Euro 2020

CROATIA fans pelted the Spain squad with water bottles and beer cups after being denied a penalty during their Euro 2020 last-16 clash.Supporters were left fuming after referee Cuneyt Cakir waved away protests after Cesar Azpilicueta’s clearance struck Koke’s hand.
Croatia fans launched beer cups and water bottles at the Spain players during the Euro 2020 clash
Cesar Azpilicueta attempted to catch one of the objects that was hurled in his direction
Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic couldn’t believe that his side weren’t awarded a spot-kick with Croatia trailing 2-1 at the time of the incident.
He was shown a yellow card for his protests, while fans in attendance at Parken in Denmark lobbed bottles towards the Spanish players.
Chelsea skipper Azpilicueta even attempted to catch one of the objects as fans fumed at the spectators on social media.
One tweeted: “State of Croatia fans throwing bottles. If that were England fans the media wouldn’t stop going on about it.”
Another commented: “Good job we’ll not see them throwing bottles in any more games.”
A third added: “Croatia fans are literally scum, throwing bottles and cups onto the pitch. No respect at all.”
Meanwhile one remarked: “Croatia fans throwing s*** on the pitch is just ghetto.”
One simply stated: “Croatia deserve to lose this. Fans throwing bottles at the players. Complete disrespect.”

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Another said: “Dear Croatia fans… You! The one throwing water bottles! You are a bunch of a*******!”
Just five minutes after the incident, Spanish winger Ferran Torres scored to make it 3-1, before Croatia fired home two late goals to send the game into extra-time.
But it was Spain that booked their place in the quarter-finals as strikes from Alvaro Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal secured the 5-3 victory.
Luis Enrique’s men will face the winner out of France and Switzerland in the next round as Spain look to win their first major tournament since 2012.
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BELGIUM will be without star men Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard for their Euro 2020 quarter-final with Italy.The pair, both 30, suffered ankle and hamstring injuries respectively in the Red Devils’ victory over Portugal on Sunday night.
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Kevin de Bruyne picked up an ankle injury in Belgium’s 1-0 win over PortugalCredit: Rex
Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard suffered a hamstring injury in the winCredit: Rex
And Belgium boss Roberto Martinez is seemingly resigned to both men missing Friday’s clash with the Azzurri.
The Spaniard said: “The initial information that we have from medical staff is positive for both, they will remain with the squad and they have no structural damage.
“But we are running up against time and it is very difficult to see them fully fit.
“So, we have to take it day by day to try and get them fit.
“We were all a bit concerned before we got the news from the scans and it was a relief to all that we can now work on trying to get them fit again.”
Immediately after the match, Martinez said of the pair’s injuries: “We are going to need 48 hours to find out the extent of the injuries.

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“We will go back to Belgium and make the scans tomorrow.
“Kevin De Bruyne… it was a very bad tackle. We have no diagnosis from the medical department. Eden Hazard is more muscular.”
Belgium sealed their place in the last eight courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Cristiano’ Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Hazard’s younger brother Thorgan fired his country through to the next round of the tournament with an exquisite strike just before the stroke of half time.
Martinez was thoroughly impressed by his side’s attacking display but was more impressed by their defensive resilience.

Roberto Martinez is resigned to being without the services of Hazard and De BruyneCredit: Rex
He said: “It wasn’t just about how good we could be, it was about how we could adapt to what Portugal do the best, which is do exactly what they need to do to win.
“That is why they are the current champions and winners of Nations League.
“They have incredible experience and know how to take those moments to hurt you.
“We had incredible concentration and defended really well. We scored a very good goal.
“In the second half the more the momentum went to Portugal we had to show an incredible mentality.

Thorgan Hazard celebrates scoring Belgium’s winnerCredit: Getty

“Everything was about being disciplined and tactically astute.
“We never lost concentration and there were difficult moments.
“The way Portugal pushed for victory until the end, this gives me incredible satisfaction.
“This is what a winning team needs.
“We know the talent we we have but all the other elements you need were shown today. For us it was the biggest test there is.”
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WHAT a game.What a comeback from Croatia, what a comeback then from Spain.
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Alvaro Morata scored Spain’s winner in the first-half of extra-time as his nation battled past CroatiaCredit: EPA
Mikel Oyarzabal’s goal moments after Morata’s killed off the tie as Spain progress to the quarter-finalsCredit: Reuters
This is what we have been missing – a packed stadium, everything on the line, goals, drama, the lot.
Croatia 3-1 down with five minutes of normal time remaining they forced extra time.
Then Spain picked themselves up to score twice in the first half of extra-time.
One of the greatest games in this tournament’s history had it all.
Including the most bizarre own goal and moments of redemption for both Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon and striker Alvaro Morata.
Sick trolls had sent Morata and his family death threats after his poor form in the group stage.
Luis Enrique kept faith and Morata put them ahead in extra time and helped to set up number five.
A team written off after two draws and just one goal in their opening two games have now hit ten in two.
They are the first team in the tournaments history to score five in successive games… Spain are up and running.

Simon let the long back-pass sneak past him as he took his eye off the ballCredit: ITV
Pablo Sarabia equalised for Spain shortly before half-time with a powerful effortCredit: Reuters
Sarabia charged off in celebration after scoring Spain’s equaliser against CroatiaCredit: Getty
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France, Belgium, Italy, England, be aware the 2012 champions are still in town.
Whatever town that might be in this tournament.
On this occasion it was Copenhagan that played host to this epic encounter.
Where to start? Well let’s try at the beginning with a moment after 20 minutes that goalkeeper Simon will be thankful will be forgotten given that everything that then followed.
There are own goals and then there are what we saw here.
Pedri must have been a good 45 yards out when he stabbed a curling ball back to his goalkeeper.
Perhaps there was too much spin on it. Either way your granny would have put her foot on it.
Not Simon however who was clearly thinking about what he was going to do next as the ball nicked off the top of his boot and rolled off into the goal.
Cesar Azpilicueta put Spain 2-1 up as his side looked set to go on to win in normal timeCredit: Getty
Azpilicueta’s header put Spain ahead for the first time in the game having trailed 1-0Credit: Getty
Ferran Torres appeared to have sealed the win with his late strike but for Croatia’s late strikeCredit: Getty
Croatia, who did not have a shot on target all half, were ahead.
Spain should have been in front before that with Koke and Morata wasting good chances but they were level in the 38th minute.
The ball bounced all over the place before persistence paid off as Pablo Sarabia’s shot was saved and Pablo Sarabia side-footed home the follow up.
The three times European Champions deserved to be level at least.
They were ahead on 57 minutes when Ferran Torres whipped the ball in from the left and Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta executed a fine thumping header to take the lead.
Croatia responded with Josko Gvardiol having a shot from close range which was denied by a fine instinctive save from Simon.
Spain went 3-1 ahead thanks to a wonderful goal from Manchester City’s Ferran Torres.
Croatia were asleep as a deep free kick from inside Spain’s half was delivered wide for Torres to take a touch past Josko Gvardi and slide the ball home.
Orsic scrambled the ball over the line as Croatia pulled one back with five minutes of normal time to playCredit: AFP
Mario Pasalic nodded home an added-time equaliser to force extra-timeCredit: Reuters
Job done? Nope. Croatia got a goal back on 85 minutes after a six yard box scramble finished with sub Mislav Orsic forcing the ball over the line confirmed by VAR and the ref’s watch.
Then incredibly in the second minute of injury time Mario Pasalic met a left wing cross with a downward header to force extra time.
Spain boss Enrique, who had been celebrating victory just moments earlier, was now slumped in his technical area.
Into extra time we went with Croatia looking to be full of energy.
Andrej Kramaric had a point blank shot superbly saved by Simon, who by now had gone from villain to hero.
Then came Morata’s moment controlling Dani Olmo’s cross with his right foot and firing home a volley with his left.
Dani Olmo supplied the ball to make it five for sub Oyarzabal.
Still then, less than a minute into the second half of extra time Marcelo Brozovic had a great chance to pull one back but put it wide.
Dani Olmo almost made it six with a shot off the post in the final minute of extra time.
You didn’t want this to end. It had to and and Spain finished covered in glory.
It was an absolute classic. The reason why we love football.
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IAN WRIGHT has picked his perfect England XI for Tuesday night’s Euro 2020 last-16 clash with Germany – with no room for Bukayo Saka or Jack Grealish.The Three Lions put in an impressive performance during the 1-0 win over Czech Republic in their most-recent match with Grealish and Saka starring in a 4-2-3-1.
Ian Wright wants to see Foden and Mount back for England against Germany

Ian Wright wants Phil Foden to come back into the team, with Jack Grealish missing outCredit: Reuters
But Wright is itching for Gareth Southgate to return to 4-3-3, with Mason Mount and Phil Foden – who started the first two group games against Croatia and Scotland – returning to the team for Germany.
Foden was rested for the final game of the group stage, already with a yellow card to his name.
Mount missed the game as he was forced to go into isolation after coming into contact with Billy Gilmour, who later tested positive for coronavirus.
The Chelsea man is training away from the squad with Ben Chilwell, but could return to the fold against Germany at Wembley, with the duo’s isolation ending on Monday.
Wright also plumped for a back-four of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw – who all started against the Czechs.
Up front, the ex-Arsenal star wants to see captain Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling – who scored both of England’s group stage goals – in a front-three alongside Foden.
Wright told ITV: “For me, I’d go with the 4-3-3 and try to force ourselves on Germany.
“I’d bring Mount in for Grealish… I’d play Foden, Kane and Sterling up front.”

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Wright also wants Mason Mount to start despite not training with his team-mates for ten days due to being in isolationCredit: The Sun

Finishing off his XI, Wright added: “I’d play Rice, Phillips and Mount (in midfield).
“And then the back four – Shaw, Maguire, Stones and Walker.”
Wright continued by saying England must impose their game-plan on Germany and not play just to ‘nullify’ them, pointing to the threat posed by wing-backs Joshua Kimmich and Robin Gosens.
The former England striker said: “I want us to play with those wingers and keep them pinned back.
“If we can keep Kimmich and Gosens out of it and force our game on them.
“We’ve got a better chance of beating them rather than trying to nullify Germany.”
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ANTOINE GRIEZMANN has spoken of his frustration that France boss Didier Deschamps has imposed a SEX BAN on the squad during Euro 2020.The 30-year-old has stated that he and his team-mates have accepted their gaffer’s decision as Les Bleus aim to win a second consecutive major tournament.
France ace Antoine Griezmann has spoken of the sex ban imposed on the squad by Didier DeschampsCredit: EPA
Ahead of France’s last-16 clash against Switzerland, it was revealed in Le Parisien that the 2018 World Cup champions are having to refrain from physical interactions with their partners.
Speaking of the ban, Barcelona forward Griezmann said: “We cannot touch anyone, not even family members.
“But it cannot be done otherwise.
“It’s tough for everyone, players and staff, but it must be accepted.”
An unnamed member of France’s staff then added: “Most of the players are in their twenties, and all they have left is to, you know…
“Abstinence does not create tension, but it is a discussed topic.
“Also because it becomes complicated not even being able to give a kiss or a caress to the loved one.”
France are favourites to win their first European Championship since 2000 having finished top of Group F.

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A 1-0 win against Germany was followed by a 1-1 draw against Hungary.
In France’s final group game they drew 2-2 against Portugal with Karim Benzema scoring his first international goals since October 2015.
Should France beat Switzerland, Deschamps’ men will face the winner of Croatia’s clash with and Spain in the quarter-finals.
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