Euro 2020 LIVE: England vs Germany build-up, Belgium BEAT Portugal to set up Italy clash, Holland OUT after Czech defeat

‘DISGRACE’

This is the shock moment that Cristiano Ronaldo booted the captain’s armband seconds after throwing it to the floor after Portugal were dumped out of Euro 2020.

The Juventus striker was obviously fuming after the defending champs were eliminated by Belgium thanks to a Thorgan Hazard thunderbolt.

Ronaldo was seen throwing the blue armband to the turf while Belgium players celebrated reaching the quarter-finals.

And now further footage has emerged of the 36-year-old then launching it with his boot as his frustration boiled over.

TEAM NEWS – CROATIA VS SPAIN

Croatia have sent out the big guns in midfield, with Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic joining legendary Real Madrid man Luka Modric.

Nikola Vlasic and Ante Rebic are on the wings, with Dominik Livakovic between the sticks.

Meanwhile, Alvaro Morata continues to lead Spain’s attack and is joined by Man City ace Ferran Torres.

Sergio Busquets is deployed as the holding midfielder, with Man City centre-backs Eric Garcia and Aymeric Laporte at the heart of defence.

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KO BLOW

David De Gea is out of Spain’s Euro 2020 last 16 clash with Croatia.

The Manchester United goalkeeper was injured in training ahead of today’s showdown.

De Gea, 30, took part in the session at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium yesterday.

But he was forced out of the training drills with what is believed to be a thigh injury.

GRIEZI DOES IT

World champions France take on Switzerland at 8pm!

‘I’M SURE HE KNOWS THE PLAYERS’

Marcus Rashford has backed England team-mate Jadon Sancho to make an impact against Germany.

The Man Utd-linked winger Sancho currently plays in the Bundesliga for Borussia Dourtmund.

And tomorrow he’ll be facing some familiar faces when England take on Germany at Wembley.

Rashford said: “In a way, yes, because he’s played a lot of football against them, more than the rest of us.

“I’m sure he knows the players, their characteristics, strengths and weaknesses and he’s definitely someone that can exploit them.

“If one thing doesn’t quite work we have a big opportunity to change things and adapt in the game.

“Adaptability is one of the biggest skills in football and there’s a lot of times in a game where you have to change or tweak something slightly to hurt your opponents.

“The fact that he’s played against them a lot, he’s hurt them a lot as well, it will be a big factor for us.”

SHAQ’S READY

Shaqiri is gearing up to face France in the Round of 16 later today!

RONALDO SPEAKS OUT

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo took to Instagram after last night’s disappointing lost to Belgium.

Taking to Instagram after Portugal failed to defend their European title, he wrote: “We didn’t get the result we wanted and we left the race sooner than we wanted. 

“But we are proud of our journey, we gave everything to renew the title of European Champions and this group proved that it can still give much joy to the Portuguese.

“Our fans were tireless in supporting the team from start to finish. 

“We ran and fought for them, in order to live up to the trust they placed in us. It was not possible to get where we all wanted, but here is our sincere and profound thanks.

“Congratulations to Belgium and good luck to all the teams that remain in the competition. As for us, we will come back stronger. Force Portugal!”

STUCK IN

Xaver Schlager was getting stuck in at Euro 2020 before Austria’s exit from the tournament!

RICE PRAISES SAKA

West Ham’s Declan Rice praised Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, highlighting his versatility.

The pair are away with England on international duty at Euro 2020.

Rice said: “I knew he had that type of performance in him.

“In training, you can play him left wing-back, you can play him as a No10, as a right-winger and he’ll give you the same effort and the same intensity.

“His left foot is so sweet.

“He holds people off and I have got really close to him during this trip. He’s just the nicest kid ever.

“And everyone actually loves him. He’s a top boy.”

TEAM NEWS: FRANCE VS SWITZERLAND

France are enduring a crisis with injuries with Ousmane Dembele out for the rest of the competition, writes SANDRA BROBBEY. 

And the team are sweating on the fitness of Lucas Digne, 27, after the Everton left-back was forced to withdraw from his side’s clash with Portugal due to a thigh-strain. 

Deschamps may have to turn to Adrien Rabiot, 26, as an emergency full-back alternative to Digne if Lucas Hernandez fails to recover from a knee injury.  

However PSG star Rabiot has been contending with an ankle problem. 

And it remains to be seen if Marcus Thuram, 23, and Thomas Lemar, 25, will be available with both picking up knocks in training ahead of this evening’s game. 

It is reported Thuram hurt his thigh while Lemar suffered a leg injury. 

Meanwhile, Switzerland reportedly have no injury or suspension worries with defender Ricardo Rodgriguez claiming the Red Crosses are fit and ready to go.

IT CROSSED THE LINE

Geoff Hurst’s famous World Cup* goal DID cross the line!

And so did Frank Lampard’s back in 2010. England meet Germany in the Round of 16 at Wembley tomorrow night.

CREATIVE PLAYERS

Switzerland’s Steven Zuber has picked up three assists at Euro 2020 so far!

And Switzerland play world champions and continental neighbours France later today!

‘IMPOSTER’

Roy Keane labelled Portugal’s Joao Felix an ‘imposter’ after his poor substitute cameo in yesterday’s loss to Belgium.

On ITV, Keane said: “He’s an imposter, your country needs you and he comes on – hit the target!

“£100million? If I was Ronaldo I’d certainly be going after him in the dressing room.”

Keane went on to put the whole Portuguese team on blast.

He continued: “I get really annoyed when they’re quality players.

“There’s no excuse to be leaning back and just missing the target, just test the goalkeeper because these are top players there’s no getting around it.”

BUSY BEE

Ugurcan Cakir has been the most busy goalkeeper at Euro 2020 so far!

TEAM NEWS: CROATIA VS SPAIN

Reports claim Josko Gvardiol, 19, could be a doubt for his side’s knockout battle with Spain, writes SANDRA BROBBEY. 

The rising star left-back appeared to hurt his shin during Croatia’s win against Scotland and was substituted around the 70th minute of that match. 

Meanwhile, midfield lynchpin Sergio Busquets, 32, is in line to start for Spain following his heroics against Slovakia. 

The Barcelona veteran put in a man-of-the-match performance last time out despite picking up a knock 

It is reported Cesar Azpilicueta is likely to retain his place at right-back. 

And it is thought Morata will keep his spot in Spain’s starting line-up with the forward reportedly having the full backing of boss Enrique. 

Meanwhile, Croatia are likely to retain a similar line-up to the team that beat Scotland with Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic lining up in a midfield three.

The game is due to get underway at 5pm!

BEST FRIENDS

West Ham’s Declan Rice has revealed that best friend Mason Mount is bored in isolation.

The Chelsea star was forced to isolate alongside fellow Blues team-mate Ben Chilwell after the pair spent time in the tunnel speaking to Billy Gilmour – who later tested positive for Covid-19 – after the England-Scotland game.

Speaking to Love Island star and presenter Josh Denzel, Rice said: “It’s been tough for me to be fair, not being able to see Mase [Mount].

“But I’m sure now after the next couple of days he’ll be out and he’ll be training again.

“I’ve spoken to Mase [Mount] a couple of times on FaceTime, he’s alright, I think he’s just bored.

“But yeah he’s sweet we’ve been talking and yeah hopefully, like I said, we can see him in the next couple of days.”

ROAD TO WEMBLEY

The left side of the knockout three will be completed today!

And then tomorrow it’s onto England vs Germany……. the big one we’ve all been waiting for!

Followed by Sweden vs Ukraine.

Whoever wins the game between England and Germany, you would expect to get to the final.

But both the Danes and the Czechs have been impressive so far at Euro 2020.

EARLY EXIT

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t hide his emotions at full-time after Portugal’s early exit from Euro 2020.

The defending champions were knocked out by the No1 ranked team in the world, Belgium, in the Round of 16.

New European champions WILL be crowned!

LAST 16

There’s two fixtures being played at Euro 2020 today, with the first game kicking off at 5pm and the second at 8pm.

Former European and world champions Spain are taking on 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia in Copenhagen, Denmark.

And world champions France are taking on continental neighbours Switzerland in Bucharest, Romania from 8pm.

KNOCKOUT STAGES

Belgium will face Italy after beating defending champions Portugal 1-0 last night.

And Denmark will play the Czech Republic, after the Czechs pulled off a shock victory against the Netherlands.

EURO 2020 LATEST

Kieran Trippier and Phil Foden are being tipped for recalls against Germany – as England’s possible route to the final seemed to get easier.

Tomorrow night’s Wembley winners will take on Sweden or Ukraine in the quarter-finals, with the Czech Republic or Denmark possible last-four opponents. 

That’s because the Czechs pulled off the biggest shock of the Euros so far, punishing Holland defender Matthijs de Ligt’s straight red card on 55 minutes with a 2-0 win yesterday.

Tomas Holes headed a 68th-minute opener before teeing up Patrik Schick’s clincher.

And Belgium midfielder Thorgan Hazard’s dipping stunner just before half-time saw off Portugal 1-0, amid speculation it might be legend Cristiano Ronaldo’s last game at a major international tournament.

Meanwhile, Three Lions’ boss Gareth Southgate has admitted Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell might be omitted against the Germans.

Southgate worries the duo might be suffering “psychological” effects from their self-isolation following Chelsea team-mate Billy Gilmour’s positive Covid-19 test.

Inter Milan superstar Ivan Perisic misses Croatia’s clash with Spain at 5pm tonight after being found to have coronavirus.

And at 8pm Group F winners France take on Switzerland, who finished third behind Wales in qualifying from Group A.

HURST: BEAT GERMANY AND WIN EUROS

England legend Sir Geoff Hurst told Gareth Southgate’s young lions: “Beat Germany and you’ll go on and win it!”

The hero, whose hat-trick conquered our old foe in 1966, lined up with The Sun’s mascot Harry Mane — and also had advice for England’s star striker.

He said: “There’s nothing quite like an England versus Germany game at Wembley and the hairs still stand up on the back of my neck every time it happens.

“It’s a massive, massive game — one of those do-or-die occasions which will produce moments we’ll never forget.

“German teams never give up and we have a hell of a fight on our hands. But this time it’s a fight we can win — and once we clear this obstacle it’ll take a hell of a team to stop us.”

A win tomorrow will send England to Rome for a quarter-final with Sweden or Ukraine. Another victory would tee up a semi-final back at Wembley against either Denmark or Czech Republic.

PAY JUDE

Jude Bellingham will be celebrating on Tuesday regardless of the result at Wembley.

On the day England look to overcome Germany in the last-16 at Wembley, Bellingham turns 18.

And on this special birthday he will also have his contract at Borussia Dortmund extended by a further two years until 2025.

It is remarkable that Bellingham, who played 36 times for Dortmund last season, is already preparing for what would be his seventh senior cap tomorrow.

Over in Germany, there has been much discussion over Gareth Southgate’s refusal to give Bundesliga golden boy Jadon Sancho a single minute until the dying stages of their final  group match.

In contrast, Bellingham has already made two appearances as a substitute and is likely to play some part against the Germans tomorrow.

SHAW: JOSE OBSESSED WITH ME

Luke Shaw has accused his ex-Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho of being obsessed with him.

The England defender, preparing for Tuesday’s Euro 2020 last-16 clash with Germany, is stunned he is still being criticised by his former boss at Manchester United.

Mourinho criticised Shaw for his “dramatically bad” and “poor” set-pieces in the 1-0 win over Czech Republic.

Shaw, 25, said: “There is no hiding that we didn’t get on. It is time to move on. I am trying to move on but, obviously, he can’t.

“Hopefully he can find his peace with that and finally move and stop worrying about me. Clearly I am in his head a lot and he clearly thinks about me a lot.

“I don’t really understand it, to be honest. I don’t know why he is still going on and wanting to point at me. I don’t feel like the set pieces were as bad as he was saying.

“Look, he has got to do his job. He has got his opinion. I am used to him saying negative stuff about me now, so I just pass it by.

“I leave it be, I ignore it. I just focus on what the coaching staff say here, what Gareth says and that’s that, really.”

TRIPPIER, FODEN AND MOUNT TIPPED TO START

Roy Keane expects Gareth Southgate to recall Kieran Trippier, Phil Foden and Mason Mount for Tuesday’s showdown with Germany.

Joachim Low’s side travel to Wembley for the 5pm kick-off and Keane believes England will trust their regular starters.

All three started in the win over Croatia that opened the Three Lions’ tournament.

He told ITV: “Maybe with Maguire that’ll be the only change, and go back to the first game against Croatia.

“We’re on about these young players doing very well in the last one or two games.

“But Gareth, as the manager, you still go back to the lads who got you over the line over the last year or two.

“So it wouldn’t surprise me if Gareth went back to the team, obviously with Maguire available, for the first game against Croatia.

“There’s question marks about maybe Trippier coming back in. The set-piece delivery has been really poor, maybe they go back to Trippier for that.”