Gareth Southgate is sweating on one player’s fitness ahead of the final.
England are sweating on the fitness of one key player as they prepare to face Spain in the final of Euro 2024.
Gareth Southgate’s side reached their second successive Euros final with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in their semi-final on Wednesday night.
Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins fired the Three Lions to victory after Xavi Simons had given the Dutch an early lead in Dortmund.
England will now face the in-form team in the tournament, Spain, who beat France 2-1 to reach the final in Berlin.
The Three Lions could be without defender Kieran Trippier when they face Luis de la Fuente’s side.
Trippier was forced to miss training earlier in the tournament because of a calf injury which disrupted the final months of the domestic season with Newcastle.
While he was fit enough to start against the Netherlands, Trippier was taken off at half-time and replaced at left wing-back by Luke Shaw.
Speaking about Trippier in his post-match interview, Southgate admitted he was unsure about his fitness and whether he will be able to face Spain.
“We had it in our minds that we would bring Luke into the game at some point. It was better to bring him into the game than to start the game and not be able to finish it.
“We’ll have to see how Tripps is. He’s been an absolute soldier for us. To fill in the way he has, on the wrong side of the pitch, with the injuries he’s had coming into the tournament, is exceptional.”
Trippier was forced off against the Netherlands (Image: Getty)
Shaw is expected to start in the left wing-back role if Trippier fails to recover in time to face Spain, while Ezri Konsa and Joe Gomez are other options for Southgate.
The England manager will be desperate for his first-choice left-sided defender to be fully fit, with the dangerous Lamine Yamal featuring on the right side of Spain’s attack.
The 16-year-old has scored one goal and provided three assists, and is the current favourite to win the Player of the Tournament award.
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