EURO 2020 is in full swing as the group stage nears completion.
Italy, Holland and Belgium are the first teams through to the second round with picking up their second wins.
Meanwhile Wales are on the brink of joining them. They face Italy in Rome on Sunday.
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Follow all of the latest news, build up and updates below…
GIVE US A CHANCE
Gareth Southgate says England are ‘a work in progress’ and playing catch-up with fellow Euro 2020 favourites.
He said: “Some teams are at a different point in their development.
“The run that Italy have had – 28 or 29 games unbeaten – and we know what France and Portugal have done over the last few years.
“And Belgium have been the No 1 team for four years.
“So that’s the level. That’s the standard we’ve got to aspire to. We’re a work in progress.”
MORE TO COME
Harry Kane has promised England fans: I’m ready to peak at the business end of the Euros.
He said: “What we’ve learned over past tournaments, is it’s about trying to peak at the right time.
“Maybe in Russia there were times, towards the quarter and semi final, when I wasn’t as sharp as I wanted to be.
“In the end we didn’t quite get to where we wanted to go, maybe partly for that reason.
“I know the chances will come with the players we have got in the team.
“And when they do I will be more than capable of putting them away.”
WE KANE DO IT
Harry Kane believes England can still go all the way at the Euros.
He said: “We still believe we have a great chance in this tournament and that’s how we will feel all the way to the end.
“I mean you just look at the last European Championship – I don’t think Portugal won a group game but they ended up winning the tournament.
“It’s slightly rare that you win all your group and knockout games and have a straight line to the top and lift the trophy.
“Sometimes you have a few ups and downs, maybe a few reality checks to make you work on a few things.
“It helps the team and the environment and helps you improve for the later stages of the tournament and that’s the case for us.”
FT – SPAIN 1 POLAND 1
Spain’s place in the knockout stages is under threat after being held to a second straight draw at the Euros.
Alvaro Morata fired his side ahead in the first half thanks to a controversial VAR decision.
Robert Lewandowski then bagged a second-half equaliser before Gerard Moreno missed a penalty – with Morata then sending an open-goal rebound wide.
READ THE MATCH REPORT HERE
DEM BONES
Ousmane Dembele is an injury worry for France after he hobbled out of his country’s 1-1 draw with Hungary at Euro 2020.
The Barcelona star – himself on as a sub – appeared to pull a muscle as he left the field holding his hamstring.
Dembele has just one year left on his Barca deal and has been linked with a move to Manchester United.
TROUBLE BRU-ING
Lee Dixon took a swipe at Bruno Fernandes for ‘strolling’ around with ‘zero energy’ as Portugal were thumped by Germany.
He told ITV: “I think someone needs to tell Fernandes he’s 3-1 down. He is just strolling on the ball.
“He had a chance then to run into space and commit a few players ahead of him. No energy in his run at all.”
TEAM NEWS
Spain have handed a start to Gerard Moreno as they look for their first goal at the Euros.
Ferran Torres drops out of the side as the Villarreal striker takes up a role on the right of a front three involving Dani Olmo and Alvaro Morata.
Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski and Wojciech Szczesny both line up for Poland.
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FT – PORTUGAL 2 GERMANY 4
Germany made up for their opening game defeat to France by sealing a huge win against Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring before own-goals from Ruben Dias and Raphael Guerreiro put Germany ahead.
Joachim Low’s men then moved 4-1 up thanks to efforts from Kai Havertz and Robin Gosens before Diogo Jota pulled one back for Portugal.
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SUPER RON
Cristiano Ronaldo put the finishing touches to an incredible 17-second counter attack against Germany after making a 90-YARD sprint following his own defensive header!
Portugal fans also unveiled a brilliant banner paying tribute to Ronaldo’s Coca-Cola snub earlier this week.
But Germany lead 4-1 following TWO Portuguese own-goals plus strikes from Kai Havertz and Robin Gosens.
FOLLOW THE GAME HERE
CANDY KANE
Rio Ferdinand says England should give Harry Kane 45 minutes to show he can lead their Euro challenge or be dumped from the side.
Ferdinand told the BBC: “I would still play him. I’d demand more from him. There’s a conversation there to be had. You need more. He’s a top player.
“Last season the most assists, the most goals in the Premier League.
“You don’t become a bad player overnight, but I want to see the Harry Kane I saw in the Premier League, I want to see it in the Euros.
“And I think there is a stern conversation, a workings out conversation to get the best out of Harry Kane.
“And if it isn’t working out after 45 minutes, get someone else on there.
“Don’t wait until 13 minutes before the end of the game, it’s not long enough for these players to really impact the game.”
TEAM NEWS
Portugal and Germany have both named unchanged sides for this afternoon’s crunch Euros clash.
Cristiano Ronaldo will lead the hosts’ line after his double against Hungary, supported by Premier League stars Bernardo Silva, Diogo Jota and Bruno Fernandes.
Meanwhile, the Germans continue to play without a recognised striker as Joachim Low keeps faith with the 3-4-3 system that struggled against France.
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FT – HUNGARY 1 FRANCE 1
World champions France were held to a 1-1 draw by a battling Hungary side this afternoon.
The hosts took a shock lead before the break through Attila Fiola before Antoine Griezmann levelled in the second half.
It means France will be keeping a keen eye on this afternoon’s clash between Portugal and Germany.
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HUNGARY 1-1 FRANCE
66. For all of France’s fancy football, it’s a goal of route one proportions that bring the world champions level.
Hugo Lloris lumps a pass downfield that has Kylian Mbappe battling Loic Nego for the bouncing ball.
The French forward has some good fortune to win out, and then even more as his low centre is diverted straight into the path of Antoine Griezmann by Willi Orban.
Arriving at pace, Griezmann couldn’t miss, and duly blasted into the right corner.
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN EQUALISES!!FERDINAND ON SANCHO
Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand has questioned whether Jadon Sancho has upset important people behind the scenes.
The outstanding creative winger hasn’t played one minute of football at Euro 2020.
And the decision to leave him out has left fans, ex-pros and pundits scratching their head.
On his Five YouTube channel, he said: “The substitutions, I thought they were poor.
“You can make a lot of substitutions now, he only made two substitutions when you can make five.
“Utilise that bench, that’s what it’s there for. We’ve got all these players. Sancho? What’s he done? He must have done something behind the scenes.
“He [Sancho] for the last three seasons has the second most goal involvements in this England squad after Sterling and Harry Kane.”
HUNGARY 1-0 FRANCE
48. France and Paul Pogba have wasted no time in upping the tempo, and it’s the Manchester United man that forces Gulacsi into early action.
The midfielder powers a cross over in the direction of Mbappe, and it’s one that requires the Hungary goalkeeper to push out with a strong hand.
It’s getting tasty in Budapest……. follow all the LIVE action HERE!
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE HALF-TIME WHISTLE GOES!HUNGARY 1-0 FRANCE
45+2. What scenes in Budapest! Hungary lead the world champions!
GOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!
ATTILA FIOLA SCORES FOR HUNGARY!!HUNGARY 0-0 FRANCE
31. Benzema! The drought continues!
Mbappe does brilliantly to pluck a lofted pass out of the air with one touch, and then flick the perfect ball into the path of Benzema with another.
The Real Madrid striker takes the opportunity on first time, opting to strike with the outside of his right boot. It’s a decision that sees the ball swerve wide.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
HUNGARY VS FRANCE IS UNDERWAY!
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TEAMSHEETS: HUNGARY VS FRANCE
France (4-3-1-2): 1 Lloris; 2 Pavard, 4 Varane, 3 Kimpempbe, 18 Digne; 6 Pogba, 13 Kante, 14 Rabiot; 7 Griezmann; 19 Benzema, 10 Mbappe.
Bench: 16 Mandanda, 23 Maignan, 5 Lenglet, 8 Lemar, 9 Giroud, 11 Dembele, 12 Tolisso, 17 Sissoko, 21 Hernandez, 24 Dubois, 25 Kounde, 26 Thuram.
Hungary (3-5-2): 1 Gulacsi; 21 Botka, 6 Orban, 4 At Szalai; 7 Nego, 15 Kleinheisler, 8 Nagy, 13 Schafer, 5 Fiola; 9 Ad Szalai, 20 Sallai.
Bench: 12 Dubusz, 22 Bogdan, 2 Lang, 3 Keckes, 10 Cseri, 11 Holdender, 14 Loverencdics, 17 R Varga, 18 Siger, 19 K Varga, 23 Nikolic, 24 Schon.
Kick-off is nearly upon us, follow all the live action, minute-by-minute HERE
SHAW BACKS KANE
Man Utd defender Luke Shaw has backed his England captain Harry Kane after his poor performance against Scotland yesterday.
Kane was substituted in the late stages of the game by Marcus Rashford, and he has failed to score in the opening two group games.
When asked if he is concerned over Kane’s performance, Shaw said: “No concern at all, for me personally I think he is the best striker in the world.
‘He is a very important part of the team, in fact the most important part.
“I think whether he has not been at his best or not he is a massive part and a crucial player for us.
“We need him whether his performances are as people expected or not, but this happens in tournament football, you can score a goal at any moment and he is such a crucial player – not just on the pitch but off the pitch, he has got all of our backing and I’m not worried at all.”
KAL ME MAYBE
I didn’t see any risk or desire from England to gamble and try and win, writes JOSE MOURINHO.
What was so good against Croatia was the midfield pairing of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips.
If England needed to beat Scotland then I think Phillips would have been subbed around the 60th minute for more creativity.
But a fear of losing kept him on the pitch.
COKE JOKE OVER
Euro 2020 stars have been told to STOP moving sponsors’ drinks in press conferences – or risk their team getting fined, writes JOSHUA JONES.
Cristiano Ronaldo started the trend when he put a pair of Coca-Cola bottles out of the way on Monday.
He then told the cameras to ‘drink water’ instead of the popular fizzy drink.
But Uefa, aware of the negative impact the stunts have on big-money backers, want to put an end to any more instances.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
