Football: Covid-19 chaos disrupts England and Scotland at Euro 2020
LONDON (AFP) – England’s bid to win their Euro 2020 group has been thrown into chaos ahead of Tuesday’s (June 22) clash with the Czech Republic after Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell were forced to isolate following Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour’s positive coronavirus test.
Mount and Chilwell embraced their Chelsea team-mate Gilmour on the Wembley pitch after England’s 0-0 draw with Scotland on Friday.
Although they have since tested negative, the England duo’s close contact with Gilmour forced them into self-isolation on Monday after the news broke that Gilmour has Covid-19.
In a hammer blow to Scotland, Gilmour must quarantine for 10 days and has been ruled out of their decisive game against Croatia in Glasgow on Tuesday.
England manager Gareth Southgate was waiting anxiously to discover if Mount, who has started both of the team’s group matches and Chilwell, yet to play in the tournament, will be available to face the Czechs at Wembley.
Asked if the pair could play on Tuesday, Southgate said: “We don’t know at the moment. There’s obviously got to be quite a doubt.
“There’s still a lot of discussions and investigations going on behind the scenes. So at the moment they’re isolating and we just have to find out over the next 12 hours or so.”
England are assured of a last-16 berth, but Mount and Chilwell could also be ruled out of that tie, depending on advice from health authorities.
Southgate acknowledged the Covid issue was the worst possible preparation to play a Czech team also certain to advance to the last 16.
England are behind the group-leading Czechs on goal difference and must win to ensure they finish in first place.
Southgate’s side, who beat Croatia 1-0 in their opener, have been underwhelming so far and were booed off following the drab stalemate against Scotland.
“I can’t say it isn’t disruptive. We don’t really know at this point whether they might be OK for Tuesday, or they could be out for 10 days,” Southgate said.
The remaining members of the Scotland squad have passed lateral flow tests, following their negative PCR tests from Sunday.
But the loss of the 20-year-old Gilmour is devastating following his man-of-the-match display against England in his first Scotland start.
Scotland, playing in their first major tournament since 1998, will make the knockout stage of an international competition for the first time if they beat Croatia.
“Billy would have started the game and now he won’t, so it’s a chance for someone else to come into the team and make themselves a national hero,” Scotland boss Steve Clarke said.
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