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Tag: Euro 2020

  • Harry Kane reveals Mourinho contact during Euro 2020

    Harry Kane reveals Mourinho contact during Euro 2020

    Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane has revealed he has been in contact with Jose Mourinho during Euro 2020.

    Mourinho was sacked by Spurs in April, but Kane maintains a strong relationship with the Roma coach.

    “He’s great, he’s been texting me as well,” Kane told talkSPORT about Mourinho. “It’s common knowledge we have a great relationship and got on really well.

    “I really respect him as a manager and person. I wish him all the best at Roma. It’s great to have one of the best managers in the world on your side.

    “I will always respect him and hopefully be in contact with him for the rest of my career.”

  • I don’t want to talk about Man Utd – Sancho

    I don’t want to talk about Man Utd – Sancho

    England winger Jadon Sancho says that he will not think about a move to Manchester United while the Three Lions remain in Euro 2020.

    The Borussia Dortmund winger is on the brink of a switch to Old Trafford. The clubs have reached an agreement over a fee and only the formalities of the deal need take place before he becomes a Manchester United player.

    “To be fair, I don’t want to talk about Manchester United. Right now I just want to focus on England,” he told BBC Radio5 Live when quizzed about his upcoming move.

    Instead, he focused on the European Championship match, which took place in Rome.

    “I’m feeling over the moon. Today was must-win and I’m just happy to have got an opportunity to play. This is a special moment for me,” he said.

    “Every time I haven’t been playing I’ve been going back to training and been giving it everything.

    “I’ve just been focusing on myself while I’ve been at England. I’ve always been ready if I needed to come on.

    “We knew today was going to be a big game, Ukraine are a very good side. I’m delighted.”

  • Italy clash with Spain will be battle until the end – Bonucci

    Italy clash with Spain will be battle until the end – Bonucci

    Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci says Italy will be ready for Spain in their Euro 2020 semifinal.

    Italy face Spain on the back of victory over Belgium.

    “We knew Belgium’s quality, especially in attack and the danger they posed to us on the counter,” Bonucci told RAI Sport.

    “We went 2-0 up and were dominating the game, then they got back into it with a dubious penalty, we did really well to hold on and showed once again how important the heart of this Italy side and of the Italians is.

    “Now we can keep dreaming with our feet on the ground. Spain are a great team, but we started this tournament with a dream in our hearts, let’s keep it there until the end,” continued Bonucci.

    “There are two matches to go, the most difficult will be against Spain, who play similar to Belgium. They again looked as if they might not make it, but they got back on their feet, so it’ll be a battle to the end.”

  • I’ve never been happier – Luke Shaw

    I’ve never been happier – Luke Shaw

    Manchester United fullback Luke Shaw admits he’s loving England’s Euro 2020 campaign.

    Ahead of tonight’s Euro 2020 quarterfinal with Ukraine, Shaw says he’s never been so happy.

    He declared: “Everything about the last few days has been so good and I have not felt so happy for a long time. I hope the fans feel the same.

    “The experience has been incredible. The team spirit and togetherness of the team is something I have not experienced before. You can see how close everyone is and the way they have built St. George’s Park (England’s base) is also incredible.

    “It has gotten good so fast and we have been here for almost a month. Time flies, but we enjoy it.”

  • England thrash Ukraine to reach first Euros semi-final in 25 years

    England thrash Ukraine to reach first Euros semi-final in 25 years

    England produced a magnificent display as they thrashed Ukraine in Rome to set up a Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark at Wembley.

    Manager Gareth Southgate’s side followed up the landmark victory over Germany in the last 16 by producing a performance of composure and the highest quality to continue their impressive progress in this tournament.

    Harry Kane was back to his predatory best after struggling in the group stage, following up his goal against Germany by poking home a superb pass from Raheem Sterling after only four minutes.

    Ukraine barely threatened and England – having reached the last four at the 2018 World Cup – were on their way to a second successive semi-final when Harry Maguire powered home a header from Luke Shaw’s free-kick seconds after the break.

    And the outstanding Shaw was the creator once more four minutes later with a perfect cross that was headed in from six yards by Kane.

    England were so impressive as they simply overpowered Ukraine with substitute Jordan Henderson getting the fourth – his first international goal, in his 62nd appearance – when he arrived with perfect timing to head in Mason Mount’s corner.

    To add to England and Southgate’s satisfaction, they kept their fifth successive clean sheet to maintain their record of not conceding a goal at Euro 2020.

    They will now meet Denmark in the last four at Wembley on Wednesday

  • Denmark proceed to Euro 2020 semi-final

    Denmark proceed to Euro 2020 semi-final

    Denmark’s impressive and emotional Euro 2020 campaign continued as they marched on to the semi-finals courtesy of a victory over the Czech Republic in Baku.

    The Danes have gone from strength to strength in the tournament since the trauma of their opening game, in which midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest.

    Having hammered Wales in the last 16, they impressively dealt with a dangerous and physical Czech side in a competitive last-eight tie played in a red-hot temperature in Azerbaijan.

    They led from the fifth minute, when Thomas Delaney evaded his marker to head in from a corner.

    A continual threat on the break, they made it 2-0 just before half-time, with Kasper Dolberg volleying in a superb cross from Joakim Maehle to add to the two goals he scored against Wales.

    Their momentum was checked early in the second half as Patrick Schick coolly volleyed in his fifth goal of the tournament, taking him level with Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo in the race for the Golden Boot.

    But Denmark were able to recompose themselves and dig in to ensure the victory and a semi-final at Wembley on Wednesday.

    Their opponent will be either England or Ukraine, who play each other in Rome on Saturday evening.

  • My players were heroes in Spain defeat – Swiss coach

    My players were heroes in Spain defeat – Swiss coach

    Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic says they leave the Euros full of pride after their quarterfinal shootout defeat to Spain.

    An equaliser by captain Xherdan Shaqiri in the second half cancelled out an early own goal and sent the teams to extra time.

    Then in the shootout two of the Swiss penalty kicks were stopped by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon while Ruben Vargas blazed over as the Swiss failed to repeat their heroics against France in the round of 16.

    “All these players were the heroes of the night. They would have deserved to go to the semi-finals,” Petkovic told a news conference. “I cannot complain and I take my hat off to the team.”

    Petkovic said he could not blame Vargas for hitting his penalty over the bar in the shootout, saying instead that his player had demonstrated mental strength by even taking a spot-kick after such a long and gruelling match.

    Manuel Akanji’s and Fabian Schar’s penalty kicks were both stopped by Simon.

    “We had to spend all our power and energy, and our energy ran out a little,” said Petkovic. “Penalty kicks are a lottery and we lost it.”

    Petkovic said he had not properly seen the tackle in the 77th minute that led to the red card against Remo Freuler – who had an assist for the Switzerland equaliser – but thought it had looked more like a minor foul.

    Freuler slid to win the ball back but caught Gerard Moreno in the process.

    “I question it a little bit, to be honest,” Petkovic said. “He (Freuler) maybe touched him a little.”

  • Ex-Madrid boss: I’m sorry for Benzema that France are out

    Ex-Madrid boss: I’m sorry for Benzema that France are out

    Former Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is sorry to see Karim Benzema dumped out of Euro 2020 with France.

    The Roma coach was hoping for France to go deep into the tournament for the sake of his old Real striker.

    He told talkSPORT: “He is the reason why I am a little sad that France did not pass because I think that Benzema could be… Cristiano Ronaldo no, Lionel Messi no, Mbappé no… I think that Benzema would have finally had the chance to get a reward, a Ballon d’Or or something like that.

    “He’s an incredible player, he played so well, under tremendous pressure.

    “When he came back to the national team he was under tremendous pressure and he was fantastic.”

  • Ukraine need game of our lives to beat England – Zinchenko

    Ukraine need game of our lives to beat England – Zinchenko

    Manchester City wing-back Oleksandr Zinchenko says Ukraine must play the “game of their lives” to beat England at Wembley tonight.

    The two teams meet for a place in the Euro 2020 semifinals.

    “I will say that numbers speak for themselves,” Zinchenko said of England. “The fact that England hasn’t conceded any goals yet, they play very well in defence.

    “But I think that there are no perfect teams. Every team has weaknesses.

    “With regards (Kyle) Walker and (John) Stones, they played an amazing season and during the last couple of years I’ve been playing with them they play at a very high level.

    “It will not be easy. We know it. But at this stage of the tournament, everything is possible and I think that the coaching team will explain to us what to do with it and we will do our best.

    “We will try to surprise them but of course we realise that to get through all the players and the whole team, they will need to play probably the best game of their lives.”

  • Italy beat Belgium, qualify for Euro 2020 semi- final

    Italy beat Belgium, qualify for Euro 2020 semi- final

    Italy set up a Euro 2020 semi-final clash against Spain after first half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne led the Azzurri to a 2-1 win over Belgium on Friday in an entertaining encounter in which both sides created a number of chances.

    Italy — who will face the Spaniards on Tuesday in London — opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Barella picked up the ball, forced his way past defenders in the area and fired home.

    Insigne doubled the lead in the 44th minute after collecting the ball on the left and skipping beyond a defender before unleashing a long-range shot that flew past Thibaut Courtois.

    Romelu Lukaku clawed a goal back for Belgium from the penalty spot just before the break after Giovanni Di Lorenzo put an arm on Jeremy Doku and pushed him to the ground.

    Spain squeezed past Switzerland 3-1 in a penalty shootout to reach the last four after their battling opponents clung to a 1-1 draw after extra time despite going down to 10 men.