Euro 2020

HOLLAND fans flew a plane over the team’s training ground urging Frank De Boer to play Arsenal reject Donyell Malen against North Macedonia.The Dutch play their final Group C match on Monday and will be crowned group winners with a victory.
Dutch fans flew a message over Holland training urging Frank De Boer to play Donyell MalenCredit: Getty
The message read: “Are you so smart Frank? Play Malen!”
And their supporters are desperate to see Malen start the game.
Friday’s training session was interrupted as the small plane flew over tugging the message: “Are you so smart Frank? Play Malen!”
PSV striker Malen has come off the bench for both of Holland’s wins so far.
But is yet to start.
The 22-year-old has been banging goals in for fun at PSV since being deemed not good enough by the Gunners.
PSV signed the striker for just £500,000 in 2017, with Malen returning to his native country after just two years in the Arsenal academy.
The North Londoners brought the forward to England in 2015 from Ajax, with the player making his senior debut against Sydney FC in a pre-season game in 2017.
But he failed to convince the club he deserved a chance in the first-team – a decision they immediately regretted.

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

In his first year at PSV, he helped the Eindhoven outfit win the Eredivisie title, while also top scoring for their reserve side.
The 2018-19 campaign saw Malen become a key player, where he scored 11 goals in 42 appearances.
His fine form saw him be called up to national team, where he found the back of the net on his debut against Germany in September 2019.
After firing in 17 goals in 25 games midway through the 2019-20 season – where he scored all five in the 5-0 win over Vitesse – Arsenal were linked with bringing him back to the Emirates.
It has since been claimed Barcelona are keeping tabs on the striker.
And Borussia Dortmund could look to land Malen to replace Erling Haaland should the Norway international be sold for £150m this summer.
Meanwhile Juventus are said to have scouted Malen for the last two years, and could turn their interest into a formal offer.
Liverpool are another club that are keen on Malen, with Jurgen Klopp’s side believed to be leading the race to secure his services.
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

Euro 2020 presenter Paola Ferrari goes viral for Sharon Stone leg-crossing moment but denies not wearing underwear More

WOJCIECH SZCZESNY was spotted with a cigarette in his mouth just hours before facing Spain.The Poland goalkeeper carried a packet of cigs in his hand as he left the team hotel in Sopot before flying for the Euro 2020 game in Seville.
Wojciech Szczesny was spotted with a cigarette in his hand ahead of Poland vs SpainCredit: Splash
The goalkeeper popped one ciggy into his mouth while wearing a black capCredit: Splash
He was pictured carrying a packet outside the national team’s hotelCredit: Splash
And he popped one ciggy in between his lips in front of team-mates outside the team bus.
Szczesny, 31, was wearing his Poland national team training gear – a red t-shirt with black tracksuit bottoms – with red Nike trainers and a black cap.
The ex-Arsenal goalkeeper was caught smoking at least twice during his Gunners career.
As exclusively revealed by SunSport, Arsene Wenger fined the 6ft 5ins stopper £20,000 after he lit up in the dressing room showers following defeat to Southampton on New Year’s Day in 2015.
He did not play another Premier League game for the club.
And then ahead of Poland’s Euro 2016 opener, Szczesny sparked up again.
The goalkeeper joined Roma on loan from 2015 to 2017 before signing for Juventus on a permanent deal.
Opening up on the St Mary’s incident on the Arsenal Nation podcast last year, he said: “Back at that time I was smoking regularly and the boss knew it very well.

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

Szczesny was wearing the Poland training gear of a red tee and black tracksuit bottomsCredit: Splash
The photos were taken with the ex-Arsenal goalkeeper outside the team bus before the trip to SevilleCredit: Splash

“He just didn’t want anybody smoking in the dressing rooms and I knew that also.
“Because of the emotion of the game, I had a cigarette after the game when the team was still in.
“I went in the corner of the showers, so it was at the other end of the dressing room and nobody could see me, and I lit one up.
“Somebody saw me, it wasn’t even the boss himself, and just reported it back to the boss.
“I saw him a couple of days later, he asked me if that was true and I said ‘yes’.

“He fined me and that was the end of it.
“He then said, ‘Look, you’re going to be out of the team for a little bit’, but there was no big bust-ups or big confrontations.
“I was very professional about it.”
Szczesny put his Euros curse behind him as Poland earned a 1-1 draw in Spain on Saturday night with Gerard Moreno hitting the post with a penalty.
The goalkeeper had been sent off, got injured and scored an own goal in his three previous games in the tournament.
There were team-mates around when the goalie decided to get the cigarette outCredit: Splash
Szczesny was caught smoking during his time at Arsenal and duly finedCredit: Splash
He played the full 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw in SevilleCredit: AP
Wojciech Szczesny smashes free-kick in top corner… and offers to give Cristiano Ronaldo tips More

SCOTLAND defender Stephen O’Donnell has revealed the secret to stopping Jack Grealish… shower the England pin-up with compliments.The Motherwell wing-back was on his last legs when Grealish was introduced as a 63rd minute substitute for Phil Foden during Friday’s goalless draw at Wembley.
Club mates Grealish and McGinn clashed at WembleyCredit: Getty
Stephen O’Donnell produced an excellent performance at WembleyCredit: The Sun
And that’s when he took the advice of Grealish’s Villa pal John McGinn to keep his team’s Euro hopes alive.
O’Donnell admitted: “John had told me that if Jack came on I needed to get nibbling in his ear straight away.
“But he warned me that I had to be complimentary rather than critical because if I told him he was hopeless or kicked him really hard he would just get up and get back at me.
“So all the time he was on I was telling him how good looking he was and asking him how he got his hair to look like that.
“I was also telling him how much I loved his legs because I noticed that he doesn’t shave his calves.
“Most boys shave their legs because it’s better for the masseurs but Jack has massive calves and plays with his socks rolled down.
“So I said to him that they must be something special because he doesn’t shave them and yet they still get spoken about all the time!”
Yet it wasn’t all sweet nothings from O’Donnell, who was booked for an 86th minute foul on Grealish as Scotland clung on for the point which leaves them in with a chance of qualifying for the knock-out round tomorrow.
Jack Grealish doesn’t like being called a pretty boyCredit: Getty

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

He admitted: “Jack had just come on and was nice and fresh and when fresh wingers come on you’re usually a bit tired.
“By that stage I was getting fed up with him trying to take the mickey out of me so I thought ‘I need to give him a hit here’. And that’s what I did.”
O’Donnell had been widely criticised for his performance during 2-0 defeat by the Czech Republic during Scotland’s opening Group D game last Monday.
But he justified the faith of manager Steve Clarke at Wembley and almost pinched a memorable victory for his nation when he drew the save of the match from England keeper Jordan Pickford.
O’Donnell went through Grealish late onCredit: Reuters
O’Donnell came close to scoring in the first-halfCredit: EPA
He laughed: “If that one had gone in I would have walked off the pitch then and there because my career could never get any better than that.”
Now Scotland must beat Croatia in their final group game at Hampden tomorrow to qualify for the knock-out stages of a major international tournament for the first time in their history.
O’Donnell says: “The mood in the camp is certainly better than it was after the first game against the Czechs.
“We went to Wembley needing a result to stay in the competition and that’s what we got.
“We’re slightly disappointed not to have taken all three points but the draw has given us the opportunity to qualify on Tuesday and that’s massive.
“Like England, Croatia are a team who have bags and bags of quality, so we need to approach this game with caution.
“They were in the World Cup final three years ago so we know it’s going to be a tough game, but one we will go into with optimism.”
And maybe a few words of flattery for Luka Modric and his chums.
Scotland will have to keep Luka Modric and Co quiet at HampdenCredit: Rex
⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
Jack Grealish misses England training as Aston Villa star continues to manage Euros fitness More

GRAEME SOUNESS has insisted that moaning Bruno Fernandes ‘would not have lasted five minutes in my dressing room’ after his latest display for Portugal.The 26-year-old started for his country yesterday against Germany but was subbed off in the second half of their 4-2 Euro 2020 defeat.
Graeme Souness says Bruno Fernandes ‘would not have lasted five minutes in my dressing room’Credit: BBC
The Portuguese star cut a frustrated figure as his country lost to GermanyCredit: EPA
Fernandes moved to Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020 and has shone at Old Trafford.
The attacker has scored 40 goals and produced 25 assists in his 80 appearances for the Red Devils.
His club boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also hailed the star’s leadership qualities in the dressing-room – but ex-Liverpool manager Souness is less impressed.
Fernandes cut a frustrated figure in the loss to the Germans, and the Scotsman hit out at the way he acts towards his teammates when he does not get the ball.
Speaking on ITV Sport, Souness said: “He’s an exceptionally talented boy, there is so much to like about him.
“A great striker of the ball, when he shoots he makes the goalkeeper work.
“I played with players that would not be accepting of the thing you just touched on [petulance], you know he doesn’t get the ball and he is waving his hands around.
“He would not have lasted more than five minutes in my dressing room, but he is a wonderful talented boy.”

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

Four England players have been included in the top ten most expensive players list

Souness added: “It would be more along the lines of who do you think you are?
“We play as a team, we win together, we lose together.
“Sometimes you will make a bad pass, sometimes you will not see the whole picture.
“So all that nonsense, shaking your head and waving your arms at your own teammates, is a no no for me.”
⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog More

DALEY BLIND has hit out at claims Christian Eriksen may never be able to play again following his cardiac arrest.The Danish midfielder, 29, collapsed against Finland after suffering a cardiac arrest and has now been fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) last Saturday.
Daley Blind has hit out at those speculating Christian Eriksen may never play againCredit: Reuters
The Dane is recovering after suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Finland last weekCredit: Reuters
It remains unclear whether the former Tottenham star will be able to play football again but he has made a good recovery and was fit enough to be released from hospital on Friday.
He paid his team-mates a visit on the same day, much to the surprise of fellow midfielder Christian Norgaard.
Ajax’s ex-Manchester United ace Blind also had an ICD fitted after he suffered from on-field heart problems in the past.
The Dutchman, 31, had people suggesting that his career was over but made a successful comeback.
And he has insisted that his story is evidence it does not mean the end of Eriksen’s.
As reported by the Metro, Blind said: “When this happened to me, the whole world was telling me I was finished as a player, that I would not be able to play again.
“Look where I am today. This is why I say to everyone, ‘Leave Christian alone!’
“I felt I was ready and I felt comfortable to return once I got the green light from the doctors in the hospital and the medical staff at Ajax.
Christian Eriksen’s life was saved by the fast reactions of team-mates and medics

“There was no reason why I could not play at the top level again.
“The most important thing is that you have to feel free in your head.”
Blind added: “I had no fear. I was just incredibly happy that I was allowed to be part of the squad again and to be back in the team.
“Once the doctors tell you that you are OK to play again, you only feel the tension and excitement of playing, not the tension of fear.”
It was back in December 2019 that Blind was diagnosed with heart muscle inflammation after suffering from dizziness in a Champions League tie between Ajax and Valencia.

He then required medical attention after he collapsed in August 2020.
Blind was also in tears after he was subbed off during the Netherlands’ 2-0 Euro victory over Austria just days after the terrifying Eriksen incident.
He added: “Those images were so recognisable to me. It was so real again, this is why it was so emotional for me.
“I had to climb over a big, mental hurdle before I could manage to play the following day for Holland in our first group game.
“All the emotions came out. I am proud of myself that I managed to play for so long in that game. I did it, but it was hard.”
⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog

Graeme Souness insists it will be ‘difficult’ for Christian Eriksen to play football again after cardiac arrest More

THE Spanish press slammed their national team as ‘a big mess’ with their Euro 2020 hopes hanging in the balance.Luis Enrique’s side slumped to their second successive draw of Group E on Saturday night against Poland following their Sweden stalemate.
Spain have endured a tough start to their Euro 2020 campaign with back-to-back drawsCredit: Rex
Newspaper Marca opted for ‘we are in a big mess’ as their headline on Sunday
Alvaro Morata gave Spain the lead but Robert Lewandowski earned a point before Gerard Moreno thumped the post with a penalty as it finished 1-1 in Seville.
It leaves the 2008 and 2012 European champions in a precarious position.
They sit third on two points behind Sweden on four and Slovakia on three.
La Roja must beat Slovakia on Wednesday to guarantee their progression – if they draw they will finish third unless Poland win.
Spanish newspaper Marca ran with the headline ‘estamos en un buen lío’ – translating as ‘we are in a big mess’ – and described the showdown with Slovakia as a final.
Goalscorer Morata admitted after the Poland draw this current crop are struggling to follow in the footsteps of Spain’s golden generation, who also won the 2010 World Cup.
He told Sky Sports Italia: “If we listen to what people say that won’t help, because they are all waiting to pile on and criticise us.
“Usually when big nations reach a competition like this, there is a sense of unity around them.

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

“We know that we’re following a generation of geniuses who won everything and it’s difficult for us to fill those shoes, but we have to believe in ourselves.”
Morata took his goal well, diverting into the bottom corner as VAR showed he was just onside.
But just like against Sweden, he squandered a glorious chance to win the game when he fluffed the rebound from Moreno’s penalty.
The ex-Chelsea striker added: “It’s a team sport. If we don’t win, then it makes no difference whether I score or not.
“I am disappointed we were unable to pick up three points, but the next game is like a final.
“The ball (off the rebound from the penalty) was travelling at an incredible speed and it was difficult to get it under control.
“Perhaps I was too close to it and should’ve made a different choice.”
Alvaro Morata, No7, fluffed his rebound after Gerard Moreno missed his penaltyCredit: Getty
The golden generation of Spain won major tournaments in 2008, 2010 and 2012Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Jurgen Klinsmann tells England to calm down and ‘there’s nothing wrong’ after Scotland draw at Wembley More