PAUL SCHOLES has given Declan Rice two pieces of advice for England’s Euro 2024 last 16 tie.
The Three Lions face Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday evening for a place in the quarter-finals.
Former Manchester United midfielder Scholes has shared his thoughts on England’s keys to success ahead of the clash.
He also took aim at fans and ex-players on social media, though, even telling supporters to “p*** off”.
Taking to his Instagram story, Scholes wrote: “Mainoo will make you play, Foden and Bellingham will win you games, think forward and take less touches pls Dec. Laters.”
His next post then read: “Keep hearing drop Bellingham back next to Rice… P*** right off!”
Rice played every minute in the group stage for England, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher and Kobbie Mainoo all appearing alongside him.
Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham has featured further forward for Gareth Southgate’s side and scored in the opening win over Serbia.
Scholes concluded his string of posts by writing: “Making me p*** these Arsenal legends trying to get Saka in at left-back because they’re afraid he’s gonna be left out for Palmer.”
Ian Wright has called for Bukayo Saka to start at left-back if Cole Palmer is brought in on the right wing.
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EURO 2024 has something for everyone from stunning goals, thrilling matches… and the continent’s biggest hunks, writes Jack Figg.
Several stars have lit up the group stages with their skills on the pitch – but others are also catching the eye for their looks.
But who is the sexiest?
Thankfully AI boffins have carried out an analysis on the facial attractiveness of all players at the tournament.
And it’s bad news for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions who are the fourth UGLIEST in the competition – one place below Scotland.
In fact it’s England’s group rivals Serbia who have fans swooning the most – boasting an average score of 77.90/100 with defender Strahinja Pavlovic deemed their most attractive.
While Turkey defender Mert Muldur has been ranked as the tournament’s BEST-LOOKING player.
But who is England’s sexiest star, and who makes the Euros’ hunkiest XI? Read our full story.
The Chelsea star impressed off the bench against Slovenia on Tuesday and could start in the last 16.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand previously argued Saka should be deployed at full-back in the absence of Luke Shaw.
Kieran Trippier has filled in for Shaw so far in the tournament, with the United man in line for a return in the knockout stages.
Shaw has declared himself fit for the Slovakia clash, despite not playing since February.
Scholes featured for England at two separate Euros as a player, scoring twice across seven appearance in 2000 and 2004.
However, his final international appearance came aged just 29 at his second Euros in Portugal.
At the time, Scholes cited his family life and club career with United as more important as he announced his international retirement.
Prior to the decision, he scored 14 goals in 66 caps for the Three Lions.
IN the space of a week, we seem to have lost the Gareth Southgate who brought the feel-good factor back to English football, writes Charlie Wyett.
Here is a man who now looks battered and bruised from the fierce criticism he has received not only back home but also from a couple of former England players.
We live in a world where too many pundits are cheerleaders and while Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer were correct in their evaluation of the Three Lions after the 1-1 draw with Denmark, it has nevertheless gone down badly with Southgate.
The manager says he is on a mission to protect his players from all the s*** that is flying around but he must also ensure he does not lose focus.
In his eight years as England manager, he had never appeared so chilled going into the opening two games.
The mood was upbeat around the team’s Euro base in Blankenhain. Southgate was in good humour during all of his media duties.
Here was a man confident in the knowledge he had a group of players capable of winning Euro 2024.
But in the fall-out of the two draws against Denmark and Slovenia, his mood has darkened spectacularly. He has had some tough spells but none like this.
One of the 53-year-old’s big strengths has been the ability to tap into each and every England fan and create positivity.
No supporter will ever forget the summer of 2018 when they finally fell in love with the England football team.
Yet Southgate knows he has lost the trust of virtually the entire English supporting public.
He suffered abuse and ridicule after England lost 4-0 to Hungary in the Nations League in 2022 but this is at a different level.
Southgate is acutely aware how the whole mood of the nation has changed.
Over these last few weeks, Southgate has made some strange decisions.
It was a mistake to take Luke Shaw as his sole left-footed defender and only now is he anywhere near to being fit.
Marc Guehi has been England’s best player over the three matches so far but Ezri Konsa and Lewis Dunk are not ideal back-ups.
Southgate should have picked either Harry Maguire, despite his short-term injury issues, or Bayern Munich’s Eric Dier.
Jordan Henderson — despite not having a great end to the season with Ajax — should have been included as he would have had a month to get up speed in terms of sharpness.
Even if he was not ready to start, he is a winner — as he proved with Liverpool — and he would have been a steady, experienced influence in the dressing room. As for Southgate’s team selections, the Trent Alexander-Arnold experiment did not work.
Neither did putting Conor Gallagher next to Declan Rice against Slovenia.
Although Marcus Rashford and James Maddison could not have too many complaints over missing out, Jack Grealish should have been included even if it was to come off the bench.
Southgate went too far with his mixing and matching. Now, he is left with a squad lacking balance but equally, one which could go deep into this tournament.
Southgate needs his big players like Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Phil Foden to play without fear.
Those same players need Southgate to try not to be affected by public opinion, even if this includes some of his mates.
Also, Southgate needs to get all of his team selections right. And maybe then, he will leave the England job on a high.
Read all of Charlie Wyett’s Euro 2024 articles.
