Euro 2020: Southgate expects Mount and Chilwell to miss England's Euro 2020 last-16 clash next week

Gareth Southgate has admitted he expects England to be without both Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell for Englands Euro 2020 last-16 tie next week and took a swipe at the bizarre Covid rules that forced the two players into isolation.

Gareth Southgate has admitted he expects England to be without both Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell for England’s Euro 2020 last-16 tie next week and took a swipe at the ‘bizarre’ Covid rules that forced the two players into isolation. 

Both of the Chelsea stars are having to isolate until Monday, June 28 because of their close contact with Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour after Friday night’s 0-0 draw at Wembley. 

Scotland announced on Monday that Gilmour had tested positive for Covid-19 just days on from his man-of-the-match display against the Three Lions.  

It means Mount and Chilwell – who met up with Gilmour in the tunnel area after the game, which is a breach of Covid protocols – are out of action for 10 days and could miss two matches at the Euros, depending on where England finish in the group.

But, surprisingly, Scotland’s players were given the all-clear for their crunch clash with Croatia at Hampden Park on Tuesday night. 

Speaking before England’s final group game against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, a frustrated Southgate seemed to admit he will not have Mount and Chilwell available next week and took a swipe at the Covid regulations.

Gareth Southgate has admitted he expects England to be without both Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell for England's Euro 2020 last-16 tie next week

Gareth Southgate has admitted he expects England to be without both Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell for England's Euro 2020 last-16 tie next week

Gareth Southgate has admitted he expects England to be without both Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell for England’s Euro 2020 last-16 tie next week

Mount and Chilwell have been put into self-isolation after meeting with Scotland's Billy Gilmour after their 0-0 draw with England at Wembley last Friday

Mount and Chilwell have been put into self-isolation after meeting with Scotland's Billy Gilmour after their 0-0 draw with England at Wembley last Friday

Mount and Chilwell have been put into self-isolation after meeting with Scotland’s Billy Gilmour after their 0-0 draw with England at Wembley last Friday

Mount embraced Chelsea colleague Gilmour - who has since tested positive for Covid-19

Mount embraced Chelsea colleague Gilmour - who has since tested positive for Covid-19

Mount embraced Chelsea colleague Gilmour – who has since tested positive for Covid-19

‘They [Mason Mount & Ben Chilwell] are hugely disappointed to miss the games,’ Southgate told ITV before kick-off at Wembley.

‘We just have to get on with it. It is a bizarre situation, they have spent 120 seconds too long in a fairly open space. It is full of contradictions for me but we will get on with it.

‘Frankly, I don’t understand it at all. There are teams travelling around by coach, by plane, in enclosed spaces for hours and our two boys have been pinged for something that’s… yeah, I don’t get it. 

‘As I said yesterday I have no issue with Steve or Scotland. I don’t want them to have any more issues than we’ve had but it just seems a bizarre situation’.

Southgate left Phil Foden out of his squad entirely for the Czech Republic game and, when asked why, he hinted he expects Mount and Chilwell to miss England’s last-16 tie. 

When asked why Foden wasn’t playing, Southgate replied: ‘He is on a yellow card and given that we look like we are missing two players already for next round I don’t want to risk a third.’

Southgate left Phil Foden, who is one yellow card away from suspension, out on Tuesday night because he didn't 'want to risk a third' player missing the last-16 tie

Southgate left Phil Foden, who is one yellow card away from suspension, out on Tuesday night because he didn't 'want to risk a third' player missing the last-16 tie

Southgate left Phil Foden, who is one yellow card away from suspension, out on Tuesday night because he didn’t ‘want to risk a third’ player missing the last-16 tie 

Both Mount and Chilwell said they were ‘gutted’ at having to sit out of the tournament as a result of their interaction with Gilmour. 

Midfielder Mount wrote on Twitter: ‘I’m absolutely gutted to have to miss tonight’s game. I’ll be cheering on the boys as usual and ensuring that I’m ready to go again when called upon. Come on @England!’

Defender Chilwell posted: ‘It’s a tough one to take and I’m gutted but I want to wish the boys all the best tonight in the game, I’ll be cheering you all on.

‘I will make sure i am ready for when i can rejoin the squad. Lets go @England!’ 

Earlier on Tuesday, former England duo Gary Neville and Gary Lineker were among those to criticise the decision to put Mount and into isolation.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville described Mount and Chilwell going into isolation as 'absurd'

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville described Mount and Chilwell going into isolation as 'absurd'

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville described Mount and Chilwell going into isolation as ‘absurd’

BBC host Lineker vented his frustrations on Twitter

BBC host Lineker vented his frustrations on Twitter

He described the news as 'ridiculous' and 'utterly absurd'

He described the news as 'ridiculous' and 'utterly absurd'

BBC host Gary Lineker took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to call the decision ‘absurd’

BBC host and former England striker Lineker labelled the decision to put them into isolation as ‘ridiculous’, adding ‘just test them’, while former Manchester United and England right back Neville called it an ‘absolute joke’. 

Chelsea technical director and former Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech was also left confused by the decision, insisting it is ‘incomprehensible’ that Scotland have not been disrupted.  

He posted on Instagram: ‘Please could someone help me understand how is it possible for Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell – both with negative tests – have to isolate after they got in contact with Billy Gilmour while the entire Scottish team who shared the dressing room, hotel, coach and plane while travelling, dining room, meeting room is allowed to play the game without any problem because they returned the required negative tests?

‘What is the difference between them returning the same test results? It is incomprehensible…’.  

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

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