BBC Football Daily

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Former England goalkeeper Carly Telford speaking on the BBC Football Daily podcast about Jude Bellingham: "When he got selected and when he was starting that was the question: is he going to be able to handle it. We know what we are like as a media and a fan group. We are quick to criticise if someone is not putting in the work or being as successful as we think they should be, but Bellingham is just different gravy. He virtually dragged the team through games at the World Cup and at 19 you just think how is this boy doing it? But he doesn't seem to have a fear factor.

"I don't know if that's because he left Birmingham at such a young age and had been surrounded by quality at Dortmund, but I just think he's a fearless kid who believes in himself and that just makes people around him believe in him.

"He's only going to get better, which is scary given how good he is now."

Listen to the full episode of the Football Daily podcast.

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Jude Bellingham said he had "goosebumps" and his "heart was close to stopping" when he was told Real Madrid wanted to sign him.

Bellingham, 19, has joined the Spanish club from Borussia Dortmund for an initial 103m euros (£88.5m).

The fee could reach 133.9m euros (£115m) with add-ons.

"I'd always been aware of the interest from England so that was pretty normal," said Bellingham at his presentation as a Real Madrid player.

"It was a bit of a surprise when my dad sat me down and said: 'You've had a bit of interest from Real Madrid.'

"I think that was maybe about 12-15 months ago. When he said that I had goosebumps, my heart was close to stopping."

Bellingham is still nursing the injury that kept him out of Borussia Dortmund's final game of the season and won't feature for England.

However, he will continue his rehabilitation with the England squad, while Brighton's Lewis Dunk has not reported for duty with an injury.

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Declan Rice is a wanted man, with Arsenal reportedly emerging as the front-runners for the England midfielder's signature.

Having now won silverware at West Ham, he may be tempted to move across the capital this summer.

Rice made more interceptions (63) and won possession more times (334) than any other player during the 2022/23 Premier League season.

Read our gossip column here.

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You've been picking your England XI to face Malta this evening - and this is the line-up you've chosen.

It's a pretty attacking midfield you've gone with...

Samantha: No Marcus Rashford? The guy had the season of his life!!

Gary: Somewhat of a surprise by Southgate!

Paul: I’m not an England fan but how Ramsdale or Pope are not in front of Pickford is a joke. He’s battled relegation all season and had some shockers through it. The other two are far superior keepers.

Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport reporter

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Long before Jodi Jones "ran out of tears" over the injuries that threatened his career, he was crying about the England team he is about to face with Malta.

After three anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in as many years had the 25-year-old winger fearing his playing days were over, he is now preparing for a European Championship qualifier against the country where he was born, raised and has always passionately supported.

"I had England kits growing up and remember going to McDonald's to get the Happy Meals and all the little figures," he told BBC Sport.

"I've still got them now. I have so many memories of England, I remember when they lost to Portugal on penalties [in 2006] - I was crying my eyes out."

Jones, who last month helped his club Notts County to promotion from the National League after an epic battle at the top with Wrexham, was only eight when he watched that World Cup quarter-final exit in despair.

Seventeen years on, he is set to line up against that same national team he grew up cheering for - and still follows "even though I play for Malta now".

Read more here.

A unique and pretty cool take on team news by Poland.

To celebrate Children's Day, the starting XI have been put together with drawings done by children from a primary school in Warsaw.

Check out Robert Lewandowski's smile!

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Notts County's Jodi Jones shared a laugh with James Maddison when the teams arrived earlier.

He starts for Malta this evening.

Image source, Reuters

There are no Manchester City players in an England starting XI for the first time since September 2021 against Andorra.

England's players have arrived at the Ta'Qali National Stadium in Malta.

Gareth Southgate's side are looking to maintain their winning start to Euro 2024 qualifying.

West Ham captain Declan Rice starts fresh from their victory in the Europa Conference League final but there's none of Manchester City's Treble winners in the side.

Image source, Reuters

BBC Radio 5 Live

Plenty of reaction to come to the team news, I'm sure.

You can listen to all the build-up on BBC Radio 5 Live from 19:00 BST and then we'll have live commentary from Malta.

Just click the icon at the top of this page or tune in on BBC Sounds.

And don't forget to tweet us with your thoughts using #bbcfootball

Alex Howell
Football reporter at Ta' Qali National Stadium

It looks like Trent Alexander-Arnold's midfield role for Liverpool grabbed Gareth Southgate's attention. The Liverpool player wears number 10 and looks set to play in midfield.

It is worth noting that Southgate did play Alexander-Arnold there before for the Three Lions, when they beat Andorra at Wembley 4-0.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, England's number 10.

The Liverpool man starts in midfield for England tonight, alongside Declan Rice and Jordan Henderson.

There is also a place in the starting XI for James Maddison, while Marc Guehi partners Harry Maguire in central defence.

England XI: Pickford; Trippier, Guehi, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Henderson, Alexander-Arnold; Saka, Kane, Maddison.

Subs: Walker, Ramsdale, Stones, Phillips, Grealish, Mings, Rashford, Gallagher, Foden, Eze, Johnstone, Wilson

Malta's starting XI features Jodi Jones, who won promotion to the Football League with Notts County this season.

Malta XI: Bonello; Apap, S. Borg, Attard; Mbong, Guillaumier, Teuma, Kristensen, Z. Muscat; Nwoko, Jones

Subs: M. Grech, Debono, Camenzuli, Shaw, J. Grech, Satariano, Corbalan, N. Muscat, Degabriele, Yankam, Dimech, J. Borg.

"Looks like you're playing in midfield!"

Image source, Getty Images

Trent Alexander-Arnold starts for England, wearing the number 10 shirt.

James Maddison also starts, alongside Marc Guehi.

Full team news to follow.

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The latest round of Euro 2024 qualifiers happens this month - with all the home nations and the Republic of Ireland in action.

Not every team will be playing qualifiers in June, with the Netherlands, Croatia, Spain and Italy competing in the Nations League finals instead.

BBC Sport looks at how qualifying works, how England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are doing and who they play this month.

Read more here.

There's plenty going on tonight in international football with England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland all in action.

We'll be focusing on England here but you can follow each of the other home nations separately across the BBC Sport website.

Scotland travel to Oslo to face Norway tomorrow.

Elsewhere, Gibraltar host France in Euro qualifying, while there's a friendly between Poland and Germany. They kick-off at 19:45 BST.