As the Euro 2024 tournament approaches, England is gearing up with two important friendly matches, the first of which pits them against Bosnia and Herzegovina this Monday. This match at St. James’ Park will serve as a critical tune-up before England faces Iceland later in the week to finalize their preparations for the highly anticipated tournament in Germany.
England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, will have to navigate this friendly without several key players. Defenders Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, along with forward Anthony Gordon, are sidelined due to injuries. Additionally, standout winger Bukayo Saka is being rested. John Stones has only just joined the squad, and Jude Bellingham is absent, celebrating his recent Champions League victory with Real Madrid.
Southgate is working with a provisional squad of 33 players, which must be trimmed down to 26 ahead of their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia on June 16. This friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina, who did not qualify for Euro 2024, will be an opportunity for fringe players to impress and secure their spots in the final squad.
For fans eager to catch the action, the match is scheduled for Monday, June 3, at 1:45 p.m. ET. It will be held at St. James’ Park in Newcastle, England. The game will be broadcast on FS2 and can be streamed live.
This match is not just a test of tactical setups and player form but also a chance to build momentum and confidence before the tournament. As the Three Lions take the field, all eyes will be on how Southgate’s team handles the absences and who steps up to fill the voids left by key players.
Stay tuned to see how England fares against Bosnia and Herzegovina in what promises to be an intriguing prelude to Euro 2024.