Euro 2020

ENGLAND are through to the last-16 of Euro 2020 after topping Group D.And they could now have a DREAM route to Wembley glory next month… if they survive their last-16 clash with Germany.
⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog

England won their Euro 2020 opener thanks to Raheem Sterling’s goal against CroatiaCredit: AP
Gareth Southgate has led the Three Lions to victories over Croatia and Czech Republic, with a hard-fought draw over Scotland sandwiched in between.
And we’ve taken a look at what lies ahead for England in their quest to win a first major tournament since the 1966 World Cup.
England finished top of Group D after Tuesday night’s win at Wembley.
As a result, they face the unenviable challenge of taking on the runners-up in the feared Group F.
And on a rollercoaster night of action on Wednesday, England looked set to facing each of France, Portugal, Germany and Hungary at different stages.
But come full-time it is, somewhat inevitably, a clash with our old enemies the Germans awaiting Southgate’s Lions.

That blockbuster takes place next Tuesday at Wembley, kicking off at 5pm.
If England can break with tradition and win, they will play their quarter-final clash against either Group E winners Sweden or 3rd-place qualifiers Ukraine.
England beat the Swedes at the same stage in the last World Cup, as Harry Maguire and Dele Alli netted in a 2-0 win.
That clash would take place on July 3, with kick-off in Rome at 8pm.

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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.

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

Gareth Southgate reacts to England finishing top of Group D after beating Czech Republic More

PAUL POGBA delivered a stunning ball through to Karim Benzema to set up France’s second goal against Portugal. The Manchester United star lofted a ball over the defence and Benzema timed his run to perfection to score.

Karim Benzema slots home after Paul Pogba’s passCredit: EPA
It was a sensational delivery from Pogba and Benzema was just onside despite the flag initially going up.
Pogba had served warning to Portugal in the first half when his raking through ball released Kylian Mbappe but goalkeeper Rui Patricio denied the striker.
Benzema’s second goal of the night gave France a 2-1 lead after Cristiano Ronaldo’s first-half penalty was cancelled out by Benzema’s spot-kick.
But Ronaldo came up trumps again as he converted another penalty to become the joint top scorer in men’s international football.

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His equaliser salvaged a 2-2 draw which was enough to send Portugal through in third with France winning the group.
A thrilling 2-2 draw between Germany and Hungary enabled the hosts to squeeze into the second round.
And Germany’s point helped them finish second and set up a huge showdown next Tuesday with England at Wembley.
⚽Get ALL of the latest France news and updates from Euro 2020
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CRISTIANO RONALDO was pelted with objects by fans as he celebrated his second goal during Portugal’s crunch game against France.The Juventus superstar was interrupted during his second jump in the air and swivel of the night after he was struck in the back by cups.
Cristiano Ronaldo was pelted with objects as he celebrated Portugal’s second against FranceCredit: AFP
The Juventus star was forced to back out of his signature pirouette after he was struckCredit: BBC
Ronaldo then angrily turned to face the fans to continue his celebrationCredit: BBC
SunSport previously reported that Ronaldo had beaten Miroslav Klose’s record of goals in tournament football with his first pen of the game.
The 36-year-old 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 after Hugo Lloris clattered Danilo Pereira at a set piece.
But Ronaldo wasn’t allowed to whip out his iconic ‘Sii’ celebration again in the second half following a Jules Kounde handball.
The former Real Madrid star was forced to back out of his signature pirouette after he was struck from behind by a series of flying cups.

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Ronaldo then angrily turned to face the fans to continue his celebration but was later seen rubbing the back of his head in pain.
Fortunately for the forward, the damage proved minimal and his country held on to earn qualification from Group F following their 2-2 draw.
Ronaldo’s two penalties on either side of former teammate Karim Benzema’s double was enough to earn both teams a share of the spoils.

His two spot kicks tonight moved him onto 109 in 178 outings for his country since debuting in 2003.
Germany meanwhile also qualified from the group after they twice pegged back Hungary in Munich.
Joachim Low’s men have now set a date with England at Wembley next Tuesday after they finished as runners-up.
Pitch invader crashes Germany vs Hungary carrying pride flag after controversial Uefa rainbow stadium ban More

RIO FERDINAND claims Cristiano Ronaldo sends texts asking why Gary Lineker thinks Lionel Messi is than him.Lineker famously prefers the Barcelona forward over Ronaldo, suggesting in 2020 that the debate is ‘not even close’.
Cristiano Ronaldo will not appreciate Gary Lineker rating Lionel Messi above him, says Rio Ferdinand
Messi boasts the record for most Ballon d’Or wins, with six
Ferdinand and Lineker discussed Ronaldo’s prowess on the BBC’s coverage of Portugal vs France, alongside Frank Lampard.
And touching on CR7’s competitive nature, Ferdinand hinted that the Portugal striker will not be happy with Lineker’s opinion of him.
Ferdinand said: “He (Ronaldo) was an obsessed human in terms of becoming the best.
“He’s a phenomenal player but someone who thinks about everything in the game to get every little bit out of himself.
“It’s a great example and he uses negativity as fuel. You (Lineker) say Messi is the better out of the two. He will text me saying ‘why has he said that?’
“It’s his competitive nature and you need that to be the best.”
The debate over whether Ronaldo or Messi is the best player in the world, or indeed the greatest of all time, has rumbled on for years.

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⚽Get ALL of the latest Portugal news and updates from Euro 2020
Ferdinand spent six years playing with Ronaldo at Manchester United

Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or fives times, one less than rival Messi, but his last title came in 2017.
And the pair’s rivalry has also declined slightly as a result of Ronaldo’s switch to Serie A in 2018.
But Barcelona are plotting an extraordinary move to pit the pair against each other once more, as they are keen on signing Ronaldo this summer.
⚽ 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

THERE’S no topping Romelu Lukaku for answering the big questions.Having already taken the rolling pin to those asking if he might join Chelsea or Manchester City, the Belgium superstar has now tackled the pineapple-on-pizza poser.
Belgium and Inter Milan superstar Romelu Lukaku went sour when quizzed about pineapple, and equally cut short a question about joining Man CityCredit: Getty
Romelu Lukaku has strongly ruled out a transfer to eating pineapple on pizzaCredit: Getty
The Inter Milan striker showed he has a taste for Italian tradition with his emphatic response during a Twitter Q&A.
Quizzed if the sweet-and-sour combo was acceptable, he replied with relish: “HELL NO”.
Perhaps the ex-Chelsea and Manchester United hitman was still simmering after being asked by former Etihad winger Trevor Sinclair online about switching to the Premier League champs.
Ex-England star Sinclair queried: “Fancy the blue half of Manchester Rom?”
Lukaku simply replied: “I am happy at Inter” – along with a smiling emoji.  
The 28-year-old has already insisted he will stay with Serie A kings Inter – despite talk that Chelsea are willing to sell SIX players to fund a bid.
Lukaku told VTM’s ‘Devil Time’ show: “I am staying at Inter.  
Footballers’ Pizza XIThis tasty line-up of stars is one to savour – but what would THEIR views be on pineapple on pizza?
Nectar BellerinNathan BakeMargherita CrouchSnack GrealishFries MertensAntoine Greasy-main dishChef HurstCrusty-ano RonaldoRaheem Stir-friedMario TagliatelleChewy Suarez

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“I’ve already had contact with new manager [Simone] Inzaghi… it was a very positive conversation.”
But whatever his future, it’s great to see Lukaku having enough time to be grilled on pizza while on Euro 2020 duty.
Slice work if you can get it.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Romelu Lukaku dedicates goal to Inter Milan team-mate Christian Eriksen as he scores for Belgium against Russia More

GARY NEVILLE has admitted that England’s Round of 16 draw is ‘not great’.The Three Lions won Group D last night, courtesy of their 1-0 win over the Czech Republic at Wembley.
⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog
Gary Neville isn’t too pleased with who England could face in the Round of 16Credit: ITV
But their reward is likely a hellish second round clash with France, Germany or Portugal – unless Hungary pull off a shock tonight in Munich.
Asked by ITV host Mark Pougatch whether England’s draw is any worse than if they’d have faced Spain, as they would have if they’d come second, Neville was not convinced.
The former Manchester United star, 46, said: “Mark, it’s not great.
“We’ll hear all the old adages over the next week that you’ve got to beat them all on the way to get to the final.
“But this is not great for England to have to play one of these teams at this stage.
“To get to the semi-finals, where you’re really in with a chance of getting to the final and winning it, you want to try and stay clear of these types of teams.”
Neville then ranked the three sides in order of who he’d most like England to face.
He added: “You’d go Portugal, then Germany, then France.

The Three Lions are unbeaten and yet to concede a goalCredit: Rex
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“But honestly, each of those teams could beat England on their day and I think England could beat each of those teams on their day.
“It gets more difficult with France I think.”
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 whoever they face in the Round of 16 are set to provide a step up in class for the Three Lions defence to face.

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

Raheem Sterling adamant England aren’t afraid of France, Germany and Portugal in Euro 2020 last-16 More

A PITCH invader crashed Germany’s clash against Hungary tonight carrying a rainbow flag after UEFA’s controversial ban.Euro bosses had controversially refused to give permission for the LGBTIQ+ colours to light up Bayern Munich’s home in the Group F.
A pitch invader carrying a rainbow flag appeared ahead of Germany’s match with HungaryCredit: Reuters
The fan held the colours aloft during the Hungarian national anthem ahead of kick-offCredit: AP
The supporter received loud cheers from the crowd before he was tackled by stewardsCredit: Getty
Munich mayor Dieter Reiter had approved the gesture as a rebuke to the vote in the Hungarian parliament which banned content promoting homosexuality and/or gender change to Under-18s.
UEFA said that was a “political” gesture and therefore banned, despite having previously agreed Germany skipper Manuel Neuer COULD wear a rainbow armband because it was “not political”.
In response, German clubs are lighting their stadiums up in rainbow colours in response to football’s governing body handling of tonight’s game.
Meanwhile, Rainbow flags were handed out to supporters attending the final group stage fixture in Munich.

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And one fan made it onto the field holding the colours aloft in front of Hungary’s players during their national anthem.
The pitch invader was greeted with loud cheers from the German supporters in the Allianz Arena before he was tackled by security.
The incident comes after UEFA were been accused of ‘staggering failure’ for insisting they DO support the LGBTIQ+ rainbow.
European Gay and Lesbian Sport Federation Hugh Torrance told SunSport: “UEFA’s response has not lived up to any of the outcomes we sought, and it has failed in any meaningful way to address the fundamental issues that we have raised with them.

“To claim to have respect for the rainbow colours without addressing any of the issues which gave rise to the letter to them in the first place, without naming homophobia, and without being able to mention LGBTIQ+ people directly, is a staggering failure.
“If you are going to say that you support LGBTIQ+ people, you need to be able to oppose anti-LGBTIQ+ laws and you need to not prevent actions which oppose oppressive behaviours and actions against us.
“We strongly urge UEFA to recognise their power and reconsider their position on this, and to work in partnership with the communities they purport to support.”
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