Euro 2020

CRISTIANO RONALDO saw another individual record tumble after his early goal against Germany.The Juventus superstar is now the joint-top European scorer in World Cups and European Championships after he scored Portugal’s opening goal in a 4-2 defeat to Germany.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 107th goal for Portugal against GermanyCredit: AP
That took him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose on 19 – and one ahead of the iconic Gerd Muller.
Ronaldo has one more game to beat the record and that is against France on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old’s double in Portugal’s 3-0 opening game win against Hungary had already made him the Euros’ all-time record-scorer.
Ronaldo bagged an 87th-minute penalty and a glorious stoppage-time clincher to total 11 strikes in European Championship tournaments, two more than French midfield magician Michel Platini.
His international goal tally now sits at a staggering 107 goals.
That leaves CR7 just two goals shy of Iranian striker Ali Daei’s all-time international goalscoring record.
That Hungary game saw him break SIX records.
He is the first player to play at five different Euros, the oldest player to score for Portugal at a major tournament, the first player to score at five Euro tournaments.

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Despite scoring, Ronaldo couldn’t lead Portugal to victory against GermanyCredit: EPA
Ronaldo has one more chance to overtake Ali Daei as the all-time international record goalscorerCredit: EPA
19 – Cristiano Ronaldo has scored his 19th goal at the World Cup and European Championships combined; no European player has ever scored more across the two competitions (level with Miroslav Klose). Incredible. #POR #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/ANg448f2xz— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 19, 2021

He also became the oldest player at a Euros to net a double and has achieved the most victories by a player.
Portugal’s 4-2 loss to Germany makes for an exciting final round of fixtures in Group F.
All four teams are still in with a shot of qualifying for the last-16.
Leaders France, who were earlier held by Hungary, take on Portugal as Low’s men entertain the bottom-placed Hungarians in Munich.
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ANTOINE GRIEZMANN has bizarrely blamed playing in front of fans and the weather for France’s shock draw with Hungary.The reigning world champions – and Euro 2020 favourites – slipped to a shock stalemate against the overwhelming Group of Death underdogs.
Antoine Griezmann blamed the Budapest heat and a packed stadium for France’s draw with HungaryCredit: AFP
Around 61,000 fans were in attendance at the Puskas Arena for Hungary’s draw with FranceCredit: Reuters
France won their opening game against Germany 1-0, while Hungary were thumped 3-0 by Portugal after a late collapse.
Didier Deschamps’ men were expected to stroll to victory in Budapest.
But playing in front of 61,000 fans at a packed Puskas Arena in 31C heat was all too much for France, according to Griezmann – who scored his side’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw.
Griezmann moaned: “We are out of the habit of a full stadium.
“The match was very difficult with the public. We didn’t get along.
“The pitch was dry. It was hot and heavy but we knew that before the start.
“We were caught on the blocks and we paid for it.
“It is the Euros, with great nations and great players and, even against Hungary, it is hard.”

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Deschamps joined Griezmann in blaming the intense Budapest heat for the lacklustre draw.
The French boss said: “I’m not trying to make excuses but it’s a reality…
“High temperatures in mid-afternoon, we’re talking 35-36 degrees.
“The players were asking for water breaks every five minutes.
“It was more difficult for us than the Hungarians. They were a little bit more dynamic than us.
“The day before, we trained at 2.15pm and they were out of breath, it was so hot.
“We were not as fresh as we could have been but that doesn’t mean there weren’t opportunities.
“The first 15 minutes were slightly laborious for us, it took us time to get into our groove.
“We had opportunities but could not find the net and then came the sucker punch.”
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OUSMANE DEMBELE is an injury worry for France after he hobbled out of his country’s 1-1 draw with Hungary at Euro 2020.The Barcelona star – himself on as a sub – appeared to pull a muscle as he left the field holding his hamstring.
Ousmane Dembele limped out of France’s Euro 2020 match with HungaryCredit: Getty
The 24-year-old appeared to receive treatment on his right hamstringCredit: Getty
The 24-year-old didn’t start the game but was introduced in the 57th minute with Hungary winning 1-0.
He helped his team get back into the game as Antoine Griezmann equalised nine minutes later.
But Dembele couldn’t inspire Didier Deschamps’ side to victory and needed to be taken off in the 87th minute with a leg injury.
The problem is believed to be muscular as the Frenchman was not on the end of a hefty challenge and limped off clutching his hamstring.
It is unclear whether Dembele will be fit for France’s final group game against Portugal on Wednesday, June 23 – a fixture they can’t afford to lose.
Defeat for the reigning world champions could see them finish third and vulnerable of an early exit from the tournament.
A draw would be enough to finish in the top two, while Portugal need at least a point after their 4-2 defeat to Germany this evening.

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Dembele’s career has been ravaged by injury since he signed for Barcelona in August 2017 for a reported £97million.
The rumoured Manchester United target managed just 81 LaLiga appearances for the Spanish giants in four seasons but did make 30 of those last term.
Dembele was part of France’s squad for their World Cup triumph three years ago, although he didn’t play an international between November 2018 and March 2021.
Deschamps will NOT be able to call up another outfield player if Dembele is ruled out of the tournament.
Only goalkeepers are allowed to be replaced after the first game, allowing England to switch the injured Dean Henderson with Aaron Ramsdale.
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EVERYONE should know it by now – never write off the Germans.Joachim Low’s men came from behind to beat Portugal 4-2 in the best match of Euro 2020 so far, dishing out a Bavarian battering to reignite their hopes of going all the way.
Germany sent a message to the rest of Europe as they produced a stunning comeback to beat Portugal 4-2Credit: AFP
Kai Havertz got his name on the scoresheet as they won the game of the tournament so farCredit: Reuters
Robin Gosens put in an incredible display to reignite Germany’s Euro 2020 hopesCredit: AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo was powerless to stop his side from crumbling in MunichCredit: Getty
Despite Cristiano Ronaldo putting his team ahead early doors, the 2014 World Cup winners produced a staggering comeback to send a message to the rest of the continent that they mean business as their attack proved too much for the reigning champions.
Portugal used the old rope-a-dope tactic made famous by Muhammad Ali to silence the Allianz Arena in Munich.
They had been under the cosh from the start and almost fell behind Robin Gosens’ acrobatic strike after five minutes.
Fortunately for them VAR spotted a handball from Thomas Muller in the build-up and that Serge Gnabry was offside to stop what would surely have been an onslaught.
They continued to be penned inside their own half until they were cut open in devastation fashion after quarter of an hour.
Defending a corner, Ronaldo cleared the danger with a header before finishing off a counter-attack just 14 seconds later.
The ball fell to Bernardo Silva who picked out the run of Diogo Jota behind the backline to put him one-on-one with Manuel Neuer.
The in-form Liverpool star could have finished himself, but probably not wanting another ear-bashing from his legendary team-mate at the break, he played the ball sideways for Ronaldo to complete his amazing 90-YARD SPRINT with a tap-in.
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That was his 107th international goal, leaving him just two short of equalling Ali Daei’s all-time record.
But Germany refused to give up on their constant barrage of attacks and after going down to an own goal in midweek in their group opener against the French, they soon benefited from TWO before the break to deservedly turn the game on its head.
Gosens, who had been their best player, firstly volleyed the ball left-footed back across goal for Kai Havertz, only the Chelsea man failed to connect, instead it hit Manchester City’s Ruben Dias and deflected into the net.
Cristiano Ronaldo made a brilliant 90-yard sprint to finish off a counter early onCredit: Getty
Ruben Dias deflects the ball into his own net under-pressure from Kai HavertzCredit: Reuters
Raphael Guerreiro then scored another own goal as GErmany took the leadCredit: Getty
Kai Havertz finishes from close-range for Germany’s thirdCredit: AP
The striker was claiming it, but there was no doubt moments later when Germany took the lead four minutes later.
This time it was Joshua Kimmich who cut the ball back and unfortunate full-back Raphael Guerriero could do nothing as it struck him and flew past Rui Patricio.
With the partisan crowd now in full swing, Ronaldo and Co knew they would be up against following the restart and their task was made even harder five minutes into the second period.
It was Gosens causing all the problems again as he brilliantly stayed onside to roll a ball into the six-yard area for Havertz to side-foot home from close-range.
Just weeks ago he secured Champions League glory for Chelsea – now the 22-year-old can add being his country’s youngest-ever scorer at the European Championship to his CV.
Havertz is congratulated by his team-mates after putting his country 3-1 aheadCredit: Getty
Robin Gosens headed home the fourth as Germany began to run riotCredit: AP
The Atalanta star was in magnificent form to help his side to victoryCredit: Reuters
Diogo Jota gave Portugal some faint hope as he finished Ronaldo’s cutbackCredit: Getty
That looked to have opened the floodgates as the Germans struck again to make it four with a knockout blow.
And it was man of the match Gosens who got it after another delightful move that led to Kimmich picking the Atalanta man to head home at the back post.
Portugal appeared to be falling apart but they gave themselves hope as this rollercoaster clash produced it’s sixth goal of the afternoon.
A free-kick was lofted into the box and Ronaldo managed to keep it alive and knock it across goal for Jota to tap home.
Renato Sanchez thundered a long-ranger against the woodwork but it proved to be a false dawn for the Portuguese – who hauled off Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes after another disappointing performance from the attacker.
That set-ups an intense final round of fixtures for Group F on Wednesday with all four teams still in with a shot of qualifying for the last-16.
Leaders France, who were earlier held by Hungary, take on Portugal as Low’s men entertain the bottom-placed Hungarians in Munich.
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GERMANY made European Championship history on Saturday thanks to Ruben Dias’ own goal.Joachim Low’s side lost their Euro 2020 opener 1-0 against France after Mats Hummels’ own goal gifted their Group F rivals all three points.
Hummels scored past his own keeper as Germany lost to France – with the Germans now the only team in European Championship history to score AND benefit from an own goalCredit: EPA
Ruben Dias poked the ball into his own net as Germany wrote their name in the history booksCredit: Reuters
And they got off to a horror start after Cristiano Ronaldo gave Portugal the lead after just 15 minutes of their second group game following a blistering counter-attack.
Germany pressed up the other end and were eventually rewarded after Manchester City star Dias poked the ball home past his own goalkeeper.
The goal meant the Germans became the first team in Euros history to both score an own goal AND benefit from one up the other end.
And in a truly bizarre tournament – which has now seen FIVE own goals already – Raphael Guerreiro then stabbed home another own goal to gift Germany the lead shortly before half-time.
Playing in front of a home crowd in Munich, Germany went on to smash Portugal, Robin Gosens and Kai Havertz scoring in a brilliant 4-2 win.
Earlier, German veteran Hummels hilariously revealed his three-year-old son CELEBRATED his own goal against France.
The Borussia Dortmund defender, 32, nudged the ball beyond Manuel Neuer to give the reigning world champions the lead.
The defender’s mistake left German fans devastated – but his own son seemed to enjoy it.

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Speaking to Bild, Hummels said: “Thankfully, he doesn’t know yet what an own goal is.
“He thinks the ball in the net is always right.
“I was told that he was celebrating. I’ll probably have to teach him that.”
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