Gareth Southgate, Julian Nagelsmann, Domenico Tedesco, Luis de la Fuente and Silvestre Dorival are among high profile managers who will be testing a different set of players on Tuesday in the last major build up matches before Euro 2024. On Saturday England were blunt in failing to break down Brazil before succumbing to a 0-1 setback thanks to a late strike from Real Madrid bound 17-year-old prodigy Endrick.
Three Lions record marksman Harry Kane and national team player of the year Bukayo Saka were sorely missed as a Selecao side missing injured stars Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Marghalaes, Marquinhos, Casemiro and Neymar Jr failed to fire on all cylinders. Despite concerns over his fitness, Southgate could be tempted to start Kane, who has already plundered an astonishing 37 goals in just 35 games for Bayern Munich across all competitions.
Romelu Lukaku renews acquaintance with several Premier League players when Belgium try to improve on an abysmal display in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Republic of Ireland. Red Devils boss Domenico Tedesco, who started Lois Openda as a lone striker in Dublin, could pair the RB Leipzig star with Lukaku and give Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku a start as he seeks more punch upfront.
Germany’s 2-0 victory over France was a sharp riposte to critics who had questioned Die Mannschaft’s chances at the Euro finals following a run of three victories in ten outings. Robert Andrich was outstanding in the holding midfield role in which his mopping up/recycling of possession along with Ilkay Gundogan set up a platform for creative influences Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala to wreak havoc.
The Euro 2024 hosts were a joy to watch after Nagelsmann elected to play a 4-5-1 with rejuvenated Arsenal star Kai Havertz as a false nine. Either of orthodox center forwards Niklas Fulkrug and Denis Undav, who both came on as second half substitutes against Les Bleus, could be handed starting slots against Ronald Koeman’s Holland, emphatic 4-0 winners over Scotland in their last outing.
La Roja boss de la Fuente is to use a duel with Dorival’s Brazil to try out a new striking partnership after Spain failed to break down a resolute Colombia in last Thursday’s 0-1 defeat. Mikel Oyazabal could swap places with Joselu Mato or Alvaro Morata as the 2010 World Cup winners try to make their superior possession count.
MONDAY
Ecuador v Italy
TUESDAY
England v Belgium,
Germany v Holland,
Spain v Brazil,
France v Chile
AFCON 2025 QUALIFIERS
Eswatini v Somalia,
Mauritius v Chad,
Liberia v Djibouti,
South Sudan v Sao Tome and Principe