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      Harry Kane doesn’t move Coca-Cola bottles during press conference after Ronaldo’s outburst sees firm lose $4BN in value

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      HARRY Kane did not move the Coca-Cola bottles placed in front of him during a pre-match press conference after Cristiano Ronaldo’s outburst saw the firm lose $4billion in value.The England captain answered questions from reporters alongside boss Gareth Southgate ahead of England’s match with Scotland tonight.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Harry Kane and Gareth Southgate did not remove the Coca-Cola bottles during the conferenceCredit: Reuters
      The England captain defended the use of sponsorsCredit: Getty
      After Cristiano Ronaldo moved the bottles, the firm lost $4billion in value
      The club’s manager defended the use of sponsors and product placement as they can be beneficial for football, for example in providing sports facilities.
      Southgate said: “I think there are lots of sponsors in sport and the impact of their money at all levels helps sport to function, particularly grassroots sport in our country requires investment and without some of those companies it would be very difficult to have the facilities we need.
      “We’re mindful in our country of obesity and health but everything can be done in moderation, and anything that is done in moderation is rarely a problem.
      “I understand the concerns that people have. Obviously the two guys [Ronaldo and Pogba] have different rationale to the stances they took but there’s always a bigger picture.”
      FOCUSED ON MATCH
      Kane added: “I totally agree. Obviously the sponsors are entitled to what they want if they’ve paid the money to do so.
      “It’s not something I’ve thought too much about.
      “I’ve seen it go round on social media but if I’m totally honest I’m more focused on tomorrow [England’s match vs Scotland] than anything like that.”
      After Cristiano Ronaldo removed a Coca-Cola bottle at a Euro 2020 news conference, UEFA told teams they have contractual obligations towards tournament sponsors.
      Coca-Cola had $4billion wiped off their share value after Cristiano Ronaldo said ‘Drink water!’ at a press conference
      Cristiano Ronaldo removed two bottles of Coke before the win over Hungary
      Organisers for Euro 2020 said: “UEFA has reminded participating teams that partnerships are integral to the delivery of the tournament and to ensuring the development of football across Europe, including for youth and women.”
      The Portugal captain – who scored two late goals in a 3-0 win against Hungary – had told the watching world to ‘Drink Water!’ as he sat down to speak to the media.
      The Juventus forward removed two bottles of the fizzy drink from the desk in front of him during his pre-match press conference ahead of their opening game win.
      Coca-Cola’s share price promptly dropped from $56.10 (£39.80) to $55.22 (£39.19).
      Ronaldo, 36, has a famously strict diet
      At one point during the day 1.6 per cent of the company’s value had been wiped off – meaning the market value of Coca-Cola went from $242bn to $238bn – a drop of $4bn (£2.84bn).
      There was a late recovery, with the price back up to $55.44 (£39.38) at closing.
      UEFA has since issued a statement in response to CR7’s actions, saying “everyone is entitled to their drink preferences” and that everyone has different “tastes and needs”.
      A spokesperson added: “Players are offered water, alongside Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, on arrival at our press conferences.”
      And Ronaldo’s stunt has already seen copycat moves from other Euro 2020 stars.
      Paul Pogba removed a beer bottle during his press conferenceCredit: UEFA
      On Tuesday, devout Muslim Paul Pogba removed a beer bottle during his press conference following France’s 1-0 win against Germany.
      And on Wednesday, two-goal Italy hero Manuel Locatelli also removed Coca Cola bottles from his press conference.
      Ronaldo, 36, has a famously strict diet and avoids sugary foods, eating clean up to six times a day to maintain his incredible physique while he ages – although he has advertised junk food, including Coke, in the past.
      While still at Real Madrid, the club doctor said he had the body of a player ten years younger and could continue playing at the top level into his 40s.
      While the drinks company were trying to save face on Tuesday, Ronaldo was his typical self on the pitch against Hungary.

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      He expressed rage at team-mate Diogo Jota before playing a vital role in securing three points in the second half at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium.
      Raphael Guerreiro gave Portugal the lead before a Ronaldo penalty and another close-range effort in injury time wrapped up an impressive 3-0 win.
      The goals mean Ronaldo is now the record scorer in European Championship history with 11, two ahead of French legend Michel Platini.
      He has now scored in five different European Championships, more than Poland have managed, taking his international record to 106 goals in 176 games.
      Cristiano Ronaldo removes Coke bottles at Portugal press conference and shouts ‘drink water’ More

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      Brits set to drink 30million pints as 20million watch England face Scotland at Euro 2020

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      LOCKDOWN-weary Brits will enjoy the biggest party for 18 months as they watch the big match on TV at home or in pubs across the country.Two million fans are expected to flock to 45,000 boozers north and south of the border — where 15 million pints will be sunk.
      Brits will sink 30million pints watching the England v Scotland gameCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Another 15 million beers will be downed by fans at home.
      Many pubs are fully booked, with £100million predicted to be spent on booze and food for the match.
      Some 17 million will watch the prime-time 8pm game on ITV at home, with 2m in pubs and 1m on devices and catch-up services.
      But heavy rain may dampen spirits for fans watching on big screens.
      £100million is predicted to be spent on booze and foodCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      Some 750 keyworkers will watch at Trafalgar Square, London, with 3,000 in Glasgow, 500 in Preston and ticketed events also taking place in Manchester and Birmingham.
      Hundreds more will watch at bookie Paddy Power’s “Paddy Parks” fan sites at London’s Flat Iron Square and Newcastle’s Riverside.
      Raucous Tartan Army invade London before England v Scotland Euro clash More

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      Team news, injury updates, latest odds for England vs Scotland as fierce rivals set for Euro 2020 blockbuster clash

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      ENGLAND and Scotland square off for the 115th time and few of those occasions could have had more at stake than this.Scotland have never beaten England in a major international tournament – and would give everything for three points now after losing their Euros opener to the Czech Republic.
      England celebrate as Raheem Sterling scores the winner against Croatia
      Scotland skipper And Robertson looks dejected after the loss to the Czech RepublicCredit: Getty
      England, meanwhile, are looking to book a last-16 place with a win here.
      Not that any of that really matters… this is simply ENGLAND VERSUS SCOTLAND. And it’s live from Wembley at 8pm on ITV.
      What’s the form?
      It was a breeze for England in qualifying, sweeping through to the finals without a scrap, and currently on a seven-game winning streak.
      The Three Lions are also unbeaten in their six previous major tournament group stage matches played on home soil – and given this one is at Wembley, well, Gareth Southgate wouldn’t want to ruin that record would he?
      The Scots haven’t won in a major tournament since beating Switzerland during the Euro 96 group stage – ironically, England were also in that group.
      Scotland finished third in their qualifying group but managed to overcome Serbia on penalties in a dramatic play-off to reach Euro 2020.
      How Group D looks after one game with Czech Republic and England getting off to winning starts

      Who’s in and who’s out?
      Both Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson missed out on England’s opener and are touch and go as to whether they will be involved against Scotland.
      Harry kane also suffered from a nibble against Croatia, but has been involved in first team training as of Tuesday – so you can expect the skipper to be leading the line.
      John Stones and Tyron Mings were exceptional at the back along with duo Decland Rice and Kalvin Phillips in midfield against Croatia but it will be intriguing to see if Gareth Southgate starts Jack Grealish this time out.
      Kieran Tierney proved to be a huge loss for Scotland on Monday although he may feature tonight.
      Steve Clarke has no other worries so will be expecting big performances from the likes of Prem stars Andy Robertson, John McGinn and Scott McTominay.
      “I think we should always enjoy the win and the players should enjoy what they’ve done, and the country can enjoy it for as long as they want, but we can’t, we’ve got to move on to the next one.Gareth Southgate after Croatia win

      Disappointed, but we have to get ready for the next one. We’ll look at what we did right and what we did wrong. We didn’t come here for a learning experience, we came here to be competitive.Steve Clarke, after Czech loss
      Who to watch out for
      Among England’s catalogue of household names, Kalvin Phillips – who was a surprise choice for some – was the biggest star in the victory over Croatia.
      Playing the Leeds ace as a number 8 next to Rice instead of his usual position as a sitting pivot proved a masterstroke from Southgate.
      Phillips was given the responsibility of leading the press which allowed him to push higher than normal, creating gaps for players like Sterling, Mount and Foden.
      Quite how differently Southgate approaches the Scottish challenge – and used Phillips – could be the key to victory here.
      If the game’s rubbish…
      Then check out England’s abundance of talent off the pitch – the Three Lions wags.
      Anouska Santos, Luke Shaw’s partner, posed alongside fellow Wags, left to right, Charlotte Trippier (Kieran Trippier’s wife) , Megan Davison (Jordan Pickford) , Fern Hawkins (Harry Maguire) and Annie Kilner (Kyle Walker) at the Croatia game
      Mia McClenaghan, Reece James’ girlfriend, enjoys the Wembley treatment
      With the game being at Wembley, you can expect a full entourage to be supporting the boys as they look to carry on with their winning momentum.
      And while they may not have too many in the ground it looked like half of Scotland had descended on London on Thursday as the Tartan Army marched into town.
      Even if you can’t see them, you’ll probably be able to hear them…
      Scotland fans arrive at King’s Cross station in LondonCredit: The Sun
      The Tartan Army are ready to do battle with the Auld EnemyCredit: AFP
      Fancy a punt?
      Get all your Euro 2020 ante-post tips with our tournament betting guide HERE.
      Match odds

      England to win 2/7
      The draw 4/1
      Scotland 9/1

      First goal-scorer

      Harry Kane to score first 12/5
      Raheem Sterling to score anytime 17/10
      Che Addams to score anytime 5/1

      To win Euro 2020 outright

      England 5/1
      Scotland 500/1

      *All odds from Paddy Power and correct at time of publication.
      Scotland fans arrive at London Euston station ahead of Euro clash with England at Wembley More

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      Team news, injury updates, latest odds for Croatia v Czech Republic as Dalić’s side look to rectify poor Euro 2020 start

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      CROATIA looked a shadow of the team which reached the World Cup final in 2018 when they lost to England in their opening Euro 2020 group D fixture.England were by far the better team and Zlatko Dalić will need to get his Croatia side back firing in a must win game.
      Raheem Sterling’s goal downed CroatiaCredit: Getty
      Czech hero Schick celebrates his first goal vs ScotlandCredit: The Sun
      Czech Republic will have a slight advantage in having already played at Hampden Park, in their 2-0 thumping of Scotland and you can catch all the action live from Glasgow at 5pm on BBC ONE.
      What’s the form?
      It will be all or nothing for Croatia and they will be expecting to overturn their disappointing start to life in group D after a 1-0 defeat to the hands of England.
      The Croats are not the force they were back in 2018 and their recent form is not good – having lost eight of their last 12.
      Jaroslav Silhavy’s Czech Republic side have blown hot and cold over the past year and have won seven from 12 since the beginning of 2020.
      The Czechs however can can come into this one full of confidence after impressing against Scotland and Patrik Schick’s 50-yard wonderstrike..
      “It’s always hard to play against us as we have a lot of hardworking players,” Schick said
      “Scotland were a tough opponent. But I saw the goalkeeper off his line – I checked in the first half where he was standing.”

      Who’s in and who’s out?
      Croatia’s Dejan Lovren is expected to miss out and still hasn’t fully recovered from injury – although there are some bright signs for the 31-year-old as he is back in light training.
      Both Marcelo Brozović and Mateo Kovačić were taken off late against England, but it is believed that was just a caution and that the pair will be starting come Friday.
      The Czech Republic do not have any injury or suspension concerns so you can expect their squad to pick itself – with one Patrik Schick leading the line.

      Of course we’ll study our opponents, but our main focus is on the performance we want to give ourselves. I’m sure they are certain they will win the game.Jiří Chytrý, Czech Republic assistant coach
      Who to watch out for
      Patrick Schick.
      If you hadn’t heard of him before then you most certainly will have done after his second goal against Scotland.
      The Bayer Leverkusen forward first broke the deadlock in their 2-0 win with a fine header, before scoring what will go down as one of the most iconic goals in the history of the European championships.
      And if you haven’t seen it… Well here’s the goal. What a beauty.

      If the game’s rubbish…
      Then check out Mateo Kovačić’s businesswoman girlfriend Izabel Kovacic – dubbed Croatia’s ‘Shakira’.
      Izabel is the founder and owner of a successful range of organic and eco-friendly baby products ‘Lunilou’, which she launched in 2015.

      The 28-year-old sells the likes of baby moccasins, pillows and other accessories – alongside her older sister, Ivana Lucic.
      And she also holds an economics degree after studying at the University of Zagreb.
      The pair got married in June 2017 and spent a reported £250,000 on their wedding where an estimated 600 guests were invited.
      Fancy a punt
      Get all your Euro 2020 ante-post tips with our tournament betting guide HERE.
      Match odds

      Croatia to win 11/10
      The draw 23/10
      Czech Republic to win 5/2

      Goal-scorer markets

      Patrik Schick to score first 7/1
      Luka Modrić to score anytime 13/5

      To win Euro 2020 outright

      Croatia 45/1
      Czech Republic 75/1

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      Team news, injury updates, latest odds for Sweden vs Slovakia as Tarkovic’s side look to put one foot in Euros last 16

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      SWEDEN and Slovakia will lock horns for the first time in a major tournament this afternoon.Slovakia will be aiming to build on their impressive win against Poland and know that three points will put them into the last 16 of Euro 2020, regardless of results elsewhere.
      Robert Mak celebrates scoring the first in the shock win over PolandCredit: Reuters
      Sweden boss Janne Andersson pays his respects to Spain’s Luis Enrique during their drawCredit: Rex
      You can catch all the action from Group E live from the Krestovsky Stadium in St Petersburg at 2pm on BBC ONE.
      What’s the form?
      Largely tipped as group outsiders, Slovakia got off to the perfect start, beating neighbouring country Poland in a thrilling 2-1 encounter, fending off one Robert Lewandowski.
      “We managed to neutralise Lewandowski and score at the same time.” Slovakia boss Stefan Tarkovic said.
      “Lewandowski plays a decisive role in the last third of the field, it was important to keep him out of the box.”
      Tarkovic’s side come into this game on a six-game unbeaten run – although Slovakia have never beaten Sweden.
      This will be the first time these two sides meet at a major tournament and Sweden, who qualified for Euro 2021 with relative ease, have been in exceptional form since, winning six of their last eight games.
      They also managed to scrape a 0-0 draw with Spain last time out, although Sweden have lost their second group stage match at each of their last four major tournaments – so they will want to rectify that stat.

      Who’s in and who’s out?
      Sweden will come into this with a huge double injury boost, through the return of Dejan Kulusevski and Mattias Svanberg – who have successfully recovered from Covid-19.
      Although the Swedes had their chances against Spain, these two will provide a much needed boost to their attacking line.
      “If you come and play Spain in 32-degree heat and think you’re going to outplay them, you’re totally naive,” Sweden boss Janne Andersson said
      “I’m not at all ashamed of this point. If we want to take points from these types of teams, we have to play this way.”
      There is a slight concern for Mikael Lustig though, who walked off in their opening game after a suspected groin injury.
      Slovakia have no major injury problems, so you can expect Stefan Tarkovic to employ a similar – maybe even the same – line-up as against Poland, with Marek Hamsik and Ondrej Duda leading the line.

      Who to watch out for…
      Alexander Isak will be one to watch and is the sting in Sweden’s tail.
      The 21-year-old was named as Young Player Of The Year over in LaLiga after impressing in the colours of Real Sociedad.
      The Swedish striker enjoyed a prolific season over in Spain, netting 17 times and playing a huge hand in Sociedad’s fifth place finish.

      If the game’s rubbish…
      Then check out Victor Lindelof’s wag Maja Nilsson.
      The pair wed in 2018, a year after Lindelof moved to Manchester United from Benfica for a reported £30million.
      Maja actively supports her husband on social media but has made a name for herself through her work in marketing and her podcast, Livet På Läktaren (Life on the Stands).

      Fancy a punt?
      Get all your Euro 2020 ante-post tips with our tournament betting guide HERE.
      Match odds

      Sweden to win 3/4
      The draw 23/10
      Slovakia to win 15/4

      Euro 2020 outright odds

      Sweden 75/1
      Slovakia 275/1

      *All odds from Paddy Power and correct at time of publication.
      Zlatan Ibrahimovic trains with Sweden despite not playing for them in Euro 2020 More

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      Gary Lineker baffled by dodgy BBC coverage as huge glitches block screen during Netherlands win over Austria

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      GARY LINEKER was left utterly confused after a glitch appeared on the screen towards the end of BBC’s Euro 2020 coverage of the Netherlands’ win over Austria.The bizarre image came up with just a few minutes left and even bemused Lineker, who was presenting the match.
      The bottom right portion of the screen appeared to be showing a different camera angleCredit: BBC
      The glitch occurred several times towards the end of the matchCredit: BBC
      Lineker was left baffled by the strange glitch on the BBC coverageCredit: BBC
      As well as showing a black screen, the glitch on the BBC also mistakenly showed a different camera angle to what was on the main picture.
      Those on social media were confused by the mix-up and took to Twitter to give their opinions.
      One said: “What is it with the BBC screens during the euros?”
      And another added: “The BBC’s entire coverage of #EURO2020 has been terrible.
      “Commentating, presenting, picture quality and all round production. Just awful. Name me a bigger con than a TV licence.”
      In the match, Netherlands booked their place in the last 16 of the European Championships with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Austria.
      Memphis Depay scored an 11th minute penalty after a challenge on Denzel Dumfries was reviewed by the referee on the pitchside monitor.

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      And it was Dumfries who doubled their lead midway through the second half when Donyell Malen selflessly played the ball across for the rampaging right-back to tap home.
      Netherlands now join Italy and Belgium in booking their place in the last 16 of Euro 2020.
      Frank de Boer’s side will face one of the third-place qualifiers in the second round as they look to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2008.
      ⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog

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      Euro 2020 LIVE: England vs Scotland build-up, Locatelli joins Ronaldo in Coca-Cola snub, Holland and Belgium go through

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      EURO 2020 is in full swing!Italy are the first team through to the second round with picking up their second win.
      Meanwhile Wales are on the brink of joining Italy after a stunning 2-0 win over Turkey in Baku.
      And England are gearing up for their clash with Scotland on Friday.
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      Follow all of the latest news, build up and updates below…
      EXCLUSIVE BY JOSE MOURINHO
      I was there at Euro 96 when England played Scotland and Gazza scored that goal, so I know what this fixture means.
      Scotland are super-motivated and they have that Braveheart spirit but in football it’s very, very rare that miracles happen.
      When I say miracles, I mean a team overcoming a huge difference in quality.
      Can Scotland go to Wembley and win? Yes, because it’s one football match — but no, because England are a much better team with much better players.
      READ THE REST OF JOSE’S THOUGHTS HERE

      NETHERLANDS 2 AUSTRIA 0
      The Netherlands booked their place in the last-16 of the Euros with a convincing win over unimpressive Austria.
      Goals from Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries secured the victory in Amsterdam.
      And Frank de Boer’s men have now joined Italy and Belgium by qualifying for the knockout stages.
      READ THE MATCH REPORT HERE

      GREAL CHANCE
      Jack Grealish is reportedly set to START for England in their Euro 2020 Group D clash against Scotland.
      The Athletic claims Gareth Southgate is ready to throw the Aston Villa star into the mix at Wembley.
      A win for the Three Lions will virtually book their place in the knockout stages.

      RETURN OF THE MAG
      Gareth Southgate has revealed Harry Maguire has returned to England training ahead of their huge Euro 2020 clash with Scotland.
      Maguire has not played since early May after suffering ligament damage while playing for Man United.
      Southgate confirmed: “This morning we had 26 players training which is where you want to be.
      “Maguire has trained with no reaction.”

      TEAM NEWS
      Matthijs de Ligt is back in the Netherlands side to face Austria tonight.
      Memphis Depay starts in attack for the Dutch, with Frenkie de Jong and Georginio Wijnaldum in midfield.
      Meanwhile, David Alaba and Marcel Sabitzer lead the way for the visitors.
      But there is no Marko Arnautovic after he was given a one-match ban for insulting language after scoring against North Macedonia.
      FOLLOW THE ACTION WITH OUR LIVE MATCH BLOG

      DENMARK 1 BELGIUM 2
      Kevin De Bruyne came off the bench to inspire Belgium to a comeback win over Denmark.
      Youssef Poulsen had the hosts ahead in Thursday’s Euro group game with just 90 seconds on the clock.
      But De Bruyne, brought on at half-time, bagged an assist and a goal to turn the game on its head for Roberto Martinez’s men.
      READ THE MATCH REPORT HERE

      NOT SO SHAW
      Luke Shaw was worried he was going to miss Euro 2020 after rupturing his wrist ligaments in the Europa League final.
      Man United’s left-back told TalkSport: “[I was worried about missing the Euros] a little bit at one point because when I was getting treatment at the club, obviously I had an MRI scan and what-not.
      “The doc had a look at it and couldn’t see the problem where the main ligament was so he had to send it to a specialist.
      “I thought, maybe if it is the bad one, then maybe I might have to have an operation or something.
      “He didn’t say anything and I was a little bit panicky.
      “But then obviously, the next morning, I’ve got the results and it wasn’t as bad as they thought, so I was fine.”

      ‘ONLY WAY’
      Fabrice Muamba believes Christian Eriksen must be fitted with a heart-starter device if he wants to continue playing.
      Muamba said: “He has to remember he has a family now.
      “Is it worth taking the risk to come back and play again [on having heart starting ICD implant]?
      “I think that’s the only way that any football club will be able to sign him again.”

      TEAM NEWS
      Denmark will line up with a five-man defence for today’s crunch Euros clash with Belgium.
      Southampton centre-back Jannik Vestergaard replaces Christian Eriksen as the midfielder recovers from his cardiac arrest.
      And Brentford’s Mathias Jensen is left on the bench having replaced Eriksen in the defeat to Finland.
      Meanwhile, Lyon’s Jason Denayer and Wolves’ Leander Dendoncker are both involved for Belgium.
      Romelu Lukaku continues up front, but Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard are only on the bench.
      FOLLOW THE ACTION WITH OUR LIVE MATCH BLOG

      UKRAINE 2 NORTH MACEDONIA 1
      Ukraine boosted their chances of reaching the Euro 2020 knockout stages with a vital win over North Macedonia.
      Goals from Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk secured victory for Andriy Shevchenko’s men, who also missed a penalty.
      But the result leaves North Macedonia on the brink of elimination after they also lost their first game to Austria.
      READ OUR MATCH REPORT HERE
      ⏰ RESULT ⏰🇺🇦 Yarmolenko & Yaremchuk net for Ukraine🇲🇰 Alioski scores rebound; Dimitrievski saves penalty🤔 Who impressed you? #EURO2020— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 17, 2021

      BATTLE OF BRITAIN
      Glenn Hoddle is backing England to beat Scotland 2-1 at Wembley tomorrow.
      But Gordon Strachan believes the Tartan Army can hold out for a 0-0 draw.
      Hoddle told Betfair: “It’s going to be a tight game but the pressure’s on Scotland to open up a bit more.
      “The team that controls their emotion will end up playing better and winning.”
      Strachan added: “England have got that superiority complex in basically everything.
      “I don’t know if it adds an extra stride to the players. It will make for a good game.”

      HALF-TIME!
      Ukraine are beating North Macedonia 2-0 at half-time in Group C.
      West Ham ace Andriy Yarmolenko made it 1-0 after half an hour before Roman Yaremchuk doubled their lead five minutes later.
      ⏸️ HALF-TIME ⏸️🇺🇦🆚🇲🇰 Yarmolenko & Yaremchuk net for Ukraine…🔝 Who’s impressed you most? #EURO2020— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020) June 17, 2021

      HAIR RASER
      Phil Foden is ready to pull off his own Scottish masterclass after dying his hair bleach blonde once again.
      On the eve of England’s Euro 2020 clash with rivals Scotland, the Manchester City ace has taken inspiration from the legendary Paul Gascoigne.
      Almost exactly 25 years ago, Gazza scored one of England’s most memorable Euro goals when he flicked it over the head of Colin Hendry before volleying past Andy Goram.
      Foden, 21, drew comparisons with the Three Lions legend when he dyed his hair before the tournament.
      And after England’s opening 1-0 win over Croatia, Foden has ensured he has maintained the look to take on Steve Clarke’s side. Despite the similarities, Foden has insisted his new-look style was his ‘own thing.’
      He said: “I’ve had the same haircut for ages now. I thought I’d try something new. I woke up this morning with a lot of comparisons to Gazza and Eminem, it was my own thing and people have turned it into something else.”

      ‘SPORTS DAY VIBES’
      North Macedonia prepared for their crunch clash against Ukraine with a bizarre CONE RACING drill in training.
      The lowest-ranked team at the tournament were soundly beaten 3-1 by Austria in their Euro 2020 opener.
      But they ensured they kept their sharpness up with a bonkers twist on an egg and spoon race in preparation for their Thursday’s 2pm kick-off.
      The drill saw two teams of players – split into red and yellow groups – race up the pitch in pairs with a ball apiece balanced in an upturned cone.
      After reaching the other end, the duos would launch the balls in the air and attempt to catch the other’s, before darting up to the other end.
      The bizarre training drill caught the eye of viewers on social media with just hours to go until North Macedonia kicked-off against Ukraine. One fan joked: “Sports day vibes.”

      THE SCOTS ARE HERE!
      Scotland fans have invaded London for tomorrow’s Euro 2020 clash against England despite pleas to stay home.
      Tartan Army supporters were pictured piling out of King’s Cross station today draped in flags and swigging Buckfast.
      The fans are planning to descend on pubs in the capital en masse to watch the Group D clash at 8pm tomorrow.
      And the kilt-wearing Scots are hoping to march to Hyde Park – despite there being no live screens to catch the action on.
      Scotland have been allocated less than 3,000 tickets for the sellout 21,500 qualifier at Wembley.
      But between 6,000 and 20,000 Scottish supporters are reportedly planning on making the trip south.

      TIM OUT
      Timothy Castagne’s broken eye-socket injury which required a six-hour operation was just 3cm away from ending his career.
      The Belgium full-back sustained a horror blow in his nation’s Euro 2020 opener against Russia on Saturday.
      He had a nasty clash of heads with Daley Kuzyaev midway through the first half in St Petersburg. And the heavy blow to his right eye socket caused ‘three or four’ breaks.
      According to HLN in Belgium, had the contact been just 3cm higher, the neurological damage could have had tragic ramifications for his career.
      Castagne, 25, underwent surgery from 3pm to 9pm under general anaesthetic on Tuesday to reconstruct the socket. Metal parts were inserted to help the recovery process.
      Castagne is expected to head home in the coming days and must rest for two weeks.
      Credit: AP
      BATTLE OF BRITAIN
      More than HALF of Brits will be tuning in to Friday night’s titanic Euro 2020 clash between England and Scotland.
      The Three Lions took a huge step towards the last-16 by beating Croatia 1-0, as Scotland slipped to a 2-0 loss at the hands of Czech Republic.
      And now, ahead of Friday’s 8pm kick-off at Wembley, the two nations are set to grind to a halt as 53 per cent of English and Scottish residents prepare to tune in to the big game, according to a study.
      Nearly one in five adults have even invested in their home entertainment setup to experience the hotly-anticipated clash in all its glory.
      And while 56 per cent enjoy ‘a friendly rivalry’ in football between the home nations of the UK, a third would actively root for the opposition of any home nation they don’t support.
      This could mean millions of English and Scottish fans will be hoping for an early Euros exit for Wales – with the Welsh no doubt feeling exactly the same way. The poll of 1,000 English and Scottish nationals found 42 per cent become even more patriotic when it comes to a match against a deadly rival.
      Credit: PA
      SIMON SAYS
      Denmark captain Simon Kjaer has released a first touching statement since helping to save Christian Eriksen’s life.
      The defender was praised for the way he led his team-mates in such difficult circumstances on Saturday and throughout the week following Eriksen’s cardiac arrest.
      He helped form a human shield to protect the playmaker’s privacy while he received CPR on the pitch and consoled Eriksen’s partner as she raced down to the pitch.
      Kjaer said: “It has been some very special days, where football has not been the most important thing. A shock that will be part of me – part of all of us – forever. The only thing that is important and really matters is that Christian is okay!
      “I am proud of the how we acted as a team and how we stood together in these difficult times. I am touched and very grateful for all the support. Today, we will enter the pitch against Belgium with Christian in our hearts and thoughts.
      “It gives us peace in our minds, which allows us to focus on the game of football. We will play for Christian, and as always for all of Denmark. That is the greatest motivation for us all. As always, we will do our best.”
      Credit: EPA
      ENG IT TO WIN IT
      England got their Euro 2020 campaign off to a perfect start on Sunday as they aim to end 55 years of hurt.
      Gareth Southgate has already led the Three Lions to their first-ever win in a European Championship curtain-raiser.
      Raheem Sterling scored the only goal of the game as England avenged their 2018 World Cup semi-final loss at the hands of Croatia.
      Next up for Southgate’s youthful squad are fierce rivals Scotland in the second of three group stage games.
      Ahead of the massive clash, we take a look at what lies ahead for England in their quest to win a first major tournament since the 1966 World Cup.

      ‘NAE COKE?’
      Euro 2020’s Coca-Cola subplot continues after John McGinn joked about the absence of the fizzy drink from his press conference.
      The Scotland star was taking his seat to discuss Friday’s game with England when he noticed that he had only been provided with water.
      Smiling, the midfielder asked ‘Nae Coke?’ before opening up the water – presumably earning Cristiano Ronaldo‘s approval.
      The Portuguese forward set off something of a trend when shunning the carbonated beverage before discussing his side’s game with Hungary earlier this week.
      Fans lapped up the 36-year-old’s encouragement that they choose water instead, although it was later pointed out that he has often promoted less-than-healthy food and drink options.
      The incident saw Euros sponsor Coke’s shares on the New York Stock Exchange fall by 1.6 per cent to wipe £2.83billion off the company’s value. But Uefa will not intervene to demand more respect for the money men.

      LOC & KEY
      Arsenal have been handed a blow in their attempts to sign Italy’s Euro 2020 star Manuel Locatelli, according to reports.
      The Sassuolo midfielder showed his ability on the world stage on Wednesday night by scoring twice in his country’s 3-0 win over Switzerland.
      The Gunners had already been tracking the 23-year-old star following his impressive campaign for the Serie A side.
      Boss Mikel Arteta is eager to strengthen his midfield with Matteo Guendouzi, Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos heading for the exit door.
      Sassuolo had slapped a £35million price-tag on their ace before the start of the tournament but that is now likely to rise.
      According to the Express, Juventus are ready to make their move and are likely to be winning the race ahead of Arsenal for his signature.
      Credit: Getty
      ALL RON
      Cristiano Ronaldo was subjected to homophobic abuse during Portugal’s win over Hungary, according to reports.
      The Juventus superstar, 36, lined up for the reigning European champions in their Group F opener on Tuesday.
      But according to Record, sections of the 55,000-strong sell-out crowd inside the Puskas Arena in Budapest allegedly attacked the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
      The report states there were chants of ‘Cristiano Ronaldo, homosexual’. Ronaldo was clearly unfazed by the crowd’s claimed attacks.
      He responded by scoring twice as Portugal broke the Hungarian resistance with three late goals.
      That pair of goals took him on to 11 Euros goals, taking him two clear at the top of the all-time scoring charts in the tournament.
      Credit: Getty
      KICK STARTER
      Christian Eriksen will be fitted with a heart-starter device following his cardiac arrest at the European Championships.
      The Inter Milan playmaker collapsed on the pitch in Denmark’s opening game against Finland before being rushed to hospital. Their team doctor Morten Boesen has now confirmed in a statement that Eriksen will be fitted with a Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.
      Boesen said: “After Christian has been through different heart examinations it has been decided that he should have an ICD (heart starter).
      “This device is necessary after a cardiac attack due to rhythm disturbances.
      “Christian has accepted the solution and the plan has moreover been confirmed by specialists nationally and internationally who all recommend the same treatment.
      “We encourage everybody to give Christian and his family peace and privacy the following time.”
      Credit: Reuters
      ‘I’M ONLY 29′
      Christian Eriksen’s first words after his cardiac arrest were: “Yes, I am back with you. For f***s sake, I’m only 29 years old.”
      The Denmark star, 29, collapsed on the pitch on Saturday during his side’s clash with Finland. He received CPR and a defibrillator was used to resuscitate him before he was transferred to the nearby hospital in Copenhagen.
      German doctor Jens Kleinefeld treated the Inter Milan midfielder.
      He told Fox Sports: “About 30 seconds later, the player opened his eyes and I could talk to him directly.
      “That was a very moving moment, because in such medical emergencies in everyday life, the chances of success are much lower.’
      Kleinefeld asked Eriksen: “Well, are you back with us?” Eriksen replied: “Yes, I am back with you. For f***s sake, I’m only 29 years old.”

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      in Soccer

      I know what England vs Scotland means after witnessing THAT Gazza goal live in 1996

      by

      I WAS there at Euro 96 when England played Scotland and Gazza scored that goal, so I know what this fixture means.That was my first time at Wembley and for anyone of my generation who is in love with football, Wembley is a mythical place.
      Jose Mourinho was a scout for Barcelona in 1996 and watched England’s clash with ScotlandCredit: The Sun
      England beat Scotland 2-0 with goals from Alan Shearer and Paul Gascoigne at WembleyCredit: Getty
      Jose Mourinho described the England-Scotland showdown at Euro 96 as ‘amazing, before the game, after the game’Credit: Reuters
      I had just arrived at Barcelona and they asked me to go to England for the whole month and scout for them.
      England-Scotland was amazing, before the game, after the game.
      I was lucky at that time, nobody knew me. I could travel on the Tube and walk around freely and enjoy the other side of football, which is a beautiful one.
      When I arrived, I was totally shocked, in a good sense, with the passion and the atmosphere of a full house at this stunning stadium.
      So I know what the match means, especially to Scotland.
      They are super-motivated and they have that Braveheart spirit but in football it’s very, very rare that miracles happen.
      When I say miracles, I mean a team overcoming a huge difference in quality.
      Can Scotland go to Wembley and win? Yes, because it’s one football match — but no, because England are a much better team with much better players.

      BETTING SPECIAL: GET ENGLAND AT 50/1 OR SCOTLAND AT 120/1

      Jose Mourinho worked with Scotland manager Steve Clarke at ChelseaCredit: The Sun
      Jose Mourinho said then-assistant Steve Clarke was ‘perfect’ to work with him at ChelseaCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      When you have clearly the stronger team — and are in a much better situation, needing a point from two matches, while Scotland need four points against the two best teams in the group — the only thing England need is to respect the opposition.
      You must believe Scotland’s mentality can make their team much better than the sum of its parts — but England are much, much better.

      Scotland are based on their three best players — Kieran Tierney, Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay.
      And without Tierney against the Czech Republic, they were reduced to two top-quality players.
      I would expect more from John McGinn and Stuart Armstrong, they are good Premier League players.
      Scotland, though, are a team with a good mentality but without real talent, especially in attack.
      I was surprised with Scotland against the Czechs in the way they really struggled to build their game. The quality wasn’t high.
      Their spirit will be doubled at Wembley but England just have to approach the game in a serious way and win.
      I know Scotland’s manager, Steve Clarke, very well. When I first went to Chelsea, I asked for options to employ one coach who knew the club and the country, to help me adapt.
      Patrik Schick’s long-range strike sunk Scotland’s hopes in their opener against Czech RepublicCredit: The Sun
      Goalkeeper David Marshall was caught out for the stunning second goalCredit: AP
      I was given a few names, I interviewed them and decided on Steve.
      He was perfect for me. He knew the players, the teams, the culture. He integrated very well with my Portuguese staff and was very loyal to me and the club.
      He was without any agenda, except to help the team. He was an important guy in our first spell at Chelsea and I follow his career.
      I know what Scotland means to him. Steve is very good at hiding his emotions but he is a very emotional guy and he feels very much the nature and the responsibility of this job.
      For the Czech Republic’s second goal when his keeper, David Marshall, was beaten from 50 yards by Patrik Schick, I don’t know if it was team strategy or the goalkeeper’s decision but, for me, Marshall shouldn’t have been so high up the pitch.
      To win, England only need to respect Scotland…they are much, much betterJose Mourinho
      Fifty years ago only Pele, Eusebio and Bobby Charlton could hit a shot like that. Now, the ball is super-light, the ball flies and almost every player can do it.
      Schick was brilliant, though. It was maybe the goal of the tournament for its beauty.
      If the quality of your possession is very high and you are not going to lose the ball easily, the goalkeeper can play higher and you have one extra player.
      If, like France, you have Raphael Varane, Presnel Kimpembe, N’Golo Kante and Adrien Rabiot, their keeper, Hugo Lloris, can sit in a chair if he wants because they are never going to lose the ball.
      But when the quality of players, under pressure, can make mistakes, like Scotland, it is better for the keeper to stay on the penalty spot.
      Scotland’s centre-backs can easily be targeted.
      CRISTIANO IS SO BOOT-IFULCRISTIANO RONALDO will become the all-time leading scorer in international football sooner or later.
      After scoring twice for Portugal against Hungary, he has 106 goals for his country — just three behind Iran’s Ali Daei — and has beaten Michel Platini’s record for Euros finals goals.
      His 11 Euros strikes are the goals I like in his record — there are a lot of goals against Andorra or Luxembourg but these are the ones that matter.
      He showed again that he is still a top player. He is not going to make the kind of run that Kylian Mbappe did against Germany but he is going to score goals until his last day.
      As expected, Cristiano and Romelu Lukaku are already there with two goals each.
      Along with Harry Kane, Karim Benzema and Mbappe, they will contest the Golden Boot.
      Jose Mourinho

      Harry Kane will lead England into battle with Scotland on Friday nightCredit: Getty
      Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford in training on ThursdayCredit: Getty
      I saw how difficult it was for Scotland to play from the back and to reach the midfield so I would ask if Billy Gilmour can’t give them more possession.
      I looked to Spain playing this youngster Pedri and I ask myself if Gilmour can’t give more to Scotland.
      And up front, Che Adams has more mobility than the two strikers who started.
      Scotland will be defending in a low block, trying to survive waves of English attacks.
      Maybe Gilmour and Adams can help. But when you are in Steve’s shoes, you know you are playing a team with a much better squad. Gareth Southgate got his team right against Croatia and I expect an unchanged England team.
      Kalvin Phillips was all over the field — attacking, defending, pressing high, following Luka Modric, giving great intensity to the team.
      Raheem Sterling scored the winner in England’s opening game against CroatiaCredit: Getty
      It was a great decision by Gareth and Phillips has to play now.
      Scotland will play a back five but Gareth can adapt his players without changing England’s system.
      You don’t need to tell Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling to be worried about the progression of Scotland’s wing-backs.
      Just tell them to press the centre-backs because the difference in quality is there and if you press with those guys and Harry Kane, it’s very difficult for Scotland to build from the back
      What do they do? They go long and I don’t think it’s a problem for John Stones and Tyrone Mings to deal with long balls.
      It’s not a problem for England to press high because Scotland don’t have very fast strikers who can hurt you, so I see England being very dominant.
      Gareth could change Kieran Trippier for a left-footed left-back or change Sterling and Foden for Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford but I don’t think he will.

      Reach six points, top the group and in the last match against the Czechs, make people happy and give a rest to these guys and think about the knockout stage.
      Looking at Harry Kane against Croatia, I think he needs to play more than to rest. He needs matches to get to his normal intensity which you lose when you don’t play football.
      He needs to play, score a couple of goals and get the smile back.
      This might not be the closest match but it will be a great occasion — a passionate atmosphere even though Wembley can’t be full. More