The football world is mourning the tragic loss of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, while England prepares for the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament.
Diogo Jota's Untimely Passing
Diogo Jota, the 28-year-old Liverpool star, tragically passed away in a car accident in Spain on Thursday. Jota and his brother, Andre Silva, were killed in a traffic incident in the province of Zamora in northern Spain. Reports indicate that a tire on Jota's Lamborghini SUV burst while overtaking another vehicle, causing the car to skid off the road and catch fire.
Jota was traveling from Porto to get a ferry from Santander in northern Spain to return to Liverpool for pre-season training, which was scheduled to begin next week. Doctors had advised Jota against flying due to minor lung surgery he had undergone to address a medical issue that had affected him throughout the previous season. Miguel Goncalves, Jota's physio, noted Jota's dedication to recovery, stating he was an "unparalleled professional". Tributes have poured in from around the world of football for the Liverpool icon.
England's Euro 2024 Journey Begins
As the football world mourns the loss of Diogo Jota, England is gearing up for Euro 2024 in Germany. Manager Gareth Southgate has named his final 26-man squad for the tournament. England will face Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on June 16th, followed by matches against Denmark in Frankfurt on June 20th and Slovenia in Cologne on June 25th.
The squad includes a blend of experienced players and exciting young talents. Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, and Dean Henderson will serve as the goalkeepers. The defense consists of Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Joe Gomez, John Stones, Lewis Dunk, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, and Luke Shaw. In midfield, Southgate has selected Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher, and Adam Wharton. The forward line features Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney.
Prior to the tournament, England played two friendly matches. They faced Bosnia and Herzegovina at St. James' Park on June 3rd and Iceland at Wembley on June 7th. Unfortunately, England lost 1-0 to Iceland in their final friendly before the Euros. Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson scored the only goal for Iceland, evoking memories of England's defeat to Iceland in Euro 2016.
Despite the loss to Iceland, Southgate's men are aiming to go all the way. England has reached at least the quarter-finals in the last three major tournaments under Southgate, including a final appearance at Euro 2020. With a talented squad and a wealth of experience, the Three Lions will be hoping to bring home their first European Championship title.
