ENGLAND: NO DEAD-RUBBERS FOR THREE LIONS AS GARETH SOUTHGATE EYES WORLD NO1 SPOT

England's year comes to a close here in Skopje on Monday evening when they bid to end a strong 2023 on a positive note against North Macedonia.

After his side laboured to a 2-0 win over Malta at Wembley on Friday, Gareth Southgate has demanded an improved performance in their final Euro 2024 qualifier.

Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are expected to come back into the team, while 18-year-old Manchester City defender Rico Lewis is in line to make his debut at left-back.

Despite an underwhelming display against Malta, there is no doubt it has been a positive year for England.

Gareth Southgate

The FA via Getty Images

They are unbeaten in 10 matches since losing to France in the World Cup quarter-finals last December — and the reverse fixture against North Macedonia was probably the high point.

England produced their most well-rounded display of the year when they thrashed tonight's opponents 7-0 at Old Trafford in June.

Their forward line that night was irresistible, Harry Kane, Saka and Marcus Rashford linking well with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who could again play in midfield tonight.

Aside from experimenting with Alexander-Arnold, Southgate has largely stuck with his tried and tested this year, and hopes that continuity will benefit England at the Euros.

Seven months out from the start of what is expected to be his final major tournament in charge, Southgate could probably name nine of his strongest XI.

Perhaps the left-sided attacker and the midfield partner to Rice are the only positions still up for grabs.

This year, England have also produced arguably their best football under Southgate. He has persisted with a 4-2-3-1 system since the World Cup, with Jude Bellingham establishing himself as the No10 — the focal point of a tireless, high-press attack.

"There were a lot of question marks over us after the World Cup, whether we can qualify and go again", Arsenal star Rice said ahead of tonight's game. "I think that we can look at this year as a really positive one. We're unbeaten, another one to go [tonight]."

"We've done really well to win the games we've won, to bounce back from that France defeat.

"A lot of teams ducked after the World Cup and probably didn't get off to the best [start] in qualifying games. But the manager was so good on that front, talking about the mental side."

While tonight is another dead rubber, Southgate has made it clear to his players they cannot waste any games.

He has said he wants England to become the No1 team in the world and they can leapfrog Brazil in the FIFA rankings to finish the year in third place, behind world champions Argentina and France.

"Qualification is done," Southgate said. "With the games at the weekend, we might be ranked third in the world, but we are two places off where we need to be, so we can't waste games.

"If we're going to be a top team, then the level of performance has got to be spot on every time."

Asked if reaching the No 1 spot was a motivation for him, Southgate said: "Yeah, because, ultimately, you achieve that through consistency and you've got to play well in the tournaments as well, because the ranking points are higher in the tournaments.

 

Source: https://onefootball.com/en/news/england-no-dead-rubbers-for-three-lions-as-gareth-southgate-eyes-world-no1-spot-38591324

 

 

7 Scotland stars facing Euro 2024 heartache as ruthless Steve Clarke will be forced to get tough over Germany squad call

 The national team boss has six months before he will have to make one of the biggest decisions of his managerial career.

 

Steve Clarke insisted he wouldn’t be losing any sleep over his Euro 2024 squad selection just yet with about six months to go before he has to name his final 23 players who will be on the plane to Germany.

There is plenty of football to be played between now and then, there will be the inevitable injuries to players that will rule them out of selection and of course there is a quartet of Newcastle United stars who are all eligible for England and have Three Lions aspirations but who Clarke is seemingly keen on switching allegiances.

Will he be able to convince one, two, three or all four of Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Elliot Anderson and Tino Livramento? And if so who makes way? How long does Clarke even give those players to make a decision? There is certainly a lot to think about for Clarke - who was able to pick three more players for his Euro 2020 squad after UEFA increased the number due to Covid - and one thing is for certain - plenty of players will be left disappointed at missing out on the chance of a lifetime of representing Scotland at a major tournament.

Source: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/7-scotland-stars-facing-euro-31481100

 

Barcelona confirm Gavi will undergo surgery on ACL tear

 

Barcelona have offered an update on Gavi’s injury and have confirmed the midfielder is set to undergo surgery on an ACL tear.

 

Gavi was injured while playing for Spain against Georgia on Sunday and it’s now been announced that he is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Here is the club’s official statement:

“Tests carried out on Monday morning on the first team player Gavi have shown that he has a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and an associated injury to the lateral meniscus. The player will have surgery in the coming days after which a new medical update will be released.”

The injury is a massive blow to both Gavi, Barcelona and Spain. The 19-year-old has become a key part of Xavi’s team and is immensely popular both among his team-mates and the club’s fans. It’s thought he will miss the next 7-9 months.

Xavi has regularly described Gavi as the team’s “heart and soul” due to his tenacity and desire for the game and will undoubtedly be really upset to see him ruled out with such a devastating injury.

Get well soon, Gavi.

Source: https://www.barcablaugranes.com/2023/11/20/23968889/barcelona-confirm-gavi-will-undergo-surgery-on-acl-tear

PSG respond to Barcelona over audacious Neymar-Antoine Griezmann swap offer

Paris Saint-Germain have snubbed Barcelona’s initial approach for Neymar, with the Spanish giants having offered a host of first-team players including Antoine Griezmann to try and sweeten the deal. Barca are keen to strengthen this summer despite the uncertainty surrounding football due to the coronavirus pandemic, with La Liga still suspended and players training individually at their homes. They have made Neymar – who left Camp Nou in a world record £198m deal in 2017 – and Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez their top two targets as they look to refresh their attack. Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2020/04/03/psg-respond-barcelona-audacious-neymar-antoine-griezmann-swap-offer-12502785/?ITO=squid&ito=newsnow-feed?ito=cbshare Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

La Liga games to take place behind closed doors if Spanish football returns amid coronavirus outbreak

 

 

 

Senior figures at UEFA, La Liga and the RFEF have continued discussions but no specific return date is being targeted at this stage

La Liga matches will be played behind closed doors if a solution can be found to get Spanish football back underway.
As things stand, there is still no date set for any such return, but senior figures at La Liga and the Spanish FA (RFEF) acknowledge that a gradual return to normality would have to be enacted.
Sources close to the situation indicated to Goal that fans would continue to be banned from stadiums to prevent another sharp outbreak of coronavirus in Spain as a result of such large crowds gathering.

In Spain, Valencia’s away game against Atalanta in the Champions League has been labelled as a ‘biological bomb’ which served to accelerate the outbreak of Covid-19 and overwhelm local health services in both areas.
Once the outbreak has been contained to an acceptable degree, football is expected to return, but authorities and clubs will be extremely cautious as to the wider effect of hosting events.
There is some optimism from UEFA that, in a best-case scenario, some continental competitions could be resumed in June.
On Wednesday, UEFA announced a number of further suspensions of fixtures, including the postponement of all international fixtures scheduled for June and the outright cancellation of some youth international tournaments set to take place over the summer.
However, AS reports it is unlikely that stadiums will be allowed to open again until autumn at the very earliest.
There is a strong desire from UEFA to complete the round of 16 in both the Champions League and Europa League, but these matches will certainly be played behind closed doors if they do take place.
A number of European games have already been played without fans, including Valencia’s second leg against Atalanta in Spain, and Paris Saint-Germain’s comeback at home to Borussia Dortmund.


Read More
https://www.goal.com/en/news/la-liga-games-behind-closed-doors-spanish-football-returns/1mlf4rqf27puk11rydllrfr9f8

Stones defends Sterling over World Cup criticism

Manchester City defender John Stones believes Raheem Sterling deserved far more credit for his performances at the World Cup and was upset by the negativity aimed at his team-mate.
The 23-year-old could not reproduce his club form, having scored 23 goals last season, at international level in Russia and became the main target for criticism even though England reached the semi-finals.
Stones saw his displays up close and thinks he made more of a contribution than was appreciated, evidenced by the fact Sterling has resumed normal service on his return to Premier League action.
He scored one and had a hand in Kyle Walker’s winner in the 2-1 victory over Newcastle which got City back to winning ways after last weekend’s draw at Wolves.
“Raz was unbelievable in the World Cup,” he said.
“I know he got a lot of negativity towards him but what he brought to the team. He terrorised defences and it got overshadowed.
“On a personal level I was upset for Raheem because what he brings to his team, as we saw with his goal against Newcastle, is immense.
“And it’s not just about goals, he creates chances, takes on his full-back – he does everything right and more and I hope if we do play for England that one goes in and that is that, and we can put it to bed.
“If that happens, he can go on to show the world how good he is.
“He has such a great mentality, to keep coming out every week and doing what he does, and brush it all aside.”
Stones praised Sterling for the way he has handled himself over the last few months.
That includes not only criticism of his on-field displays but the furore over a tattoo of a gun on Sterling’s leg – which has personal significance for a player after seeing his father was shot dead in Jamaica as a boy – which dominated a significant part of the build-up to Russia.
“There was a lot of stuff going on before the World Cup, non-football related which is ridiculous,” added Stones.
“But you can’t let it get to you and Raz is so focused on his football and wanting to do well for the team – and that is the side people don’t see.
“Its an unbelievable quality for any footballer to have, and it makes him a great lad to play with.”
Sterling has picked up where he left off for City last season, scoring his second goal in three appearances.
He struck after just eight minutes after Bernard Mendy capitalised on Jamaal Lascelles’ careless touch to release his team-mate to cut in from the left and curl a shot across Martin Dubravka.
City should have pressed home their dominance of possession as the visitors fought a determined rearguard action but were stung by a counter-attack on the half-hour which saw DeAndre Yedlin charge 60 yards from the halfway line to convert Salomon Rondon’s low cross into the six-yard area.
The hosts upped the pressure after the break and Walker’s first goal for the club, his last coming almost three years ago as a Tottenham player, was worth waiting for as he drilled home a low shot from 25 yards.
Newcastle had Dubravka to thank for preventing that lead being extended, making one particularly good double save from Fernandinho and David Silva.

source: https://www.football365.com/news/stones-defends-sterling-over-world-cup-criticism

Messi desperate for World Cup success

Lionel Messi is desperate to win the World Cup with Argentina, setting his sights on Russia 2018.

Argentina star Lionel Messi dreams of winning the 2018 World Cup and warned his international team-mates it could be their last chance.

A senior trophy with the national team is all that is missing from Messi's incredible career, which has included a record five Ballon d'Or crowns.

Since Messi made his debut in 2005, Argentina have been three-time Copa America runners-up and also lost the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil.

The 30-year-old Barcelona star is desperate to go one better in Russia, with his team having been beaten by Germany in extra time in Rio de Janeiro four years ago.

"We feel that, if we won't win the World Cup in Russia, the only way will be to give up the national team," Messi told La Cornisa on Sunday.

"I dream of winning the trophy in Russia. My wish is to live something similar to Brazil 2014.

"You can do everything OK and fail, like Argentina in Brazil."

Largely thanks to Messi, Argentina are considered a chance of success in Russia, where they face Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in Group D.

Read more: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/messi-desperate-world-cup-success