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Wolverhampton Wanderers Sporting Director Matt Hobbs has outlined the plan in place if Gary O'Neil were to depart the club in the coming months as they look to tie the 40 year-old down to a new contract.

Wolves transformed under O'Neil

A week into the new season, Wolves were many people's favourites to be relegated from the Premier League. They had parted ways with club captain Ruben Neves over the summer and had lost manager Julen Lopetegui just days before the campaign began. As Pedro Neto himself admitted, it was with trepidation that they began the new campaign.

Wolves offered second chance to sign "tremendous" defender for just £8m

Gary O’Neil could be handed a bargain buy this summer.

By
Ben Browning

Mar 7, 2024

But in the months since, O'Neil has emerged as a standout manager and has led Wolves well away from a relegation fight and left them dreaming of European football. Currently 10th, they sit just four points behind West Ham United, who occupy the final European football spot for next season, and have become a side transformed from the low-scoring side that they were in seasons past.

As a result, it is no surprise that the club are looking to offer O'Neil a new contract, despite his current deal running until 2027. Hobbs explained that "[the contract] is naturally where this is going, he’s done well enough to have that conversation”, and as per the Telegraph,'the club’s hierarchy [want] to include an improved salary and significant buy-out clause' in light of what soon appears to be a managerial shortage in the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp is leaving Liverpool, while the futures of Roberto De Zerbi, Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino are all up in the air. Marco Silva has long been linked with a move away from Fulham and David Moyes is not secure at West Ham either. On a national level, Gareth Southgate is likely to leave his post as England manager after EURO2024. And Hobbs has conceded that O'Neil's performances have left him on the radar of plenty of people.

Plans in place in case O'Neil jumps ship

While Wolves would love to keep O'Neil, they are under no illusions. Hobbs admitted that there are plans in place should he depart for pastures new in the months to come, suggesting that it was the 'prudent' thing to do.

There is still plenty to play for in the Premier League for Wolves this season, but no matter where they finish it will have been an impressive campaign on so many levels. They will be hoping that a new contract keeps other clubs' wandering eyes away from Molineux.

Bordeaux have renounced their professional status after being relegated to the third tier of French football.

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• The former Ligue 1 side saw FSG takeover collapse
• Have faced financial problems for years
• Will no longer operate as a professional club after relegation penalty

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The six-time French champions were relying on a takeover from Liverpool owners FSG to save them from further penalties following financial struggles in recent years. But after the group pulled out, they have accepted relegation to the third tier and renounced their professional status, first obtained in 1937.

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• WHAT BORDEAUX SAID

  A statement earlier in the week regarding the takeover said: "While discussions had resumed in recent days, FSG representatives indicated yesterday Monday July 22 to FC Girondins de Bordeaux and its shareholder their desire not to follow through despite the assurances provided by various stakeholders.

  "Therefore, in the absence of new elements, FC Girondins de Bordeaux withdrew the appeal lodged against the decision of the DNCG dated July 9, 2024. As a result, FC Girondins de Bordeaux accepts the sanction of administrative demotion within the National 1 Championship for the 2024/2025 season and will be summoned again to present its budget to the DNCG."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Bordeaux's fall from grace has been hard to watch. Having won Ligue 1 on six occasions, most recently in 2009, they have gone from the highest of highs to the lowest point in the club's history over the last 13 years.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BORDEAUX?

  With the subsequent action taken by Bordeaux, every player's contract will now be ripped up and the training centre will be closed to reduce financial costs. It ends three years of struggles having initially gone into administration in 2021.

Hansi Flick hinted at bringing in change in Barcelona's possession-based style in the 2024/25 campaign.

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• Flick to change Barcelona's traditional playing style
• Wants the team to score more goals
• Barca to face Man City in first pre-season friendly

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  New Barcelona boss Hansi Flick revealed that he could make minor changes in the club's traditional possession-based playing style in the upcoming 2024/25 season. The German wants his players to play a more pressing game in the opposition's half with the intention of scoring as many goals as possible.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The former Germany and treble-winning Bayern Munich boss took charge of the club earlier this summer after club legend Xavi Hernandez left the team at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. After guiding the Catalan giants to two title wins, including a La Liga triumph, in his first full season at Camp Nou, the ex-Spain international went trophyless last year which prompted the club to part ways with him.

• WHAT HANSI FLICK SAID

  Speaking to Barca One, the German said, "Here the tradition is to play with passing, but I also want them to go straight to the goal. They should focus a bit more on scoring. I don’t think my style has any major changes. I’m looking for the same thing, to press high up, and to play in the opponent’s midfield. But, at the end of the day, you have to win. Everything is about winning games and at Barca, you have to play well.

  "All I can say is that we want to be an active team. We have to be active with and without the ball. It’s up to us to make it that way. We can make the opponent go in the direction we want and win the ball back as quickly as possible. I like my teams to press the opponent at the right moment, and sometimes higher up. And with the ball, all players have to have as much freedom as possible. That’s how I see it from a technical point of view."

  He added, "We have our philosophy and we have our style. We know how we want to play, but every match is a challenge. During the course of a match, there can be changes. Always looking for the best for the team.

  "We can decide to move a midfielder forward or move him to another position. But the change can also come in the way we press. These are small details that we can implement depending on what the opponent offers us. The changes will be applied depending on the match and the rival. We will always be open to modifying these small details."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?

  The Blaugrana will play their first pre-season friendly in the United States on July 30 as they take on English reigning champions Manchester City in Orlando.

Aston Villa’s European knockout adventure started off with a drab 0-0 draw against Ajax last night.

In truth, it was a game that neither side wanted to lose, but the result sets up a fantastic second leg at Villa Park next week.

The entire match saw very little action in the final third, with the hosts dominating the ball with 60% possession. Both teams registered just four shots each all game, which really highlights how poor the attacking play was.

Everyone on Unai Emery’s side struggled to put their stamp on the game, but there was one player in particular who struggled to have any real impact, even having fewer touches than Emi Martinez.

Emi Martinez’s performance vs Ajax

In truth, the World Cup winner didn’t have very much to do on the night, but he did his job well, including taking his time to do pretty much anything.

Birmingham Live gave the Argentine shot-stopper an 8/10 rating for his performance, claiming that Martinez was the man of the match.

The number one made one important save in the tie, preventing 0.2 goals and taking on a proactive approach with one clearance and three runs out.

On the ball, the goalkeeper was pressed at times and gave it away cheaply on a few occasions, with a pass accuracy of 72%, but he did have 52 touches throughout the game.

A clean sheet topped off a respectable showing from the former Arsenal man, who was one of the few real positives on the night.

Aston Villa may already have a Cash replacement in “complete" 18y/o

The young prospect has already played in the Champions League.

By
Tom Lever

Mar 6, 2024

Youri Tielemans’ game in numbers

Despite Moussa Diaby and Morgan Rogers both featuring in the starting lineup, Youri Tielemans continued to play in the second striker role, even though he’s a midfielder by trade.

The Belgian ace completed the full 90 minutes, but it was not a memorable performance, and Birmingham Live rated his performance a 6/10.

Although he was the second-furthest player forward behind just Ollie Watkins, Tielemans did very little to impact the game in the final third, and, in truth, the 26-year-old was a passenger for the most part.

As you can see by the table above showcasing his key statistics from the game, the former Leicester City gem failed both of his dribble attempts, had no shots, and made one key pass, which proves he was ineffective on the whole.

Tielemans would endure long spells without the ball, hence the 32 touches, 20 fewer than Martinez in net, but when he did get the ball, he was wasteful, boasting a pass accuracy of 68%.

Unfortunately, the number eight also offered nothing from an out-of-possession perspective, making zero defensive actions and winning just two of his seven duels.

It’s quite clear that it was a night to forget for Tielemans, but the Villa faithful will be confident of progressing at Villa Park next Thursday.

Nevertheless, Emery's attention will now switch to the huge game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, and the former Leicester star may have played his way out of the manager's thinking for that clash.

Kylian Mbappe will reportedly not travel to North America in pre-season with the rest of the Real Madrid squad.

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• Los Blancos will travel to the USA on July 28
• Mbappe will be on a break from football
• Will return to training at Valdebebas on August 7

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The reigning champions of Spain and Europe will cross the Atlantic for their USA trip on July 28 where they will engage in friendly matches against Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea. However, according totheir latest Galactico, Mbappe, will not be a part of the trip and will instead commence his pre-season training alongside his new teammates at the Valdebebas training facility from August 7 onwards.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe had been involved with the French national team in the European Championship and hence did not get an opportunity to take a break from action after a demanding club season with Paris Saint-Germain. And following France's exit from Euro 2024 at the semi-final stage against Spain on July 9, Mbappe, Carlo Ancelotti, and Real Madrid's management have collectively opted for a period of rest and recuperation for the star forward. It is expected that the forward will now embark on a vacation to unwind before getting back on the grass in the first week of August.

• WHAT MBAPPE SAID

  At his introductory press conference as a Real Madrid player, Mbappe revealed that he is ready to join Ancelotti's troops but will comply with the club's decisions regarding his participation in pre-season activities. "If the club wants me to go, I will go," he told reporters.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

  Real Madrid aim to synchronize Mbappe's return to training with his compatriots from the French national team, including Ferland Mendy, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga. It is believed that the club want Mbappe to make his debut in the European Super Cup clash against Atalanta, scheduled for August 14 in Warsaw, Poland.

Glasgow Rangers extended their winning run to 11 matches with a 2-1 win against Kilmarnock in midweek, but they did not make it easy for themselves.

The plastic pitch at Rugby Park upset the Gers' usual rhythm as they struggled to make things happen during the first half, trailing by a goal to nil after 45 minutes.

Philippe Clement had to deliver a strong team talk at the break, and it clearly did the job, as a James Tavernier free-kick followed by a lovely low effort by Tom Lawrence swung the match in their favour and the Light Blues saw out a crucial victory.

The fixtures are flowing thick and fast as the Ibrox side take on Motherwell this afternoon. A win would allow them to extend their advantage at the top of the Premiership table to five points, albeit temporarily, and Clement will be trusting his side to deliver a solid performance to pile the pressure on Celtic.

With that in mind, here's a look at the potential starting lineup that the Belgian manager could choose this afternoon, with three potential alterations from the midweek triumph…

1

GK – Jack Butland

The Englishman has been in imperious form this season for the club, and it could even potentially lead to an England call up in the coming weeks.

In 43 matches this season, Butland has kept 22 clean sheets and conceded 31 goals, returning to the form which saw him become a regular in the Premier League with Stoke City.

They say attack wins matches, but defence wins championships and the ‘keeper is going to make all the difference.

2

RB – James Tavernier

When Rangers received a free kick just outside the Kilmarnock box on Wednesday evening just minutes into the second half, there was only going to be one outcome.

Tavernier stepped up when it mattered most and scored his 121st goal for the club, a remarkable number for any player, never mind a right-back.

His captaincy has been criticised in the past, but this season, he could lead the Gers to an incredible treble.

3

CB – Connor Goldson

There will be no change among the centre-backs for today's clash with Well, as the duo were solid against Killie in midweek.

Goldson and John Souttar have formed an excellent partnership which has evolved due to a consistent run in the starting XI together.

The Englishman recently made his 300th competitive appearance for the Light Blues and, judging by his injury record and performances, he could reach 400 if he maintains his current form.

4

CB – John Souttar

The Scot was impressive yet again during the comeback win over Killie on Wednesday evening as he won eight of his nine aerial duels, was successful with 100% of his long balls and made a key pass.

He and Goldson have been the nailed-on centre-back duo for the Gers since the start of the year and long may it continue.

5

LB – Ridvan Yilmaz

Borna Barisic started against the Rugby Park side, yet he endured a woeful first half which saw him lose possession 16 times while completing just 69% of his attempted passes.

He was taken off at half-time, replaced by Ridvan Yilmaz, and the contrast was remarkable.

The Turkish defender looked a bigger threat going forward while impressive defensively and there is no doubt who should be the starting left-back from now on.

6

CM – John Lundstram

Mr consistent. Lundstram has missed only one game since Clement took over as manager last October and his form will almost certainly earn him an extended contract.

The former Sheffield United midfielder will retain his place, and it will be one of the January signings that will be deployed next to him this afternoon.

7

CM – Mohamed Diomande

Diomande has made quite an impression at Rangers since arriving in January. Across just six matches, the Ivorian has scored twice – in league games against St Johnstone and Hearts – while adding some dynamism in the midfield.

He did struggle on the Rugby Park pitch in midweek, but this experience will allow him to perform better in the future, and he could emerge as a star in the coming years.

8

RW – Dujon Sterling

Clement has utilised Sterling in a few positions recently, but it was his stint on the right wing during the clash against St Johnstone that caught the eye.

He won a penalty, missed a big chance, and succeeded with a dribble attempt after coming on for Scott Wright, showing his attacking intentions.

9

AM – Tom Lawrence

It was perhaps a surprise to see Lawrence take to the pitch in midweek due to the surface and his injury issues in the past, but he performed wonderfully.

The Welshman scored the winner, and it was a testament to just how well he has bounced back after various setbacks threatened to derail his Ibrox spell since arriving in the summer of 2022.

10

LW – Ross McCausland

Clement stated in his pre-match press conference that Oscar Cortes would miss the tie today due to an injury suffered against Kilmarnock.

This means that McCausland will start on the left wing as Rabbi Matondo might not be fully fit either, and it represents a chance for him to shine out of his comfort zone.

Reliable football.london journalist Alasdair Gold has shared an interesting bit of detail from "within" Tottenham concerning a "sensational" player of theirs.

Postecoglou praised for excellent debut season at Spurs

The appointment of manager Ange Postecoglou was arguably one of chairman Daniel Levy's best decisions in recent memory, as the difference in mood compared to this time last year is vast.

Tottenham now willing to back Ange with transfer bid for £79m "magician"

Spurs are prepared to make an offer.

By
Emilio Galantini

Feb 10, 2024

Around 10 months ago, Spurs were gearing up to sack ex-head coach Antonio Conte after his very public outburst, with the Italian lambasting Levy, his players and Tottenham's culture in a fiery tirade to the media.

The Lilywhites completed 2022/2023 without Champions League football with the future looking bleak, especially with former technical director Fabio Paratici receiving a 30-month worldwide ban from FIFA as well.

However, Postecoglou's arrival soon turned the tide in Spurs' favour, with the Australian implementing an intense, high-pressing style of play to win over many admirers. Levy and co have also proved successful in the transfer market with a new data-driven recruitment model, something which has paid dividends thus far with the successful signings of Micky van de Ven and James Maddison among others.

“He’s put something in place that’s breathtaking to watch but actually, is quite complex when you watch it from a football point of view," said Sky pundit Gary Neville on Postecoglou earlier this season.

“Spurs fans won’t like this but he is amazing, and if you’re Manchester City losing Pep Guardiola in a year or two, you’d be looking at Ange Postecoglou now thinking ‘wow that’s exactly what we want to see’.

“But for the time being Spurs have just got to enjoy this because it’s brilliant to watch. What they can do is enjoy one of the best brands of football I’ve seen in 10 years since I finished playing football. I love watching Tottenham Hotspur play.”

Another great aspect of Spurs' season has been the return of star midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who made his long-awaited comeback from a long-term ACL injury earlier in the campaign.

Alasdair Gold shares Bentancur doubts from "within" Tottenham

Speaking on his YouTube channel, football.london correspondent Gold has shared an interesting bit of detail on this, claiming some "within" Spurs have held the belief Bentancur won't be back to his best till next season.

“From what I understand from people within the club, as he was going through his rehabilitation and getting towards the end of it, there was this feeling last year that you weren’t going to see the best version of Rodrigo Bentancur until next season, so the 24/25 season," said Gold.

“And that’s not particularly down to him, that is purely because when you’ve had a serious, long-term injury, your body needs to rebuild itself. And it’s almost like the player has to re-educate themselves on all the things that were natural and instinctive, because they just haven’t done it for so long, or they’ve barely done it.”

The "sensational" Uruguay international has still managed nine league appearances, scoring once in that time, so if insiders believe he isn't even at his best yet, then supporters could have yet another thing to look forward to alongside the prospect of potential Champions League football.

After playing a pivotal role in a flawless Bundesliga triumph, the 31-year-old is now perfectly placed to make more history with his country

Switzerland's 3-0 loss to Italy at Euro 2020 has long bothered Granit Xhaka. He felt his team failed to turn up for the group game in Rome. Last weekend was different, though. Last weekend, Switzerland didn't just take to the field at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, they made it their own private playground, dumping the defending champions out of Euro 2024 with the most dominant of 2-0 wins.

"I have never seen the Azzurri in such difficulty on the field as against us," Xhaka enthused after the last-16 showdown in Berlin – and with no shortage of justification. "We won even before going on the pitch, just as they did with us three years ago. They were scared."

One wonders if England will be feeling a little fearful themselves right now, because despite picking up a minor adductor injury against Italy, Xhaka is expected to start against the Three Lions in Saturday's quarter-final clash in Dusseldorf, which means that there is a very real chance that a player in the form of his life will deliver another midfield masterclass on the biggest stage.

• 'In Granit we trust'

  One Switzerland supporter showed off a poster during the dismantling of Italy that read, "In Granit we trust." And why wouldn't they? Xhaka is not just proving himself a great leader at Euro 2024; he's also proving himself a great player. Indeed, he's been one of the best central midfielders on show in Germany, alongside Toni Kroos and Rodri.

  He's already claimed two Player of the Match awards, after Switzerland's 3-1 win over Hungary and the 1-1 draw with Germany, taking his overall Euros tally to five – only Andres Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo have claimed more (six apiece).

  His most impressive performance to date, though, came against Italy.

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  Xhaka's 'positive' passing

  For an awfully long time, Xhaka was renowned for his more destructive qualities: making interceptions, winning crunching tackles, hoovering up loose balls. However, it was telling after the opening-round win over Hungary, Xhaka said his focus is on helping his team "by being positive" – and he's unquestionably delivering in that regard.

  Working wonderfully well in tandem with Remo Freuler, and within what is a dynamic, disciplined and well-drilled Swiss side, Xhaka is dictating games and constantly putting his team on the front foot with his swift and precise use of the ball.

  Against the Azzurri, no other player on the pitch had more touches (101), completed more passes (94/98) or created more chances (three). Even more significantly, he made a whopping 25 line-breaking passes – a single-game tally that only Kroos has bettered so far this summer.

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  Alonso's special six

  Of course, anyone who watched Bayer Leverkusen last season will be unsurprised by Xhaka's excellence at the Euros. The German outfit made several astute signings last summer, but Xhaka's arrival from Arsenal was utterly integral to their historic domestic double.

  Under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates, Xhaka was deployed in more of an advanced role, like a box-to-box No.8, but fellow Spaniard Xabi Alonso saw the Swiss as a No.6 and made him the fulcrum of his team.

  Xhaka may not have dominated the headlines last season in the same way as Florian Wirtz, for example. He didn't even register a single assist across the unbeaten Bundesliga campaign, but absolutely everything Leverkusen did went through Xhaka.

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  'I have come to lead'

  Alonso didn't just want Xhaka for his play-making skills, though. His character was also key. Alonso had an abundance of promising players at his disposal in Leverkusen; what he needed was someone with experience and an insatiable will to win. Consequently, he saw Xhaka as an "essential" addition to his relatively young squad.

  "I also think that Granit had a vital need [to change] after his time in London, where he spent seven years," Alonso explained. "I motivated him to return [to Germany] to take on a different role, and he did so with a different level of maturity, saying, 'I have not come to follow anymore; I have come to lead.'"

  He did exactly that at Leverkusen – and now he's doing likewise with Switzerland.

Derby County are interested in completing the signing of a free agent once described as "magnificent" by Alan Shearer, but they aren't alone in the chase for a new goalscorer.

Derby transfer news & promotion hopes

The January transfer window is now done and dusted for another year, meaning Paul Warne knows he won't be available to spend on new signings until the summer, barring the acquisition of free agents. While January proved to be a relatively quiet month for the Rams, they did bring in Charlton Athletic attacker Corey Blackett-Taylor on loan, which could prove to be an excellent piece of business by the club by the time May arrives.

While he is yet to score or assist in his first two appearances in a Derby shirt, eight and six apiece for Charlton earlier in the season suggests that he will provide firepower in his side's League One promotion quest, as they look to return to the Championship.

Warne's side sit right in the promotion picture currently, finding themselves fourth in the league table and only one point behind the automatic promotion spots, albeit having played two games more than second-place Bolton Wanderers.

This suggests that Derby were right not to bring in a host of new players, with the manager generally happy with the squad that he has, but a new update claims that a well-known player is being looked at as an option.

Derby want Dwight Gayle

According to Fabrizio Romano on X, Derby are keen on signing free agent Dwight Gayle, with the striker without a club after leaving Stoke City on deadline day. They are far from alone in showing an interest, though, with some Championship teams believed to be in the mix, too.

"Charlton, Barnsley, Derby County, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday are already showing interest in Dwight Gayle. He’s now available as free agent after terminating contract at Stoke City."

At 34 years of age, Gayle is admittedly not getting any younger and may not be the striker he used to be, but that's not to say that he wouldn't be a shrewd short-term acquisition by Derby. The Englishman has a wealth of experience at a high level, not least scoring 26 times in the Premier League and on 62 occasions in the Championship, and Newcastle United legend Shearer lauded him back in 2020 after he scored a goal for the former England striker's beloved Magpies:

"Oh yessssssss Dwight Gayle! A magnificent header from a great cross Jacob Murphy! Toon! Toon."

The fact that Gayle would join for free erases the risk element of spending lots of money on him, so Derby could almost see it as something of a free hit. If he comes in and scores goals, helping the Rams go up this season, it will be a roaring success, and if he fails to impress it won't be the end of the world, allowing him to move on at the end of the season.

World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst says he does not agree with recent criticism of the England team at Euro 2024 by ex-players.

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• England criticised at Euro 2024
• Hurst says says comments are unnecessary
• Three Lions already through to last 16

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Hurst, who won the 1966 World Cup with England, has voiced his disapproval of recent events after seeing former Three Lions striker and television host Gary Lineker thrust into the spotlight after branding Gareth Southgate's side as "sh*t" at Euro 2024. Captain Harry Kane has subsequently been quizzed on Lineker's comments as has Southgate himself ahead of the team's final group game against Slovenia.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  England have already qualified for the knockout stages but fans have been left underwhelmed by their performances so far. A narrow 1-0 win over Serbia was followed by a 1-1 draw against Denmark, with Southgate coming in for criticism for his use of Alexander-Arnold in midfield and fans also left disappointed by Foden's lack of form for the national team.

• WHAT HURST SAID

  Hurst has told Sky Sports: "One thing I don't get along with is that criticism but also what I don't think is good is the fact that Harry [Kane] has to go to a press conference and defend himself. I am totally against any player getting criticism and going on the box and being interviewed, trying to defend his position I don't think he should be pushed into that. I don't agree with that at all.

  "Certainly in this particular time, I am absolutely against being critical of the team and individuals. I'm just not getting involved in it. I don't think it's necessary. I don't think it's necessary that the players themselves should have to defend themselves. It's maybe the manager's job to defend them but I don't think it's necessary to do so."

  Hurst did concede we would like to make a change to the England team, adding: "One thing I would probably change is I'd play Anthony Gordon out wide on the left and I'd put Foden more in the middle of the park where Trent Alexander-Arnold is starting. I think his record at Manchester City in terms of scoring and creating goals is fantastic and wide on the left is not his best position and you have to put players in their best position. I think Foden is a fantastic player who should be more central and I think Gordon on the left gives Kieran Trippier, who is predominantly right-footed, more opportunities to play balls out wide on the left. They are the only changes I would make."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND

  England's final group game is on Tuesday against Slovenia and fans will be hoping for an improved showing from the Three Lions. A victory for Southgate's side will ensure they top Group C and set up a last-16 tie against one of thefour best third-placed teams in the last-16.