'They talk' - Manuel Akanji hoping for Man City reunion with England
manchestereveningnews.co.ukManu Akanji is hoping for a reunion with some Manchester City teammates - so he can knock them and England out of the Euros.
Akanji has impressed in a very good Switzerland side, the City defender playing a key role in the first goal on Saturday as they beat Italy 2-0 to book their place in the quarter-final of the European Championship.
A date with England or Slovakia awaits the Swiss, and Akanji is rooting for teammates Phil Foden, John Stones and Kyle Walker. "I hope we play England," he said after the game. "I have a lot of friends there and they talk us a little bit small sometimes - not all of them but some of them - but I hope we're going to play against them and I hope we're going to win." ALSO READ: I tamed Liverpool and battled Pep - in the end I had to leave Man City ALSO READ: Man City set for transfer windfall as £42m deal close Akanji has exchanged messages with the England boys but is expecting a call if Gareth Southgate's side do make it past Slovakia on Sunday evening.
Germany, Spain, France, Portugal and Belgium are all on the other side of the knockout draw, although Nathan Ake and his Netherlands team could face Switzerland or England (or Slovakia) in the semi-finals if they make it past Romania and then Austria or Turkey. "We've spoken in the group chat but not face to face.
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