Euro 2020

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      Why is Marko Arnautovic not playing against Holland, and what did he say against North Macedonia at Euro 2020?

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      MARKO ARNAUTOVIC celebrated angrily when he managed to score against North Macedonia in Austria’s opening Euro 2020 group game at the weekend.The former West Ham man scored the third goal in a 3-1 win for Austria after coming on as a substitute late in the game.
      Arnautovic scored the third in a 3-1 win for Austria at Euro 2020Credit: AFP
      Arnautovic celebrated angrily after scoring against North MacedoniaCredit: AFP
      And once the ball hit the back of the net, Arnautovic wheeled away to celebrate in bizarre fashion, angering North Macedonia players.
      UEFA have now suspended Arnautovic for Austria’s clash with Holland.
      What did Marko Arnautovic say in his celebration?
      Austria were already in command of their Euro 2020 clash when Arnautovic scored to make it 3-1.
      The former Stoke striker was quick to celebrate in emphatic fashion, shouting and pointing at North Macedonia players and supporters in the process.
      Austria captain David Alaba had to restrain Arnautovic from saying too much more and grabbed the 32-year-old by the face to tell him to stop.

      The Football Federation of Macedonia have since called for UEFA to investigate what exactly Arnautovic said to North Macedonia’s players.
      It’s been reported in Serbia that that Arnautovic made derogatory remarks during his celebration.
      It’s claimed Arnautovic allegedly said “I’m f*****g your Albanian mother.”
      UEFA have since revealed that they have banned Arnautovic for ‘insulting another player’.
      The FFM claim that insults were directed at Leeds man Ezgjan Alioski, who has Albanian routes.
      “The FFM strongly condemns the nationalistic outburst of Austrian player Marko Arnautovic, after a goal scored in yesterday’s match, addressed to Ezgjan Alioski,” a statement said.
      “At the same time, we inform you that we have submitted an official letter to Uefa demanding the harshest punishment for Arnautovic.”
      “We are always against nationalism, discrimination and all other forms of insults and outbursts that are not in the spirit of football and values that we all stand together.
      “We will always stand up and defend the interests and dignity of Macedonian national players wherever they perform.”
      Arnautovic, meanwhile, has Serbian routes and Serbia have historic tension with North Macedonia.
      Arnautovic came on to score for Austria against North MacedoniaCredit: AFP
      Though UEFA have now decided to suspend him for the Holland game, Arnautovic has apologised for his actions.
      “There were some heated words yesterday in the emotions of the game for which I would like to apologise, especially to my friends from North Macedonia and Albania,” he wrote on Instagram.
      “I would like to say one thing very clearly: I am not a racist.
      “I have friends in almost every country and I stand for diversity. Everyone who knows me is aware of that.”
      Austria take on Holland in their next Euro 2020 clash at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. More

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      Gareth Southgate confirms Harry Maguire has joined England training ahead of Euro 2020 clash with old foes Scotland

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      GARETH SOUTHGATE has revealed Harry Maguire has returned to England training ahead of their huge Euro 2020 clash with Scotland.The Three Lions will look to build on their 1-0 win over Croatia when they take on Steve Clarke’s side at Wembley Stadium on Friday night.
      Harry Maguire returned to training 24 hours ahead of the Scotland clashCredit: Reuters
      Southgate has a selection headache to make in central defence for the Scotland gameCredit: Rex
      And Southgate, who replaced Maguire with Tyrone Mings for England’s opening game of the tournament on Sunday, confirmed the Manchester United centre-back was back training with the rest of the squad.
      Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: “This morning we had 26 players training which is where you want to be.
      “Maguire has trained with no reaction.”
      Maguire has not played since he suffered damage to his ankle ligaments while playing for Man Utd in early May.
      But England did not miss his presence against Croatia in their tournament curtain-raiser as Mings produced a superb display to vindicate the faith Southgate place in him.
      It will now be left up to the manager as to whether or not he will take a chance on Maguire against Scotland.
      Meanwhile, there are also question marks about Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson’s fitness.
      The 31-year-old has played just 45 minutes of football since February as he continues his recovery from a groin injury.

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      How Group D looks after one game with Czech Republic and England getting off to winning starts
      Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips started in holding midfield against Croatia, but Henderson is slowly returning to 100 per cent.
      “What he brings to the group and the camp, the way he can speak to the other players, the way he trains – it’s a great advantage for us,” Southgate said of Henderson.
      “He’s training consistently now, while we also have some good cover in that area of the pitch [defensive midfield].
      “We’ve had Jude [Bellingham] come through as well as Kalvin [Phillips].”
      ⚽Get ALL of the latest England news and updates from Euro 2020

      Steve Clarke and Scott McTominey speak ahead or their Euro 2020 Group D clash More

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      England star Jack Grealish set to face Scotland despite injury fears but warned he must ‘press more often’

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      JACK GREALISH is reportedly set to START for England in their Euro 2020 Group D clash against Scotland.The Aston Villa man has struggled to get back to full fitness after he picked up a shinbone injury in February.
      Jack Grealish could well start for England against ScotlandCredit: Reuters
      He did impress in the 1-0 friendly win against Romania, but that didn’t convince Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate to start him against Croatia.
      A disciplined performance and a goal from Raheem Sterling saw England win their first ever opening game in the European Championships.
      However for the game against the Auld Enemy, Grealish ‘is expected to feature in this middle group game’, according to The Athletic.
      The 25-year-old is ‘itching to play’ – but will have to show Southgate he has heeded instructions to ‘press more often when out of possession’.
      Southgate says his side are focused on qualification from Group D rather than the emotion of the game with Scotland.
      Scotland visit Wembley, with a win for England virtually sealing passage to the knockout stages.
      Southgate said. “We know that we have got to compete because otherwise you can get overrun in any game.”
      “Our focus has got to be on performances getting better with every game we play.

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      England Gareth Southgate has revealed Harry Maguire is also in contentionCredit: The Sun

      “For the fans and us it is a big occasion but it is another opportunity for three points and our objective is qualification. That is what we have got to focus on.
      “In the past we have done that very well. We did that on Sunday, Sunday was a big occasion for everyone and we handled it very well.”
      Another player who could feature for the Three Lions is Harry Maguire.
      Southgate said the Manchester United star will be involved in the squad, having been out since May with an ankle injury.
      The boss said: “Harry will be involved tomorrow, the decision we have got to make is whether he is ready to start.
      “We are really pleased with his progress, he has trained with the team for four or five days now and he has had no reaction.
      “He is on a really good path. We want everyone available, it causes difficult decisions but we have 26 players on the training pitch and that is a great position to be involved in.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      England vs Scotland FREE – Live stream, TV channel and kick-off time for Euro 2020 match More

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      Kevin De Bruyne inspires Belgium comeback with goal and historic assist against Denmark on injury return

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      KEVIN DE BRUYNE returned to the Belgium side in style as he assisted and scored to complete an impressive comeback against Denmark.Roberto Martinez’s side were totally outplayed by the Danes in the first half, as the No1-ranked team in the world went into the break a goal down thanks to Yussuf Poulsen’s second minute strike.
      Kevin De Bruyne made an instant impact after coming on at half-timeCredit: Reuters

      But De Bruyne was introduced at half-time as he returned from the acute nose bone fracture and left orbital fracture that he suffered in Man City’s Champions League final defeat to Chelsea.
      And it took the 29-year-old just nine minutes to completely change the complexion of the game.
      As Romelu Lukaku drove Belgium forward into the Denmark penalty area, he pulled the ball back into the path of De Bruyne.
      And the Man City playmaker looked set to pull the trigger but instead found Thorgan Hazard with a sublime pass across the box for the Borussia Dortmund man to tap home.
      Just 16 minutes later De Bruyne was at it again, this time finishing off another wonderful Belgium move.
      Lukaku was involved once more as he held up the ball brilliantly. It was eventually worked inside to Eden Hazard and the Real Madrid star found De Bruyne in space on the left.
      And the PFA Player of the Year made no mistake from the edge of the box, rifling low into the corner beyond the despairing dive of Kasper Schmeichel.
      De Bruyne’s hand in his team’s first goal makes him the only European player to have racked up an assist in each of the last four major tournaments.

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      He struck home the winner 20 minutes from time to hand Belgium their second winCredit: Reuters
      4 – Kevin De Bruyne is the only European player to have assisted a goal in each of the last four major tournaments (World Cup & Euros), doing so in the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 editions. Unrivalled. #BEL #EURO2020 https://t.co/Su6Cpna63p— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 2021

      Belgium’s comeback came after the two teams paid their respects to Christian Eriksen in the tenth minute of the game.
      The Dane, who wears the No10 shirt for Denmark, suffered a cardiac arrest during his team’s match against Finland on Saturday and is now recovering in a Copenhagen hospital just yards away from where his side faced Belgium.
      Meanwhile, the victory sends Belgium through to the last 16 as they added to their 3-0 win over Russia on Saturday.
      Providing they take at least a point from their final match against Finland, Belgium will top Group B and face one of the third-place qualifiers in the second round.
      ⚽Get ALL of the latest Belgium news and updates from Euro 2020

      Nicola Sturgeon impersonator shows off hilarious dribbling and header skills in heels as she backs Scotland team in Euros More

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      Denmark 1 Belgium 2: De Bruyne inspires thrilling win vs gutsy Danes after Eriksen tribute as Belgians keep 100% start

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      FOR several seconds last Saturday, Christian Eriksen was lost to the world.Collapsing to the turf of the Parken Stadium in the 42nd minute, his heart stopped. His breathing stopped. The entire footballing world stopped.
      Sub Kevin De Bruyne transformed the contest with an assist and Belgium’s winner on an emotional night against DenmarkCredit: Reuters
      Christian Eriksen got a round of applause from both teams as he watched from hospital following his cardiac arrest five days earlier vs Finland
      4 – Kevin De Bruyne is the only European player to have assisted a goal in each of the last four major tournaments (World Cup & Euros), doing so in the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 editions. Unrivalled. #BEL #EURO2020 https://t.co/Su6Cpna63p— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 2021

      Heroic and quick-thinking medics saved his life that day. Team doctor Morten Boesen thought he was “gone”. A few seconds longer, and he would have been.
      As the old saying goes, life is a game of inches. In this case, life and death was a matter of seconds.
      And when Denmark returned to that very same Parken Stadium turf yesterday to play without their leader, team-mate and beloved friend for the first time, it was just seconds before every ounce of emotion, despair, anxiety and relief that had been bottled up over the past week erupted into a sea of red and white.
      99 seconds to be precise, as Yussuf Poulsen’s emphatic early goal sent the 25,000 fans – and the rest of the globe – spiralling, unsure of what to do.
      Unsure of what to feel.
      The noise was unlike anything that has been heard or experienced at any European Championships, any major tournament, or any sporting event.
      Poulsen ran to the corner – the same corner where he formed a wall around Eriksen’s lifeless body five days earlier as he fought for his life – looked to the sky and let out a spine-tingling release.
      The rest of his teammates joined him, like a deserved roll of honour of the heroes of Parken, the heroes of Copenhagen, who played their part in ensuring Eriksen is still alive today.
      Borussia Dortmund midfielder Thorgan Hazard strikes to level for BelgiumCredit: Reuters
      Kevin de Bruyne lashes his sweet winner for the Belgians on 70 minutesCredit: AP
      Skipper Simon Kjaer, who rolled Eriksen onto his side and removed his tongue from his throat, before comforting his wife Sabrina, embraced Poulsen like a long-lost brother.
      Thomas Delaney, who sobbed as he stood in the wall surrounding Eriksen’s body, joined the huddle out of breath and unable to mutter a word.
      Kasper Schmeichel, who relayed messages to Sabrina letting her know that her dear husband was alive and breathing, simply pointed to the sky and screamed.
      Boss Kasper Hjulmand, who has acted with such grace and strength to keep his team and nation together, celebrated on the touchline like a man possessed.
      Many of the players had tears strolling down their face. Some were tears of joy that their start had matched the occasion. Some were tears of sadness that their idol was not there celebrating with them.
      But Eriksen would have been celebrating, alright. Less than a mile away at the Copenhagen hospital where he is recovering with his family.
      Wearing his iconic No.10 jersey in his hospital bed, it is said the 29-year-old can see the ground from his window, hear the crowd, feel the love and adoration.
      Forget Copenhagen hospital – those celebrations of pure joy would have been felt across the whole of Europe.
      Yussuf Poulsen is mobbed after his early opener for Denmark, before Belgium struck twice in the second half to winCredit: Reuters
      Thorgan Hazard marks his 54th minute equaliser as Belgium roared back to winCredit: AFP
      Denmark striker Yussuf Poulsen sweeps a second-minute openerCredit: AFP
      And for a prolonged, beautiful moment, football didn’t matter.
      The result, the impact on the group table, the permutations, the knock-out stages, the chance to give Belgium – the No.1 side in the world – a bloody nose.
      All of it was irrelevant. Instead, the focus was on the celebration of a life that football thought it had lost, but managed to save.
      It carried on until the 10th minute, where both sides had agreed to pause the game for a minute’s applause to commemorate the health and recovery of Eriksen.
      Of course, Roberto Martinez perhaps didn’t expect to concede the second quickest goal in Euros history when he agreed to mark the occasion with what he described himself as a “celebration of life”.
      But when it came, it was respected magnificently. Romelu Lukaku – a teammate of Eriksen at Inter Milan – brushed away a few tears as he looked to the sky and applauded.
      Banners were unfurled. One read: “Belgium loves you Christian.” Another read: “Hele Danmark er med dig” which translates “All of Denmark is with you, Christian.”
      Pre-match was also overflowing with respect and class from both sides.
      A blown-up banner of Eriksen’s No 10 shirt was carried onto the pitch by the ball-boys.

      The largely spiritual and totally appropriate anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ was played and sung by the fans as the players emerged from the tunnel.
      Belgium skipper Jan Vertonghen – an old teammate of Eriksen during his Tottenham days – handed over a signed Belgium shirt as a gift for Eriksen.
      On Denmark’s hottest day of the year, it created an unforgettable aura about the stadium that lifted the Danes to begin the game like they have never begun a game before.
      Of course, it also helped that Jason Denayer – replacing Dedryck Boyata in the heart of a back three – gifted them with a mistake that led to the opener.
      His casual pass was intercepted by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who then played in Poulsen to fire into Thibaut Courtois’ bottom right corner.
      If the Danes were running on adrenalin, the Belgians looked to be running on fumes.
      Joakim Maehle, Daniel Wass and Mikkel Damsgaard all had chances to double their lead in the first half – and ended up with 20 shots on goal.
      It wasn’t until Kevin De Bruyne – still trying to find full fitness after getting injured in the Champions League final – came on at half time that the game changed.

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      Linking up with Lukaku in the 55th minute, the Manchester City midfielder’s square ball in the box allowed Thorgan Hazard to tap home an equaliser.
      And 15 minutes later he finished off a superb free-flowing move with a thunderous effort to give the Belgians the lead, sending them into the knock-out stages with a game to spare.
      The result was missing, but Hjulmand’s men did their country, their fans and their captain proud in the capital after the most emotionally draining and demanding of weeks.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Christian Eriksen gives thumbs up and smiles from hospital bed since horror cardiac arrest for Denmark More

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      Snipers were prepared to SHOOT Greenpeace protester who parachuted onto pitch before France’s Euro 2020 win over Germany

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      SNIPERS were prepared to SHOOT the Greenpeace protester who parachuted onto the pitch before the Euro 2020 game between France and Germany.The police only decided against firing when they noticed the parachute had the environmental organisation’s logo on, according to a German minister.
      Police were worried the protester who parachuted onto the pitch at Euro 2020 was a terroristCredit: EPA
      Snipers were prepared to shoot the protester before noticing the Greenpeace logoCredit: EPA
      Bavaria’s interior minister for the state Joachim Herrmann claims coppers in Munich were prepared to shoot the protester as they feared it was a terrorist attack.
      The politician said: “Due to the Greenpeace banner the marksmen did not intervene.
      “But if the police had come to a different conclusion that they might have been dealing with a terrorist attack, the aviator may well have paid with his life.”
      Police in Munich have confirmed two men were injured by the pilot during his entrance into the stadium and were taken to hospital.
      The protester lost control of his parachute, clashing with the spidercam and causing debris to fall onto the playing surface.
      The police added: “There is no understanding whatsoever for such irresponsible actions in which a considerable risk to human life is accepted.”

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      Uefa have also condemned Greenpeace’s actions, releasing a statement after the match.
      It reads: “This inconsiderate act – which could have had very serious consequences for a huge number of people attending – caused injuries to several people attending the game who are now in hospital and law authorities will take the necessary action.
      “Uefa and its partners are fully committed to a sustainable Euro 2020 tournament and many initiatives have been implemented to offset carbon emissions.
      “The staging of the match was fortunately not impacted by such a reckless and dangerous action, but several people were injured nonetheless.”

      Greenpeace have apologised for the failed stunt, tweeting: “This protest was never meant to interrupt the game or injure people.
      “We hope that everyone is OK and that nobody has been seriously injured.
      “Greenpeace actions are always peaceful and non-violent. Unfortunately, with this stunt everything did not go to plan.”
      The organisation later tried to explain their plan in a second Twitter post, writing: “The pilot had wanted to let a balloon hover in the stadium, but had to then do an emergency landing, due to the fact that the hand gas control of the parachute failed.”
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      Naked Scottish football fan led away by cops in Hyde Park as thousands descend on London ahead of England Euros clash

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      A NAKED Scottish football fan was yesterday led away by cops in Hyde Park after thousands of Scots descended into London ahead of tonight’s game.Multiple Met Police officers were spotted surrounding the streaker before dragging him away from the crowd of onlookers.
      ⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog
      Police led a naked Scottish football fan awayCredit: Steve Welsh
      The Scots fan was seen chatting to friends completely naked in Hyde Park on ThursdayCredit: Steve Welsh
      Dozens of Scots headed to London’s Hyde Park after arriving in the capital yesterday.
      Raucous Scottish fans taunted English fans upon their arrival by bragging “we’ll destroy the English b******s”.
      Tartan Army supporters were pictured piling out of King’s Cross station draped in flags and swigging Buckfast.
      One Scot arrival, Cameron Lynus told the Sun Online: “Scotland are gonna win, absolutely.
      “We’ll destroy the English b******s,” he taunted.
      Michael Lynch, 34, who donned a traditional glengarry hat for the trip down from Dundee said: “The key thing is if we score, we have to score, in two pints time we’ll definitely win. 
      ““As long as we can cheer then were happy, Scotland will score first.”
      Fans had been told to stay away without a ticket but it hasn’t stopped thousands descending on LondonCredit: i-Images
      Football fans gathered in a large crowd in Hyde Park ahead of tonight’s clashCredit: Steve Welsh
      Scottish fans have descended on London stations ahead of the game
      20-year-old Drew Jackson who travelled down from Lockerbie said: “Scotland will win, 2-1. On paper, Scotland will win.
      “If we win, it’s not just a win for the players in football it’s a win for the country.”

      The fans are planning to descend on pubs in the capital en masse to watch the Group D clash at 8pm tonight.
      And the kilt-wearing Scots got the party started early as they belted out chants in a sea of blue and white in London.
      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 across the border.
      Fans donned their tartan as they arrived in London
      Proud supporters have headed to London despite warnings not to come if they don’t have a ticket
      King’s Cross is full with Tartan Army supporters
      The clash kicks off at 8pm at Wembley
      The match is a historic one
      Crowds of chanting fans spray drinks in the air outside King’s Cross
      All trains from Glasgow and Edinburgh to London were sold out.
      The oldest fixture in international football is steeped in history – with the last time England took on the Scots in the Euros way back in 1996.
      Gazza marked his winning goal with his infamous dentist chair celebration as the Three Lions went on to win 2-0.
      Wembley historically hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Scotland – with England beating the Auld Enemy 18 times in 32 games at the stadium.
      The last time the two teams met at Wembley saw Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Gary Cahill steering England to a 3-0 win for the World Cup qualifier in 2016.
      But the thousands of singing Scotland fans spilling out of London stations today don’t seem too concerned by the stats.
      A police officer is draped in a Scotland flag at Euston in London
      Scots believe they can end their curse at Wembley
      They have only ever beaten England nine times at the London stomping ground
      The platform was packed in Glasgow Central
      Fans depart from Kings Cross ahead of the game
      Archie Gardiner, 20, told The Sun Online: “Its nationality that matters. A matter of pride. 
      “John McGinn will score, he’s better than Zidane.”
      Robert, from Glasgow, added: “I’ve bet £5 for Scotland to win, £90 back for a fiver. 
      “We’ll score, super John McGinn will score the first goal.
      “Everyone has booking for pubs to watch the game of they’re not going.”
      Pictures from 1977 show a much different affair for Scottish fans
      Fans had invaded the pitch at Wembley after Scotland beat England 2-1 in 1977
      The celebration soon erupted in chaos as the Tartan Army beat the Auld Enemy
      Others showed their pride and said they would be skipping back over the border when Scotland end their Wembley curse.
      Cameron Lynus, 23, said: “F*** knows where were watching the game. 
      “Scotland are gonna win, absolutely. We’ll destroy the English b******s.”
      Andrew Burnett, 52, who almost got arrested before the day of the match after climbing a tree at Euston during the festivities, added: “If I’m dreaming, and I’ve got my lucky socks on I think we’ll win. 
      “I fancy it’ll be 2-1, we’ll win by at least two goals. Thats what we want.”
      A fan shows his support at King’s Cross after the journey South
      Scots have been told to travel to England only if they have tickets
      Trains from Glasgow were sold out
      It is the first time the teams have met in the Euros since 1996
      Those without tickets say they will watch the game in pubs More

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      Denmark vs Belgium LIVE: Stream FREE, score, TV channel as Poulsen NETS early opener – Euro 2020 latest updates

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      BELGIUM are taking on Denmark in Copenhagen with the Red Devils knowing victory will send them into last-16 of Euro 2020.
      TV channel: ITV1
      Live stream FREE: ITV Hub
      Denmark XI: Schmeichel, Christensen, Kjaer, Vestergaard, Maehle, Wass, Hojbjerg, Delaney, Poulsen, Damsgaard, Braithwaite.
      Belgium XI: Courtois, Vertonghen, Denayer, Alderweireld, Meunier, Hazard, Dendoncker, Tielemans, Mertens, Carrasco, Lukaku.

      Follow ALL the latest with our live blog below…

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      DENMARK 1-0 BELIGUM
      3. What a start we have had here.
      I didn’t even get the chance to let you guys know what colour kits the players are wearing.
      It was sloppy defending by Jason Denaya who gifted the ball to Pierre- Emile Hojbjerg.
      And then the midfielder slipped it to Yussuf Poulsen who kept his composure and tucked the ball past a stretched Thibaut Courtois.
      GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!
      DENMARK SCOREEEEEEEEEEEE!
      AND THAT’S A GOAL FOR ERIKSEN AND THE WHOLE NATION!
      ANNOUNCEMENT
      Quick update for those who are joining the blog late, Belgian marksman Romelu Lukaku has announced that there will be a stoppage in play on the 10th minute to pay tribute to his club team mate Christian Eriksen.
      Football really does bring everyone together.
      Romelu Lukaku has announced that Denmark and Belgium will stop play in the 10th minute when they meet tomorrow night to pay tribute to Christian Eriksen.Class. pic.twitter.com/RKT09xSnxa— SPORTbible (@sportbible) June 16, 2021

      DENMARK 0-0 BELGIUM
      1. Here we go lads and lasses!
      The second game of the day is under-way and whenever a match features Belgium, we should expect some goals…
      Well it’s not guaranteed but I guess we can dream.
      PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
      AND WE’RE OFF!

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      NATIONAL ANTHEMS
      The players are currently singing their hearts out as we approach kick-off.
      It’s almost time!
      RED BRICK WALL
      The support for Christian Eriksen is absolutely amazing.

      EURO FACTS 
      Following on from the earlier post, multiple trips doesn’t seem to have an effect on Belgium because not only did they demonstrate that they can score a goal or two by thrashing Russia in their Euros opener.
      But the Belgians were the overall top scorers in the qualifying stages where they had to do even more travelling and they managed 40 goals in their 10 matches.
      Also if that wasn’t impressive enough, they only conceded three goals, which is a joint record matched by Turkey.
      As for the Dane’s, the 1-0 loss to Finland last Saturday was their third consecutive defeat in the Euros if you include their 2012 campaign haven’t not qualified for the 2016 competition.
      It will be a real uphill battle this evening for Kasper Hjulmand and his side.
      MASTERMIND MARTINEZ
      Belgium have made their third trip in six days during the Euros and Roberto Martinez has recognised that it could take a toll on his players.
      But the Belgian boss seems to have a plan in place to deal with this situation.
      In terms of logistics, it’s probably the hardest we could’ve had. Playing Russia in Saint Petersburg in the first game in then Denmark in the second and then going back to Saint Petersburg. We need to adjust our preparation and we’ll make sure that the logistics are just right.Roberto MartinezUEFA.com
      BELGIUM CURRENT FORM
      On the other hand, the Belgians have won their last four out of six matches, scoring 17 and only conceding three in that time.
      Sounds like a brilliant stat but I must admit, eight of those goals did come in one game against Belarus.
      But nevertheless, they are in scintillating form and as a matter of fact, Roberto Martinez’ side haven’t lost since the 2-1 defeat to England on October 11th 2020, 11 matches ago.

      DENMARK RECENT RESULTS
      Heading into the Euros, Denmark were on a good run and looked as if they were going to be a real dark horse in this year’s tournament.
      The 1992 winners of this competition, hadn’t lost a game in 2021 which includes holding the Germans to a 1-1 draw.
      But sadly all good things must come to an end, and the loss to Finland on match-day 1 has put a complete halt to that streak.

      LOVELY LUKAKU
      And for all his incredible attributes, and the way he bullies defenders, the Belgian marksman isn’t afraid to show that he is very caring.
      Here was Lukaku dedicating one of his goals against Russia to Christian Eriksen on the weekend ICYMI.
      The things you love to see.

      LETHAL LUKAKU
      What else is there to say about Romelu Lukaku? The man just loves scoring goals.
      The Belgian marksman has 62 goals in only 94 caps for his country and is currently Belgium’s all-time top goal scorer.
      Lukaku got off to a blistering start in the Euros after bagging a brace against Russia on the opening day which now makes it 20 goals in his last 15 competitive international fixtures.
      Last Serie A campaign, the 28-year-old’s 24 goals fired Inter Milan to their first Scudetto in 11 years and this is a follow up of his 23 strikes in the league the season before.
      Below are Lukaku’s statistics from the 2020/21 Italian League title winning triumph.
      I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get crowned with the golden boot for the European Championships this year too.

      CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
      Captain, leader, legend, hero.
      Simon Kjaer most certainty played his part in bringing Christian Eriksen back to a bit of stability and he deserves all the accolades he can get.
      🇩🇰 Simon Kjaer has been told his actions saved Christian Eriksen’s life.The Denmark captain reacted quickly to secure his neck, clear his airways and start CPR before medics reached the pitch.A hero. pic.twitter.com/r1U0COUIuM— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) June 14, 2021

      SIMON SAYS
      And whenever Simon Kjaer says something, his back-line normally listens.
      The AC Milan defender is influential in this Denmark side which is why he is the team’s captain despite the various other talented nominees in the squad.
      Since making his international debut in 2009, Kjaer has been a preferred option at the rearguard even to the likes of Southampton’s Jannik Vestergaard or Fulham’s Joachim Andersen.
      The 32-year-old has appeared 108 times for Denmark which makes him the 5th most capped player in a Dane Jersey and only 21 behind Manchester United legend Peter Schemeichel’s record.
      Despite finishing 12 points off Serie A winners and bitter rivals Inter Milan, AC Milan had their best campaign in a while and Simon Kjaer was a major part of that.
      Feast your eyes on the some of his best statistics in the previous season.

      THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN
      Belgium have arrived in Copenhagen and they are all masked up ready to steal the three points.

      BELGIUM DUGOUT
      12 Mignolet, 13 Sels, 3 Vermaelen, 4 Boyata, 6 Witsel, 7 De Bruyne, 10 E.Hazard, 20 Benteke, 23 Batshuayi, 24 Trossard, 25 Doku, 26 Praet
      BELGIUM XI
      Similar to the Danish camp, the Beglian boss has been subjected to make a few changes from match-day one due to injuries.
      Dedryck Boyata is rotated for Jason Denayer in between the pairing of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen who has surprisingly shaken off his knock.
      Thomas Meunier steps in for the injured Timothy Castagne on the flanks.
      But the front three of Dries Martens, Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku all keep their places in the side.
      Also the big news is that talisman Kevin De Bruyne has been declared fit enough to make the bench so I’m sure he will have some sort of cameo this evening.
      1 Courtois, 2 Alderweireld, 18 Denayer, 5 Vertonghen, 15 Meunier, 19 Dendoncker, 8 Tielemans, 16 T.Hazard, 14 Mertens, 11 Carrasco, 9 Lukaku

      DENMARK DUGOUT
      16 Lossl, 22 Ronnow, 2 Andersen, 7 Skov, 11 Skov Olsen, 12 Dolberg, 13 Jorgensen, 15 Norgaard, 17 Stryger, 19 Wind, 21 Cornelius, 24 Jensen
      DENMARK XI
      Kasper Hjulmand has made a couple of changes to the first XI from the side that tasted defeat on the opening fixture against Finland.
      Southampton Centre-back Jannik Vestergaard steps in for Christian Eriksen which could potentially see the formation altered a little.
      And Sampdoria winger Mikkel Damsgaard replaces Jonas Wind in one of the attacking positions.
      1 Schmeichel, 18 Wass, 4 Kjaer, 6 Christensen, 3 Vestergaard, 5 Maehle, 23 Hojbjerg, 8 Delaney, 9 Braithwaite, 20 Yurary, 14 Damsgaard

      THE STARTING LINE-UPS ARE IN!
      NOT COPEN WITH THE PRESSURE
      Denmark were thought to have the slight advantage with all three of their group games being at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.
      But after losing at home to Finland and suffering a defeat to Belgium late last year, none of the odds are stacked in their favour.
      Both way, it is still a sight for sore eyes and with the stadium set to be 65% full, the atmosphere will be rocking.

      BELGIUM TEAM UPDATE
      Roberto Martinez already had a selection headache on the opening game with his incredible roster of talent to choose from but with certain players returning from injury, it has just became a little more difficult.
      According to the Belgian boss, Professional Footballers’ Association’s Men’s Player of the Year, Kevin de Bruyne is said to have fully recovered from his facial fractures, Alex Witsel has battled his way back from an Achilles problem and it’s the first time Martinez has seen Eden Hazard ‘play so freely’ after the Real Madrid star enjoyed a 20 minute spell against Russia.
      Martinez took to his press conference earlier on this week to update the media with his side’s injury news where his exact words were: “Alex Witsel and Kevin De Bruyne are progressing well.
      “Axel had a good training session. He is way ahead of what we expected and I can tell you that he will be involved in the game against Denmark.
      “The agenda for De Bruyne is clear: he is fit and can play. The question now is how much he can play. I am happy with the progress he is making.”
      Unfortunately Martinez didn’t receive all positive news on the injury font because veteran defender, Jan Vertonghen took a knock to the ankle so he is set to miss out on match-day 2.
      And following his horrible head clash with Russian midfielder Daler Kuzyaev, it looks as if Timothy Castagne’s Euro campaign has come to a premature end especially after the news broke out that his injury required a SIX-hour operation procedure.
      Martinez said: “Jan Vertonghen’s ankle is swollen. We wait 48 hours for the inflammation to decrease. I do not expect him to encounter any problems for the game against Finland. (Monday 21st June) We will now see if he can play against Denmark.”
      When asked about Castagne, the Belgium head coach responded: “If we go to the final, he can definitely come but whether he can be on the field, I doubt it.
      “From a medical point of view, he needs more than four weeks but since the case of Axel Witsel, who was never meant to be here after his injury, I do not rule out medical miracles.”
      DENMARK SQUAD NEWS
      Kasper Hjulmand will reportedly have a full strength squad to choose apart from absentee Christian Eriksen for obvious reasons.
      However, the Danish manager has been encouraged to take a check on his side’s welfare going into the game as there might be a few players still in shock from tragic situation last Saturday.
      Also, no Eriksen could mean a first team spot for either of the Brentford duo Mathias Jensen or Christian Norgaard.
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