Romeo Beckham, son of Manchester United legend David Beckham, is set to play in a warm-up game against Ukraine ahead of England’s Euro 2024 qualifier. The game will take place at Brentford’s training ground, which has been opened up to the Ukrainian team. Romeo plays for Brentford B and is expected to line up against Ruslan Rotan’s side. David Beckham has been a regular spectator at his son’s games since he joined Brentford on loan from Inter Miami in January. The former footballer was even mobbed by fans after watching Romeo’s debut against Erith & Belvedere, before making an unorthodox exit by jumping over a fence and clambering through bushes.
Ukraine have opted to base themselves in London as their meeting with England is their only qualifier during the March break, and they have four players based in England, including two in London. Arsenal full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk, Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko and Bournemouth’s Illya Zabarnyi have all been called up. They will arrive on March 20 and stay in west London before facing England at Wembley Stadium on March 23, before flying out the following morning.
The Ukrainian team have previously based themselves in neighbouring Poland, but decided on a camp in England due to logistical issues caused by the ongoing war. Ahead of facing England in 2018 for Wayne Rooney’s final cap, the USA used Brentford’s training ground as their base. Ukraine’s meeting with Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions will be their first game since a 0-0 Nations League draw with Scotland in Krakow. They have not faced England since a 4-0 defeat in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.
England will visit Italy in their opening qualifier on March 23 before hosting Ukraine three days later.