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Tag: Euro 2020

  • Euro 2020: Belgium take on Italy, Swiss tackle Spain in Euro quarters

    Euro 2020: Belgium take on Italy, Swiss tackle Spain in Euro quarters

    Top-ranked Belgium take on fellow form side Italy later on Friday as the first Euro 2020 quarter-finals take place.

    Both teams with 100 per cent records so far at the tournament will meet in Munich, with Belgium having major injury doubts surrounding creative midfielders Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne.

    The first quarter-final in St Petersburg pits Switzerland, the conquerors of world champions France, against free-scoring Spain.

    The Spanish started the tournament slowly with two draws but then thumped Slovakia 5-0 and Croatia 5-3 after extra-time in the last 16.

  • Euro 2020: Charter plane plan scrapped for Czech fans heading to Baku

    Euro 2020: Charter plane plan scrapped for Czech fans heading to Baku

    Plans have been scrapped to use a charter plane to take Czech Republic fans to the Euro 2020 quarter-final match against Denmark in Baku on Saturday.

    Not enough seriously interested parties had been found, the national team’s fan club said on Thursday.

    Besides the high costs, the coronavirus restrictions probably also had an impact.

    Before entering Azerbaijan and before the return flight, unvaccinated fans need a negative PCR test.

    After returning to the Czech Republic, quarantine is mandatory.

    Baku is just under 3,000 kilometres from Prague as the crow flies.

    International airlines do not offer direct flights between the two capitals.

    Czech player Michal Sadilek criticised the venue.

    “I think I speak for all players when I say that it’s unfortunate that a Euros quarter-final between the Czech Republic and Denmark will take place in an Asian country,” he said.

    Azerbaijan is part of European governing body UEFA.

  • Pogba breaks silence after France Euro 2020 exit

    Pogba breaks silence after France Euro 2020 exit

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has broken his silence since France’s Euro 2020 elimination.

    The tournament favourites crashed out of the European Championship following a 5-4 penalty shootout defeat by Switzerland in the last 16 on Monday night.

    Pogba posted to social media: “Sometimes football can be cruel… cruel and also beautiful.

    “Yesterday, the game brought us sadness but happiness to our opponents. That’s the beauty of football.

    “Of course we all wished that we could have had a positive result.

    “Thank you so much to all of our fans across the globe. It was beautiful to see you, to hear you, and to celebrate with you.

    “You gave us hope and joy throughout all of our games. We will keep our heads up and we will come back stronger.

    “Finally, I want to wish congratulations to Switzerland.”

  • ​Sassuolo confirm Arsenal submitted ‘important bid’ for Euro 2020 star

    ​Sassuolo confirm Arsenal submitted ‘important bid’ for Euro 2020 star

    Premier League club Arsenal have put in a serious offer for Sassuolo star Manuel Locatelli.

    The Italian is starring for his side at Euro 2020 as they prepare for a quarter final against Belgium.

    According to Sassuolo’s chief executive Giovanni Carnevali, Arsenal are in for the talented 23-year-old who has a value of roughly €40 million.

    “Arsenal have made an official bid for Locatelli,” he told Sky Italy.

    “They’re pushing hard to sign Manuel and it’s an important bid… we will see.

    “Juventus also want Locatelli and we have a special relationship with them. A new meeting has been scheduled with Juve.”

  • 4 key lessons from Euro 2020 so far

    4 key lessons from Euro 2020 so far

    Euro 2020, the 16th UEFA European Championship, has so far lived up to its hype and has generated so many talking points on and off the field of play and stadiums across Europe.

    The quadrennial international men’s football championship of Europe, which is being held in 11 cities in UEFA countries, was initially scheduled to hold from June 12 to July 12, 2020.

    It was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Hosting the tournament in 11 countries across Europe, as against one or two host nations, fuelled curiosity among football enthusiasts who feared that the decision could diminish the excitement usually attached to such football fiesta.

    Then UEFA president, Michel Platini, had said in 2012 that this edition of the championship was to be hosted in several nations as a “romantic” event to mark the tournament’s 60th birthday.

    So far, there have been standout precedents observed by football stakeholders.

    Here are four of them:

    Pulsating tournament

    From the very first blast of the whistle —- at the opening match between Italy and Turkey at the Stadio Olimpico —- there was no doubt that fans were in for an intriguing tournament.

    Many football enthusiasts believe that Euro 2020 brought back the excitement of international football which heavy-spending European club football had deprived the tournament.

    One of the football fans who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the tournament has brought out the best of international football.

    “I have been watching the Euros since 1996 and I think the last time the tournament has been this interesting was in 2004.

    “In spite of the pandemic, its postponement and fatigue on players from last season, Euro 2020 is a joy to watch. No game has been a walkover,” he said.

    Tournament of upsets and dark horses

    In recent times, this is the Euro tournament with the highest level of unpredictability in terms of match outcome.

    In the group stage, there were periods when it seemed like Spain, Portugal, Croatia and Germany were not going to make it out of their various groups.

    For instance in Group E, comprising Sweden, Spain, Slovakia and Poland, Spain had to wait for their last group game to record a win to finish second behind Sweden.

    Only Italy, Belgium and Netherlands recorded maximum points in the group stage.

    In the round of 16, Netherlands, one of the tournament’s favourites, were bundled out by Czech Republic, while Spain had to dig deep in extra-time to see off Croatia.

    And in what is undoubtedly one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament, Switzerland defeated world champions and tournament’s outright favourites, France.

    The Swiss were seconds to exiting the tournament before they drew level 3-3, forced the game to extra time and went on to win 5-4 on penalty shootout.

    Top-notch refereeing

    The video assistant referee (VAR) system makes its debut at the European Championship in this tournament and thanks partly to it, officiating has been near-perfect in Euro 2020 thus far.

    There have been a few moments when a team could feel a little hard done, but there is a unanimous agreement that the quality of refereeing has been nothing short of excellent.

    Some football enthusiasts have also attributed the good quality of refereeing partly to the exchange programme between UEFA and the South America Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).

    The arrangement saw some referees from Europe sent to South America to officiate at the ongoing Copa America, while referees from CONMEBOL headed the other direction.

    Fans are football’s heartbeat

    Thirteen venues were initially penned down for Euro 2020. However, Brussels In Belgium was removed in 2017 after work halted on its proposed stadium.

    Dublin, Ireland was also removed in April 2021 over doubts about spectators attending the games, while Spain changed its venue from Bilbao to Seville to allow crowds at the venue.

    With the excitement fans brought to the grounds, those decisions have paid off significantly.

    From Baku to Budapest, Copenhagen to St. Petersburg, and Rome to London, football fans who have been starved of attending live matches over the past 18 months have proved that football is lifeless without spectators.

    Wembley Stadium will host the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 and fans are hoping that full capacity of spectators would be approved for those matches, having been hosting at half capacity.

  • Euro 2020: England end 55-year wait over Germany win

    Euro 2020: England end 55-year wait over Germany win

    England ended a 55-year wait for a knockout tie victory over Germany to reach the quarter-finals of the European Championship in front of more than 40,000 fans at Wembley.

    Raheem Sterling put England in front in the 75th minute when he placed Luke Shaw’s cross into the bottom right corner, sparking delirious celebrations in London.

    Captain Harry Kane made sure of victory 10 minutes later when he headed in substitute Jack Grealish’s drilled cross.

    Germany had earlier missed a huge chance to equalise when Thomas Muller dragged his shot wide of the left post after racing through one-on-one with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, prompting Sterling – who had been dispossessed in midfield in the build-up – to fall to his knees in relief.

    It is the first time England have beaten Germany in a knockout tie at a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup final.

  • I’m sorry, I failed – Mbappe

    I’m sorry, I failed – Mbappe

    Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe apologised after blowing his penalty in their Euro 2020 round of 16 shootout defeat to Switzerland.

    Mbappe, who failed to score a goal during the entirety of the tournament, stepped up to take the fifth spot-kick with the underdogs having converted all of theirs, but his strike was parried away by Yann Sommer.

    “Very difficult to turn the page,” he wrote on social media. “The sadness is immense after this elimination, we could not reach our goal.

    “I’m sorry for this penalty. I wanted to help the team but failed.

    “Finding sleep will be difficult but unfortunately it is the ups and downs of this sport that I love so much.

    “I know you fans have been disappointed, but I still want to thank you for your support and for always believing in us.

    “The most important thing will be to get up even stronger for the next upcoming deadlines. Congratulations and good luck to Switzerland.”

  • Euro 2020: Seven Classic Encounters Between England And Germany

    Euro 2020: Seven Classic Encounters Between England And Germany

    England will face Germany for an eighth time at a major tournament finals on Tuesday – more than any other nation.

    Germany were runners-up in the so-called group of death and will be looking to give England another heartbreak at Wembley once again, 25 years on from Gareth Southgate’s penalty miss in the Euro 96 semi-final.

    And it doesn’t make good reading for England at major tournaments, either – the Three Lions have not knocked Germany out of a tournament since the 1966 World Cup final.

    But ahead of their next chapter in a historic rivalry, here are seven iconic clashes from years gone by.

     

    England 4-2 West Germany (AET) 1966 World Cup final

    The finest hour of English football history came when Geoff Hurst netted the first and only hat-trick in a World Cup final. More than 32 million watched the game on TV, which is still a British record.

    Martin Peters scored England’s other goal at Wembley as Alf Ramsey’s side won after extra-time, with Kenneth Wolstenholme famously crying: ‘Some people are on the pitch, they think it’s all over… it is now!’

     

    West Germany 3-2 England (AET) 1970 World Cup quarter-final

    England held a 2-0 lead on 50 minutes after goals from Alan Mullery and Martin Peters, but the Germans fought back in the Mexican city of Leon.

    Franz Beckenbauer and Uwe Seeler scored to take the game into extra-time, when Gerd Muller completed the turnaround on 108 minutes.

    Gordon Banks didn’t feature for the defending world champions due to an untimely bout of food poisoning. Peter Bonetti took his place in goal and did not produce his finest display.

     

    West Germany 0-0 England 1982 World Cup group stage

    A rare drab affair between the two rivals in Spain, as Ron Greenwood’s men failed to break down a stubborn Germany side at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    This remains the only time Germany have kept a clean sheet against England at a major tournament.

     

    West Germany 1-1 England (4-3 on pens) 1990 World Cup semi-final

    It was penalty agony for England in Rome, after Gary Lineker cancelled out Andreas Brehme’s deflected free-kick to force extra-time.

    Lineker, Peter Beardsley and David Platt scored England’s first three penalties but then Stuart Pearce and Chris Waddle failed to convert their kicks, sending Bobby’s Robson’s team crashing out.

     

    Germany 1-1 England (6-5 on pens) Euro 1996 semi-final

    Six years after a teary night in Turin, history repeated itself with more semi-final heartache from the spot.

    Alan Shearer opened the scoring at Wembley before Stefan Kuntz equalised. Paul Gascoigne’s iconic miss with the goal gaping sent England into another shootout, where a 25-year-old Gareth Southgate saw his effort saved in sudden death.

     

    England 1-0 Germany Euro 2000 group stage

    England beat Germany at a major tournament for the first time since 1966, but they still are yet to beat them in a knockout match.

    Alan Shearer scored the only goal of the game for Kevin Keegan’s side in Belgium, but it ultimately meant little as England failed to qualify for the quarter-finals following defeats against Portugal and Romania.

    Germany 4-1 England 2010 World Cup last 16

    Controversy engulfed the most recent clash in South Africa after Frank Lampard’s ‘ghost goal’ that clearly bounced over the line.

    England would have made it 2-2 had that stood, after Matthew Upson pulled one back following goals from Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. Thomas Muller scored twice to wrap up victory and send Fabio Capello’s men out.

  • Mbappe misses penalty to send France out of Euro 2020

    Mbappe misses penalty to send France out of Euro 2020

    Kylian Mbappe missed the crucial kick as Switzerland beat France on penalties in the Euro 2020 last 16 after a classic European Championship game.

    The Swiss had been seconds away from elimination during 90 minutes but go through to face Spain after progressing from a major tournament knockout game for the first time since 1938.

    Haris Seferovic headed the Swiss ahead and they had a penalty saved that could have made it 2-0 before Karim Benzema scored twice and Paul Pogba put France 3-1 up with a screamer.

    Seferovic headed in his second goal of the game for Switzerland and substitute Mario Gavranovic hammered in a last-minute equaliser to send the game to extra time.

    Mbappe missed a couple of big chances for the world champions in extra time and Olivier Giroud had a header saved in the final minute.

    Paris St-Germain forward Mbappe was the only player to fail to score in the shootout, after an excellent Yann Sommer save.

    Switzerland play Spain, who also came through a thriller – 5-3 after extra time against Croatia – in the quarter-final in St Petersburg on Friday.

    This is the biggest shock of Euro 2020 so far, with world champions France having been tipped to win the tournament by 12 of 15 BBC pundits before it started.

  • Euro 2020: Spain beat Croatia in extra time to reach quarter-finals

    Euro 2020: Spain beat Croatia in extra time to reach quarter-finals

    Spain reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 in dramatic fashion by beating Croatia in extra time after an eight-goal thriller.

    Luis Enrique’s side were rocked when Croatia substitutes Mislav Orsic and Mario Pasalic scored twice in the final five minutes to come back from 3-1 down and force extra time, but Spain rallied as the added 30 minutes produced yet more drama.

    Striker Alvaro Morata, who revealed before the match that his family have been threatened during the tournament as a result of his performances, silenced his critics when he thumped in Spain’s fourth goal in extra time in Copenhagen.

    The scoring did not end there as Mikel Oyarzabal added a fifth goal three minutes later to finally see off Croatia, who had fought bravely in this highly entertaining last-16 tie.

    In a hint of what was to come, 20 minutes into the game goalkeeper Unai Simon failed to control Pedri’s 49-yard back pass, presenting Croatia with the lead.

    That bizarre own goal sparked a response from Spain though, with Pablo Sarabia thumping in an equaliser, Cesar Azpilicueta heading in another and Ferran Torres making it 3-1.

    Spain looked comfortable and poised to cruise through but Croatia burst into action through their substitutes late on to force added time.

    The thrilling moments continued as Simon made up for his earlier error with a heroic stop from close range to deny Andrej Kramaric before Morata went up the other end to crucially put Spain ahead again.

    It was the most entertaining match of the tournament so far and three-time champions Spain will face the winner of France and Switzerland (kick-off 20:00 BST) in the quarter-finals.