England’s head coach Gareth Southgate faces a dilemma as he awaits Luke Shaw’s fitness update for their Euro 2024 Group C opener against Serbia. Shaw’s return from injury remains uncertain, with Kieran Trippier likely to step in if needed.
Gareth Southgate Anticipates Late Decision on Luke Shaw for England’s Euro 2024 Opener
England’s head coach Gareth Southgate faces a last-minute decision on whether Luke Shaw will be fit enough to be on the bench for their Euro 2024 Group C opener against Serbia. Shaw, who has been out since February with a hamstring injury, returned to training only earlier this week. If Shaw is unable to play, Kieran Trippier is expected to start at left-back.
Southgate indicated that Shaw’s inclusion will be a game-time decision. Shaw is also racing against time to be available for England’s second group match against Denmark. Trippier, who usually plays as a right-back, will continue in the left-back role if Shaw remains unavailable.
During a pre-match conference in Gelsenkirchen, Southgate confirmed that all 26 England squad members had trained, including John Stones, who recently recovered from illness. Southgate also revealed a new leadership group for the tournament, including Harry Kane, Kyle Walker, Declan Rice, and Jude Bellingham. Bellingham, the youngest at 20, continues to showcase his leadership capability following an outstanding season with Real Madrid.
Captain Harry Kane commented on the new Euro 2024 ball, “Fussballliebe,” praising its benefits for attackers. Serbian forward Dusan Vlahovic, however, described the ball’s movement as “strange.”
England’s campaign begins on Sunday at the Veltins-Arena, home of Schalke, where the team hopes to kick off with a strong performance against Serbia.