Football News

Boss Southgate is widely expected to make changes for the quarter-final showdown this weekend and has been tipped to switch to a three-man backline. The Three Lions topped Group C on five points but delivered three underwhelming displays as they beat Serbia 1-0 and drew with Denmark and Slovenia. They then teetered on the brink of a shock last-16 knockout, with Jude Bellingham's stunning late equaliser rescuing them against Slovakia before Harry Kane's winner. As a result, Southgate may be tempted to tear up the script in a bid to lift his side's performance levels - but Ferdinand is adamant one player must keep his place.

CHRIS SUTTON: I'm not sure now is the right time for Gareth Southgate to gamble by switching to a three-man defence out of fear of the Swiss. Ezri Konsa plays for Aston Villa, who don't use a back three. Lewis Dunk for Brighton, who don't. Joe Gomez for Liverpool, who don't. Kyle Walker and John Stones for Manchester City, who don't, albeit you could argue that Pep Guardiola sending a man into midfield sees them flirt with that formation. And that is before you get to the options for wing backs, from Bukayo Saka to Kieran Trippier to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

AADAM PATEL IN STUTTGART: One of them is still in boarding school and took his homework to the Euros, while the other only moved out of his mum's house recently. Lamine Yamal, 16, and Jamal Musiala, 21, have a combined age which is less than that of their eldest national team-mates - Manuel Neuer and Jesus Navas are both 38 - yet they hold the key to Spain and Germany's respective chances of winning the tournament. In Friday's quarter-final, which is being dubbed 'the real Euros final' by many in Germany, the pair will go head-to-head in the biggest game of their nascent careers.

Erik ten Hag is wasting no time in reshaping Manchester United's entire backroom staff in his image, after hiring goalkeeping coach Jelle ten Rouwelaar from Burnley. Ten Rouwelaar has been hired to work with United keepers Andre Onana, Altay Bayindir, and Tom Heaton, ahead of the new season.   The move signifies ten Hag's new lease of life as United's manager, and it's expected more changes to his team and staff will be on the horizon, as he looks to solidify his position.

Wayne Rooney has jokingly mocked his former Man United team-mate Gary Neville after being asked about his return to football management.  In May, Rooney was appointed as the new manager of Plymouth Argyle on a three-year deal - just four months after being sacked by Birmingham City. He has since been taking on a number of different duties such as punditry duty with the BBC for Euro 2024 and appearing on podcasts to delve into his past. 

MATT BARLOW: What better way for Granit Xhaka to mark the first anniversary of his move to Bayer Leverkusen than a quarter-final with England and a duel with Declan Rice, the £100million man who has taken his place in Arsenal's midfield. Things could hardly have worked out better for Xhaka since his exit from North London, winning the German double and reaching the Europa League final, now leading Switzerland to the last eight of Euro 2024. 'Not a perfect season because we lost the Europa League final,' he pointed out deflecting praise at the start of this tournament. It would not befit Xhaka's style to appear overly smug or contented, he rather likes the hostility of competition, but in 66 games for club and country he has lost only twice. And not yet on German soil since his move from Arsenal.

LEWIS STEELE: Iliman Ndiaye's most spellbinding moment - and there are many - came at a kick-about with zero fans… but don't worry, there is footage.  It is somewhat grainy, but it offers a glimpse into why one former manager compares his dribbling ability to Diego Maradona. For Everton fans, there are plenty of reasons to get excited over the Senegal star, which we will come on to, but don't get too carried away with the nod to the great Maradona… or the fact the video is captioned 'best player in the world'. 

Manchester United have given Erik ten Hag a one-year contract extension until June 2026, the club have announced. The Dutchman has been in talks with United over a new deal after co-owners Ineos decided to keep him in charge following an end-of-season review. The new contract on existing terms indicates increased support for Ten Hag from a leadership team that includes new sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.

Turkey's stars celebrated reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 by ordering 300 doner kebabs to their four-star hotel in Germany. Vincenzo Montella's side have managed to make it through to the last eight, where they will take on the Netherlands on Saturday. They celebrated by snubbing the healthy food usually eaten by footballers and enjoyed kebabs instead. 

Chelsea's academy guru Neil Bath is set to leave the club after deciding to depart of his own accord after 31 years, with confirmation expected later this week. Bath initially joined the Blues in 1993, working his way up to a role which saw him revolutionise the Cobham production line under the previous ownership. That led to a long line of starlets breaking through to become professional footballers, including the current first-teamers Reece James, Conor Gallagher and Levi Colwill.

Gareth Southgate's side are cying for a spot in the semi-finals of a tournament they have struggled in throughout having narrowly made it past Slovakia in the last round. The Three Lions needed a Jude Bellingham stunner just seconds from time to force extra time, with captain Harry Kane heading in at the start of extra time to send England on their way to the last-eight. Southgate will have to make at least one chance to the team from the last-16 tie with defender Marc Guehi suspended, though Kieran Trippier has been declared fit after being withdrawn due to injury against Slovakia.

MIKE KEEGAN: Jude Bellingham is set to escape a ban and play in England's Euros quarter-final against Switzerland. The playmaker is being investigated by UEFA following a seemingly-lewd gesture he made after scoring a 95th minute overhead kick to keep Gareth Southgate's side in the competition - with a verdict expected before Saturday's clash in Dusseldorf. Mail Sport understands that a ban is highly unlikely, with a potential fine a more probable outcome should he be found guilty of a breach of decency rules.

Hundreds of players across Europe saw their contracts expire last week on June 30. As a result, those players are now free agents and therefore available to be signed without the need for a transfer fee. But who are the best freebies this summer? Mail Sport takes a look at some of the top footballers who are now officially without a club, starting with a five-time Champions League winner...

Ben Chilwell is reportedly facing an uncertain future at Chelsea following the arrival of new boss Enzo Maresca . The 27-year-old was again hampered by injuries last term and featured only 13 times in the Premier League as the Blues endured a tumultuous campaign. The arrival of Maresca is set to oversee a swathe of changes, with the former Leicester City boss already bringing with him Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from the King Power Stadium.

MIKE KEEGAN: Mail Sport understands tens of thousands are due in Germany's party city for Saturday's clash, which will see no repeat of the booze restrictions previously deployed for Three Lions' matches. A desperate scramble for tickets is underway for what will be a sold-out clash at the 47,000-capacity Dusseldorf Arena. On resale site viagogo on Wednesday night, the cheapest seats were being offered for £457, with one on the front row close to halfway listed at close to £3,000.