The Euro 2020 stars who've faced Carlisle United - and how they fared

For a surprising number of them have crossed paths with the Cumbrians before.

As many as 34* players taking part in this summer’s tournament have faced the Blues in the past – from 14 different nations.

Here, we take a look at all the occasions a Euro 2020 player has come up against United.

BELGIUM

Jan Vertonghen: The defender’s eighth Tottenham appearance came against Greg Abbott’s Carlisle in the League Cup third round in September 2012. Defender Vertonghen scored the first goal in a 3-0 Brunton Park win – his first strike for the club after joining from Ajax – before being substituted after 65 minutes.

Jan Vertonghen, right, takes on United's Dave Symington (photo: Stuart Walker)

CROATIA

Dejan Lovren: How can we forget the sight of Croatia’s experienced defender being sent halfway across Stanley Park by the shimmying Bastien Hery, as Carlisle carved through Liverpool’s defence to score through Derek Asamoah in September 2015’s epic League Cup tie at Anfield?

Liverpool's Lovren tackles Carlisle's Alex McQueen (photo: PA)

CZECH REPUBLIC

Ondrej Celustka: The defender was on loan with Sunderland from Trabzonspor in the 2013/14 season, which put him up against Graham Kavanagh’s Blues in January’s FA Cup third round tie. Celustka played the full game as the Black Cats won 3-1.

Celustka, left, among the Sunderland defenders outjumped by United's Sean O'Hanlon (photo: Jonny Becker)

ENGLAND

Dominic Calvert-Lewin: The striker made his mark against Carlisle in October 2015 whilst on loan with Northampton from Everton, scoring twice in a 3-2 win over Keith Curle’s men aged just 18 – only his fifth and sixth goals in league football.

Calvert-Lewin scores his second for Northampton against the Blues (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Conor Coady: Now with Wolves, Coady confronted United whilst a 21-year-old loanee at Sheffield United from Liverpool in March 2014, helping set up Jose Baxter’s goal for the Blades in a 1-0 defeat which pushed Kavanagh’s League One side closer to the drop.

Conor Coady holds off James Berrett at Bramall Lane (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Jack Grealish: Two encounters with United in the 2013/14 season, when the aspiring Aston Villa player was on loan with Notts County. He played the full 90 minutes in Notts’ 2-1 loss at Brunton Park, and the 18-year-old put in an impressive showing in the return game as Shaun Derry’s side won 4-1.

Grealish, left, chases James Berrett at Brunton Park (photo: Stuart Walker)

Dean Henderson*: Technically no longer a Euro 2020 player because of injury, but was named in the squad, so we’ll include him. The Cumbrian, who was once part of Carlisle’s academy, came up against them in January 2017 whilst on loan with Grimsby from Manchester United, putting in an eyecatching performance in a 3-1 Brunton Park win.

Sam Johnstone: Another of England’s keepers faced United whilst with Scunthorpe in December 2011. And he ended up on the losing side thanks to a James Berrett strike and a late Francois Zoko winner.

Sam Johnstone tries to clear under pressure from Lee Miller and Rory Loy (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Harry Kane: It didn’t live long in the memory, but England’s captain and attacking spearhead did face Carlisle once: as a 17-year-old, on loan at Leyton Orient with Spurs. The future star got little change out of Blues defenders Murphy and Michalik, and was replaced on the hour in a goalless draw in London in April 2011.

Harry Maguire: The Euros player who has faced Carlisle the most. England’s centre-half has come up against the Blues six times, all with Sheffield United, playing the full 90 minutes on each occasion. First there was a 1-0 Bramall Lane win in November 2011, before Maguire was given twisted blood by Zoko in Carlisle’s memorable 3-2 Brunton Park reply the following January. Maguire then helped the Blades to a 3-1 win in Cumbria in December 2012, and also featured in a 0-0 home draw in April 2013 and a 1-0 defeat in Graham Kavanagh’s first caretaker game that September. Finally, Maguire picked up a booking in the Blades’ 1-0 home win in March 2014.

Harry Maguire is outjumped by Lee Miller (photo: Stuart Walker)

Aaron Ramsdale: Henderson’s goalkeeping replacement in Gareth Southgate’s squad was on the losing side at Brunton Park in February 2018. Then with Chesterfield, the 19-year-old keeper was caught out by Kelvin Etuhu’s well-struck opener, before a later save fell at John O’Sullivan’s feet as Carlisle wrapped up a 2-0 win.

Kyle Walker: The full-back faced United as far back as December 2008 whilst on loan with Northampton from Sheffield United, the 18-year-old playing the full game as the Cobblers beat Abbott’s Blues 1-0 at Sixfields. Four years later he was with Tottenham, and a 65th-minute replacement for Vertonghen in their League Cup win in Cumbria.

Spurs' Kyle Walker breaks away from Carlisle's Dave Symington (photo: Stuart Walker)

Ben White: England’s most recent defensive call-up was on loan from Brighton and part of the Newport defence that shipped three against Carlisle in a 3-3 draw in south Wales back in December 2017. The 20-year-old saw Luke Joyce, Kelvin Etuhu and Tom Miller score for Curle’s visitors.

Ben White, far left, watches Tom Miller score for Carlisle at Newport (photo: Barbara Abbott)

FINLAND

Jesse Joronen: The goalkeeper was on loan with Stevenage from Fulham in the 2015/16 season, and his sixth Boro appearance came at home to Carlisle. Joronen was beaten by Tom Miller’s late winner in the game notorious for Blues chairman Andrew Jenkins’ salty post-match language.

Jesse Joronen tangles with Carlisle's Alex McQueen at Stevenage (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Glen Kamara: Now a star for Rangers, but back in 2016 he was a young Arsenal loanee with Colchester. Kamara, then 21, made an 85th-minute sub appearance in a Brunton Park game which ended 2-0 to the Cumbrians thanks to goals from Jason Kennedy and Jabo Ibehre.

Daniel O’Shaughnessy: The Finnish defender with an Irish father was with Cheltenham in 2016 – and made an early-season outing at Brunton Park, playing the full game to help the Robins to a 1-1 draw that August, as Kennedy cancelled out a Harry Pell strike.

O'Shaughnessy (No24) in action for Cheltenham at Brunton Park (photo: Jonny Becker)

GERMANY

Emre Can: Another who featured for Liverpool in that 2015 League Cup tie. Can played the full 120 minutes, and also deceived United’s Mark Gillespie with a deft shoot-out penalty.

Liverpool's Emre Can holds off Derek Asamoah (photo: Jonny Becker)

HUNGARY

Adam Bogdan: The goalkeeper who dashed United’s dream of a League Cup upset at Anfield in 2015. Bogdan was beaten by Derek Asamoah in normal time but saved shoot-out penalties from Danny Grainger, Luke Joyce and Bastien Hery to spare Liverpool’s blushes.

Bogdan saves the decisive penalty from Bastien Hery at Anfield (photo: David Hollins)

Peter Gulacsi: Another Hungary goalkeeper to face United – twice. Firstly, whilst on loan from Liverpool, Gulacsi helped Hereford frustrate a misfiring United in a 2-1 Bulls win at Brunton Park in March 2009. Two seasons on, he was with the Tranmere side who lost 2-0 at Brunton Park in November 2010, the keeper beaten by Berrett and Peter Murphy.

Hereford's Peter Gulacsi foils United's Danny Graham in 2009 (photo: Stuart Walker)

POLAND

Wojciech Szczesny: Only the eighth professional appearance of his career came against Carlisle, as the 19-year-old Arsenal loanee conceded an Ian Harte penalty in an otherwise defiant performance to help Brentford beat the Blues 3-1 at Griffin Park in January 2010. Picked up a booking along the way against Greg Abbott’s side.

Ian Harte shoots past Szczesny from the penalty spot at Griffin Park

PORTUGAL

Jose Fonte: The veteran defender proved a forbidding obstacle when a star-studded Southampton thrashed Carlisle 4-1 at Wembley in 2010’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final. A month later the Blues faced the classy Fonte again but came out on the losing side a second time, going down 3-2 at St Mary’s.

Jose Fonte, right, joins in the celebrations after Adam Lallane, centre, scored against Carlisle at Wembley (photo: PA)

SCOTLAND

John Fleck: Four encounters with United in the shirt of Coventry City. Fleck was in the Sky Blues side that lost 2-1 at the Ricoh to Greg Abbott’s side in September 2012, and also the XI that were beaten 1-0 at Brunton Park the following January – when Fleck was booked and then subbed early in the second half. The next campaign saw Fleck’s fortunes improve, as he helped Steven Pressley’s side annihilate United 4-0 at Brunton Park in August, but then suffered another defeat – 2-1 to Kavanagh’s team at Northampton’s Sixfields – the following February, when Fleck was replaced for the final 16 minutes.

Fleck, right, battles with Brad Potts at Brunton Park (photo: Jonny Becker)

Callum McGregor: His loan spell with Notts County from Celtic brought a Brunton Park appearance and an opening goal in September 2013, before United hit back to win 2-1 and Kavanagh landed the permanent manager’s job.

Notts' McGregor jumps with United's Matty Robson (photo: Stuart Walker)

Jon McLaughlin: Four eventful games against Carlisle for the keeper. First, he had a quiet afternoon as Bradford thrashed the Blues 4-0 in August 2013, before being beaten by Lee Miller’s Brunton bicycle kick the following February as the Bantams lost 1-0. Next, he conceded three times but came out a winner with Burton in their 4-3 victory in Cumbria in October 2014. Finally, the following April, McLaughlin was beaten by Danny Grainger’s free-kick in a dramatic 1-1 draw at the Pirelli Stadium.

McLaughlin is beaten by Danny Grainger's free-kick at Burton (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Stephen O’Donnell: Whilst with Luton, the right-back faced Keith Curle’s Carlisle thrice without defeat. First he helped the Hatters to a 2-1 win at Brunton Park in April 2016. Then it was a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road that December. Finally, O’Donnell contributed to a shut-out in March 2017’s 0-0 draw in Cumbria.

SLOVAKIA

Marek Rodak: Whilst on loan from Fulham, the goalkeeper played for Accrington in the January 2017 meeting with Carlisle, Rodak beaten by an Omar Beckles own-goal forced by Jason Kennedy, before Shay McCartan hit a free-kick leveller.

SPAIN

Robert Sanchez: Brighton’s big Spanish keeper was on loan at Rochdale in 2019, helping Dale edge past Steven Pressley’s Blues in the League Cup. Sanchez almost gifted a goal to Hallam Hope and was later beaten by a Jack Bridge penalty, but the hosts won 2-1.

Robert Sanchez faces a shot from United's Elias Sorensen (photo: Richard Parkes)

SWEDEN

Seb Larsson: The experienced midfield man was a key player for Sunderland as they pulled clear of Carlisle in 2014’s FA Cup third round tie. Larsson played 80 minutes as the Black Cats prevailed 3-1.

Seb Larsson, second left, looks on as Sunderland and United compete in the air (photo: Jonny Becker)

WALES

Joe Allen: Another who featured in the Liverpool side who struggled to put Carlisle away in 2015’s League Cup, the midfielder lasting 64 minutes before being replaced by Philippe Coutinho. Allen had also faced United much earlier: as a 17-year-old Swansea midfielder in their 2-1 home win over the Blues in September 2007.

Joe Allen tries to evade Bastien Hery at Anfield (photo: Jonny Becker)

Ethan Ampadu: The talented young midfielder was still only 16 and preparing to sit his GCSEs when handed a start by Exeter boss Paul Tisdale in the final game of the 2016/17 season. Ampadu played the full match as Curle’s Carlisle snatched a dramatic 3-2 win, but the Welsh prospect did not play in the subsequent play-off games between the sides.

Joe Morrell: On loan with Cheltenham from Bristol City, Morrell played 90 minutes for the Robins as they were unlocked by a Jamie Devitt penalty when Carlisle won 1-0 at Whaddon Road in March 2018.

Connor Roberts: The Yeovil man, on loan from Swansea, faced Carlisle three times in the space of three months in the 2015/16 campaign. First he was booked in United’s 3-2 comeback win at Brunton Park in October. In January he then played in the Glovers’ 2-2 FA Cup draw in a game played at Blackpool, after Brunton Park was flooded. He also put in a 120-minute display in the replay remembered for Jabo Ibehre’s clothesline, Zoko’s late penalty miss and United’s shoot-out triumph that set up a fourth round tie with Everton.

Connor Roberts, second left, watches with his Yeovil team-mates as Carlisle win the penalty shoot-out (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Matt Smith: The Manchester City prospect came up against Carlisle as recently as last November, when he played the full game for Doncaster in a Brunton Park loan appearance that brought a 2-1 FA Cup second round away win.

Matt Smith looks on as Ben Whiteman's shot finds the net for Doncaster (photo: Barbara Abbott)

Danny Ward: The current Wales No1 made his first ever Football League appearance against Carlisle in March 2015. He was on loan with Morecambe from Liverpool, and after saving well from Kyle Dempsey, Ward was beaten by a Brad Potts effort before Padraig Amond’s penalty earned the Shrimps a 1-1 draw.

Morecambe's Danny Ward foils Billy Paynter at Brunton Park (photo: David Hollins)