Euro 2024 will finally get underway this Friday when hosts Germany face Scotland in Munich in a mouthwatering opening fixture.
Having finalised their squads late last week, all 24 teams have now arrived in Germany to step up their preparations, including England as they look to shake off the disappointment of a 1-0 defeat to Iceland ahead of their opener against Serbia on Sunday evening.
Gareth Southgate received positive news on Tuesday as all 26 of his players took part in training, including England’s biggest fitness concern, Luke Shaw. Scotland also got a left-back boost as Andy Robertson was fit enough to train following his injury scare on Monday.
Injuries have already bitten a number of teams with Netherlands star Frenkie de Jong ruled out of the tournament thanks to an ankle injury and Poland’s talisman Robert Lewandowski not expected to be fit enough to feature in his country’s first match.
Follow all the latest news, injuries and updates ahead of Euro 2024 below:
Everything is against Scotland at Euro 2024 – except one key factor
Steve Clarke does NOT endorse this article – and that’s fine, we’ll get back to Steve Clarke in a moment. In case you hadn’t heard, Scotland are heading to just a second men’s major international tournament in 26 years.
Hang on though. Injuries to who? One win since when? Germany are finally themselves again? Steady on. This wasn’t going to be easy, but squeezing past the minnows of Gibraltar in a friendly last week did not suggest Scotland will be going to the Euros on a wave of optimism.
Clarke was hardly echoing the hubris of Ally MacLeod in 1978 when the Scotland manager took a pop at “negative Normans” in the press. “What’s there to be negative about? Why not just relax and enjoy it,” he said. “I just don’t understand why anybody would be negative about a second European Championships in a row.”
Read Jamie Braidwood’s full analysis of Scotland’s situation ahead of the Euros:
Luke Baker12 June 2024 09:02
Euro 2024 fitness boost for England as Luke Shaw and John Stones train
Gareth Southgate has been dealing with fitness issues and absentees in the build-up to this summer’s tournament.
But all 26 players trained on Tuesday as England went through their paces for the first time since arriving in Germany the previous night.
Luke Baker12 June 2024 09:00
Euro 2024 news
Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of all the build up and latest from the European Championships in Germany.
Scotland will be stepping up their preparations as they prepare to face Germany in the first match of the tournament on Friday, while England’s campaign does not get underway until Sunday.
Sonia Twigg11 June 2024 17:19