Talking points ahead of England’s clash with North Macedonia
Already-qualified England complete their Euro 2024 qualification campaign away to North Macedonia on Monday evening. Ahead of the Group C finale in Skopje, the PA news agency has looked at five of the main talking points. England attempt to end year unbeaten Gareth Southgate’s men have ultimately cruised to qualification from a potentially tricky pool, going unbeaten across 2023 in the process. England have not looked back since rebounding from their World Cup quarter-final defeat to France by winning at reigning European champions Italy, going on to qualify with two games to spare. They all but sealed a place in the top pot for next month’s Euro 2024 draw by beating Malta 2-0 on Friday, taking this year’s record to eight wins in nine matches in all competitions. Southgate says he wants to end the year on a high and wants to build momentum by going go undefeated all the way through to Euro 2024. Final foreign assignment before the Euros England face March tests against Brazil and Belgium in Wembley friendlies, with another couple of home matches lined-up as Southgate’s side fine-tune for their shot at glory in Germany. It means Monday’s qualifier in Skopje will be their final match on foreign soil until the Euros get under way in June, with Southgate saying it will be good to be in “a challenging environment because that’s what we’re going to be in next summer”. There will be 2,332 travelling fans at the sold out 32,000-capacity Tose Proeski Arena, which may also end up playing host to Southgate’s final qualifier as England boss. How will Southgate juggle his selection? Southgate has dealt with a disruptive build-up and saw his already absentee-hit selection compounded by five of his initial group withdrawing through injury. A further three players have been absent for periods for the meet-up due to personal reasons, with Kieran Trippier among those and leaving the camp on Sunday. It means England have travelled to Skopje with just 22 players and Southgate is having to balance load, fitness and freshness for a potential dead rubber that will see wholesale changes. Cole Palmer will be hoping to make his first start after making his debut off the bench on Friday. The Chelsea talent was a late call-up along with Ezri Konsa and Rico Lewis, who will be hoping to win their first cap in the Balkans. Can back-up attackers impress? Record goalscorer Harry Kane would love to have the chance to pad his stats in Skopje, but surely Southgate will use this opportunity to give Ollie Watkins a run out as number nine. No England striker has been able to nail down a position as back-to the skipper but the in-form Aston Villa striker has a great chance with Ivan Toney banned and Callum Wilson suspended. Jarrod Bowen is another that needs to grasp his opportunity if Southgate turn his way. Selecting the 26-year-old over Raheem Sterling is a show of faith but the five-cap forward has so far failed to take his West Ham performances onto the international stage. Macedonian revenge mission North Macedonia were blown away in June’s reverse fixture at Old Trafford, where they were a far cry from the side that had recently shocked Germany and Italy. Kane struck twice in a 7-0 annihilation that also saw Marcus Rashford and Kalvin Phillips get in on the act, but Bukayo Saka was the star of the show with his tremendous treble. Head coach Blagoja Milevski apologised to the nation in the post-match press conference and said on Sunday that he pledged to show a “new face” in the rematch. Given they held the Azzurri to a 1-1 draw in Skopje two months ago, it would be a shock if they are not vastly improved.
2023-11-19 23:23
Greece's government wins vote of confidence in Parliament to begin a second 4-year term
Greece’s conservative government has won a vote of confidence in Parliament to start its second four-year term
2023-07-09 04:48
How did Lawrence Turman die? Tributes pour in for Oscar-nominated producer of 'The Graduate'
Lawrence Turman had a long career and among his best movies are 'American History x' and 'The Great White Hope'
2023-07-03 17:58
Turkey central bank hikes rates by 500 pts to 35%
ISTANBUL Turkey's central bank raised its policy rate by 500 basis points to 35% on Thursday, as expected,
2023-10-26 19:26
Tristan Tate proposes Howard Stern's 'woke' stance is shield against accusations similar to Russell Brand's, Internet says 'he's playing safe'
Tristan Tate said, 'It will take them less than 8 seconds to find women from his past to raise criminal charges on him'
2023-09-21 18:48
Kiko Navarro, Alcaraz's boyhood coach says 'Paris was our dream'
Few people know Carlos Alcaraz better than Kiko Navarro, the coach who shaped the Spaniard in his formative years into the fearless world number one targeting a second Grand...
2023-06-08 17:49
Keith Richards reveals Charlie Watts' death 'jolted' The Rolling Stones into making new album Hackney Diamonds
The Rolling Stones have released their first album of new material in almost a decade.
2023-10-20 15:19
UK's PM accuses Australian cricketers over Bairstow dismissal
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday aimed a verbal bouncer at Australia's cricketers after the Lord's Ashes match -- but ruled out turning it...
2023-07-03 20:54
Guatemalans vote for a new president after a tumultuous electoral season
Guatemalans will elect a new president and vice preside as well as fill all congress seats and hundreds of local posts after one of the most tumultuous electoral seasons in the Central American nation’s recent history
2023-06-25 22:21
Newcastle confirm signing of Sandro Tonali from AC Milan
Newcastle have completed the signing of Sandro Tonali from AC Milan.
2023-07-03 19:15
Laura Woods calls out sexist troll with savage 'microscope' comment
Laura Woods has slammed a misogynist troll who sexually harassed her online, following her on-air failed handshake with Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag this week. The TNT Sports presenter had retweeted a video of ten Hag accidentally leaving her hanging when she tried to shake his hand at the end of an interview. In the clip, she turns to the camera and laughs, shaking her hand in the air after the football manager inadvertently turned away her offer of a handshake. Unfortunately, one creepy troll on X/Twitter decided this was the time to make an unwanted sexual advance on the journalist. Woods hit back: “And will you provide the microscope too?” Surprisingly, the troll account has not yet taken down the post, despite the fact that commenters flocked to support Woods. Her tweet has over 7.3m views and 53,900 likes with most of the 2,000 reposts and thousands of replies praising Woods. One person replied with a crown emoji saying: “LAURA WOODS YOU DROPPED THIS.” Meanwhile, somebody else replied directly to the troll, saying: “Steven, based on your follows it doesn't look like hands are your preference. You stinky boy.” We’ll leave readers to check out who the person follows… Another person said: “I’d deactivate if I was you ? man just got ended.” And one other posted a video of wrestler Edge slapping John Cena's father during a famous WWE storyline. The interview came after ten Hag’s Manchester United team overcame a shaky run of form in recent weeks to squeak past Copenhagen at Old Trafford. Harry Maguire scored the only goal of the game after 72 minutes, but fans had their hearts in their mouths after the Danish team won a penalty with minutes left in the game. But Andre Onana saved it, securing a win as Manchester United paid tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton, who died on Saturday aged 86. How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-10-26 16:49
Another harrowing escape puts attention on open prostitution market along Seattle's Aurora Avenue
The kidnapping of a woman who authorities say escaped her abductor by punching her way out of a cinder block cell in Oregon has focused attention on the area where authorities say she was taken: Aurora Avenue in Seattle, an urban stretch of state highway lined with box stores and budget motels and known for rampant prostitution
2023-08-04 13:46
You Might Like...
LensCrafters to pay eyeglass customers $39 million over Accufit claims
ECB haunted by bond buys in Swedish property crisis
Shooting after Hezbollah truck overturns near Lebanese capital leaves 2 people dead
Salman Rushdie warns free expression under threat in rare public address after attack
Texas coach Sarkisian promotes 'best win' vs Alabama ahead of CFP rankings for No. 7 Longhorns
San Diego GM A.J. Preller says Bob Melvin will be back as manager of the underwhelming Padres
Why is NBC's 'Dateline' Season 31 Episode 40 not airing this week? Here's when it will return
Factbox-Trump to face familiar judge in criminal case over 2020 election
