In England’s Euro 2024 semi-final matchup against the Netherlands, Luke Shaw has pronounced himself “fit and ready to start.”
After England fell down with fifteen minutes remaining in the quarterfinal match against Switzerland, the Manchester United defender played his first minutes of the tournament after being one of three substitutions.
Following Bukayo Saka’s incredible equalizer a few minutes later, which forced the quarterfinal match into overtime, Shaw played well for the next thirty minutes, giving Chelsea manager Frank Lampard—a former England midfielder—no doubts about starting him in the semifinal.
Throughout England’s Euro 2024 campaign, Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United has stepped in at left back, but Shaw has informed Gareth Southgate that he is healthy to start Wednesday’s crucial match in Dortmund.
Shaw stated on Monday afternoon, “The last four months have been really tough.” I was first anticipated to return much sooner, but I had a great deal of hardship.
“I’ve been dying to get on, and it was really nice to get some minutes on the other night.”
Shaw responded, “Of course, I think I am [fit and ready to play 90 minutes], that is down to Gareth‘s decision,” when asked if he was healthy enough to start against the Dutch. I feel prepared and in good shape.
When Southgate named his final squad for the Euros, he admitted he was taking a ‘gamble’ on Shaw but expected the 28-year-old to be fit to feature in the latter part of the group stage.
Instead, Shaw missed England’s first four games out in Germany and says it was ‘strange’ as well as ‘tough’ to watch on from the sidelines.
‘Before the squad got announced, we had a plan [for his recovery],’ he said. ‘The plan was to come back around the second or third game but, unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned and I was pushed back a game or so.
‘Of course, it’s tough. They were really there for me, not just Gareth and Steve but the medical staff as well, I have a lot to thank them for.
‘It’s been strange. It’s also been difficult as well, going to games, feeling the atmosphere, not putting the shirt on or being involved in games was hard, but that motivated me more to work back.
‘The atmosphere in those games spurred me on. I was of course excited to come back, but the priority was to help us get back into the game and get us through.’
Shaw also said he ‘never once thought’ England were heading out of the tournament, despite needing some last-minute brilliance from Jude Bellingham to avoid defeat against Slovakia and then going behind to Switzerland.
‘I never once thought that we were going to go out, we have to believe right to the end,’ he said ahead of a potential 33rd England cap.
‘Game by game we are getting better, there’s things we can still improve on but we’re looking good.’
On the criticism Southgate has faced throughout the tournament, Shaw added: ‘I don’t get it.
‘What he’s done for the country and us players, he’s taken us to the next level. No manager has been as successful as he has recently.
‘Us players love him, he’s exactly what we need. He allows us to go out on the pitch and be our best. He’s shown a lot of faith and trust in picking me.’
England’s Euro 2024 semi-final opponents, managed by ex-Everton and Southampton boss Ronald Koeman, beat Turkey and Romania in the knockout stages after finishing third in Group D.