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England v Slovakia LIVE: Southgate avoids bold calls for Euro 2024 last-16 clash

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England v Slovakia LIVE: Southgate avoids bold calls for Euro 2024 last-16 clash

Gareth Southgate: England have to be ‘right on our game’ against Slovakia

England take on Slovakia in the round of 16 as the Euro 2024 knockouts continue today. Gareth Southgate’s side have returned to Gelsenkirchen for this clash, playing in the only stadium to yield a win for them so far in the tournament.

After a slim victory over Serbia and two unconvincing draws versus Denmark and Slovenia, the Three Lions need to put in a strong performance if they hope to comfortably reach the last eight. With the team and manager under heavy scrutiny for their style of play a win over Slovakia will ease concerns going forward.

Despite outside noise, Southgate insists his players have no fear of the knockout rounds and told the media: “It could be another brilliant night to create more memories for our supporters. Tomorrow, it’s about the team progressing. We shouldn’t have a fear of losing, it’s about opportunity. We are trying to reach for something which is a challenge.”

Slovakia reached this round by sneaking through a tight Group E having finished on the same number of points as Romania, Belgium and Ukraine. They had a goal difference of zero and secured third spot to set up this encounter with England.

Follow all the build-up and latest updates as England prepare for their last-16 fixture:

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England vs Slovakia

A potential late worry for England: Jordan Pickford appears to have hurt himself warming up.

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 16:50

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England vs Slovakia

Kick off is swiftly approaching in Gelsenkirchen, where so far it seems that there has been no repeat of the travel issues that fans dealt with earlier in the tournament at the venue.

Your officials today are led by Turkey’s Umut Meler, by the way. Marco Fritz of Germany is on VAR duties.

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 16:42

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England vs Slovakia

Today marks another major bound forward in the remarkably rapid development of Kobbie Mainoo, who has risen from relative obscurity at the start of the season to be an England starter in a Euros knockout tie. Our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney tells the tale of the teenage midfielder:

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 16:34

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Slovakia’s new approach brings a belief they can beat England

An experienced squad, a playing style built to get the best out of them and a national hero on the coaching staff – Lukas Vrablik explains the key qualities that give Slovakia belief that a quarter-final berth will be theirs.

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 16:24

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England vs Slovakia

So broadly as expected from both managers, with Gareth Southgate resisting the urge to rip things up. Can England get out of second gear this evening? It is striking how poor their forward line has been in the last two games particularly. If Slovakia do maintain their high-pressing style, you would think that will open up opportunities to play with greater pace and more directly.

(The FA via Getty Images)

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 16:15

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Gareth Southgate gives his pre-match thoughts to ITV

On his selection, Southgate says: “I think those players over a period of time have proven themselves to be our best. We saw signs that our attack was starting to come together in our last game. We’ve got good players on the bench to come on and change things.

“They’ve pressed high in their previous games. We’ve got to be good enough to play through that pressure. We need composure and resilience – as we saw last night, anything can happen in these games. We’ve got to be ready to deal with that.”

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 16:04

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Team news – Slovakia

Francesco Calzona sticks with the same starting line-up from the draw with Romania

Slovakia XI: Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Schranz, Strelec, Haraslin.

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 15:58

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Team news – England

A single alteration for England, with Kobbie Mainoo in for Conor Gallagher in midfield.

England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Mainoo, Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Foden.

(PA Wire)

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 15:51

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Gareth Southgate says trying to win Euros with England ‘the ultimate challenge’

Under-fire Gareth Southgate is embracing expectations and the “ultimate challenge” of trying to win the Euros rather than worrying whether tonight’s last-16 clash with Slovakia could be his final match.

Boos, and even some plastic cups, were aimed the long-serving manager’s way after Tuesday’s miserable 0-0 draw with Slovenia, which saw them win Group C but left fans and pundits unhappy.

Southgate knows the team have to find their “next level” as the knockout phase gets under way against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen, where they recorded their only win of these Euros a fortnight ago against Serbia.

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 15:50

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Harry Kane insists he will be at ‘peak sharpness’ for England against Slovakia

Harry Kane believes he will be at “peak sharpness” as he looks to continue his fine knockout goalscoring record for England at Euro 2024.

Captain Kane may be England’s all-time leading goalscorer but his strike in the draw with Denmark was his first in the group stage of a major finals since the 2018 World Cup.

However, he will be buoyed by his recent record once the business end of the tournament begins against Slovakia on Sunday, having scored four in four at Euro 2020 as England were eventually beaten on penalties by Italy.

Harry Latham-Coyle30 June 2024 15:35

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