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Wembley revenge to seal place at Euro 2024? – England v Italy talking points
Wembley revenge to seal place at Euro 2024? – England v Italy talking points
England host Italy at Wembley on Tuesday night knowing victory over the Azzurri will ensure qualification to Euro 2024. Gareth Southgate’s side won 2-1 in Naples in March and now could wrap up qualification with another success against the defending champions. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the main talking points ahead of the clash. Arch rivals This will be the first clash between the two nations at Wembley since the Euro 2020 final – which Italy won on penalties. Since then the sides have met on three occasions, twice in the Nations League before the fixture in Italy earlier this year. England will be keen to exact a level of revenge on Tuesday night in a match which will have an impact on the outcome of the group. Regular faces to return After making 10 changes for Friday’s 1-0 friendly win over Australia, Southgate will no doubt bring back his big-hitters for the one competitive game of the October international break. The team performance in the narrow victory will not have seen many of the rotated side push to replace the more established order. Captain Harry Kane was an unused substitute against the Socceroos and will lead the line with the likes of Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, who were not involved on Friday, returning. Jordan jeered off again? Friday’s friendly against Australia saw Jordan Henderson line-up on home soil for the first time since his controversial summer switch from Liverpool to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq. Henderson has been a high-profile supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and last month apologised for any hurt he caused by moving to a country where homosexuality is illegal. The stand-in skipper’s name was met by murmurs before kick-off and the midfielder ended up being booed when substituted, with Southgate left angry by a reaction he felt “defies logic”. It remains to be seen, however, if the 33-year-old features against Italy, whether fans will respond in the same way. Pressure off in November Victory over Italy would seal England’s berth at Euro 2024 with two games of qualification still to play. Those fixtures see Southgate’s side host minnows Malta at Wembley next month before travelling to face North Macedonia, who could still have an outside chance of reaching the finals themselves. Going into those two games with the ability to experiment and look at players without the pressure of needing the points would be a handy outcome for Southgate, who has so little time to do so leading up to the finals. Unsure Azzurri Southgate said Italy have been “revitalised” under new head coach Luciano Spalletti, but defeat in London could cost the visitors dear. They may have lifted the European Championship at Wembley two years ago but they went on to miss out on the 2022 World Cup and have Ukraine – and to a lesser extent North Macedonia – to keep at bay. Ukraine travel to Malta on Tuesday and will leapfrog Italy into second place if they better the result of Spalletti’s men, meaning their showdown meeting in Leverkusen in the final round of fixtures could essentially be a play-off to make it to Euro 2024. Read More England fight off early Rahmanullah Gurbaz threat to limit Afghanistan to 284 Josh Adams believes Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake are ‘massive figureheads’ for Wales Sam Tomkins ready for family time after ‘selfish’ season ends in heartbreak Jordan Pickford insists England are not looking for revenge against Italy Andy Farrell believes spirit of outgoing Johnny Sexton can spur Ireland on Rangers appoint former Club Brugge boss Philippe Clement as new manager
2023-10-15 22:16
Frattesi double gives Italy Euro boost against Ukraine
Frattesi double gives Italy Euro boost against Ukraine
Davide Frattesi ensured that Italy got their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign back on track with a brace in Tuesday's entertaining 2-1 win over Ukraine which moved...
2023-09-13 04:51
Australia dared to dream of World Cup glory, then it all slipped away
Australia dared to dream of World Cup glory, then it all slipped away
A long, emotional day for Australian soccer fans turned into an even longer trip home when severe delays stranded thousands on train platforms at Stadium Australia after the nation's disappointing 3-1 loss to England in the World Cup semifinal.
2023-08-17 04:22
Avalanche beat Sharks 2-1 in shootout to spoil 51-save performance by Mackenzie Blackwood
Avalanche beat Sharks 2-1 in shootout to spoil 51-save performance by Mackenzie Blackwood
Cale Makar scored a late game-tying goal, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 in a shootout on the road to spoil a 51-save performance by Sharks goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood
2023-10-15 13:50
Ex-Las Vegas Raider Henry Ruggs sentenced to 3-plus years in prison for fatal DUI crash in Nevada
Ex-Las Vegas Raider Henry Ruggs sentenced to 3-plus years in prison for fatal DUI crash in Nevada
Former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs has been sentenced to at least three years in a Nevada prison for killing a woman in a fiery crash while driving his sports car drunk at speeds up to 156 mph on a city street nearly two years ago
2023-08-10 01:58
Northern Ireland rising star Isaac Price grateful to former boss Frank Lampard
Northern Ireland rising star Isaac Price grateful to former boss Frank Lampard
Northern Ireland’s emerging talent Isaac Price has credited ex-Everton boss Frank Lampard with being a “massive” influence on his development and indicated the manager’s Goodison Park exit prompted his own summer move to Standard Liege. Few Evertonians recall Lampard’s 12-month reign with great affection – they narrowly avoided relegation in May 2022 and then, amid protests against the board, failed to progress before he was sacked in January – but the 20-year-old Price believes he took big strides under the former England midfielder. “(Lampard) was massive for me,” Price said. “I learnt so much while he was there. I had my debut… at Arsenal (in May 2022) and ever since then I felt like he really taught me a lot of stuff. “He gave me my debut, he put a bit of trust in me. I was training with the (senior squad) regularly so I was learning a lot of things. Had it gone differently at Everton and he’d had the players he needed to get results maybe I’d still be there.” Although he did not play any Premier League football in the first half of last season, Price felt ready to step up after the World Cup break. But a few weeks later Lampard was sacked and his replacement Sean Dyche turned to experience in another fight against the drop. “When the World Cup was on we went to Australia and played two games and I played 90 minutes in both games and I felt like I was one of the best players there,” Price added. “We came back and I was around it, I got half an hour against Brighton, and after that I felt like I was pushed to one side. “Even though I had the belief in myself that I should be playing or at least coming off the bench I wasn’t really seeing that. As soon as Lampard left and the new manager came in I felt I was just pushed aside and that built up a bit of frustration in me that I wanted to leave.” That move came when Price joined Belgian club Standard Liege, ending 13 years at Everton. It was a leap on and off the pitch, but Price has the self-assurance to take on the challenge. He is learning the language, admittedly slowly, and said he has quickly settled. “I feel like it was a bit of belief in myself,” he said of his decision to move. “It’s different living away from home on your own but it’s great. The football is great, the fans are unbelievable, it gives you a bit of confidence every time you go on the pitch so I’m really enjoying it.” His first goal for the club was the winner in a 2-1 victory over Club Brugge last week, coming on the back of his first Northern Ireland goal in the 4-2 loss to Slovenia last month, his fifth cap. Slovenia will visit Windsor Park on Tuesday but first come San Marino on Saturday, a match Michael O’Neill’s side need to win to end a five-game losing run and change the mood around a Euro 2024 qualifying campaign which has unravelled since March. When the qualifying draw was made there was optimism that, having avoided some of the bigger nations and with O’Neill returning, Northern Ireland could challenge in Group H, but a horror run of injuries effectively ended their hopes. “We just have to put that behind us,” Paddy McNair said. “We have two home games, hopefully six points, and we start to build some momentum.” Qualification hopes may be over, but Saturday is still a must-win game for Northern Ireland in front of their own fans. “I agree,” McNair said. “If we don’t beat San Marino it wouldn’t be good at all. It’s a game, especially at home, we expect to win, so I’m looking forward to it.”
2023-10-13 05:46
Guardiola has won the treble and now Man City manager is aiming for 4 Premier League titles in a row
Guardiola has won the treble and now Man City manager is aiming for 4 Premier League titles in a row
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is still not satisfied after finally transferring domestic dominance to Europe by winning the Champions League last season
2023-08-07 16:54
Hamilton ends Verstappen's string of pole positions in Hungarian GP qualifying
Hamilton ends Verstappen's string of pole positions in Hungarian GP qualifying
Lewis Hamilton has taken his first pole position since 2021 at the Hungarian Grand Prix
2023-07-22 23:55
Stark, Meechai take 1st-round lead at LPGA Shanghai in tour's return to China after pandemic
Stark, Meechai take 1st-round lead at LPGA Shanghai in tour's return to China after pandemic
Maja Stark and Wichanee Meechai have each shot 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke first-round lead at the LPGA Shanghai event in the tour’s return to China after the COVID-19 pandemic
2023-10-12 16:23
Michigan football has another coach joining Jim Harbaugh in Week 1 suspension
Michigan football has another coach joining Jim Harbaugh in Week 1 suspension
Jim Harbaugh will not be the only Michigan Wolverines football coach suspended for their season opener vs. East Carolina. Who else is going to that burger watch party of his?
2023-08-27 22:57
Guardiola says Man City treble 'once in a lifetime' feat
Guardiola says Man City treble 'once in a lifetime' feat
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said Thursday that last season's remarkable treble success was a "once in a lifetime" achievement as he tried to lower expectations on...
2023-08-10 21:26
College football rankings: Top 25 teams re-ranked by Win Out Percentage
College football rankings: Top 25 teams re-ranked by Win Out Percentage
Where would each team in the AP Top 25 sit if the college football rankings were based on computer calculations for who has the greatest chance to win out in 2023?
2023-09-15 08:18