The players – present and past – that have South London connections who are set to feature at Euro 2020

Euro 2020 starts today – a year later than planned due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Sports editor RICHARD CAWLEY looks at the players, both present and past, with South London connections. Will any of them be getting their hands on the trophy on July 11?

ENGLAND

When it comes to South London-born players at this summer’s tournament then there is only one – Jadon Sancho.

The Camberwell-born attacker is one of eight forwards named in England’s squad. Sancho, 21, is by no means a guaranteed starter in Gareth Southgate’s squad and is likely – at least initially in the Group D games – to be used off the bench.

He hit the bar with an excellent strike in their 1-0 win over Romania on Sunday, the Three Lions’ final tune-up before their opener against Croatia on Sunday.

England manager Southgate (inset) played 191 matches for Crystal Palace, coming through the youth ranks, before being sold to Aston Villa for £2.5million in 1995.

Lambeth-born Chris Powell, who won promotion as a player and as a boss at Charlton Athletic, is a coach with the national team. He combines the role with his full-time gig as head of academy coaching at Tottenham.

Fixtures: June 13 Croatia (Wembley) 2pm, June 18 Scotland (Wembley) 8pm, June 22 Czech Republich (Wembley) 8pm

WALES

Charlton right-back Chris Gunter clocked up his 101st appearance for Wales in their 3-0 friendly loss to France last week.

The defender, who made his international debut in May 2007, is his country’s record appearance holder.

Gunter is likely to be experienced back up for Robert Page’s side.

Wayne Hennessey, out of contract at Crystal Palace after this month, is on 95 caps and broke Neville Southall’s record for international clean sheets in September.

There are also a clutch of former Addicks players in the shape of Jonny Williams – recently released by Cardiff City – along with Tom Lockyer, who activated a free transfer clause in his contract to sign for Luton Town at the start of last season.

Dylan Levitt’s loan from Manchester United was cut short in January as he joined Croatian top-flight side NK Istra 1961.

Manchester City midfielder Matt Smith played just 62 minutes after arriving on loan in SE7 at the start of February 2020.

It’s hard to see Wales repeating their 2016 semi-final finish in a tricky Group A that contains an Italy side which won all of their qualifying matches.

Fixtures: June 12 Switzerland (Baku Olympic Stadium) 2pm, June 16 Turkey (Baku Olympic Stadium) 5pm, Italy (Olimpico Rome) 5pm

BELGIUM

One of the favourites to go all the way, and with good reason.

Christian Benteke finished the Premier League campaign in decent scoring form for Crystal Palace, netting in his final four matches to hit double figures.

The former Aston Villa and Liverpool centre-forward signed a two-year contract extension with the Eagles last week.

Romelu Lukaku should lead the line for the 1980 runners-up but Benteke’s prowess in the air should guarantee some game time.

Michy Batshuayi has just completed a second loan spell with Palace but this one proved far less productive as he scored just twice in 18 matches – with only seven of those starts.

He played a grand total of 24 minutes in the final 14 Premier League matches and was an unused sub in 10 of those, ineligible against parent club Chelsea and then not in the squad for the final day assignment at Liverpool.

Fixtures: June 12 Russia (Saint Petersburg Stadium, June 17 Denmark (Parken Stadium) 5pm, June 21 Finland (Saint Petersburg Stadium) 8pm

FINLAND

Marcus Forss was prolific during his loan stay at AFC Wimbledon in the 2019-20 season, scoring 11 goals in 19 appearances before injury ended his stay in the middle of January. The striker’s grandfather Rainer Forss also represented Finland.

He bagged the goal which secured Brentford’s aggregate victory over Swansea in the Championship play-off semi-final last month and made 50 appearances in all competitions as they reached the Premier League.

You’d expect him to be cast in the role of impact sub, with Norwich’s Teemu Pukki one of the first names on coach Markku Kanerva’s teamsheet.

Fixtures: June 12 Denmark (Parken Stadium) 5pm, June 16 Russia (Saint Petersburg Stadium), June 21 Belgium (Saint Petersburg Stadium)

NETHERLANDS

Frank de Boer lasted just 55 days and five matches in charge of Crystal Palace – 30 days fewer than his time as Inter chief, his previous job. But despite an unimpressive managerial resume after leaving Ajax he was appointed Netherlands boss in September 2020.

Palace have one representative in the squad, although Patrick van Aanholt is expected to be moving on this summer. The 30-year-old has been unable to agree a new contract and will be a free agent on July 1, just before the quarter-finals commence.

The 1988 winners – whose iconic kit was only overshadowed by the attacking brilliance of Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten – won six and drew one of their qualifying matches.

Fixtures: June 13 Ukraine (Johan Cruyff Arena) 8pm, June 17 Austria (Johan Cruyff Arena) 8pm, June 21 North Macedonia (Johan Cruyff Arena) 5pm

HUNGARY

Loic Nego was signed on a three-and-a-half-year deal by Charlton in January 2014 from Ujpest, a classic example of the ‘network’ philosophy of then owner Roland Duchatelet.

He made just one appearance for the Addicks in the Championship before rejoining Ujpest on a season-long loan in August of the same year.

The 30-year-old made a permanent switch to Fehervar, where he still plays, in August 2015. They won their domestic league in 2018.

Slim chances of progressing from Group F – which contains three powerhouses in Portugal, Germany and France.

Fixtures: June 15 Portugal (Puskas Arena) 5pm, June 19 France (Puskas Arena), June 23 Germany (Football Arena Munich) 8pm

PORTUGAL

Jose Fonte was a solid and composed centre-back at Crystal Palace – only being sold to Southampton in 2010 as the club’s new owners, picking up a club just exiting a tough administration, found a £1.2million offer impossible to refuse.

The 37-year-old, whose younger brother Rui also had a loan stay with the Eagles, has gone on to have a very successful career.

Fonte has just won Ligue 1 with Lille and was part of Portugal’s squad which won the European Championship in 2016 – he came into the side for the last-16 match against Croatia and did not drop out until the final against France.

Fonte did not win his first call-up for his country until the age of 31.

Fixtures: June 15 Hungary (Puskas Arena) 6pm, June 19 Germany (Football Arena Munich) 6pm, June 23 France (Puskas Arena) 8pm

THE PUNDITS

 

Former Manchester United and Leeds United defender Rio Ferdinand, raised in Peckham, is part of the BBC’s punditry team for the European Championships. The ex-England international, born in Camberwell, had trials with Charlton and Millwall before he joined West Ham’s youth system in 1992.

Former Crystal Palace, Arsenal and West Ham striker Ian Wright, born in Woolwich, will be on duty for ITV. Eagles winger Andros Townsend and former Addicks midfielder Joe Ledley will also be studio guests.