Euro 2020

CRISTIANO RONALDO is now the joint all-time leading scorer in international football after two penalties scored against France.The Juventus star has now equalled Iran’s Ali Daei on 109 goals scored for his country.
⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog
Cristiano Ronaldo is now joint-top international scorer EVERCredit: Reuters

Ali Daei now has to share his goalscoring record with RonaldoCredit: EPA
The 36-year-old has also beaten Miroslav Klose’s record of goals in tournament football.
Ronaldo, levelled the legendary Klose’s tally of 19 with his strike against the Germans on matchday two.
And it took him just half an hour of tonight’s match to reach the magic 20.
Portugal were awarded a penalty after Hugo Lloris clattered Danilo Pereira at a set piece.
And Ronaldo was the coolest man in the stadium, crashing his spot-kick low and hard, sending Lloris the wrong way in the process.
The Juventus ace has been on fire at Euro 2020, and is top scorer with five goals.
He added a second penalty to tie the game against France at 2-2 after the referee adjudged a handball against Jules Kounde.
And that’s how it stayed as BOTH team qualified for the last-16.

EURO 2020 FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

Ronaldo is enjoying a stunning Euro 2020 so farCredit: Getty

Ronaldo smashes home from the spotCredit: Getty
CR7 celebrates his latest landmark strikeCredit: Reuters

Portugal’s skipper netted a late double against Hungary on matchday one.
He then managed another against Germany, in addition to an assist in his side’s 4-2 defeat.
His latest puts him top of the charts – as well as equalling Daei’s record of international goals.
The Iranian, 52, managed 109 in 149 caps for his country between 1993 and 2006.
Ronaldo’s double tonight moved him onto 109 in 178 outings for his country since debuting in 2003.

Ronaldo wheels away after scoring against Germany on matchday twoCredit: AP

⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Watch Cristiano Ronaldo take camera off photographer and joke he’s better snapper after taking pic of Portugal star Pepe More

RIO FERDINAND has claimed that France’s penalty in their Euro 2020 clash with Portugal was a ‘terrible decision’.But the England legend admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo’s first spot-kick that opened the scoring was fair because of Hugo Lloris’ ‘recklessness’.
Rio Ferdinand slammed Hugo Lloris for conceding a penalty against PortugalCredit: Getty
The England legend didn’t think there was enough in the challenge on MbappeCredit: BBC
France conceded the first of three pens after Spurs captain Lloris caught Danilo in the head attempting to clear the ball from a corner.
But speaking at half-time, BBC pundits Alan Shearer and Ferdinand both felt it was a stonewall spot-kick.
Shearer said: “I think it’s a pen. Lloris has mistimed coming out and whacked him in the face”, while Rio added: “That’s GBH”.
Manchester United icon Ferdinand then agreed with his former teammate Frank Lampard that ‘keepers have been given leeway for years’.
Ferdinand said: “Goalkeepers are a protected species aren’t they. It was dangerous, reckless and I’m pleased it was given.”
However, the 42-year-old couldn’t say the same for France’s penalty after Nelson Semedo was penalised for body checking Kylian Mbappe.
Karim Benzema stepped up to convert but asked for his thoughts, Ferdinand added: “This is a terrible decision.

EURO 2020 FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

“I don’t think there’s any doubt in any of our minds. It’s good defending from Semedo, I’ve been critical of him. That’s not a penalty for me.”
Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz – who officiated the Champions League final – ultimately gave a third penalty after the break.
Jules Kounde was adjudged to have handled the ball and Ronaldo bagged his second of the night to rescue a 2-2 draw with France.
That result saw both teams, as well as Germany, progress from Group F into the last 16.
The clash was the first time in Euros history that three penalties had been awarded in one game.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Gary Neville says England’s next match at Euro 2020 is bad news for the country More

ALAN SHEARER believes England are not the only top team at Euro 2020 to have shown negatives so far.The former England striker praised Gareth Southgate for his improvement of The Three Lions defence.
Alan Shearer has seen flaws in France and Portugal, as well as England
Gareth Southgate’s defensive approach has produced two goals in three games
England did not concede a goal in their three group stage games but only scored twice, with Raheem Sterling getting both.
Shearer recognised the improvement in defence has come at a cost to the attack, but was quick to point out even the best teams have flaws.
During the BBC’s coverage of Portugal vs France, he said: “I’m sure Gareth has looked at it and thought if England had a weakness it was defensively. They’ve done very well with that.
“It’s taken a bit away from the attacking side but … there’s plenty of positives to look forward to.
“Look at the teams tonight in Portugal and France. They have their downsides too.”
Of the favourites to win the competition, Italy are the only other country not to have conceded a goal so far.
France and Portugal both showed vulnerabilities in their clash on Wednesday – Paul Pogba exploited Fernando Santos’ side with his passing.
England’s Round of 16 opponents, Germany, have also looked far from their best in this edition of the Euros.
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
⚽Get ALL of the latest England news and updates from Euro 2020

They rolled over Portugal but were comfortable beaten by France and needed a late equaliser against Hunagry to qualify.
Southgate has just under a week to prepare for the match and has a variety of options to choose from, both in personnel and tactically.
Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell will be available for the Wembley clash after being forced to self-isolate against Czech Republic.

⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Gary Neville says England’s next match at Euro 2020 is bad news for the country More

CRISTIANO RONALDO dragged Portugal back off the ropes to keep their Euros title defence alive.But VAR and Spanish referee Antonio Lahoz did their best to upstage the tournament’s biggest star as Group F drew to a thrilling close.
Ronaldo netted twice to send Portugal through to the second roundCredit: AP
Benzema cancelled out Ronaldo’s two penaltiesCredit: Getty

Ronaldo scored a penalty in each half and lucky he did for at one point Portugal were heading home on a night of twists and turns.
It was a battle for the knockout stage in every sense.
Tottenham’s French keeper Hugo Lloris kicked it all off by flooring midfielder Danilo with the sort of punch Anthony Joshua would be proud to call his own.
It became the first of three penalties – two of which were highly debatable – and a classy goal from France veteran Karim Benzema which was initially ruled out for offside, only for VAR to overturn the decision.
Once the whistles finally blew in the two simultaneous matches, Portugal scraped through to the last 16.
It is only now that the tournament gets really serious but the Euro 2016 title holders must already feel like they have sweated enough to keep their hands on the trophy.
All the while France could swagger around safe in the knowledge that come what may they had already qualified.
And for the first 25 minutes it looked as if the reigning world champions would draw the sting out of any threat and ease this match through from start to finish.

Ronaldo’s ruthlessness from the spot proved key for PortugalCredit: Getty
Benzema was the key man for France as they advanced through to the last 16Credit: AP
But France captain Lloris tossed that plan into the air by launching himself horizontal in mid-air as a free kick from Joao Moutinho was propelled into the box.
The next sight was giant Portuguese midfielder Danilo lying prone on the deck having taken a mighty right hook square on the jaw.
The poor man’s plight seemed forgotten as ref Lahoz immediately signalled a penalty amid animated French protests led by Paul Pogba.
VAR gave the ref the nod and as a rather sore and dazed Danilo weaved his way off the pitch, clutching an ice pack to his face, his captain Ronaldo was already placing the ball on the spot.
As he gets older, the world’s most remarkable, ageless football gets ever more determined to succeed and break new ground.
His first goal against France in seven games also made him the most prolific European goalscorer at major tournaments, overtaking Germany legend Miroslav Klose to move onto 20.
Lloris claimed Danilo had got to the ball first and that he was merely following through as he wiped out the much bigger man.
But VAR backed up the ref who, 16 minutes later, was at the centre of the drama again when he gave France a way back into the match with a penalty decision that he will look back on with embarrassment in years to come.
Kylian Mbappe clearly went looking for it as he clattered to the ground under the slightest brush from Portugal defender Nelson Semedo.
Lahoz gave three penalties in a highly dramatic encounter at the Puskas ArenaCredit: Getty
Ronaldo and Benzema embraced as the stars of the show on Wednesday nightCredit: Getty
Yet the video analysts at VAR central again stuck by their man in the face of fierce protests. Karim Benzema tucked away from the spot two minutes into first half injury time.
It was Benzema’s first goal of Euro 2020 and his first successful spot kick in four attempts.
Benzema then put France 2-1 up and it was only fitting that his clinical strike had to be argued over for offside by VAR before being granted.
At that point Portugal were heading out, bottom of the group with Ronaldo’s dream and his country’s ambitions in tatters.
But as happens so often in top level sport, when the need is greatest, the greatest step up and Ronaldo has never shied away from hogging the limelight.
It was his cross from the by-line which flicked against the hand of France defender Joules Kounde for the third penalty of the game.
The least controversial of them all, Ronaldo drilled home his second of the game for his 109th international goal.
Lloris clearly believed a player as grand as Ronaldo would not put it in the same place and ended up diving the wrong way as Portugal came roaring back at two each.
Germany’s draw against Hungary in Munich had the final say and allowed both of these teams to draw breath and go through.
⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog

Gary Neville says England’s next match at Euro 2020 is bad news for the country More

THE great escape…but for once every English fan will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of meeting their old rival again.Leon Goretzka’s late, late leveller may have saved German skins last night and teed up the last 16 tie with Gareth Southgate’s side that everyone expected.
Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka might rarely have struck a more important or timely goal on home turf as he rescues GermanyCredit: Getty

Joy and despair as Kevin Volland and Joshua Kimmich celebrate Germany’s leveller while Hungary keeper Peter Gulacsi can’t believe itCredit: Getty
Leon Goretzka hails his crucial equaliser to set up a clash with EnglandCredit: AP
Yet the Three Lions will be anything but quaking at the prospect of Tuesday’s Wembley showdown. Positively relishing the thought, more like.
For Joachim Low’s team didn’t storm into the knockout stages, they stuttered and stumbled their way out of the Group of Death.
And if it hadn’t been for the most cruel and heartbreaking of strikes from substitute Goretzka, just eight minutes from time, they would have been out.
They trailed Hungary for nearly an hour, then fell behind again…and were a team in utter panic and staring at the exit when Goretzka finally rescued their tournament.
Behind to Adam Szalai’s tenth minute stunner, back from the brink thanks to Kai Havertz, and then down again 60 seconds later thanks to Andras Schafer.
So regardless of Goretzka stepping up as their saviour. There was very little for England to be scared about last night in Munich.

Andras Schafer thuds his header past outcoming Germany keeper Manuel Neuer to put Hungary 2-1 upCredit: AP
And to think, no-one really believed Joachim Low when he insisted it would be far from the stroll many predicted.
Low’s men might have to wait, we all thought, but it would only be a matter of time, for all their opponents were a superbly organised, well drilled unit.
But this Germany is a world away from those ones of old. The teams who might stumble now and again, yet never actually went face down when it really mattered.
Their last tournament had ended in embarrassment, when two late South Korean goals condemned them to a group stage World Cup exit in 2018.
Even so, no way could it happen again…could it? Once bitten, twice shy and all that. A different competition, a different set of players, a different attitude.
After their early 2018 World Cup exit, they couldn’t crash out of two successive tournaments before reaching the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
Andras Schaefer roars with joy after instantly restoring Hungary’s leadCredit: Getty
Adam Szalai celebrates his opener for outsiders HungaryCredit: Getty
Not against the 18-1 no-hopers who haven’t had a footballing superstar since the days of Ference Puskas 75 years ago. Ultimately no, but they should have gone out.
Germany had flown from the traps and Joshua Kimmich controlled superbly and fired in a snapshot that needed the strongest of right hands from Peter Gulacsi to turn away.
But – just as Portugal had proved four days earlier – they are hugely open to a quickfire counter. So it proved once again.
Roland Sallai swapped passes with wing back Nego, before taking the most deliberate aim to the one Hungarian in the opposing box.
Szalai launched himself between Matthias Ginter and Mats Hummels, and his stooping, diving header pinged off the sodden Munich turf and arrowed into the corner.
Striker Adam Szalai dives in for Hungary’s classy breakthroughCredit: Getty
Anothe angle as Adam Szalai lunges to net one of the most important goals of his careerCredit: Reuters
Kai Havertz has the simple job of nodding Germany levelCredit: Getty
Their last tournament had ended in embarrassment, when two late South Korean goals condemned them to a group stage World Cup exit in 2018.
Even so, no way could it happen again…could it? Once bitten, twice shy and all that. A different competition, a different set of players, a different attitude.
After their early 2018 World Cup exit, they couldn’t crash out of two successive tournaments before reaching the knockout stage for the first time in their history.
Not against the 18-1 no-hopers who haven’t had a footballing superstar since the days of Ference Puskas 75 years ago. Ultimately no, but they should have gone out.
Germany had flown from the traps and Joshua Kimmich controlled superbly and fired in a snapshot that needed the strongest of right hands from Peter Gulacsi to turn away.

EURO 2020 FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS

But – just as Portugal had proved four days earlier – they are hugely open to a quickfire counter. So it proved once again.
Roland Sallai swapped passes with wing back Nego, before taking the most deliberate aim to the one Hungarian in the opposing box.
Szalai launched himself between Matthias Ginter and Mats Hummels, and his stooping, diving header pinged off the sodden Munich turf and arrowed into the corner.
How the top pundits of the two channels stack up against each other
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More

ENGLAND will face bitter rivals Germany in the Euro 2020 Round of 16 at Wembley at 5pm next Tuesday. The Three Lions faced a nervous wait this evening to find out their next opponents, after winning Group D by beating the Czech Republic last night.
⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog
Joshua Kimmich shows what qualification means to the German campCredit: Getty
Gareth Southgate’s side face a tough task in the Round of 16

And the identity of their last-16 opposition has been revealed as Germany, after their dramatic 2-2 draw with Hungary.
The two old rivals met in arguably the old Wembley’s most famous-ever occasion, when England beat Germany in the 1966 World Cup final.
And now Gareth Southgate’s side will have the chance to make history at the new version of England’s famous national stadium.
The Three Lions boss can also help erase painful memories of Euro 96, during which he infamously missed the crucial penalty as his side crashed out to the Germans in the semi-finals.
Not to mention painful defeats in the quarters in 1970, on penalties in Italia 90… and Frank Lampard’s ghost goal in 2010.
England have so far kept it tight in defence, keeping three clean sheets in the group stage of a tournament for the first time since the 1966 World Cup.
But they will now face their toughest test yet, when the likes of Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane and Thomas Muller come to town.
Should they get through, England could enjoy a dream route to the final.
With victory over the Germans, the Three Lions would face a quarter-final against either the Group E winners Sweden third-place lucky losers Ukraine.

England beat the Germans at Wembley in 1966Credit: Hulton Archive – Getty
Gareth Southgate rues his Euro 96 penalty missCredit: Getty

Then in the semis, England are in the same half of the draw as Wales – with a potential clash in front of 60,000 fans at Wembley on July 7.
The Welsh play Denmark in Amsterdam on Saturday in their last-16 clash.
The winners of that will face either Holland or England’s group rivals the Czechs in the quarters.
That leaves favourites France in the other half of the draw, along with giants Portugal, Belgium, Italy and Spain.
If all goes well, England could be facing one of them at the end of the glorious summer, in the final at Wembley on July 11.
Germany celebrate sneaking through against HungaryCredit: Getty
Joachim Low’s side will travel to Wembley next TuesdayCredit: Getty
The identity of the Three Lions’ Round of 16 opponents threatened to change a number of times on a night of twists and turns in Group F.
With Hungary twice leading against the Germans, it looked as though it could be the underdogs that were to travel to Wembley next week.
But Leon Goretzka’s equaliser just six minutes from the end spoiled the Hungarian’s dreams.
When Portugal led World Champions France in the first half of the group’s other match, it was the French that would have been hopping across the Channel to play Southgate’s men.
But their spirited fight back, helped by a dodgy penalty decision, saw France win the group, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal also through in third position.

⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds More