Euro 2020 news – live: England gear up for Scotland clash at rain-lashed Wembley as De Bruyne rescues Belgium

06/30/2021

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Euro 2020 arrives at match day eight on Friday as England take on Scotland at Wembley in one of the group stage’s most eagerly-anticipated games, conjuring fond memories of Euro 96 and Gazza’s wonder goal.

That’s the evening match, before which we have Sweden versus Slovakia from St Petersburg (2pm GMT) and Croatia versus Czech Republic from Hampden Park in Glasgow (5pm), giving the tournament its second look at the impressive Patrik Schick after his worldy stunned the Scots on Monday.

Thursday’s action saw a brave Denmark go down 2-1 to Belgium after a blistering start as Kevin De Bruyne emerged from the bench to take charge while Ukraine beat North Macedonia 2-1 and the Netherlands saw off Austria 2-0 in a routine win in Group C.

Both sides looking to the future as old rivalry returns to world stage

While the below is certainly true, there were no emotional appeals to nationalism or any real mention of what a fixture with Scotland represents in Gareth Southgate’s meetings with the England players this week.

Unlike McGinn, most of the English players don’t appear too concerned with the history of the match, let alone the current political themes surrounding it like Scottish independence.

That’s probably just as well, says Miguel Delaney, who argues the players are right to shrug off the burden of the past and concentrate on the task at hand.

“I’ve never felt I’ve been involved with an England team that didn’t respect Scotland and didn’t appreciate how difficult the games were going to be,” says Southgate.

England and Scotland look to future instead of the past

Gareth Southgate’s side have not obsessed with history in the lead-up to this fixture. Instead, their eyes are fixed firmly on the present, and the possibility of a future prize at Wembley

History will not hold Scots back on biggest night in a generation

“When you look at the record between us, I was surprised at how tight the results were,” Scotland midfielder John McGinn said earlier this week.

“The English media would have you believe the gap is huge. It’s up to us tomorrow to prove that wrong.”

Heres’s Mark Critchley again with the Scottish persective on a fixture loaded with history.

History will not hold Scotland back on biggest night in a generation

A core group of leaders are hoping to right the wrongs of Scotland’s recent record against the Three Lions

England receive new Maguire injury boost ahead of Scotland clash

Harry Maguire will return from injury and could start for England after suffering no adverse reaction in training this week.

The defender missed the end of Manchester United’s season and Sunday’s opening win over Croatia but is in contention to play some part at Wembley on Friday evening.

Maguire said earlier this week that he would be available for selection and Gareth Southgate confirmed as much on the eve of the game, revealing that the 28-year-old has a chance of playing from the off.

“Harry will be involved tomorrow,” Southgate said. “The decision we’ve got to make is whether he’s ready to start but we’re really pleased with his progress.

“He’s trained with the team for four or five days now and had no reaction. Each session that he’s involved with he gets more confident and I think he’s on a really good path.

“Of course we want everybody available. It causes difficult decisions but at the moment this morning on the training pitch we had 26 players training and that’s a great situation for us to be in.”

Here’s Mark Critchley with the very latest on the England camp.

England receive new Harry Maguire injury boost ahead of Scotland clash

Maguire in contention to start against Scotland at Wembley

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Day Eight of Euro 2020 as England and Scotland meet at Wembley.

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