29 June 2024 , 18:25
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England boss Gareth Southgate has confirmed Luke Shaw is still not fit enough to start as the Three Lions prepare to take on Slovakia in the Last 16 of Euro 2024.
Shaw has only been fit enough for the bench for the three group stage matches so far, with Kieran Trippier deputising at left-back. Fellow right-back Kyle Walker even shifted to the left when Trippier was subbed off in the goalless draw with Slovenia on Tuesday.
Manchester United star Shaw is the only left-back Southgate decided to name in his final squad for the tournament, a decision he has been fiercely criticised for. And the England boss has revealed that the 28-year-old remains an injury doubt.
" Luke Shaw is not available to start but everyone else is all good. We will have a chat with the medical staff to see whether he can play a part. We have to deliver it," Southgate said.
"We are in a different, mental state. Knockout football is jeopardy and on any given day an opponent can make it tough for you. It's about how far can we go?
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"We are trying to achieve something exceptional. Tomorrow is a chance to show composure, the game will take us in different directions in different moments. We have thrived on those challenges in the past."
Alongside Shaw there have been some concerns over the fitness of Jude Bellingham amid his difficult campaign so far. But Southgate has batted away questions over the Real Madrid star's fitness heading into Sunday's game.
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Luke Shaw is still yet to play a single minute at Euro 2024 (Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)"When you are walking off the pitch and have given everything you feel in a certain way, physically and emotionally. Jude missed a period at the end of the season with an ankle injury so he will have benefitted form the matches he has had," he added.
"Of course we have to be mindful of the quality we have to come into the game, freshness might make a difference in the latest stages of matches. But I am not concerned about Jude Bellingham's condition, today is a big day for him [Bellingham's 21st birthday] and a reminder of how well he deals with the expectation around him at a remarkably young age. There are few players who have had to live in that world, his world is different to most 21 year olds."
England's squad have come in for heavy criticism for their performance in the group stage, with the opening day win over Serbia their sole victory. But Southgate is keen to downplay that criticism with a clash against Switzerland waiting in the quarter-finals if they beat Slovakia.
"A team is never quite as poor as people might think, and not quite as good as people think. You are five percent off where you'd like to be so you have to careful not to throw everything out of the window and lose continuity and confidence," he said.
"You have to ignore external advice and be assured in what you are doing. Equally we have had players who have made a big impact from the bench in all games. We are mindful that people are pushing for places and we need that strength in depth. You might need five or six changes, it's important they are ready."