Euro 2020

THE European Championship is finally here, with players already writing themselves in national folklore with the group stage underway.For England, Raheem Sterling’s goal saw them win their first-ever Euros tournament opener against Croatia.
England got off to a winning start at Euro 2020 with THREE former non-league products in the teamCredit: Getty
The Three Lions winger is used to playing in the biggest games having forged his career in the youth ranks at Liverpool before moving to trophy-hungry Manchester City.
But for other players at this summer’s tournament, the road to the top has been considerably more gruelling.
Wales were indebted to Kieffer Moore after his goal saw Rob Page’s squad snatch a point against Switzerland.
While Moore is now a hero in Wales, you don’t have to delve too far into the history books to find the striker plying his trade in non-league in front of a smattering of supporters and their dogs.
And the Welshman isn’t the only former non-league hero at this summer’s tournament either – check out just seven of the best, below…
JORDAN PICKFORD
Pickford spent time on loan at non-league Darlington during his early days at SunderlandCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Pickford is now comfortably England’s No1 for Euro 2020 and looked assured vs CroatiaCredit: EPA
NOW unquestionably England’s most-experienced No1, the Everton stopper has experienced it all.
Pickford started his career at Sunderland, but was quickly loaned out to Darlington, then in the Conference Premier – now known as the National League.
The goalkeeper played 17 times during his half-season loan, before Darlington were relegated to the sixth tier of English football.
Pickford returned to Sunderland only to be loaned to Conference side Alfreton Town, Burton Albion (League Two), Carlisle United, Bradford (both League One) and Preston (Championship).
The now-England man quickly established himself as Sunderland No1 before his move to Everton in 2017.
By the time he’d moved to Goodison Park – making the England squad for the first time that same summer – Pickford had already played in every tier of English football from the very top to the fifth.
Now England’s No1, Pickford started the 1-0 win over Croatia with a convincing display at Wembley.
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TYRONE MINGS
Tyrone Mings played for non-league Yate Town and Chippenham earlier in his careerCredit: (C)Richard Chappell
LIKE Pickford, the now-Aston Villa defender started – and played the full 90 minutes of – the 1-0 win over Croatia.
Mings showed his mental toughness as he put in an assured performance after a pair of shaky warm-up matches.
But it should be no surprise to anyone that Mings was unfazed.
After all, he’s experienced plenty of setbacks during his career.
Mings, now 28 and 6ft 5in, was released by Southampton’s youth academy in 2009 after eight years for being too small.
Tyrone Mings partnered John Stones in defence vs Croatia, putting in a strong showingCredit: The Sun
The defender then spent two years at school before returning to football with then-eighth-tier Yate Town in 2011-12.
Mings – then working as a barman and mortgage advisor to make ends meet – nearly quit football before joining Southern League Premier Division side Chippenham Town in the seventh tier.
The centre-back – then playing as a left-back – was signed by Ipswich in a deal worth £10,000 to serve as backup to Aaron Cresswell.
But a surge in form and a growth spurt saw him quickly become a towering centre-back, joining Bournemouth in 2015 for what would be their first-ever season in the Premier League.
Four years on the south coast saw him move to Aston Villa in 2019, where he has since gone on to become a crucial member of Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad.
DOMINIC CALVERT-LEWIN
Dominic Calvert-Lewin came off the bench late on vs Croatia having played for sixth-tier Stalybridge Celtic earlier in his careerCredit: Rex
MUCH like Pickford – team-mate for club and country – Calvert-Lewin’s route to Premier League and international football was a slightly longer journey than most.
The striker joined Sheffield United’s academy in 2005 aged eight, before spending nine years in the youth squad, then as a box-to-box midfielder.
Calvert-Lewin broke into the senior set-up in early 2014, with the Blades still in League One at that time.
With club bosses believing he needed more senior game-time under his belt, the forward was shipped off to sixth-tier Stalybridge Celtic on loan in December of that year.
However, after scoring six times in just five games for their first team, his loan was cut short and he returned to Bramall Lane in February 2015.
Calvert-Lewin signed a new long-term contract before being sent on loan to then-League Two side Northampton, with Sheff Utd believing he was ready for the jump in standard.
Despite never scoring for the Blades at a senior level, Everton saw his potential and brought him to Merseyside in the summer of 2016.
Fast forward five years and Calvert-Lewin has four goals in just ten games for England.
The striker even came off the bench late in the 1-0 win over Croatia to replace goal-scorer Sterling.

CHE ADAMS
CAPPED twice by England’s Under-20s in 2015, Adams is now arguably the No1 striker in Scotland’s squad for Euro 2020 after switching allegiances earlier this year.
While Adams has been on the books of Southampton and Birmingham in recent seasons, he didn’t always have it easy.
Che Adams played for youth team St Andrews before playing or Oadby Town and Ilkeston Town
Che Adams is arguably Scotland’s top centre-forward at this summer’s EurosCredit: Getty
Before moving to Sheff Utd in 2014-15, the striker was on the books of ninth-tier Oadby Town, then in the United Counties League.
Adams then moved on to another non-league side, Ilkeston Town, making his senior debut against Jamie Vardy’s old club, Stocksbridge Park Steels in October 2013.
After close to 100 matches in non-league, Adams was snatched up by Sheff Utd, despite competition from Premier League and Championship clubs.
KIEFFER MOORE
MOORE hasn’t been a regular starter for Wales of late.
In fact, the Cardiff striker had made the starting XI in just three of the nine games leading up to Euro 2020.
Kieffer Moore played in the 14th tier before working his way up the ranks, including a spell at Yeovil Town, picturedCredit: AFP
Moore scored Wales’ equaliser against Switzerland in their tournament openerCredit: The Mega Agency
But he started the tournament opener against Switzerland and Wales boss Page was rewarded as Moore nodded home the equaliser to snatch a potentially crucial point.
Of all the footballing journeys listed here, none are quite as fascinating – and long – as Moore’s.
Born in Torquay, Moore kicked off his career in the south-west of England with Paignton Saints in the 14th TIER – the South Devon League Division Two.
The striker scored 47 times in just 43 games before moving to Truro in the Conference South (sixth tier) for the 2012-13 season.
Midway through the season, Moore moved to league rivals Dorchester Town.

He was then snapped up by then-Championship side Yeovil in the summer of 2013.
In two seasons at Yeovil, the club was relegated TWICE, to slip back down to League Two, with Moore released.
The forward joining Norwegian top-flight side Viking for one season, before snubbing offers from League Two sides Exeter and Leyton Orient to sign for National League club Forest Green.
One-cap England C international Moore joined then-Championship side Ipswich for £10,000 a year later before moving to Barnsley and then Wigan – all for one season apiece.
He joined Cardiff last summer and has since become a key part of both the Bluebirds and Wales set-ups, having scored six times in 18 games for his country.
Moore scored 20 times in 42 Championship games for Cardiff in 2020-21.
DANNY WARD
Danny Ward started his career at non-league Wrexham and is now Wales’ No1Credit: AFP
WARD was preferred to Wayne Hennessey for Wales’ draw with Switzerland – despite not playing a league fixture since 2016-17.
Starting from the beginning, the Welsh goalkeeper started his career at then-Conference Premier side Wrexham – also loaned to league rivals Tamworth.
Ward joined Liverpool in 2012 and was even the club’s second-choice, behind Simon Mignolet, for much of the 2014-15 season.
But the goalkeeper only ever played three matches – with two of those in the Premier League – and was loaned out to Morecambe, Aberdeen and Huddersfield.
In 2018, then-fourth-choice at Anfield, Ward was sold to Leicester for £12.5million.
Ward has never played in the Premier League for the Foxes, but is unquestionably No2 to Kasper Schmeichel.
In 2020-21, seven of his 12 appearances in all competitions came for his country.
Ward played two FA Cup games, two Europa League matches and one Carabao Cup clash for Leicester.
TOM LOCKYER
Tom Lockyer spent time in non-league after Bristol Rovers briefly fell out of the Football LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Tom Lockyer is now on the books of Luton and will wear No5 for Wales at the EurosCredit: Getty
STUCK on the bench for the game against Switzerland, behind Chris Mepham and Joe Rodon, Wales ace Lockyer has non-league experience of his own.
The centre-back joined Bristol Rovers’ youth academy from Cardiff in 2011.
Lockyer quickly broke into the first-team for the then-League Two side, but was part of the squad who dropped out of the Football League in 2013-14.
The 6ft 1in defender – released by Cardiff for being too short – helped Bristol Rovers to back-to-back promotions as they stormed up to League One.
In 2019, Lockyer joined then-Championship side Charlton, where he spent just one year before moving on to Luton, where he played 20 times last season ion the second tier.
The 13-cap Wales international was handed the No5 jersey for Euro 2020 and is expected to play a big role as they aim for another appearances in the knockout stages.
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Gareth Southgate reacts to England’s victory against Croatia in their Euro 2020 opener More

THIS is the classy moment a humble Holland fan congratulated three jubilant Ukraine supporters after Andriy Yarmolenko scored a blinder for their team.The West Ham winger curled a beauty into the top corner to make it 2-1 to the Dutch during their Euro 2020 opener and Ukrainian fans in the stadium went mad.
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This Holland fan (right) shook hands and hugged his Ukrainian counterparts after Andriy Yarmolenko’s blinder on Sunday
The heart-warming scenes resonated with fans around the world
The West Ham winger bent a sublime effort into the top corner on SundayCredit: Reuters
The Dutch fan giving a thumbs-up, then a handshake and a ‘fair play, that was a belter’ to the celebrating Ukraine fan after the Yarmolenko goal is my tournament highlight so far pic.twitter.com/JVnbnnUcH9— Scott Innes (@Flying_Inside) June 13, 2021

Holland led the Group C encounter 2-0 after Gini Wijnaldum and Wout Weghorst scored on 51 and 58 minutes.
And the Dutch seemed to be cruising to a perfect Euros start until Ukraine legend Yarmolenko popped up.
In trademark fashion, the No 7 cut inside from the right and hooked a left footed effort from around 23 yards.
It curled over Maarten Stekelenburg and dipped just under the crossbar to give Ukraine hope in Amsterdam.
When the peach of an effort went in, cameras panned to three men in Ukraine kits jumping up and down and dancing.
One was sloshing beer everywhere as a man in black approached the trio.
At first glance it looked like he was having a go but on closer inspection the Holland fan was actually giving a thumbs up and extending his hand to shake hands and congratulate the men.
He said ‘fair play, that was a belter’ before proceeding to hug the delighted group.

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Ukraine eventually pulled it back to 2-2 through Roman Yaremchuk before Denzel Dumfires broke their hearts with an 85th minute winner for the Dutch.
The game was arguably the best of the tournament so far but some of the focus after was on the heart-warming moment seen in the stands.
Scott wrote: “The Dutch fan giving a thumbs-up, then a handshake and a ‘fair play, that was a belter’ to the celebrating Ukraine fan after the Yarmolenko goal is my tournament highlight so far.”
Telibarb said: Warmed my cockles, it did.”
And Katy added: “That’s lovely although I’m thinking ‘2 metres! 2 metres!'”
Yaromolenko has struggled for game time at West Ham this season with injuries and the excellent form of the starting XI limiting him to just 15 Premier League appearances.
But he is a hero in his country for the 41 goals in 95 appearances he has managed for the national team.
⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog
Yes! Warmed my cockles, it did.— Telibarb (@Telibarb) June 13, 2021

Arnautovic has to be restrained by Alaba in wild celebrations after Austria beat North Macedonia More

KASPER SCHMEICHEL reassured Christian Eriksen’s wife her husband was alive as he supported her on the side of the pitch. Sabrina Kvist Jensen ran down to the touchline when the midfielder collapsed during the Euro 2020 match between Denmark and Finland on Saturday.
Kasper Schmeichel supported Sabrina Kvist Jensen on the touchlineCredit: AFP
He had suffered a cardiac arrest and was being treated by medics who performed CPR and used a defibrillator to help resuscitate the Inter Milan star.
Eriksen is stable in hospital and has now spoken his first words, revealing he just wants to know why he collapsed.
But while her husband lay stricken on the floor at Parken Stadium, Sabrina was consoled by goalkeeper Schmeichel.
The Leicester City hero and captain Simon Kjaer made a beeline for the tearful partner and told her he was breathing.
Schmeichel’s dad Peter told BBC Radio 5 Live: “That would be the worst two hours in my time in football.
“We had absolutely no information but we could see it was very, very serious.
“You look at the reaction of the players and it happened not very far from all the wives of the players and, of course, Christian’s wife would have seen that.
“She came on to the pitch and you could see from the reaction of the players.

“I saw my son Kasper run over to her, and I spoke to him last night.
“He said that Christian is breathing. She actually thought that he’d passed away, and just to confirm that (he was breathing) he went back to be absolutely sure that he wasn’t saying anything that was out of order.
“By then Christian was talking to the doctor and we could see there was a little bit of calm there.
“But until it was confirmed it was really terrible to watch it all and to understand why a fit, 29-year-old player at this level and how it can happen like that.
“And having a son there, straight away you relate that to yourself.”
Schmeichel Jr – who was one of the first people on the scene when Leicester chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s helicopter crashed – spoke to the media on Monday.
He had special praise for his skipper Kjaer and revealed it was ‘damn nice’ to see Eriksen smiling in hospital yesterday.
The FA Cup winner said: “Personally, I tried to imagine if it was me who was lying there.
It was damn nice to see him smile and laugh and be himselfKasper Schmeichel
“I knew Christian’s wife, children, and parents were there, so at one point I tried to look for them. 
“It is an inhuman situation for them to go through.
“I am incredibly proud to have Simon as captain.
“It does not surprise me that he did as he did. He has an incredibly sensitive and human side of him.
“Simon and Christian spend a lot of time together in Milan as they live close to each other.
“It was damn nice to see him smile and laugh and be himself. Just notice that he is there. 
“It was a wonderful experience and something that has helped me see that he was okay after lying there.
“We talked about nothing and everything. As long as he is well – that has been the most important thing. He has experienced something that we have not experienced.”
Peter Schmeichel says Denmark game shouldn’t have continued after Christian Eriksen collapsed on pitch More

THE television boss in charge of Denmark vs Finland has defended the coverage of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest.He insisted it was ‘necessary to show distress’ but also outlined the steps taken to protect the player and those involved.
TV footage of Christian Eriksen’s collapse showed the medics working on the Denmark starCredit: EPA
Eriksen collapsed just before half-time in the Euro 2020 clash on Saturday in Copenhagen and was ‘gone’, according to team doctors.
He was treated on the pitch for 13 minutes, including with CPR and a defibrillator shock, before being taken to hospital where he was awake and stable.
But there was widespread outrage at the TV feed which showed the medics working on the stricken star as well as his partner Sabrina Kvist Jensen, who was consoled on the touchline.
However, TV director Jean-Jacques Amsellem said there was ‘no handbook for these incidents’.
He told L’Equipe: “There was a slow-motion of the scene where we can see him fall really clearly, but I immediately forced my teams not to focus on him, not to film him anymore.
“During all the live coverage that followed, I did at one moment show Danes in tears because it was still necessary to show the distress.
“We also saw the emotions of the Finns and the crowd but I don’t think we did anything mawkish or creepy.”
In the UK, many viewers – including Ian Wright – were left horrified by the BBC’s ‘staggering decision’ to show the harrowing footage and the public broadcaster has since launched a review into their coverage.

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Christian Eriksen latest:- EURO HORROR Eriksen rushed to hospital in ‘stable condition’ after collapsing on pitch- PLAY ON Christian Eriksen ‘FaceTimes Denmark team-mates from hospital’ and says play-on- BEEB FURY BBC apologises after fans slam them for not cutting away after Eriksen collapsed- ‘PLEASE GOD’ Football world prays for Eriksen after Dane collapses and given CPR on pitch- UNITED IN CARE Touching moment Finland fans give country’s flags to shield stricken Eriksen- ‘I LOVE YOU’ Watch Lukaku score for Belgium and dedicate goal to Inter team-mate Eriksen

The cameras eventually moved back to Gary Lineker in the studio, who apologised on behalf of his employer.
He said: “Everyone at the BBC is hoping that Christian makes a full recovery, of course, and we apologise to anyone who was upset by the images broadcast.”
The BBC quickly tried pinning the blame on Uefa.
A spokesperson added: “In-stadium coverage is controlled by Uefa as the host broadcaster, and as soon as the match was suspended, we took our coverage off air as quickly as possible.”
But Uefa responded by saying several broadcasters across Europe managed to cut back to their studios to protect viewers.
The European football governing body said: “Every broadcaster had the possibility to cut back to their studio and many of them did so.
“It was therefore their editorial choice to stay with the live images or not.”

Peter Schmeichel says Denmark game shouldn’t have continued after Christian Eriksen collapsed on pitch More

FRANK DE BOER’S tactical tinkering meant Holland exploded back into the Euros big time.The Dutch coach has been accused of being too cautious with his formation and overly-cautious approach to games.
Georginio Wijnaldum scored as the Netherlands left it late to win against UkraineCredit: EPA
The new PSG signing continued his great goalscoring form for his countryCredit: AFP

But all that went out of the window as his cavalier team blew a two goal lead only to snatch a priceless win with five minutes to go on a breathless, balmy night in Amsterdam.
A five-goal thriller – that also serves as Holland’s first win at a European Championship finals since 2008 – is no bad way to signal a return.
De Boer snatched three points in his first game of Euro 2020, but more importantly proved a point to anyone who thought his team was going to bore its way to mediocrity this summer.
Whether this pulsating night will ease any of the pressure on de Boer remains to be seen but to anyone else watching this was the game that set this tournament alight.
This one had everything, heroic goalkeeping, cracking goals and an exciting late climax. The stuff that international tournaments should be made of.
Holland walked away breathless with the win and Ukraine will be devastated at losing having clawed their way back into contention in an electric second half.
A magnificent curling strike from captain and West Ham’s forgotten midfielder Anriy Yarmolenko followed by a brilliant headed equaliser from Roman Yaremchuk pulled them level in a four minute burst.
Throw in the 20-yard opener from stand-in Holland skipper Georgino Wijnaldum, the man for the big nights in his Liverpool days, and heroic goalkeeping from Ukraine’s Georgiy Bushchan would be enough adrenaline to satisfy anyone.
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Then the colourfully-named Denzel Dumfries, a right wing back by trade headed in his first international goal to settle it with five minutes to go and confirm the second Group C game as the best of the competition so far.
It isn’t enough to put the Dutch top of their group. They must sit in second behind Austria who earlier beat North Macedonia 3-1. But for pure joy and excitement it will be heard to beat right through until the final next month.
Even De Boer, trying to restore his battered managerial reputation, might find it hard to work out whether he should be delighted with his team’s enterprise and battling spirit, or furious at how they nearly threw it all away – at home.
Missing Euro 2016 and the last World Cup has been hard to take for this tiny national that has big ideas about football.
De Boer, famously sacked by Crystal Palace just ten weeks into a three-year contract without his team scoring a goal, has also been stung by recent history.
Ukraine thought they had snatched a draw with a quick-fire doubleCredit: Getty
But everybody likes to see Holland in big finals and playing the brand of stylish football they came to symbolise.
De Boer’s fancy for putting defence first has caused major controversy. To the extent that a light plane flew over training two days ago trailing a banner imploring him to ditch 5-3-2 in favour of the more swashbuckling 4-3-3.
Holland blew the covers off in their opening match but it looked as if it would still end in frustration with Bushchan so composed in the Ukraine goal.
The Dinamo Kiev keeper only earned his first cap last October but looked supremely confident keeping out Wijnaldum and Weghorst in a first-half he will remember forever.

The second was one to forget. Seven minutes after the break he pawed at a low cross that allowed Wijnaldum to blast home the opener.
Then 6ft 6in Weghorst, linked with West Ham, grabbed number two and it looked all over until a Dutch defence missing its imperious leader in Virgil van Dijk crumbled and allowed Ukraine to make a fight of it.
But credit to the Dutch and their resilience too as Dumfries kept cool to head home a cross from Manchester City defender Nathan Ake to win it at the death.
Denzel Dumfries was the matchwinner in a five-goal thrillerCredit: Getty More