Marc Guehi has revealed that he will give his medal away even if England triumph in the Euro 2024 final.
The England defender has been a standout performer in Germany, with his composed performances making him a contender to be in the team of the tournament. Guehi plans to dedicate his success to his parents for their unwavering support over the years – should the Three Lions beat Spain at the Olympiastadion.
The Crystal Palace centre-back, who celebrates his 24th birthday today (Saturday), said: “I’ll give it to mum and dad, they’ll take care of it. It’s more the memories. The physical stuff, they’re gunna go but it’s more the memories you can pass and share. That’s the most important thing to be honest.”
Guehi did something similar after participating in the 2017 under-17s World Cup with England alongside Phil Foden and Conor Gallagher, and that generation has now come into its own.
They defeated Spain back then and Guehi is eager for a repeat in the Euros final in Berlin on Sunday. “Very good memories. Very good memories,” Guehi reminisced. “We were playing against a really good team in Spain. They have players who played then who are still playing now which is amazing for them.
“It was an amazing memory, an amazing memory for all those involved myself, Phil, Conor. Fantastic for us to be involved in that and this game now. don’t know where those medals are either. Mum and dad have them but I haven’t got them. I’ve no idea where they are.”
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Guehi opened up about his suspension for the quarter-final against Switzerland, which he didn’t realise until after the Slovakia match: “I didn’t know, I just thought, ‘stay ready, that is the most important thing’ and I didn’t actually know I was suspended until the lads told me after the Slovakia game,” he said.
He spoke about the team’s unity and his role in stepping up when needed: “We are a team and it has been so evident throughout the entire tournament that every person when called upon has done their job and done as well as possible and in that case it was Ezri Konsa over to you, go and show what you can do and I tried to carry on where he left off.
“I’m just enjoying the ride, I’m just enjoying it. I do get nervous but it’s a feeling you just try to use to help you, for myself anyway. I can’t speak for anyone else. I definitely do get nervous but whenever I do I just try to use it to help me in any way.”
Looking back at the Euros final three years ago, Guehi expressed his eagerness to contribute to England’s success: “I was watching at home. Just devastated like every single person, to come so close, tough feeling, I know these boys, every single one of them, but for the country as well and it could be a moment of redemption.
“But at the same time that chapter is gone, it is not something you can get back. There are definitely things that lessons you can take and pick up on and try and apply here but that chapter is gone. Now it is embracing what’s in front of you and this is another opportunity, a new opportunity to try and make history.”