England will be donning special edition jerseys in their match against Belgium on Tuesday, marking the culmination of their March preparations after a 1-0 loss to Brazil at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate’s side faced disappointment in their opening fixture of the international break, succumbing to Brazil with a notable first international goal scored by 17-year-old Endrick.
Despite the defeat, there were bright spots for the Three Lions, including the debuts of Ezri Konsa, Anthony Gordon, and particularly, Kobbie Mainoo.
Mainoo, initially omitted from the squad by Southgate, earned his place on the bench after an outstanding performance against Liverpool in the FA Cup. His highly anticipated debut arrived with 15 minutes left in the match, replacing Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher in midfield.
Following their varied results against Brazil, England will wrap up their mid-season Euros preparations against Belgium. In this fixture, the English players will be wearing jerseys without player names, aiming to raise awareness for dementia symptoms.
This gesture isn’t new for the England squad, who previously supported the cause by wearing nameless shirts in their match against Switzerland in 2022.
“By using football to shine a spotlight and increase awareness of dementia symptoms, we hope to not only encourage fans to donate towards our early diagnosis research, but also to support their loved ones just as much as they support their football team. This means taking crucial first steps in seeking a diagnosis if they suspect someone they care about may be affected. A diagnosis can be daunting but it’s better to know,” She added.
The special match is a part of the FA and Alzheimer’s Society’s Support the Supporters campaign, aimed at emphasising the significance of timely dementia diagnosis.