euro

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

May 12, 2021May 12, 2021 David

Tickets, World Cup

Virgil van Dijk Rules Himself Out Of Euro 2020

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has ruled himself out of playing for the Netherlands at this summer’s European Championship.

The 29-year-old is recovering from surgery after suffering knee ligament damage in October.

“I feel physically it is the right decision that I’ve decided not to go to the Euros and to go into my last phase of rehab in the off-season,” said Netherlands captain Van Dijk.

“It’s tough, but I’m at peace with it.”

The Euros are taking place between 11 June and 11 July, having been delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more... (544 words, estimated 2:11 mins reading time)

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May 4, 2021May 4, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets

Euro 2020 Teams To Have Larger Squads Due To COVID

Each country playing at Euro 2020 this summer will be allowed a squad of 26 and will be able to replace players who test positive for Covid-19 up until their first match.

UEFA has confirmed the increase in squad numbers from the usual 23 players to 26 in light of the tournament being played in extraordinary circumstances amid the pandemic.

The expanded squads will ease the situation if one or more players within the camp test positive for coronavirus and have to self-isolate during the finals, which begin on June 11. Read more... (764 words, estimated 3:03 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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February 1, 2021March 6, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

England Get Croatia And Czech Republic In Euro 2020 Draw

Gareth Southgate’s England side will warm up for the rescheduled Euro 2020 with friendlies against Austria and Romania.

The Three Lions had an agreement to play both sides last summer before the outbreak of Covid-19 curtailed the tournament.

England will play Austria on Wednesday, June 2 with Romania set for Sunday, June 6.

This summer’s tournament is still facing elements of uncertainty due to the pandemic, with initial plans to stage the competition across 12 European cities under scrutiny as respective nations battle to keep coronavirus under control. Read more... (592 words, estimated 2:22 mins reading time)

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January 30, 2021March 6, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

France Drawn Alongside Germany And Portugal

After the draw was announced, France coach Didier Deschamps said: “It’s the most difficult group, but we have to accept it, that’s the way it is. This will require the French team to be ready immediately.”

What Deschamps was talking about was the Euro 2020 draw Group F that includes holders Portugal, and the most recent two world champions in France and Germany, all three of whom reached the semifinals in 2016. Whichever team makes up the numbers via the playoffs, it will be hard to avoid the thought they have simply won the right to finish bottom. Read more... (298 words, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)

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January 30, 2021March 6, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Germany In Euro 2020 Group Of Death

Didier Deschamps (France) laughed, Joachim Low (Germany) looked ashen-faced and Fernando Santos (Portugal) stared into the distance. Group F, with its six European Championship titles, features holders Portugal and the most recent two world champions in France and Germany, all three of whom reached the semifinals in 2016. Whichever team makes up the numbers via the playoffs, it will be hard to avoid the thought they have simply won the right to finish bottom.

Before the draw, Low said that Germany should not be considered as one of the favorites for the Euro’s: Read more... (374 words, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

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January 30, 2021March 6, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Belgium Euro 2020 Draw

No.1 in the FIFA rankings, Belgium had the best attack and defence in qualification and should not be worried by Russia, having beaten them 7-2 on aggregate during their journey to the finals. The Danes are an altogether different proposition and will fancy their chances. Finland, meanwhile, have nothing to lose after reaching a major tournament for the first time in their history. Teemu Pukki scored 10 goals in qualifying.

X factor: Looking beyond Belgium’s array of stars, Christian Eriksen ended qualifying as Denmark’s top scorer and the qualifying rounds’ second-best chance creator behind Antoine Griezmann. Out of contract in the summer, unless he extends with Tottenham, the playmaker could be playing to attract the calibre of interest he was unable to arouse [Real Madrid] at the end of last season. Read more... (231 words, estimated 55 secs reading time)

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January 30, 2021March 6, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Spain Drawn With Poland And Sweden At Euro 2020

Spain will face Poland and Sweden in Group E at next summer’s European Championships, following the finals draw in Bucharest today.

La Roja, who won the competition in 2008 and 2012, were ranked as top seeds for the draw, and will be guaranteed a set number of home games (in Bilbao), as one of the co-host nations.

After sealing qualification earlier this month, the Spanish national team has been mired in controversy, following the return of head coach Luis Enrique.

The former Barcelona boss stepped away from the role during the qualification campaign, due to the illness and tragic death of his young daughter, however he has now retaken his role. Read more... (207 words, estimated 50 secs reading time)

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January 8, 2021March 1, 2021 David

Europe, Tickets, World Cup

Scotland Reach Euro 2020 Tournament

For the first time since 1998, Scotland are in a major finals after surviving a nerve-shredding win on penalties against Serbia.

Scotland, as they are prone to do, took the difficult route to the Euros, winning the play-off semi-final against Israel, and the play-off final against Serbia on penalties. Scotland scored all ten kicks!

This will not be Scotland’s first trip to the Euro’s, but despite recording some memorable victories in EURO qualification, the Tartan Army have managed to reach the group stage just twice. Read more... (404 words, estimated 1:37 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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