EURO 2020 is rolling on at pace as we reach the last 16 knockout stage!And England will have a home advantage like never before, with no fans from Germany able to travel to Wembley.
Meanwhile Georginio Wijnaldum has threatened to walk off the pitch in Budapest if his Netherlands team-mates are racially abused.
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Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
MAAD SKILLS
James Maddison has shown England boss Gareth Southgate what he’s missing with a sensational free-kick during summer training.
The 24-year-old failed to make the provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2020 this summer as he was left out of the Three Lions set-up.
JAD ENOUGH
Jadon Sancho has told his England team-mates that he’s ‘heading to Old Trafford’, according to reports.
SunSport revealed earlier this month that the winger has agreed a five-year, £350,000-a-week deal to join Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund.
The two clubs have still been haggling over the fee, with add-ons the biggest point of contention.
But the £80million deal is edging closer.
According to Tom McDermott, Sancho has confirmed to his Three Lions pals that he’s definitely off to United.
He adds that the deal is ‘practically done’.
And that issues over add-ons have been ‘ironed out’.
KNEW THIS DAEI WOULD COME
Ali Daei has sent Cristiano Ronaldo a classy message after seeing his all-time international goalscoring record levelled.
The Portugal superstar, 36, scored two penalties in his nation’s 2-2 draw with France in the final Group F game at Euro 2020.
The double saw Ronaldo draw level with Iran legend Daei on 109 international goals.
Daei wrote: “Congratulations to Cristiano who is now one goal away from breaking the men’s international goal scoring record.”
Ronaldo replied with a gushing post of his own, which read: “True champions remain champions forever.”
TROY DEENEY
If England versus Germany goes down to a penalty shootout, do not expect Gareth Southgate’s men to be cool, calm and collected.
They will have been practising and analysing and leaving nothing to chance to prepare for such a huge moment.
But even if you are a regular penalty-taker, as I am, you simply cannot replicate the extreme pressure of a situation like that — the crowd noise, the expectation and the fear of missing a crucial penalty at Wembley.
When Watford reached the FA Cup semi-final two years ago, we were 2-1 down to Wolves in the 94th minute when I was fouled and the referee pointed to the spot.
Now I’ve taken dozens of penalties and I haven’t missed too many but that was something else.
People talk about trying to block out the noise but in my experience that’s pretty much impossible.
ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET
Jamie Redknapp wants England to take the game to Germany when the two sides meet at Wembley on Tuesday.
He told Sky Sports: “Don’t go safe. Let’s go out swinging punches. If Mason Mount and Jack Grealish are played together, I’d be nervous if I was in the Germany side.”
LINK UP PLAY
Declan Rice can’t wait to face Toni Kroos on Tuesday night after their Twitter love-in earlier this year.
The West Ham midfielder revealed his admiration for Germany’s stalwart on social media back in April.
And Rice said on Friday: “I can’t remember what my tweet was actually but I woke up to him saying ‘thanks mate’.
“It was a good moment to be fair and the lads at West Ham were giving me a bit for it.
“When there are the big games on and you are watching, you appreciate top footballers. Obviously that night I felt the need to say (what I did) about Muller and Toni Kroos.
“I am relishing to go out there and put myself up against the best. It is England v Germany, round of 16, at Wembley, it is going to be proper, so I need to go out there and give a solid performance myself and as a team.
“Kroos is world class, other midfielders like me we want to test ourselves. But we need to impose game and be physical on him and stop him spraying it around the pitch.”
CHRIS BOOST
Christian Eriksen made an emotional return to Denmark training ahead of their last-16 clash with Wales following his release from hospital.
Kasper Schmeichel revealed the visit of the former Tottenham helped ‘erase the image of him on the pitch’ following the shocking scenes of June 12.
The Leicester goalkeeper told CNN: “It was great to see him.
“That helped a lot of the guys I think just to see him.
“It helped erase the last image we had of him on the pitch.
“To see him in real life and to see that he was OK… it was really important.”
BA-LACKING COURAGE
Michael Ballack has delivered a withering assessment of Germany’s chances against England – insisting too many of their players lack the heart for a battle.
He said: “We always find it difficult when we play against countries who are mentally strong and good in one-on-one duels.
“We have some lads who possess these characteristics – but not enough of them.
“Unfortunately we have too many players who have not learned how to be flexible during matches.
“They are pushed to their limits in difficult situations, when they need to win using other means than those originally planned.”
LESS IS MORE
Germany have begun their preparations for the Euro 2020 clash with England – by giving the players an extra day off.
Joachim Low’s side face the Three Lions on Tuesday with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs in a match which has caught the imagination of England.
But while Gareth Southgate’s squad are now working hard at St George’s Park on a game plan to beat the Germans, it is far more relaxed within Low’s camp.
For the manager has decided to give his players a second day off to rest following the 2-2 draw against Hungary on Tuesday night which secured second spot in Group F.
It has been decided the players will benefit more from an extra 24 hours of relaxation than being put through their paces on the training ground.
Instead, Germany will only train properly on Saturday and Sunday before going through a light session ahead of making the flight to the UK on Monday.
OFF TRACK
Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell have been denied the chance to train normally ahead of England’s clash with Germany – because they were not called by the Track and Trace service.
The Chelsea pair are both serving ten days of isolation which only ends at midnight on Monday, meaning they cannot train with the Three Lions in the build up to Tuesday’s game.
But SunSport has learnt they may have been able to form part of Gareth Southgate’s plans had they been contacted by the NHS Track and Trace team and told to isolate instead of volunteering the information themselves.
COMPUTER SAYS NO
England will finally beat Germany when they meet in their epic Euro 2020 last 16 showdown, according to a supercomputer.
But the Three Lions are set to suffer heartbreak in the final as the long wait for a major tournament win rages on.
CROSSED A LINE
Alvaro Morata has revealed his children have received sick death threats over his Euro 2020 campaign.
Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena: “I understand I get criticism for not scoring goals. I’m the first to know and accept it.
“I wish people would put themselves in the position of seeing what it is to receiving threats and insults to your family, ‘I hope your children die,’ [this week] I had to put my phone away.
“[Memes] don’t bother me, but what annoys me is what my wife has to go through.
“My kids go to Seville with their dad’s name on their shirts. Yes [they’ve had things said to them].
“I understand criticism for not doing my job well. But there’s a limit. I didn’t sleep for nine hours after the [Poland] game.
“I was angry because I had a chance and Spain couldn’t win.
“I wish people would put themselves in other people’s position. People whistle me because it’s what they hear. Others incite it.”
PREM PROMISE
The Premier League have agreed to fund over 2,000 new defibrillators across grassroots football in the wake of Christian Eriksen’s brush with death.
The first phase will see the AEDs rolled out to Football Foundation funded facilities which currently do not have access to the life-saving device.
Then grassroots clubs across England who own their own facilities will then be able to apply for funding for a defibrillator.
Over 2,000 sites will benefit from this investment, with the first 1,000 units delivered in time for the start of season 2021-22 and the second wave expected in September.
Once installed, the AEDs will be accessible, if required, to an estimated 1.5m people that use these facilities per season.
As part of the scheme, each recipient will have required to send at least one person on the FA’s free Sudden Cardiac Arrest course to learn how to use them and also help with tips on CPR.
KAY AND DRY
England’s newest superstar Bukayo Saka was brought back to earth in savage style by team-mate Marcus Rashford.
The Arsenal teen – who was man of the match in Tuesday’s win over Czech Republic – was cheekily nutmegged by Rashford in training on Friday.
RIVALS UNITE
England take on old rivals Germany in the last-16 of Euro 2020 on Tuesday night – but which stars would make a combined XI?
Here’s SunSport’s pick of the bunch… thoughts?
KNEW THIS DAEI WOULD COME
Ali Daei has sent Cristiano Ronaldo a classy message after seeing his all-time international goalscoring record levelled.
The Portugal superstar, 36, scored two penalties in his nation’s 2-2 draw with France in the final Group F game at Euro 2020.
The double saw Ronaldo draw level with Iran legend Daei on 109 international goals.
Daei wrote: “Congratulations to Cristiano who is now one goal away from breaking the men’s international goal scoring record.”
Ronaldo replied with a gushing post of his own, which read: “True champions remain champions forever.”
LIFE STARTS AT FORTY
Cristiano Ronaldo has shown he can play until he is 40 with his Euro 2020 heroics.
That is the view of former Portugal star Nuno Gomes, after the Juventus ace hit five goals in the group stage.
Gomes told Ladbrokes: “He could maybe even play as late as 40, because of how well he takes care of himself.
“I think he now has the understanding that he’s not the same Cristiano as he was in his 20s, so he’s started to play in a different role for club and country.
“He’s more of a centre-forward now, which means he doesn’t have to use as much energy.
“He’s always there in the right moments, he makes important decisions, he’s brave and he assumes responsibility in big moments. It seems easy, but it’s never easy to score penalties the way he does in those kind of pressure situations.”
SET YOUR WATCHES
The Euro 2020 knockout round starts TOMORROW!
First up at 5pm from Amsterdam is Wales versus Denmark, a real juicy clash between two teams determined to make history.
And 8pm sees Italy face Austria in Wembley.
After a flawless group stage, the Azzurri will be huge favourites to make the next round.
Both games will be shown live on BBC One.
Credit: AP
TONIGHT’S ACTION
No Euro 2020 matches tonight but the 2021-22 season is already pulling into view…
FC Prishtina of Kosovo meet Andorra’s Inter Club d’Escaldes in the final round of the Champions League qualification preliminary round.
That kicks off at 7pm and there is also a big night in the Irish Premier Division.
League leaders St Patrick’s head to struggling Waterford (7.45pm) while Shamrock Rovers, currently second on goals scored, face Drogheda (8pm).
FAN-TASTIC
England fans could be given an extra 7,400 tickets for Tuesday’s showdown with Germany due to travel restrictions.
German supporters are unable to travel to the UK and complete a quarantine period in time for the second-round clash at Wembley.
And that means their allocation of 7,400 tickets could be there to be claimed for Three Lions fans, the Telegraph reports.
The game was originally meant to be played in Dublin, but Uefa moved it to London with the Irish capital unable to guarantee crowds.
Wembley can hold 45,000 fans for Tuesday’s Euros clash, and some tickets were released online on Wednesday and Thursday.
England supporters will receive an official allocation of 7,400 on Friday.
Credit: Getty
BETS ARE ON
Italy take on Austria in Saturday’s Euro 2020 last-16 showdown at Wembley.
And bookmakers Paddy Power are offering brand new customers a completely risk free £20 bet on the action PLUS a massive 48/1 bet builder special.
So we’re backing Italy to reach the quarter finals with a 2-0 victory at odds of 5/1.
Check out our top tips here.
PEDAL TO THE METAL
Cesc Fabregas has called on England to attack Germany in their upcoming last-16 clash.
Likening Gareth Southgate’s approach to Portugal’s success five years ago, the midfielder believes that few teams excel in this mode.
He wrote for the Telegraph: “Portugal proved that it is possible to win a major tournament with the handbrake on at the last Euros.
“You never know and if you are lucky in seven games, you can do it. But, generally, I believe you are more likely to eventually get knocked out this way.
“I would like to see England take more risks and play with more freedom, and the return of Harry Maguire can help that because he can break lines by carrying the ball forwards or finding a pass.
“Up until now, they have seemed a little bit scared and like they have some tension in their heads.”
GROUP STAGE RECAP
The goal of the group stage, surely. The best ever goal at the Euros.
Let’s take a look back and rejoice in this stunning hit from Patrik Schick.
JACK IN THE BOX
Manchester City are ready to CONFIRM the £100million transfer of Jack Grealish, according to reports.
SunSport revealed last night the hopes within the Aston Villa star’s camp that he will seal a switch to Pep Guardiola’s team.
And now the Mail expect the deal to be announced after Euro 2020.
Talks between the clubs have reportedly advanced rapidly in recent days – and City are said to still want Harry Kane as well.
Credit: PA
FRIDAY FUN DAY
Germany have begun their preparations for the Euro 2020 clash with England – by giving the players an extra day off.
While Gareth Southgate’s squad are now working hard at St George’s Park on a gameplan to beat the Germans, it is far more relaxed within Joachim Low’s camp.
The manager has decided to give his players a second day off to rest following the 2-2 draw against Hungary on Tuesday night which secured second spot in Group F.
It has been decided the players will benefit more from an extra 24 hours of relaxation than being put through their paces on the training ground.
Instead, Germany will only train properly on Saturday and Sunday before going through a light session ahead of the flight to the UK on Monday.
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