England’s Nations Leagues preparations start as senior squad take on Under-21s in training
ENGLAND’S twin assault on Nations League and European Under-21 Championship glory collided today – in a training match useful to both squads.
Gareth Southgate‘s senior squad are preparing to face Holland in the semi-finals in Portugal on June 6, while Ady Boothroyd’s young pretenders are warming up for the Euros in Italy a week later.
The Three Lions are currently without players from Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool – the Premier League clubs who make up an historic week of two all-English Euro finals.
And two Spurs stars from that elite batch will not be returning to the England squad after Saturday’s Champions League final with Jurgen Klopp’s Prem runners-up.
Wing-back Kieran Tripper was the big casualty from Southgate’s latest squad selection.
And Southgate admitted dropping the Russia 2018 hero was one of his hardest decisions.
He said: “Kieran Trippier has had such a big impact, he had such a brilliant World Cup.
“He has been a really valuable member of our squad and has a great attitude with us — real passion in playing for England but Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker have finished the season so strongly.
‘HARD DECISION’
“So it is a position where we have got real competition for places. That is as hard a decision as we have had to make.”
Soutghate was almost as vexed over his axing of Trippier’s club-mate Harry Winks.
He said: “That’s a tough one because he has not played for a couple of months and we don’t get to see him in training.
“He is training with Spurs, he may be involved in the Champions League final at the weekend but we wouldn’t see him until two days before the game.
“So when we had other midfielders who are either with us or who are playing regularly, that was the only thinking behind that decision.”
Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White celebrated his first call-up for the Under-21s with a crack at Southgate’s more seasoned players.
And Boothroyd explained the two squads will regularly be trying to help each other out in the next few days.
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He said: “We are there to serve them to make sure they are ready for the Nations League.
We have a bit of extra time than them so, if we can help them, we will.
“Our training is four days on, three days off.. It’s not an army camp but it’s not a holiday camp either.”