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      Euro 2020 Group A LIVE TABLE AND STANDINGS: Final standings as Wales pip Switzerland to second place

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      WALES are through to the Last 16 at the Euros despite losing 1-0 to Italy.Because of a superior goal difference ahead of Switzerland, Wales are into the next round as group runners up.
      Wales are through to the Last 16
      Group A live table

      How many teams qualify from Euro 2020 Group A?
      A minimum of two teams will qualify from Euro 2020 Group A.
      The best four third placed teams will also progress to the knockout stages.

      Group A fixtures and results
      Friday, June 11
      Turkey 0 Italy 3
      Saturday, June 12
      Wales 1 Switzerland 1
      Wednesday, June 16
      Turkey 0 Wales 2
      Italy 3 Switzerland 0
      Sunday, June 20
      Italy 1 Wales 0
      Switzerland 3 Turkey 1 More

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      Switzerland 3 Turkey 1: Watch Xherdan Shaqiri net two stunners but Swiss face nervous wait after missing 2nd spot

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      TURKEY have crashed out of Euro 2020 after Xherdan Shaqiri’s spectacular double helped ensure Switzerland’s victory. Fancied by many as the tournament’s ‘dark horse’, they fell behind on six minutes through Haris Seferovic’s left-footed strike in Baku.

      Xherdan Shaqiri scored a brilliant effort to put Switzerland 2-0 aheadCredit: EPA
      The Liverpool midfielder is no stranger to a wonder goalCredit: Getty
      But the moment of the match fell to Shaqiri with a superb trademark strike.
      Picking the ball up on the edge of the box, the Liverpool ace curled an unstoppable effort into the top corner to double Switzerland’s advantage on 26 minutes.
      Turkey, who needed to win to stand any chance of progressing, handed themselves a lifeline through Irfan Kahveci in the second half.
      In a game of spectacular goals, Kahveci would rival Shaqiri by curling an effort over the impressive Yann Sommer from 25-yards.
      But Shaqiri ensured there would be no heroic comeback when he fired in a brilliant second just six minutes later.
      With Turkey pushing for an equaliser, Switzerland hit them on the counter with Shaqiri hitting a first time effort into the roof of the net.
      And with that goal, he ensured he became his country’s top scorer at major tournaments with seven.
      Haris Seferovic opened the scoring for Switzerland after just six minutesCredit: EPA
      Switzerland celebrate taking the lead in their crucial group clashCredit: Reuters
      Irfan Kahveci curled an unstoppable strike into the top corner to give Turkey hopeCredit: Reuters
      Switzerland’s talisman fired in his second – but they couldn’t secure second spotCredit: Reuters

      Despite his heroics, it will now be a nervous wait for the Swiss after they missed out on second spot despite Wales’ 1-0 defeat against Italy.
      Both teams finished on four points but Wales booked their qualification to the knockouts with a better goal difference.
      Turkey are the second team to crash out of the tournament after North Macedonia.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Croatia fans hired private jet to fly to Euro 2020 clash with Czech Republic in Glasgow but ended up in Prague instead

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      A GROUP of Croatia fans hired a private plane to take them to Scotland for the clash with Czech Republic – only for them to watch it in Prague instead.After the opening day defeat to England, the 2018 World Cup finalists needed something from their second Group D clash on Friday.
      Four Croatia fans hired a jet to take them to Glasgow for their game with Czech RepublicCredit: Getty
      The plane was denied entry to Glasgow and instead flew them 1,1178 miles to Prague to watch the clashCredit: Getty
      Patrick Schick put Czech Republic ahead at Glasgow’s Hampden Park but Ivan Perisic kept alive Croatia’s Euro 2020 hopes with a second half equaliser to earn a point.
      Sebastian Jagic Njare, his brother Simo and friends Domagoj Raljevic and Luka Vojvodic decided that the game was a must-see.
      And after securing match tickets, they then decided to book a private jet to fly them from Zemun Airport on Friday morning for the showdown.
      But after travelling to Serbia and enjoying a smooth take off, things hit a snag once they arrived in Scotland.
      And amazingly they ended up watching the game with their rival supporters 1,178 MILES AWAY!
      Sebastian revealed their incredible adventure from the Czech capital to Zadarski.hr, saying: “We rented a private plane to go to watch the Croatia-Czech Republic match in Glasgow.
      “We already had tickets and were crazy with happiness, it’s a Czech company, and we got a discount – it was easier to agree with them than with our women to let us go.
      “When we arrived over Scotland, the pilot told us that he had just been informed that we had to leave Scottish airspace because due to the pandemic, they were not allowing us to land and arrive.

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      “Man, what a disappointment that was! Firstly, we will not watch the match, and secondly, ‘who will return from shame now and watch the match from Zadar? From Zemunik, maybe? Hahaha, that was out of the question.”
      The Croatia fan continued: “We were thinking in the air, on the plane, where to tell the pilot to take us. And we decided to ask permission to enter the Czech Republic.
      “And here we are in Prague, we watched the game there, with Czech fans.
      “Everything happened to us, but we chose Prague because of the pub, Flek, where Hajduk was founded, we decided to watch the game there.
      “And the pilot was OK – he came from Prague to pick us up this morning in Zemunik.”
      He added: “It’s no small thing to collect so much money and beg our women to let us go. And then we can’t go to the game. And we are passionate fans.
      “Well, here we are in Prague, and now we are having a great time.”
      Croatia face Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday night in a straight shoot-out for qualification with both teams on a point apiece.
      ⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog
      England’s record over the past 11 tournaments on ITV has been poor
      Maya Jama says ‘Scotland v Croatia’ instead of Czech Republic during Euros show gaffe More

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      Man Utd warned off Declan Rice transfer as legend Nicky Butt insists England star is no better than Scott McTominay

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      MANCHESTER UNITED should NOT sign West Ham star Declan Rice, according to club legend Nicky Butt.The former Red Devils midfielder believes Scotland international Scott McTominay is just as good as his English contemporary.
      Nicky Butt doesn’t want Manchester United to sign West Ham star Declan RiceCredit: Getty
      The Red Devils legend reckons Scott McTominay is just as good as the HammerCredit: Getty
      Speaking to Ladbrokes, Butt said: “I think Man United are solid enough in midfield.
      “I keep hearing things about Declan Rice, but is he a better player than Scott McTominay?
      “I’m not sure, I think with McTominay, Paul Pogba and obviously Bruno Fernandes, we [Manchester United] are in a good place in the middle of the park.”
      Rice, 22, has become one of the hottest English talents on the market since emerging at West Ham during the 2017-18 campaign.
      He’s gone on to play 131 Premier League games for the Hammers since his debut in May 2017, earning a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2020.
      And Rio Ferdinand doesn’t agree with Butt’s view, comparing Rice to United legend Michael Carrick and urging the club to sign the holding midfielder.
      The West Ham star has also been linked with Chelsea, the club he spent eight years of his youth career with before joining their London rivals in 2014.
      Rice, who played three friendlies for the Republic of Ireland before switching his international allegiance, has come under fire following England’s lacklustre draw with Scotland.

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      McTominay, meanwhile, received praise for his efforts against the Auld Enemy, playing in a back three alongside Grant Hanley and Kieran Tierney.
      Many England fans are urging manager Southgate to drop Rice, with Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira claiming England’s midfield lacks creativity.
      Ex-Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has also called for the national side to show more flare, wanting Foden to be given the freedom to express himself.
      Tottenham striker Harry Kane has also been criticised for his quiet start to the tournament, although Southgate has confirmed the skipper WILL start against Czech Republic on Tuesday, June 22.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Scotland fans taunt England duo Mings and Rice after entertaining draw at Wembley More

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      Rio Ferdinand slammed for ‘genuinely embarrassing’ punditry before drab England draw by ex-Scotland star Leanne Crichton

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      FORMER Scotland international Leanne Crichton has labelled Rio Ferdinand’s punditry as ’embarrassing’.The Manchester United legend was made to eat humble pie following England’s drab 0-0 draw with rivals Scotland on Friday.
      Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand was heavily criticised after his England vs Scotland predictionsCredit: BBC
      Before the contest, the over-confident BBC pundit predicted: “England are going to win.
      “I can’t see anything else, I’m telling you. I’ve never been this confident about a game in a major championship.”
      England then mustered just one shot on target all game with the nation’s expectations crashing back down to earth.
      And Crichton laid into Ferdinand, criticising him for lacking respect towards Steve Clarke’s side.
      She told BBC Scotland: “Some of the things that Rio Ferdinand has said are genuinely embarrassing.
      “It’s so disrespectful.
      “Kieran Tierney is an Arsenal player and is probably Arsenal’s best player.
      “Scott McTominay plays for Manchester United. Billy Gilmour could probably walk into any other team bar Chelsea.
      Leanne Crichton was heavily critical of Rio FerdinandCredit: The Sun
      England’s record over the past 11 tournaments on ITV has been poor

      “England haven’t actually won anything since ’66, yet there’s an entitlement and expectation that they should have walked over Scotland.
      “They need to have a bit of realism about where their money and resources actually takes them.”
      Crichton wasn’t the only person to hit out at Ferdinand with hundreds of Scots taking to social media to mock the former defender.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Chelsea star Havertz breaks Germany record against Portugal as dream summer continues after Champions League final win

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      CHELSEA star Kai Havertz broke a Germany record against Portugal as his dream season continued following last month’s heroics in the Champions League final.The versatile forward scored Germany’s third goal as Joachim Low’s men thrashed Euro holders Portugal 4-2 on Saturday.
      Kai Havertz became Germany’s youngest-ever Euros goalscorer with a strike against PortugalCredit: EPA
      And according to OptaJoe, Havertz is now Germany’s YOUNGEST-ever goalscorer at a European Championships.
      The Chelsea star was 22 years and 8 days old when he found the target against Portugal on Saturday.
      However, Havertz was unable to dethrone team-mate Thomas Muller, who is still the youngest-ever German to score at any major tournament.
      The Bayern Munich ace was just 20 years and 300 days when he netted against Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup.
      But Havertz won’t mind too much after his goal helped Germany edge towards a place in the Euro 2020 knockout stages after their 1-0 opening defeat to France.
      Indeed, Havertz will still be on a high after his single strike in the Champions League final was enough for Chelsea to beat Manchester City.
      Havertz only joined the Blues last summer from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee reported to worth up to £71million.
      Havertz ended up scoring nine goals in 45 games after a mixed debut season.

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      But after settling as a false nine in Thomas Tuchel’s 3-4-3 system, the future is looking bright for Germany’s latest talent.
      Havertz could find himself being moved further wide next season as Chelsea hunt an out-and-out central goalscorer.
      Erling Haaland is at the top of Tuchel’s shopping list, but the Blues may have to pay £150m to bring the Norwegian to England.
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      Hungary facing Uefa probe over allegations of vile racist and homophobic chanting by fans during Euro 2020

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      UEFA is probing alleged racism and homophobia by Hungarian fans during Euro 2020 games in Budapest.French black players were subjected to monkey chants during Saturday’s 1-1 draw.
      Hungary fans marched against taking the knee against racism – Uefa has opened an investigation into alleged racist and homophobic chantingCredit: EPA
      Right-wing and self-proclaimed Nazi groups are among Hungary’s most fervent supportersCredit: Reuters
      That followed claims of homophobic chants through last week’s defeat by Portugal.
      Budapest’s Puskas Arena is the only stadium at the tournament operating at full capacity, with crowds of 60,000.
      But right-wing and self-proclaimed Nazi groups are among Hungary’s most fervent supporters.
      One large group held a march protesting against anti-rascism gestures last week.
      And before the France game, thousands of Hungary fans set off flares and unveiled an anti-kneeling banner in the streets of Budapest.
      A number of reports in French media highlighted the racism directed at Paul Pogba, N’golo Kante, Kylian Mbappe and other black players.
      That forced Uefa into action.
      A Uefa statement announced: “In accordance with Article 31(4) of the Uefa Disciplinary Regulations, an Uefa Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to conduct a disciplinary investigation regarding potential discriminatory incidents which occurred in the Puskas Arena, Budapest, during the 2020 European Championship group stage matches between the national teams of Hungary and Portugal on 15 June 2021 and between the national teams of Hungary and France played on 19 June 2021.

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      Demonstrations took place in and around Budapest on SaturdayCredit: EPA
      There were claims of homophobic chants through last week’s defeat by PortugalCredit: Reuters
      Hungary’s players were heroes for their 1-1 draw against France – but some of their fans were far from thatCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      “Information on this matter will be made available in due course.”
      The issue is a significant cloud over the tournament and makes it even more unlikely that Uefa will take the semi-finals and Final away from Wembley and move the games to Budapest.
      Uefa and the UK Government are in discussions over demands for 2,500 sponsors, VIPs and media to avoid mandatory 10-day quarantine periods.
      It is expected that a compromise will be found with Uefa reluctant to switch the final three games at such a late stage.
      But Uefa wishes for foreign fans to be accommodated by observing 24-hour travel “bubbles” seem less likely to be met at this stage.
      Although Euro chiefs would prefer overseas fans to be allowed into the UK, it is not believed an inability to reach agreement will be a deal-breaker.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Hungary fans hold anti-kneeling banner and set off flares as thousands march in Budapest before Euro 2020 France clash More

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      Germany captain Manuel Neuer won’t be disciplined for wearing rainbow armband in support of Pride Month in Uefa U-turn

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      GERMANY captain Manuel Neuer will face no disciplinary action for wearing a rainbow coloured armband against Portugal and France.The German skipper, 35, donned the rainbow armband in support of Pride Month.
      Germany captain Manuel Neuer has been wearing a rainbow armband in support of Pride MonthCredit: AP
      But rather than throw their weight behind the cause, Uefa opened an investigation whether it could be viewed as a political statement.
      However, Uefa have now concluded there is no case to answer, given Neuer, 35, was “promoting a good cause”.
      A spokesperson said: “Uefa looked into the armband worn by the player in question and, considering that it was promoting a good cause, i.e. diversity, the team will not face disciplinary proceedings.”
      The German Football Association said it had received a letter from UEFA confirming the matter should be considered closed.
      The DFB posted on Twitter on Sunday evening: “UEFA have today shared with the DFB that they have stopped the review of the rainbow captain’s armband worn by @Manuel_Neuer.
      “In a letter, the armband has been assessed as a team symbol for diversity and thus for a ‘good cause’.”
      It had been feared that Germany could even have been FINED for their support of Pride Month with Uefa statutes prohibiting ‘political’ signs being made during matches.
      Board member of LSVD, the German Lesbian and Gay Federation, Christian Rudolph said: “That is unacceptable.
      “It is a fatal sign. We are currently in Pride Month and at the most important sporting event of the month should the wearing of a rainbow captain’s armband be prevented?
      “Uefa also needs to think about who it represents.
      “How should the athletes think about it now? We are committed to open football.
      “And this month we also want to send a signal to all the athletes from the LGBTI community.
      Neuer also wore the armband against FranceCredit: EPA
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      “It was important to us that Neuer can wear the rainbow captain’s armband for the entire month. These are now the values ​​that the DFB represents.”
      On Monday, Mayor of Munich Dieter Reiter is expected to file a cross-party motion from the city’s council to Uefa, asking them for permission to light up Allianz Arena in rainbow colours for their clash with Hungary on Wednesday.
      There are also plans for Munich City Hall to be decorated by rainbow flags.
      Last week, Hungarian parliament reportedly approved a law that ‘restricts young people’s right to information about homosexuality and transsexuality’.
      And their fans are being investigated by Uefa for alleged racist and homophobic chanting in the games against Portugal and France.

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