DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 21: Luke Shaw of England during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium on November 21, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Luke Shaw was the England player nominated for media duties on Saturday, suggesting that the defender may start in the Euro 2024 final.
The Manchester United star has recently made a comeback from a hamstring injury and has played in the last two matches for the Three Lions.
Shaw made a late appearance in the quarter-final victory over Switzerland and then replaced Kieran Trippier at half-time during the semi-final triumph against the Netherlands.
The 29-year-old’s involvement in these crucial matches indicates his growing importance to the team as they prepare for the final.
Trippier has been dealing with his own fitness issues, which forced him off the field against the Dutch. He has been nursing a calf problem in Germany but was replaced during Wednesday’s match due to a separate groin issue.
Teams often assign players who are expected to play a significant role in their next match for media duties. Therefore, the Football Association may have hinted that Shaw will start ahead of Trippier by having the left-back speak to the media ahead of Sunday’s showdown with Spain.
Gareth Southgate is expected to maintain the 3-4-2-1 formation that proved effective against Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Either Shaw or Trippier will likely start at left-wing-back, tasked with the challenge of containing the 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal. Both players are poised to declare themselves fit for the starting lineup.
Gareth Southgate has an England selection dilemma ahead of the Euro 2024 final vs Spain (Image: Getty)
Speaking ahead of the final, Southgate stated, “There have been no scans. As far as we know they’re OK, but we haven’t done a lot out on the pitch, so we’ll find more out [on Saturday]. We’re not expecting anybody to rule themselves out for the final.”
The 53-year-old acknowledged feeling nerves before facing Spain in Berlin, explaining, “There’s a little bit of nerves because, if not, what would that mean? The physiology of that is that your body prepares itself for battle and the human beings through evolution that’s what it does.”
“I’m exactly the same as anybody with that, I guess the difference now is I know how to manage that, deal with that, use that focus, use the motivation it brings, and over the last six or seven years we’ve managed a lot of big games now.
You also realise this is the same as lots of other things you’ve been through so you gain confidence from that, you’ve got evidence of what’s worked.”
