Newcastle United players past and present will be on show in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final.
England could play both Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier, even if it seems the former will not be involved having barely played under Gareth Southgate all tournament.
The Spanish, meanwhile, have all of Ayoze Perez, Joselu and Mikel Merino in their squad ahead of Sunday’s showdown in Berlin.
Newcastle star Trippier is perhaps the one who has been most involved at the Euros. Merino may have scored a stunning header against Germany in the quarter-finals but Trippier has been a far regular starter for his country.
The 33-year-old may have struggled at times last season at club level but has consistently been backed by Southgate, even despite the obvious frustrations about not being a natural left-back.
Luke Shaw has played in the last two games, however, which may cast Trippier to the bench.
Ex-Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce, however, has a theory.
Sam Allarydce makes Kieran Trippier prediction ahead of Euro 2024 final
Speaking on the latest episode of his podcast entitled No Tippy Tappy Football, Allardyce suggested Trippier would in fact start the final on Sunday.
“I have to say I have a feeling it’ll be Trippier who starts and Shaw on as a sub,” he said.
Gareth Southgate thinks Kieran Trippier is so important for England
Despite taking him off at half-time during the semi-final win over the Netherlands, Southgate backed Trippier as a “solider”.
It clearly hasn’t been ideal having to play him out of position but there can be little doubt Trippier has played his part.
A huge presence in an England squad to have made history in reaching their first men’s overseas final, Newcastle have also benefited from Trippier’s leadership.
Perhaps this summer spells the end of his time on Tyneside but the veteran is clearly so highly rated on the highest of levels that he deserves respect even despite some differing form at club level.
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