euro

News, commentary, tickets, pre and post match reaction alongside opinion about the Euro’s football tournament.

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

It’s NOT Coming Home

Gareth Southgate said he is to blame for England’s penalty failure in Sunday’s Euro 2020 final rather than the three players who missed in the shootout.

Italy won 3-2 on spot kicks at the end of a nerve-shredding night at Wembley that finished 1-1 after extra time. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all unable to convert their penalties as England’s 55-year wait for an international trophy goes on.

Southgate claimed he followed the same process that yielded shootout success against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup and in UEFA’s inaugural Nations League a year later, and he shouldered the burden of England’s seventh tournament exit on penalties, 25 years after missing as a player against Germany in the Euro ’96 semifinal. Read more... (488 words, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

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June 30, 2021July 12, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Germany Out Of Euros

Germany returned home on Wednesday following their Euro 2020 last-16 defeat by England, with departing coach Joachim Loew at the center of fierce criticism after another early tournament elimination.

Loew, who had a contract until 2022 but following several bad results decided in March to leave after the Euros, should have gone much earlier, many people believe.

“It is too early to analyze what worked and what didn’t,” Loew told a news conference on Wednesday, back in the squad’s Bavarian base. “Some things worked really well, some not.” Read more... (280 words, estimated 1:07 mins reading time)

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June 24, 2021June 24, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets

Euro 2020 Round of 16 Matches Set

The Euro 2020 round of 16 matches are all set and some teams have a much easier path to the final than others.

In one side of the bracket, England will face Germany at Wembley while Wales take on Denmark in Amsterdam. Should England come through their last-16 clash, they would have a quarter-final against either Sweden or Ukraine to look forward to in Rome on Saturday 3 July.

And the Three Lions could potentially meet Wales in the semi-final at Wembley four days later. Standing in Wales’ way, should they progress from the last 16, would be the winners of the Netherlands versus the Czech Republic. Read more... (372 words, estimated 1:29 mins reading time)

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June 19, 2021June 19, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

We See The Future Of Scotland At Wembley

Scotland have vowed they are not ready to let their Euro 2020 campaign finish on Tuesday after giving themselves a platform to make history.

A goalless draw against England saw them bounce back from opening defeat by the Czech Republic and set up a likely winner-takes-all scenario against Croatia at Hampden.

Scotland were well worthy of their point and arguably created the better of the chances at Wembley.

Now they are determined to build on their improved display when they take on the World Cup runners-up in their bid to reach the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time. Read more... (624 words, estimated 2:30 mins reading time)

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June 18, 2021June 19, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Belgium Reach Euro 2020 Knockout Stages

Belgium needed their ‘X factor’ substitutions to save them against Denmark and book their place in the last 16 of Euro 2020 after being “put to the test” for the first time in a while.

They were nowhere near their best against Denmark at Euro 2020 – but Kevin de Bruyne set up one and scored the other, changing the game in a 2-1 win.

The top-ranked side in the world were deservedly behind at the break on an emotional evening as 25,000 fans at Parken Stadium paid tribute to Christian Eriksen, who is recovering from a cardiac arrest. Read more... (326 words, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)

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June 18, 2021June 19, 2021 David

Tickets, World Cup

Holland Reach Euro 2020 Knockout Stages

The Netherlands booked their spot in last 16 at Euro 2020 as they saw off Austria in Amsterdam to win Group C with a game to spare.

Frank de Boer’s side, who beat Ukraine in their opening fixture, look to be hitting their stride as they outclassed the visitors in front of 12,000 fans at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Talisman Memphis Depay put the hosts ahead from the spot after David Alaba brought down flying wing-back Denzel Dumfries, who capped a fine performance by adding the second from a swift break in the second half. Read more... (410 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

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June 4, 2021June 9, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Sergio Ramos Left Out Of Spain squad For Euro 2020

Sergio Ramos has been left out of Spain boss Luis Enrique’s Euro 2020 squad. The Real Madrid centre-back has been struggling with injury and has only played one game since the end of March.

His absence means there are no players from Real Madrid picked by Enrique for this summer’s delayed tournament.

Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte had his switch from France to Spain approved by Fifa recently and he makes the 24-man squad.

He is one of 10 players from the Premier League picked by Enrique, including Brighton keeper Robert Sanchez, Leeds United defender Diego Llorente and Wolves forward Adama Traore. Read more... (541 words, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)

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June 4, 2021June 9, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Karim Benzema Back In France Euro 2020 Squad

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been named in France’s 26-man squad for this summer’s European Championship after an absence of nearly six years.

Benzema has not played for his country since 2015 as a result of his alleged involvement in an attempted blackmail case involving an ex-France team-mate.

After confirming Benzema was in his squad, France manager Didier Deschamps said: “The most important is today and tomorrow.

“There were important steps. We saw each other. We discussed at length. I had a long reflection to come to this decision. I won’t reveal a word of the discussion, that concerns us. I needed it, he needed it “. Read more... (571 words, estimated 2:17 mins reading time)

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February 20, 2021March 6, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets

Euro 2020 Draw: Germany, France And Portugal Drawn In Same Group

One of France, Germany and Portugal may face an early exit after being drawn together in Group F for Euro 2020 in what has already been dubbed the ‘Group of Death’.

They will be joined in the so-called ‘Group of Death’ by a team from Path A/D following the tournament draw in Bucharest.

That Path A/D team could be any of Iceland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Georgia, Belarus, North Macedonia or Kosovo.

While England avoided those team in the group stage, they could find themselves playing of the three in the last 16. Read more... (288 words, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)

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November 17, 2019March 19, 2020 David

World Cup

Luis Enrique Sacked Friend For Being “Disloyal”

Luis Enrique made his official return as head coach of the Spain team on Wednesday morning in Madrid, admitting that he felt betrayed by his former No 2 Robert Moreno.

Moreno took over from Luis Enrique in June when he resigned to care for his nine-year-old daughter Xana before she died of bone cancer in August.

Moreno saw Spain safely into next summer’s tournament but then left the job in tears after the last qualifier without giving his final post-match press conference.

The Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] reappointed Luis Enrique the following day amid suggestions he had not wanted Moreno on his staff. Read more... (454 words, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

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