Can England’s Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell play in the last 16 of Euro 2020?
The Chelsea pair will have to isolate up to and including Monday 28 June after being confirmed as close contacts of Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour, who tested positive for Covid-19
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Your support makes all the difference.Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell were ruled out of England’s 1-0 victory against Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday evening, however, they will both available for selection for the Three Lions in the last-16.
The Chelsea pair will have to isolate up to and including Monday 28 June after being confirmed as close contacts of Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour, who tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week.
Having topped Group D, though, England will now play their first knockout game on 29 June at Wembley, meaning the Chelsea duo will both be available to play.
However, it is worth noting that even if England’s last-16 fixture falls after the end of the players’ isolation period, they would still be something of a doubt to be included in the team given they would not have trained with the group for 10 days, nor been involved in tactical briefings. It would be a bold call for manager Gareth Southgate to bring them straight back into the starting line-up and place on the bench may be the sensible approach.
An FA statement read: “Chilwell and Mount will isolate and train individually in private areas at England’s training base St. George’s Park, with the rest of the squad returning there after tonight’s fixture against Czech Republic at Wembley.
“We will continue to follow all Covid-19 protocols and the Uefa testing regime, while remaining in close contact with PHE.
“The entire England squad and staff had lateral flow tests on Monday and all were again negative, as was the case with Sunday’s UEFA pre-match PCR tests.
“Further tests will be carried out as and when appropriate.”
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