11 hours ago
Albion duo on Euros semi-final duty - but they will have to stand the heat
Jack Hinshelwood and James Beadle are expected to start for England (Image: X: @England)
England under-21s will be ready for the heat when they aim to reach the Euros final today.
Lee Carsley's side face the Netherlands in Bratislava in the first semi-final.
Kick-off is at 6pm local time, or 5pm BST, with early-evening temperatures set to pass the 30deg C mark.
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Albion's James Beadle will be in goal for the Young Lions with Jack Hinshelwood expected to start at left-back.
Both the English and Dutch will be tested by the conditions as well as by each other.
England boss Carsley said: 'We've not shied away from the heat.
'We've exposed the players to it fully. We're ready for it. We're fully prepared now.
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'We've trained at some of the hottest periods of the day, not on purpose but just the way that it's worked out with our training time.
'We've been here long enough now to acclimatise to the heat. We've definitely got hydration strategies in place in terms of what the players need to cool down quickly and hydrate quickly.
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'I think our use of the substitutions has been effective in terms of our timings. We've probably gone a little bit earlier than you would in normal circumstances, based on how hot it's been.'
Hinshelwood switched to left-back during the 2-1 defeat by Germany in the final group game and remained there as Spain were defeated 3-1 in the quarters.
A similar role this time could see him up against Stoke City winger Million Manhoef.
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Devyne Rensch, the right-back who played for Ajax against Albion in the Europa League, also operates down that flank for the Dutch.
The tie is being shown live by Channel 4, as is the second semi between France and Brajan Gruda's Germany in Kosice at 8pm.
The final takes place on Saturday evening.
