Ben Stokes gives England teamtalk as Euro 2024 looms
The IndependentSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Gareth Southgate believes England’s Euros bid will benefit from cricket star Ben Stokes’ “brilliant session” on adapting a fearless mindset whilst embracing pressure and nerves. “Ben Stokes came in yesterday which I thought was a brilliant session,” manager Southgate said on the eve of Monday’s warm-up friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. And anybody who’s performed as well as he has for England… “That was a really good session that worked well for us.” Stokes watched England train on Saturday and had lunch with them before speaking to a group featuring all but four of Southgate’s provisional 33-man squad. “I’m sure he would have liked that to be different but we know the qualities he can bring and the qualities he has and he is a player we enjoy working with and a character we enjoy having within the group.” Southgate says England are not yet defining the cut lines as he juggles injury and selection headaches, adding “time is our friend this week” and that 26-man squads are a “real bonus”.