Euro 2024 News

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.

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.

 Kylian Mbappe paid his personal tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo as they prepare to meet for what could be the last time in competition. Mbappe has always admired Ronaldo, grew up in Paris with posters of him on his walls and admits it is one of the key reasons he has long since dreamed of playing for Real Madrid. This year he will complete his long-anticipated move from Paris Saint-Germain to the Bernabeu Stadium, a transfer which reinforces the notion of a changing of the guard between Europe's finest footballers across two generations.

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. 

The round of 16 brought us all the glorious ornaments of elite tournament football - the magnificence of Jude Bellingham 's goal, the hope of Georgia being crushed to despair, the shock of champions Italy being sent packing, and the attacking masterclass of the Netherlands. Mail Sport's brainbox friends at Sofascore have run the numbers on their algorithm and plucked out the objective 11 best players from the round.

A former Euros winner has opened up on his battle with depression after quitting football and joining a cult. The ex-footballer enjoyed a 12-year playing career that saw him play for Randers, Brondby and Odense in his homeland of Denmark, while also featuring for Feyenoord and Luton Town. He opted to hang up his boots in 1993 - one year after unexpectedly winning Euro 1992 with Denmark - which led to him suffering from depression as he struggled to come to terms with the end of his career.

Jude Bellingham's stunning overhead kick rescued England's Euro 2024 campaign on Sunday, with drawing the Three Lions level with Slovakia in stoppage time. Gareth Southgate's side eventually overcame their last-16 opponents as Harry Kane struck in extra-time to set up a quarter-final against Switzerland. Bellingham's strike could ultimately prove a crucial moment with England still in the hunt for glory in Germany.

Despite all the criticism, conjecture and noise, England are just three games away from winning Euro 2024. It hasn't been easy for Gareth Southgate's side in Germany, but all that matters at tournaments is results and thankfully for him, the Three Lions have done just about enough to reach the last eight. Sunday's dramatic victory over Slovakia wasn't pretty, with England set to go out after a drab performance until Jude Bellingham 's stunning 95th minute intervention, before Harry Kane scored the winner in extra time.

The BBC accidentally showed a Netherlands player stripping off on live TV. Ahead of the Netherlands' victory against Romania in the last 16 at Euro 2024, the BBC showed live footage from inside the dressing room. However, viewers were left stunned as one player could be seen getting changed, with their backside being exposed.

CHRIS SUTTON: The temptation is to chastise Cristiano Ronaldo after what we saw against Slovenia. To think of him as spoiled, a free-kick hogger, the me-me-me popinjay of Portugal. But really, I'm looking at Roberto Martinez, someone with such a lack of backbone that I'm surprised he's standing up straight in the technical area. He almost seems scared to axe Ronaldo, who might as well be named Portugal's manager with the amount of carte blanche he is being gifted in Germany.

IAN LADYMAN IN COLOGNE: The stark truth of England's journey through Euro 2024 is that the key tenets of Gareth Southgate's time as manager have gone missing. This is Southgate's fourth major tournament in charge of the national team. He has always had his critics, those who believe he is merely blessed with an unusually talented group of players. Nobody, though, has ever had cause to doubt the character, application and unity of a Southgate England team. Until now. After England's thrilling but rather impoverished victory over Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, Southgate stopped to talk on his way to the team bus and was asked for a reason that gave him cause to think his team's football will improve before Saturday's quarter-final against Switzerland.

Turkey goalkeeper Mert Gunok helped his nation into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with a stunning last-gasp save against Austria. With Turkey 2-1 up in the match thanks to a brace from Martin Demiral, Ralf Rangnick 's side were piling on the pressure after Michael Gregoritsch had pulled a goal back. After the four minutes of added time were up, Alexander Prass looped a cross into the box, and Christoph Baumgartner headed an effort on goal that looked to be nestling in the corner.

After months of excitement and anticipation, the stage is finally set for the European Championships to kick off in Germany this week, with several teams in with a shot of lifting the trophy when it's all said and done. Gareth Southgate's Three Lions will be hoping to go one better than their runners-up finish at Euro 2020, having lost to Italy in the final on penalties, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden leading a star-studded England squad heading to Germany this summer. Italy still pose a major threat as the reigning champions, with Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni showing excellent form during Inter's dominant Serie A title triumph last season, with the trio accompanied by the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Mail Sport provides you with the ultimate guide to Euro 2024, taking a look at every team's squad, kits, preferred formation as they gear up for the tournament...