Reece James opens up on his injury struggles & reveals Chelsea's fitness plan for him.

Neco Williams believes Armenia can do Wales a favour against Croatia and help them qualify for Euro 2024. Wales’ automatic qualification hopes were taken out of their own hands on Saturday by a wounding 1-1 away draw to Armenia and Croatia’s 2-0 victory in Latvia. Croatia will secure the second spot behind already-qualified Turkey by beating Armenia in their final qualifier on Tuesday. But were Armenia to draw or win in Zagreb, that would leave the door open for Wales who would then take second place by beating Turkey at the Cardiff City Stadium on the same evening. “Armenia are a top team,” wing-back Williams said of opponents who have damaged Wales’ qualification more than any other by taking four points from them. “They have got some very good players and, hopefully, they can do a job on Croatia like they did against us. “We still have a chance because you never know what’s going to happen. “It’s not in our hands and we have got to wait for the other results. There’s a lot of luck in football, and hopefully it will be on our side.” Wales lost 4-2 to Armenia at home in June and they were shaken again within five minutes of the Yerevan return. Lucas Zelarayan, who had scored twice in Cardiff, punished some sloppy Welsh defending and Armenia appeared in control until the final seconds of the first half. But Wales were gifted a lifeline when Nair Tiknizyan headed Connor Roberts’ long throw in to his own net. Williams said: “It was a tough game, end to end, and a lot of running. “Both teams were going for the win and probably at times it looked scrappy. “As soon as the lads came in after the game you could feel that, frustration. No-one talked and it felt like a loss. “But we take a point from it and all we can do now is focus on our last game against Turkey. “If we get the three points there you never know what’s going to happen.” The odds are that Wales will end up in the play-offs in March, the same route they negotiated to reach the 2022 World Cup by overcoming Austria and Ukraine. Finland, Iceland, Poland and Ukraine are all potential opponents this time, although the fixtures will not be determined until after the final qualifiers across Europe. “It could be something for us,” said Williams. “We did it for the World Cup and, if it does happen, we’ve still got a chance. “If we don’t qualify through the group, do it that way.” Daniel James admitted the early Zelarayan goal before a hostile Republican Stadium crowd had thrown Wales out of their stride. James said: “They scored early and you know it’s going to be difficult because it’s a tough place to come. “We dug deep and got back in the game, but we couldn’t get that second goal. “We’ve just got to pick our heads up and get ready for the next game against a very good Turkey team.” Central defender Chris Mepham will miss the Turkey game through suspension after picking up his third yellow card of the campaign in Yerevan. Read More On this day in 2019: Mauricio Pochettino sacked by Tottenham Stephen Kenny confident with Republic of Ireland’s solid base for bright future England full-back Kieran Trippier not taking his place at Euro 2024 as a given Wout Weghorst fires Netherlands to Euro 2024 as Ireland end with whimper Saracens overcome injuries to England stars in thrashing of Harlequins Erling Haaland’s injury is not serious – Norway boss Stale Solbakken

Persistent strong winds on the Matterhorn mountain have wiped out another women’s World Cup downhill

England boss Gareth Southgate says he can “take far fewer gambles” with his Euro 2024 squad compared to the previous two tournaments. Next year’s competition will see a return to relative normality after the delayed, Covid-impacted Euro 2020 and an unprecedented winter World Cup in Qatar. Increased 26-man squads were introduced for both of those tournaments, but UEFA has confirmed the size of selections will return to 23 players in Germany. “It makes it a different sort of thought process because you’ve had that leeway in the last couple of tournaments to take players that weren’t going to be fit for the first couple of games,” England boss Southgate said. “Or a bit of cover in certain positions that you might or might not have needed. “This time the physical conditioning of players is going to be really important. The ability for players to bat out six, seven games. “We know having been to the end of two tournaments that physically the demands on that is far greater than we would have known had we not been through that experience, so we know that is a huge requirement. We can take far fewer gambles than we were able to take for the last two tournaments where it was 26 England boss Gareth Southgate “If you can only sort of take two for each position, players that are adaptable are helpful, players that can play more than one position are helpful. “But equally players that are physically vulnerable we will have got to think very carefully about.” The enlarged selection at Euro 2020 helped Southgate include Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire. The former had not played since the February due to groin surgery and the latter missed six weeks with an ankle injury, returning to action in England’s final group game and going onto be earn a place in the team of the tournament. As for Qatar, Southgate was able to include Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips despite a lack of fitness following groin and shoulder surgery respectively. Asked if players needed to be fit to be on the plane to Germany, he said: “I wouldn’t say all 23. “But we can take far fewer gambles than we were able to take for the last two tournaments where it was 26.” Long-serving number one Jordan Pickford is sure to be a key part of the squad next summer and is away with England at a time when his club side are in the headlines. It was announced in the hours before Friday’s 2-0 win against Malta that Everton had been deducted 10 points after being found to have breached Premier League financial rules. “I haven’t spoken to Jordan about it,” Southgate said ahead of Monday’s final Euro 2024 qualifier away to North Macedonia. “The rest at the minute is speculative, so we’ll just have to see as and when anything happens. “He has coped really well with a couple of really difficult seasons at Everton, where they’ve been in the lower reaches of the league. “So, if the ultimate decision is as has been said – I am guessing there will be some sort of appeal – then it’s a scenario he’s been through and actually been a really important player for.” Read More On this day in 2019: Mauricio Pochettino sacked by Tottenham Stephen Kenny confident with Republic of Ireland’s solid base for bright future England full-back Kieran Trippier not taking his place at Euro 2024 as a given Wout Weghorst fires Netherlands to Euro 2024 as Ireland end with whimper Saracens overcome injuries to England stars in thrashing of Harlequins Erling Haaland’s injury is not serious – Norway boss Stale Solbakken

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