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England v Slovakia LIVE: Latest Euro 2024 build-up, updates and team news

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England v Slovakia LIVE: Latest Euro 2024 build-up, updates and team news

Gareth Southgate: England have to be ‘right on our game’ against Slovakia

England take on Slovakia in the round of 16 as the Euro 2024 knockouts continue today. Gareth Southgate’s side have returned to Gelsenkirchen for this clash, playing in the only stadium to yield a win for them so far in the tournament.

After a slim victory over Serbia and two unconvincing draws versus Denmark and Slovenia, the Three Lions need to put in a strong performance if they hope to comfortably reach the last eight. With the team and manager under heavy scrutiny for their style of play a win over Slovakia will ease concerns going forward.

Despite outside noise, Southgate insists his players have no fear of the knockout rounds and told the media: “It could be another brilliant night to create more memories for our supporters. Tomorrow, it’s about the team progressing. We shouldn’t have a fear of losing, it’s about opportunity. We are trying to reach for something which is a challenge.”

Slovakia reached this round by sneaking through a tight Group E having finished on the same number of points as Romania, Belgium and Ukraine. They had a goal difference of zero and secured third spot to set up this encounter with England.

Follow all the build-up and latest updates as England prepare for their last-16 fixture:

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Harry Kane hopes Ben Stokes chat can inspire England at Euro 2024

Harry Kane is hoping a pre-Euro 2024 chat with England Test cricket captain Ben Stokes can provide inspiration against Slovakia on Sunday.

Stokes visited the England squad at their Middlesbrough training base before Gareth Southgate’s men jetted off to Germany.

Having topped their group despite widespread criticism for their performances, England now face Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen for a shot at reaching the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

Stokes was invited to speak to the squad by Southgate and skipper Kane revealed he spent an hour picking the brains of a man who has won the World Cup in 2019 and the T20 equivalent three years later.

Luke Baker30 June 2024 15:05

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England fans ready for the match

England fans are gathering in Gelsenkirchen ahead of the game. The supporters out in force

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
(The FA via Getty Images)

Luke Baker30 June 2024 14:50

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England vs Slovakia referee: Who is Euro 2024 official Umut Meler?

The 37-year-old Turkish referee, who has been a FIFA-listed official since 2017 and a member of the UEFA Elite group for two years, was the man in the middle for Belgium’s group game against Slovakia and Poland’s group stage clash with Austria.

Meler returned to refereeing this year despite being attacked and hospitalised by MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca following a game in the Turkish Super Lig in December 2023. He sustained a facial fracture and bleeding to the eye, but no permanent damage.

Meler took charge of Liverpool’s first-leg clash against Atalanta in the Europa League in April. Euro 2024 is his first major international tournament.

Referee: Umut Meler (TUR)

Assistant Referees: Emre Eyisoy (TUR) and Kerem Ersoy (TUR)

Video Assistant Referee: Marco Fritz (GER)

Assistant VAR 1: Christian Dingert (GER)

Assistant VAR 2: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)

Fourth official: Rade Obrenovic (SVN)

(Getty Images)

Luke Baker30 June 2024 14:35

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Gareth Southgate makes rallying call ahead of Slovakia match: ‘It’s time for England to deliver’

Under-fire Gareth Southgate says it is time to deliver as England attempt to put an underwhelming group stage behind them by making improvements and progressing past Slovakia in the round of 16.

England are favourites for today’s tie, with Slovakia head coach Francesco Calzona saying they have the best squad at the Euros and can become “unbeatable” if they click as a team.

In a press conference on Saturday, Southgate said: “We know that some parts of our game we’ve executed well and some we need to do better. But I’ve seen a lot of signs within the game against the Slovenia and since then that’s starting to come so, yeah, I’m excited about the game tomorrow.”

Gareth Southgate: England have to be ‘right on our game’ against Slovakia

Luke Baker30 June 2024 14:20

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Emma Raducanu supporting England

Tennis star Emma Raducanu begins her Wimbledon campaign tomorrow but she’s been showing her support for the Three Lions at SW19 today, rocking up in an England jersey.

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
(John Walton/PA Wire)

Luke Baker30 June 2024 14:05

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Talking points as England face Slovakia

It’s a knockout for Kane

Harry Kane may be England’s all-time leading goalscorer but his strike in the draw with Denmark was his first in the group stage of a major finals since the 2018 World Cup.

The England skipper, though, will be buoyed by his recent record once the business end of the tournament comes around and Southgate will be hoping history repeats itself.

He scored four in four at Euro 2020 as England were eventually beaten on penalties by Italy, and at the World Cup in 2022 he again drew a blank in the group stage before scoring two in two – although he did miss a penalty in the quarter-final defeat to France.

Luke Baker30 June 2024 13:50

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Talking points as England face Slovakia

Left-back limbo

Southgate opted to select Luke Shaw as the only natural left-back in his 26-man squad, that despite the fact the Manchester United defender has not played since a hamstring injury in February.

Shaw is now back training with the rest of his team-mates and his return could be timely, especially with fitness concerns over Kieran Trippier, who has been filling in on the left side of defence despite being right-footed.

If neither can face Slovakia, Southgate will have to choose between Joe Gomez and Ezri Konsa to fill the gap or move Kyle Walker across from right-back. He could even take the radical step of dropping Bukayo Saka out of his attack but the Arsenal man said on Friday he does not see himself as the solution.

Luke Baker30 June 2024 13:35

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Talking points as England face Slovakia

Slovakia aiming for the record books

While England will be heavy favourites against a nation ranked 45th in the FIFA world rankings, Slovakia have shown what they can do with a win over Belgium in Group E, a result which ultimately saw them progress in third place.

As an independent nation, Slovakia have never made it past the last 16 at a European Championship and Francesco Calzona’s side will be keen to reach the quarter-finals to extend their run in Germany.

Ivan Schranz scored twice in the group game and will be considered one of the dangermen, while Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will be aiming to keep England at bay at the other end of the pitch.

Luke Baker30 June 2024 13:20

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Talking points as England face Slovakia

The Mainoo Man

Kobbie Mainoo stepped up for England when he came on in the second half of the goalless draw with Slovenia last time out and will be pushing to start against Slovakia as a result.

Declan Rice remains a mainstay of the England midfield but selecting the right partner for Arsenal’s £105million club-record signing has seen Southgate trial a number of options across the group stage.

Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold was the first to be given a go, only to be substituted off in the first two games as Southgate admitted the “experiment” may not have worked out.

Conor Gallagher, who replaced Alexander-Arnold in those two fixtures, started against Slovenia but was hauled off at half-time for Mainoo, the Manchester United man slotting in seamlessly to give his chances of a first competitive England start a huge boost.

Luke Baker30 June 2024 13:05

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Talking points as England face Slovakia

Southgate’s last stand?

Having led England into a fourth major tournament as manager, Southgate’s future remains uncertain – especially given the criticism he has faced in Germany.

He was jeered following the Slovenia game and had plastic beer cups thrown in his direction from fans frustrated by the performance.

It is a far cry from when Southgate guided England to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the Euro 2020 final at Wembley three years ago and an exit at the hands of Slovakia would likely see his tenure come to an end.

Luke Baker30 June 2024 12:50

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