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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 21:16
1-2-Switch Sequel Reportedly Shelved After 'Horrible' Audience Testing
1-2-Switch Sequel Reportedly Shelved After 'Horrible' Audience Testing
Everybody's 1-2-Switch would reportedly diverge from its predecessor by integrating huge groups of players, but testers have found it lacking.
1970-01-01 08:00
Eden Hazard reveals why he isn't ready to retire after Real Madrid exit
Eden Hazard reveals why he isn't ready to retire after Real Madrid exit
Eden Hazard explains the reason why he intends to continue his career after Real Madrid exit rather than retire early.
2023-06-19 00:45
Safilo posts 6.6% fall in Q2 net sales as North America weighs
Safilo posts 6.6% fall in Q2 net sales as North America weighs
Italian eyewear group Safilo posted a 6.6% fall in second-quarter net sales at constant exchange rates, due to
2023-08-03 00:02
Biden voters say more motivated to stop Trump than to support president-Reuters/Ipsos
Biden voters say more motivated to stop Trump than to support president-Reuters/Ipsos
By Jason Lange and James Oliphant WASHINGTON Americans inclined to vote for Democratic President Joe Biden in the
2023-11-16 01:52
Robert Hanssen: The fake job that snared FBI agent who spied for Moscow
Robert Hanssen: The fake job that snared FBI agent who spied for Moscow
The agents who brought down one of the most notorious Cold War spies tell us how they did it.
2023-06-06 18:33
Here's When Eminem is Having a Fortnite Concert
Here's When Eminem is Having a Fortnite Concert
The Eminem concert in Fortnite starts at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, as part of The Big Bang live event concluding Fortnite Chapter 4.
2023-11-23 00:37
US court refuses FTC request to pause Microsoft deal for Activision
US court refuses FTC request to pause Microsoft deal for Activision
WASHINGTON A U.S. federal court rejected the Federal Trade Commission's request that it order Microsoft to temporarily hold
2023-07-14 08:28
NASCAR driver Ryan Preece is 'awake, alert and mobile' following terrifying crash at Daytona
NASCAR driver Ryan Preece is 'awake, alert and mobile' following terrifying crash at Daytona
NASCAR driver Ryan Preece is “awake, alert and mobile” after his car rolled about a dozen times during a terrifying crash at Daytona International Speedway
2023-08-27 21:58
LinkedIn Cuts 716 Jobs, Kills App in Deepening China Pullout
LinkedIn Cuts 716 Jobs, Kills App in Deepening China Pullout
Microsoft Corp.’s LinkedIn plans to shut its jobs app in China and cut about 716 jobs, as the
1970-01-01 08:00
Declan Rice is type of player everyone is looking for – Palace boss Roy Hodgson
Declan Rice is type of player everyone is looking for – Palace boss Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson admits every Premier League manager is looking for a player like Declan Rice to anchor their team as he prepares his Crystal Palace side to come up against the England midfielder on Monday. The 24-year-old’s £105million move to Arsenal from West Ham last month made him one of four players in his position to have been bought for a nine-figure fee by European clubs during the last eight months, as the value placed by top sides on central midfielders has rocketed. Rice is part of an elite group that includes World Cup-winner Enzo Fernandez and his new Chelsea team-mate Moises Caicedo – both signed by the Blues for British record fees – and England’s Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in July, with each having been signed for fees that could exceed £100m. Hodgson’s Palace began the Premier League season with a 1-0 win at promoted Sheffield United but face a stern test when last year’s runners-up arrive at Selhurst Park, with Mikel Arteta’s side buoyed by the arrival of Rice to add steel to their midfield ahead of their return to the Champions League. Experienced manager Hodgson said that, whilst it remains the game’s great goalscorers that command the highest fees, the importance of a deeper-lying central midfielder has been proven by English football’s most successful sides. “I think it (central midfield) has always been big,” said Hodgson. “I don’t think it’s anything new. You will never be able to align it to centre forward because centre forwards will always be right up there as really big ones. “It’s still Neymar and (Kylian) Mbappe that go beyond our hundred million pounds here. Harry Kane, yes he cost just over a hundred million (when he signed for Bayern Munich), but only because he was in the last year of his contract. If he’d have had a three-year contract, Tottenham would have been asking for a lot more money. They score the goals. The game is about goals. “But I think the midfield area is an area where people within football have always understood the importance of it and the importance of getting good players in, none more so than Sir Alex (Ferguson) at Manchester United because he always had really, really top-class players in that centre of midfield, all of whom brought him trophies. “(Rice) has got strength, he’s got energy, he understands the game very well. He gets from box to box, and when he’s in each of the boxes, he does a really good job. He knows how to defend and he also has an eye for goal, so really he’s the type of player that every person is looking for.” Hodgson enjoyed the boost of winger Michael Olise turning down the chance to join Chelsea last week after Mauricio Pochettino’s side activated a £35m release clause. The France Under-21 international, who Palace signed from Reading for a relatively modest £8m two years ago and has since flourished into an accomplished Premier League performer, instead opted to agree a new four-year deal to continue his development in south London. He will be missing from Hodgson’s team to face Arsenal as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. Yet it is Arsenal’s transfer business that occupied Hodgson’s attention ahead of Monday’s game, with Rice set to make his second Premier League start as the Gunners look to go one better and take the crown from champions Manchester City. He knows how to defend and he also has an eye for goal, so really he's the type of player that every person is looking for. Roy Hodgson on Declan Rice “It’s been an interesting development for him,” said the manager. “I’ve followed him a little bit myself through (James) Tomkins (who) told me about him many years ago. He said there’s a very good young player at West Ham, and I’ve seen that as he’s gone along. “He’s done his apprenticeship really, coming through the ranks. He’s done his years at West Ham, each year getting better, and in the end becomes an international and clubs are (thinking) ‘who can I get who’s the best at his particular job for this role?’ “Declan Rice’s name is always going to be right up there on the top of the list, as was Bellingham of course at Real Madrid.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Pep Guardiola ‘amazed’ by Manchester City hunger at start of new season I’ll be there for him – Dele Alli always has friend in Spurs star Son Heung-min Mauricio Pochettino confident of rapid Chelsea improvement after West Ham defeat
2023-08-21 05:30
Kansas City Current to appoint Vlatko Andonovski as new head coach
Kansas City Current to appoint Vlatko Andonovski as new head coach
Vlatko Andovoski is Kansas City Current's new head coach.
2023-10-22 07:30