England boss Thomas Tuchel is preparing to name an eye-catching World Cup squad on Friday – with Phil Foden and Cole Palmer seemingly set to miss the tournament along with “shocked and gutted” Harry Maguire.
Aston Villa were welcomed home by thousands of fans during an open-top bus parade around the streets of Birmingham city centre to celebrate the club’s Europa League success.
The ‘Spygate’ saga rumbled on, as the EFL said Southampton were found guilty of a “deplorable” act of putting pressure on a junior member of staff to snoop on Middlesbrough.
“Gutted” Harry Maguire misses out
Thomas Tuchel is preparing to name a World Cup squad seemingly featuring several surprises, one of which was revealed ahead of time by Maguire.
The German coach will confirm his 26-strong group for this summer’s shot at glory in North America at around 10am and made calls to a variety of players the previous day.
Foden and Palmer are widely reported to be among those missing out due to below-par seasons and England’s competition in attacking midfield, with in-form Morgan Gibbs-White another said to be left out.
Those developments were among those that dropped steadily from late Thursday afternoon into the evening. Quite what will be left to confirm remains to be seen, with Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney among those reported to have made the cut.
Maguire, who earned a first call-up under Tuchel in March and played both friendlies, wrote on Instagram: “I was confident I could of (sic) played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision.
“I wish the players all the best this summer.”
Fans line streets for Villa trophy parade
Aston Villa were welcomed home by thousands of fans during an open-top bus parade around the streets of Birmingham city centre to celebrate the club’s Europa League success.
Unai Emery’s side beat Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul on Wednesday night, ending a 30-year wait for silverware.
With Villa boss Emery – who claimed a fifth Europa League title – proudly at the front, the team bus made its way to Branston Street in the city’s Jewellery Quarter, with fans turning the 4.5km route into a sea of claret and blue, utilising every vantage point, waving flags and setting off celebratory flares.
Villa stopped the parade for a trophy lift at Centenary Square, where an estimated 23,000 more supporters had been gathered for several hours.
Emery dedicated the trophy to the club’s fans.
“We are delighted to be here with you, sharing this trophy, we are bringing it for you,” the Spaniard said as he addressed the crowds from the bus.
“This trophy is yours – our heart is your heart, your heart is our heart. We are together – up the Villa.”
Southampton ‘deplorable’ in spygate – EFL
Southampton were found guilty of a “deplorable” act of putting pressure on a junior member of staff to spy on Middlesbrough, the EFL has said.
Saints are now under investigation by the Football Association in relation to the ‘Spygate’ scandal which cost them their place in the Championship play-off final.
The EFL has published its written reasons for expelling the club from the play-offs and docking them four points next season.
In a damning verdict, the governing body said Southampton manager Tonda Eckert authorised the spying.
“We have concluded that there was, on the part of the respondent, a contrived and determined plan from the top down to gain a competitive advantage in competitions of real significance by deliberate attendance at opposition training grounds for the purpose of obtaining tactical and selection information,” the EFL said.
“It involved far more than innocent activity and a particularly deplorable approach in its use of junior members of staff to conduct the clandestine observations at the direction of senior personnel.”
What’s on today?
England manager Thomas Tuchel will name his World Cup squad on Friday morning at 10am, before facing the media in a press conference at Wembley.
