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Why should he start against Serbia on Sunday? “I’ll always give my best for the team, I work hard on and off the ball – but I’m happy to do whatever the manager asks me to do, whether that’s starting or coming off the bench.”

How is the atmosphere in the camp? “It’s a great group, I’ve been part of it for a couple of years now. All the lads are humble, friendly and we’ve welcomed the new players in straight away.

“It’s a special group, we’ve shown that before. The mood is the same as in Qatar; we believe we can win it … we are excited, ready to take on Serbia and win that game.”

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Gallagher also credits Mauricio Pochettino with giving him the Chelsea armband and greater responsibility in the team.

He’s asked about former teammate Marc Guéhi – “I couldn’t be happier if he gets to start games, he’s more than ready. He’s very professional, hard-working, a great leader as well.”

What has the season been like for him at Chelsea? “When I’m playing, I’m happy. I just wanted to work as hard as possible to help Chelsea and England as much as I can.”

Thoughts on Pochettino’s departure? “He’s done a lot for me, so I was sad to see him and the coaching staff go. But I’m excited to work with the new manager [Enzo Maresca] … I’m a Chelsea player right now so that’s my focus.”

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Updated at 15.48 CEST

Does this feel different to Qatar 2022? “It does, because I never expected to play. I’m in a different position, I’ve developed well as a player, more experience. I’m ready to contribute more, and really looking forward to it.”

Is he competing with Trent Alexander-Arnold for a starting spot? “Trent is a great player, everyone has different strengths. This squad has healthy competition, everyone wants to play but we’ll support each other no matter what.”

Is speculation over his Chelsea future distracting? “I’ve just been focusing on England, this is the most important thing for me, and I just want to start the tournament now.

ShareConor Gallagher meets the press

Conor Gallagher is about to speak to the media at England’s training base. Stay tuned for updates …

Conor Gallagher takes on the England darts challenge before beginning his press conference. Photograph: John Sibley/ReutersShare

Updated at 15.51 CEST

More on West Ham’s first signing of the Julen Lopetegui era. Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme has arrived from Palmeiras, and says Hammers technical director Tim Steidten flew out to Brazil to persuade him to join. “They presented the project, and both my family and I liked it,” the 18-year-old said. “So, I’m very happy to be signing with this club and hope to contribute as much as possible.”

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Some good news for Scotland fans: Hilla, a sealion at Leipzig Zoo, has predicted that Friday’s opener will end in a 1-1 draw, with Scotland taking a surprise lead before Germany hit back. Hilla faces a tough task to match Paul the Octopus, the late cephalopod with impeccable ball knowledge.

Hilla is also blessed with an unreadable penalty technique. Photograph: Hendrik Schmidt/APShare

Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai and Switzerland defender Silvan Widmer have both spoken to the press before their opening Group A game, where the Magyars will start as favourites.

“We want to go as far as possible,” says Szoboszlai, who is the youngest captain at the tournament. “The team unity is really good, everyone has to go into the tournament with nothing to lose. If we go into it with the right attitude, we can really achieve something great.”

Switzerland look more fragile after an underwhelming qualifying campaign, but Widmer insisted his team are ready to exceed expectations. “Everyone is fired up. The team spirit is really great. We are all ready and can hardly wait. It’s a real unit again, hungry and wanting to give it their all.”

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Thanks, Tom. I was buzzing to get the call, thought it was the lads winding me up at first, etc and so on. Let’s start with a look ahead to the tournament’s second game – Hungary v Switzerland in Cologne on Saturday afternoon …

Hungary head coach Marco Rossi (left) and captain Dominik Szoboszlai in training. Photograph: Tibor Illyes/EPAShare

Updated at 15.14 CEST

And with that, Niall McVeigh’s just joined the squad and will take this afternoon’s session. Laters.

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The Germany manager, Julian Nagelsmann, has been talking about the expectations on his revitalised hosts before their opener against Scotland tomorrow, reports PA Media. “We have the idea of winning it. If we give it our all, it can happen,” he said.

“There is already the expectation that we will do better than we have in recent years, and our fans are excited to have the tournament on home soil. Now we’re all getting kind of nervous, a little bit,” he added. “I think it’s normal, but it’s good as well, because if you’re kind of nervous, you’ll be focused, on the first game especially.

“The start of the group stage on Friday will be very important for us, but also for the fans. We need a good result.”

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A couple of entertaining interviews you may have missed from yesterday: first up, Nick Ames’s sit-down with Sylvinho, the former Arsenal and Barcelona man now in charge of Albania:

While Donald McRae had a nice long chat with 80s indie cult hero and pundit Pat Nevin:

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A spot of domestic transfer news: West Ham have signed the 18-year-old Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras on a five-year deal. The teenager will complete his transfer on Friday when the summer transfer window officially opens, subject to international clearance and a work permit.

Guilherme has made 40 senior appearances for Palmeiras, won the Brazilian Série A title, played in the Copa Libertadores and been capped by Brazil at Under-20 level.

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The Big England Selection Debates have zoned in around who to possibly stand in for John Stones out of Ezri Konsa or Lewis Dunk (Konsa, for my money) and, of course, that midfield role alongside Declan Rice, about which Jacob Steinberg has written at greater length and with greater insight.

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Updated at 14.38 CEST

Efforts are being made to dampen down possible over-reactions to reports that half a million ticketless fans will descend on Germany. According to Sky, Uefa has estimated that around 500,000 are expected at some point over the entirety of the tournament, rather than hundreds of thousands of people roaming city centres at once looking to sniff out touts.

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Thanks Barry, and afternoon everyone. It’s Peak Predictions Day today, with sweepstakes and flutters being sized up. And our own Paul Campbell has collated some predictions and previews from fans of all 24 countries, a relatable theme of “we’re not all that really” emanating from many of them.

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Handover: Tom Davies is here to take you through the next hour or so, until Niall McVeigh takes up the cudgels of news at 2pm.

ShareClarke has full squad to choose from

Scotland: Steve Clarke has a full complement of players to choose from ahead of his side’s opening Group A game against Germany in Munich tomorrow night. All 26 players in Scotland’s squad trained at Garmisch-Partenkirchen this morning, with midfielder Ryan Jack, who had missed Tuesday’s session, back in the group.

Although he is not part of the squad after being ruled out with injury, QPR striker Lyndon Dykes has travelled with his teammates in an unspecified Regimental Goat sort of “vibes” role and was watching them being put through their paces from the sideline, wearing a protective boot over his injured foot.

Lyndon Dykes (right) has travelled to Germany with the Scotland squad despite being ruled out of Euro 2024 last week with injury. Photograph: Steve Welsh/PAShare

Updated at 13.37 CEST

Edin Terzic leaves Borussia Dortmund

Breaking: The Borussia Dortmund manager, Edin Terzic, has asked the Bundesliga club to terminate his contract with immediate effect and they have agreed to do so. The 41-year-old leaves the club he has supported since he was a child having steered them to the final of last season’s Champions League, where they were beaten by Real Madrid.

Terzic has been the subject of criticism from several of his players in recent weeks, most notably the German defender Mats Hummels, although it is not known if their dispute is related to his decision to leave the club.

Edin Terzic is likely to be a manager in big demand after stepping down from his role as head coach of Borussia Dortmund. Photograph: Ina Fassbender/AFP/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 13.25 CEST

Laporte unlikely to be risked in Spain opener

Spain: Aymeric Laporte has missed Spain training with a muscle problem and looks set to miss his country’s Group B opener against Croatia in Berlin on Saturday. The Al-Nassr centre-back is likely to be replaced by Real Madrid’s Nacho Fernandez, who will partner Robin Le Normand in the heart of the Spanish defence.

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AC Milan: The Italian side have announced that Paulo Fonseca will be their new head coach and will take over from Stefano Pioli. The 51-year-old Portuguese is a former boss of Shakhtar Donetsk, Lille and Roma, among other clubs and was this close to taking over at Tottenham Hotspur three years ago.

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The Guardian Football Weekly Daily podcast: A man of discernment and impeccable taste, Georgia captain Guram Kashia recently revealed that he is an avid listener to the Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast and never misses an episode. On the eve of his nation’s first ever major tournament, Guram and all our other listeners will be delighted to hear that we’re going daily throughout the Euros.

We’ll be recording shortly after the end of each day’s final match, looking back on the action, previewing the games ahead and covering any other talking points that crop up. You can catch up on our three preview shows by clicking on this link and if you’re not already a subscriber, take a long, hard look in the nearest mirror and then sign up in all the usual podcast places.

Georgia captain and Guardian Football Weekly subscriber Guram Kashia reacts to the news that his favourite award-winning football podcast is going daily for Euro 2024. Photograph: Pat Elmont/UEFA/Getty ImagesShareOur writers’ predictions for Euro 2024

The Guardian’s crack team of football writers on the ground in Germany have submitted their predictions for the tournament and in what can only be described as a genuinely massive boost to England’s chances, not a single one of them thinks Gareth Southgate’s team will win it. Read on …

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Updated at 12.28 CEST

Scotland manager Steve Clarke and his assistant John Carver take training in Garmisch-Partenkirchen this morning. Clarke is due to speak to the media later today in his final press conference before his team’s opening Group A game against Germany tomrorow night. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PAShareGermany’s players warm up ahead of training in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, this morning as they prepare for their match against Scotland tomorrow. Photograph: Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty ImagesShareJordan Pickford doing Jordan Pickford things at England training in Blankenhain Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty ImagesShareJohn Stones has returned to England training this morning after missing yesterday’s session through illness. Photograph: John Sibley/ReutersShareScotland fans make their way through Edinburgh Airport en route to Munich for tomorrow night’s tournament-opener against the hosts. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesShareVAR decisions to be explained on stadium screens

Refereeing at Euro 2024: Last month, Uefa announced that only team captains will be allowed to speak to referees during Euro 2024 matches if they feel a decision has gone against them unfairly. Uefa have also decreed that any other player who approaches match officials to complain about decisions will be cautioned.

Now it has been revealed that match officials will explain decisions made by video assistant referees to crowds in the stadium through the medium of the big screens throughout the tournament.

“This is something new and I think it’s very, very, very interesting,” said Uefa’s managing director for refereeing Roberto Rosetti. “So we want to give, after the opinion of VAR, a technical explanation for the public. In live, simultaneously, the Uefa expert will prepare the explanation, a technical explanation about what happened in the specific situation.

“For example, [if after an] on-field review, the referee awards a penalty for handball, [you might see]: ‘Technical explanation: Germany number nine touched the ball with his left arm in an unnatural position above the shoulder and making his body bigger’.”

What could possibly go wrong?

ShareStones due in England training today

England: It has been reported that John Stones has recovered from the bug that kept him out of training and confined to his hotel room yesterday. The Manchester City defender will take part in England training this morning.

John Stones has recovered from the illness that ruled him out of England training yesterday. Photograph: Boris Streubel/UEFA/Getty ImagesShare

Germany: Bayern Munich defensive midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic has been ruled out of Germany’s Euro 2024 squad after coming down with tonsillitis and has been replaced by Borussia Dortmund midfielder Emre Can, who benefits from the youngster’s rotten luck.

We wanted another No6 in the squad and we decided to nominate Emre Can,” said Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. “He was instantly excited and said he was ready to join the team. We wanted a player in the squad who has played a lot of matches and who knows how to handle pressure. He fits the profile and we can now use him.”

Aleksandar Pavlovic has left the Germany camp on the eve of his first major tournament after being diagnosed with tonsillitis. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 11.27 CEST

Germany: Ilkay Gundogan will lead out the Germany side to face Scotland in tomorrow night’s tournament opener and has said it is a huge privilege to skipper the three-times European champions as they begin their latest campaign on home soil in Munich tomorrow.

“It’s a huge honour, a huge privilege to be captain,” said the Barcelona midfielder. “I have experienced an awful lot in my career, lots of great times but also lots of difficult times. I kind of know what it takes to be successful. All I can do is lead from the front, both on and off the pitch. I think the people of Germany – not just the fans – deserve some success.

“We know it’ll be a tough game against Scotland. They have a lot of quality, lots of stars from the Premier League, so it’s going to be a challenge, but we are confident. We’re very well set up, full of quality and there’s lots of potential in the squad; we just have to deliver now. We haven’t done ourselves justice in recent tournaments.

“We hope this time that we benefit somewhat from the euphoria in our home country and the support of the fans, and that this carries us along. But we know we first have to earn the trust of our fans on the pitch. If we do, I think we will go a long way. Playing a [tournament] in your own country is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so obviously it feels really special.”

Ilkay Gundogan will captain Germany at Euro 2024 and says it is an “honour” to do so. Photograph: Hollandse Hoogte/ShutterstockShare

Updated at 11.27 CEST

Footballers’ union starts legal action against Fifa

The international footballers’ union Fifpro has started legal action against Fifa over the expanded men’s Club World Cup. Fifpro said its Europe member unions, led by England’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and its French counterpart, had on Thursday submitted a legal claim with the Brussels court of commerce.

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The Netherlands: Having lost midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners to injury on Monday, Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman announced he would only be calling up one replacement in the form of Ian Maatsen, who spent the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund from his parent club Chelsea.

Koeman’s decision meant the Dutch had a vacant spot in their squad but the manager has since had a change of heart and called up Joshua Zirkzee, who has cut short a holiday to Disney World in Florida to travel to Germany. The uncapped 23-year-old plays as a striker and scored 13 goals for Serie A side Bologna last season. He is expected to join up with his teammates in Wolfsburg today ahead of their opener against Poland on Sunday afternoon.

Bologna’s uncapped striker Joshua Zirkzee has received a late call-up to the Netherlands squad. Photograph: Alessandro Sabattini/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 11.16 CEST

England: The Football Association’s chief executive, Mark Bullingham, has insisted the organisation has a succession plan in place for the possible departure of Gareth Southgate after Euro 2024 but was coy when asked about the details. David Hytner reports from Blankenhain …

Gareth Southgate is not expected to continue in his role as manager of England after Euro 2024, regardless of the tournament’s outcome. Photograph: Dave Shopland/ShutterstockShare

Updated at 10.34 CEST

England: The Football Association has funded a special unit within the British police to help them prosecute anyone who abuses England’s players on social media. David Hytner reports from Blankenhain …

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The Brighton midfielder Billy Gilmour believes Scotland are well equipped to defy the odds and spoil Germany’s European Cham­pionship party when the tournament gets under way in Munich tomorrow night. Ewan Murray reports from Garmisch-Partenkirchen …

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Updated at 10.35 CEST

Team guides part 21: the Czech Republic … Jaroslav Silhavy’s abrupt departure moments after the Czechs had secured qualification gave Ivan Hasek limited preparation but the Tomas Soucek-led Czechs will be dangerous, writes Martin Vait.

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Updated at 10.35 CEST

Preamble

The excitement continues to build and with just one day to go before Euro 2024 kicks off, we’ll here to keep you posted on all the pre-tournament news that’s fit to print and plenty more that almost certainly is not.

Last night it was revealed that John Stones, the only centre-half in the England squad with Big Tournament experience, has been laid low with what i9s believed to be a sickness bug and is being confined to his quarters at the Weimarer Land Spa and Golf resort in Blankenhain, in order to prevent the illness from spreading through the camp.

Stones missed England training yesterday but could be back on the grass training as early as today. In the unlikely event he fails to recover in time for England’s tournament opener against Serbia on Sunday, Brighton defender Lewis Dunk is likely to deputise.

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Updated at 10.27 CEST