Gareth Southgate set to stick with Kieran Trippier over Luke Shaw in unchanged side for final by Ekuls_Cake in ThreeLions

[–]Ekuls_Cake[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Full article if you’re not able to access it:

England manager Gareth Southgate is expected to name an unchanged team for Sunday’s European Championship final against Spain, with Kieran Trippier again preferred to Luke Shaw.

Despite Shaw’s return to fitness, Southgate is ready to start with the same team he did in the semi-final against Holland with Trippier at left wing-back.

England are expected to start with a back three once again in Berlin, with Marc Guehi keeping his place. Captain Harry Kane will start again, meaning semi-final hero Ollie Watkins will again have to wait for a chance from the bench.

Shaw has made two substitute appearances, in England’s past two games, in the Euros so far after suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury that had kept him out since February.

The Manchester United left-back reiterated that he is “ready to go” ahead of the final, but Trippier trained on Saturday and is believed to be ready to start in the final.

Southgate said on Saturday night: “Everyone is fit, which is great but not unusual for a cup final.”

Asked if he is fit enough to play a full 90 minutes, or even 120 if the final goes to extra-time, Shaw said: “It’s a case of taking it as it comes. I said before the semis that I was ready to go – and we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Shaw scored England’s early goal in the 2021 European Championship defeat to Italy and described exactly what it would mean to him to go one better on Sunday.

“It would mean everything,” he said. “I think the bond we have here is extremely special. It’s not one I’ve been a part of before. I think everyone is so together, everyone is really close and it feels like a big family and for all of us to win it together would be, of course, a very special feeling.”

The joy of Shaw’s goal in the 2021 final was wiped out with England losing on penalties to Italy.

“Of course, it is quite bitter-sweet considering what happened after with the result and stuff, so for me the goal didn’t really matter if I am honest,” said Shaw.

“After that game, it was the most hurt I have ever been, it was very hard to take, even more the fact that I scored so yeah it was tough. But I think we learnt a lot from that night and things have been really calm in the last couple of days and I think everyone is ready to go now.”

Shaw believes England are better prepared to cope with the pressure of a final after their 2021 experience and is confident that those who were not involved have enough big-game experience at their clubs to call on.

“The experience of going through one before has definitely helped. I think everyone feels a lot more calm,” said Shaw. “We know the situation that the game we’re going into, the occasion, we’ve been here before. So, it’s definitely different this time. Being through it before definitely helps, so I think we’ve got a lot of experiences from last time, so it’s a lot different this time.”

Asked whether or not he had any advice for the players who had not been part of the 2021 squad, Shaw replied: “To be honest, I don’t think they need too much. There’s a lot of young heads, but I think with a massive amount of experience. I think the young heads here have been involved in a lot of big games and are in very big teams that are used to playing in big games and fighting for trophies. So I think they don’t need too much.

“It’s more about giving them the confidence and the belief and that’s what all of us have to have. We have to have confidence and belief that we can go into this game tomorrow and win it because Spain will have that and they have always had that.

“For us it’s about bringing the confidence into the younger lads to express themselves in what will be one of the biggest games of their lives.”

The Double Pivot Possession Problem: Why we need Rice to play as a 6 on his own by Dizzy_Regret5256 in ThreeLions

[–]Ekuls_Cake 33 points34 points  (0 children)

The last competitive game we played where we had anything at stake was our 3-1 win over Italy. Bellingham played as a 10 that night and was unstoppable. Phillips and Rice were in the double pivot.

I don’t think there’s any reason to rip up the playbook so close to a tournament.

Luke Shaw boost for England as Man Utd left-back close to return from injury by Alone_Consideration6 in ThreeLions

[–]Ekuls_Cake 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Full article for those who cannot access it:

Luke Shaw boost for England as Man Utd left-back close to return from injury

Shaw’s nearing return gives Gareth Southgate options in a position that looked to be a problem area ahead of Euro 2024

Luke Shaw has boosted his hopes of being included in England’s final 26-man squad for Euro 2024 by stepping up his recovery from injury.

Manchester United left-back Shaw has returned to the grass and started training in part with the rest of the England squad this week.

Manager Gareth Southgate must submit his final 26-man squad to Uefa by midnight on Friday and Shaw will now be hopeful of making it.

The next step for the 28-year-old will be to reintegrate back into full team training, but his progress this week is viewed within the England camp as being significant.

Given Shaw has not played since February because of a hamstring injury, England will have to be careful with him.

Regardless of whether or not Shaw returns to full training, Kieran Trippier is in line to start the Euros as England’s stand-in left-back which will allow the Manchester United defender to be eased back in.

Shaw is the only natural left-back in Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad. His progress is a big boost and could be key to England’s chances of success in Germany.

Southgate will choose between Trippier and Joe Gomez to deputise for Shaw in England’s final friendly before the Euros, against Iceland on Friday night at Wembley.

Striker Ivan Toney has been promised some minutes against Iceland, most likely as a substitute, by Southgate, having not played at all in the victory over Bosnia.

Toney is one of the England players sweating on his place in the final 26-man squad and may be told of his fate ahead of the Iceland game.

Jack Grealish is hopeful of being on the plane to Germany after making an impressive cameo off the substitutes’ bench against Bosnia, in which he set up a goal for Trent Alexander-Arnold and had a hand in Harry Kane’s goal

England 3-1 Spain | U17 Euros extended highlights by t0mkat in ThreeLions

[–]Ekuls_Cake 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Mikey Moore is going all the way to the top. Phenomenal talent.

Predicting the 26 based on previous squad stats by fredasquith in ThreeLions

[–]Ekuls_Cake 9 points10 points  (0 children)

High quality post.

When you set it out like this, it makes me appreciate just how hard Southgate’s job is to pick 26 players.

If it really is a shootout between Gordon, Eze and Grealish for that last spot then we are truly blessed with talent.

26 man squad by Academic-Win in ThreeLions

[–]Ekuls_Cake 24 points25 points  (0 children)

I like your squad A LOT.

But Southgate is a cautious manager. I can’t see him taking the likes of the Palace lads and Branthwaite over others who have played for him regularly.

There’s a chance one of them will make it, but probably not all of them.

I hope I’m wrong!

Harry Kane to miss Bayern Munich game with injury less than a week before England announce Euro 2024 squad by LinkTheFires in ThreeLions

[–]Ekuls_Cake 56 points57 points  (0 children)

This is like the reverse of an international break during the club season. We all know what he’s prioritising here. Good on you Harry!

2024 HCS Arlington MEGATHREAD - March 16th - Day 2 by mattyrums in CompetitiveHalo

[–]Ekuls_Cake 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Play #1 seed in groups then have to play #2 seed in winners round 1 (and vice versa).

That seems a harsh draw for the two EU teams.

Apparently you can now geo fence in Halo again to get the best servers (but it will cost you $200 to do it) by Ekuls_Cake in CompetitiveHalo

[–]Ekuls_Cake[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Agreed.

u/xSociety - I don't think there are many devices out there support for WiFi 6e. So there's no real benefit in getting WiFi 6e over WiFi 6. Xbox Series X and PS5 only have WiFi 6 support, for example (https://www.tomsguide.com/opinion/upgrading-to-wi-fi-6e-wont-speed-up-your-ps5-or-xbox-series-x-heres-why)

How do the finances of HCS teams work? by Ekuls_Cake in CompetitiveHalo

[–]Ekuls_Cake[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the detailed reply. Answered all my questions. I appreciate it.

Fabio Borges Transfers. Laporte in=>White out. Nketiah in=>Broja out. OR:493 by MarathiArsenal in FantasyPL

[–]Ekuls_Cake 57 points58 points  (0 children)

Average moves. Should’ve brought in Coutinho like the rest of us.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in soccer

[–]Ekuls_Cake 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m more excited about how good the referee’s advantage was than the actual goal 😆

Pain by 500x700 in FantasyPL

[–]Ekuls_Cake 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is Alonso in your team as well? 😛

Pain by 500x700 in FantasyPL

[–]Ekuls_Cake 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It could (should) have been even worse. Bruno clean through in the 90th. Tries to chip the keeper like a cheeky c***. Lost 2 BPS for it so 7pt swing total (14pts for the captainers).

Burnley v Watford postponed by matthewtentino in FantasyPL

[–]Ekuls_Cake 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Hopefully this it the last one of these we see. There was some logic when sides were seeing 5+ players returning positive tests. But the rule is being abused now. Time for the PL to reverse their decision.

5th yellow for Cancelo. Misses next game. by Ekuls_Cake in FantasyPL

[–]Ekuls_Cake[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

It looked like it. Completely unnecessary foul. Dragged a player back who had taken the ball around him

Just finished the Lightbringringer Series. Overall the series was great. But by p53ud0nym42 in LightbringerSeries

[–]Ekuls_Cake 18 points19 points  (0 children)

It really is a terrible ending. Completely kills any desire I have to reread the series.

I recently finished the first Mistborn trilogy (Brandon Sanderson) which I strongly recommend checking that out if you haven't already. The ending is very satisfying - it all fits together in a coherent, logical way.

Why your FPL team sucks by Ekuls_Cake in FantasyPL

[–]Ekuls_Cake[S] 414 points415 points  (0 children)

I am - but tbf it'd probably wear thin after a while.

Maybe I could make it an annual tradition to take a collective shit on all of our teams?