euro 2024 full of belief
Gareth Southgate’s side are among the favourites to win the continental crown, three years on from falling agonisingly short in the final of the last edition of the tournament.
England jetted off to Germany on Monday afternoon and midfielder Rice says there is an inherent belief in the group that they can be crowned kings of Europe for the first time.
Mike Jones13 June 2024 19:30
Rice not ‘disappointed’ by Iceland defeat
England, who kick off their Euros campaign against Serbia on Sunday, headed to Germany reeling from a shock 1-0 defeat to Iceland in their final friendly.
But Declan Rice says the disappointment does not detract from what was a beneficial 10-day training camp.
“It’s obviously difficult when you finish the league. Your body completely shuts down when you have a break, because we’re made to just play all the time,” the 25-year-old said on England’s departure show on YouTube.
“When we have a rest, our body shuts down and it’s hard to get going again but last week was really beneficial, to be honest with you, I think for everyone.
“We’ve got another full week now until the game, so we’ll be in a really good spot.”
Mike Jones13 June 2024 19:15
England looking to make history says Declan Rice
“We want to make history,” the Arsenal midfielder said after of England’s Euro 2024 campaign. “We say it all the time, but genuinely we have a group, a manager, that really believes.
“We have a confidence that we can go there and do something really special and, of course, with that comes hard work. That is going to be the main thing – the hard work as a team, unity, togetherness and with everyone behind us at home.
“We’re going to feel that for sure, so stick with us, be positive and let’s see what happens.”
Mike Jones13 June 2024 19:00
Netherlands suffer double midfield injury blow with Frenkie de Jong ruled out of Euro 2024
Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong has been ruled out of the European Championship after failing to recover from an ankle injury, dealing a blow to the team’s chances.
The Dutch football federation announced the Barcelona star would not be available for Euro 2024 in Germany after Ronald Koeman‘s team beat Iceland 4-0 in their final warmup. De Jong watched from the bench on Monday in Rotterdam.
“He won’t be fit enough to play at this level for the next three weeks,” Koeman said. “There’s no point keeping him with us.”
Mike Jones13 June 2024 18:45
Robert Lewandowski suffers scare ahead of Euro 2024 – as another Poland forward gets injured celebrating
The Barcelona striker left the field with an apparent thigh problem after 32 minutes of the Poles’ last-gasp 2-1 victory in Warsaw.
To compound matters, fellow forward Karol Swiderski was also substituted after suffering an ankle injury while celebrating scoring the opening goal on 12 minutes.
Mike Jones13 June 2024 18:30
‘A beautiful experience’: England arrive in Germany hopeful of Euro 2024 glory
Gareth Southgate’s England squad have arrived at their remote base in Germany to ramp up their European Championship preparations.
The Euro 2020 runners-up are considered among the favourites to go one better and lift the trophy in Berlin on 14 July.
England begin their quest to become kings of the continent in Sunday’s Group C opener against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, around 200 miles from their tournament base.
Mike Jones13 June 2024 18:15
Why Euro 2024 means more to Harry Kane – England’s most unique soldier
It wasn’t the only new thing Kane had to endure. Although he has obviously experienced trophy disappointment on many occasions, it has never been when success was so expected. Kane had made the hard choice to leave Tottenham Hotspur for Bayern, only to suddenly find success wasn’t coming easy for the perennial German champions. It did hit him.
The striker still registered this most painful of seasons – as he put it himself – in the way he always does. He internalised it and persevered. It was why the banquet suited him more than most. It helped “get on with it”, in the way he always does.
Mike Jones13 June 2024 18:00