Luke Shaw has said he feels fit to play in England’s Euro 2024 semi-final tie against the Netherlands – who he said have “no weaknesses”.
In a press conference on Monday, Shaw spoke to members of the media ahead of the clash on Wednesday.
As other players have done at this tournament, he played darts with the press before facing questions at the England camp in Blankenhain – watched by teammate Phil Foden.
When asked if he felt fit to play 90 or even 120 minutes following his injury woes, Shaw said: “Yeah of course. I think I am [fit to play].
“But obviously that’s solely down to Gareth [Southgate]… but how I feel, I feel fit and ready to go.”
The Manchester United defender was selected by Southgate for his England squad for the tournament despite being injured and has faced a battle to get fit.
The only natural left-back in the squad, many fans have awaited the 28-year-old’s return after he spent 139 days out due to a hamstring complaint.
In the Three Lions’ last game against Switzerland, which England won on penalties, he came on in the 78th minute as a substitute.
He helped solve a left-sided problem that has plagued Southgate’s team so far and now Shaw will hope to play a bigger role in the game against the Netherlands.
Asked about England’s opponents, he said: “To be honest I don’t think they’ve got any [weaknesses].
“They’re a really good team, they’re really well coached and in my eyes, we’ve just got to focus on what we’ve got to do.”
England during training recently
Luke Shaw with friends and family after the quarter-final tie in Dusseldorf. Pic: PA
Shaw did admit his coach at Man Utd, Dutchman Erik Ten Hag, sent him a “cheeky text” about the upcoming clash between their countries.
Also in the interview, Shaw admitted that he had suffered a setback during the Euros and feared he may miss the entire tournament.
“Before the squad got announced we had a plan, the plan was to come back around the second or third game but things didn’t go as planned and I had a little setback which pushed me back a game or so,” he said.
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Shaw added: “Yeah I thought so [that he’d miss the whole tournament]. I worked so hard to get to the place I was at, then something like that happens.
“I was of course so worried. But I had a scan and stuff and it wasn’t too bad so I knew there was still an opportunity to come back… it was just in training, I just overstretched.”
Addressing the past his teammate Jude Bellingham has with semi-final referee Felix Zwayer, Shaw said it wouldn’t affect the team at all.
He added: “I think we have to respect UEFA on whoever they decide to pick as the ref. That won’t change anything about us, we still focus on the game in hand.”
A controversial referee?
The focus isn’t just on the Netherlands players – but who will be overseeing England’s Euros semi-final.
It isn’t just the fact referee Felix Zwayer was banned for six months for his links to a match-fixing scandal in 2005.
Bringing up the case over a penalty decision led to Jude Bellingham being fined in 2021 while he was playing in Germany for Borussia Dortmund.
But the FA and England players are not, publicly at least, expressing any concern with UEFA’s decision and being in charge of a match again with Bellingham.
England defender Luke Shaw said: “Whatever referee has been picked and we just have to be ready and not focus on that.”
Zwayer accepted €300 (£253) from a referee and agreed to make incorrect decisions in a match when he was an assistant referee.
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The Prince of Wales was among fans who cheered England on at the Dusseldorf Arena on Saturday and could be seen out of his seat and punching the air after their 80th-minute equaliser.
After falling behind to a talented Switzerland team, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka equalised for England, forcing the game to extra-time and then penalties.
During the shootout, England were faultless, scoring all five as England keeper Jordan Pickford saved one, ensuring their progression.
After the game, Southgate hailed his side for showing “incredible composure” during the penalty shootout and added: “I’m so, so proud of them.”