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      Euro 2020: As England face off with Ukraine in quarter finals, here are 20 things you didn’t know about the country

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      UKRAINE will be the underdogs when they face England on Saturday – but the country with knockout actresses and world-beating boxers should not be underestimated.Gareth Southgate will need to choose his suit carefully to win the touchline fashion battle with dapper rival Andriy Shevchenko.
      As England face off with Ukraine in quarter finals, here are 20 things you didn’t know about the countryCredit: Shutterstock

      And if their fans bring along the nation’s 10ft-long horns (called trembitas) any lucky England supporters who make it to the game will have to be in good voice for the quarter-final tie in Rome.
      Here are 20 things you need to know about our Euro 2020 opponents:

      Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe — but its population of 41million is smaller than England’s (56million).
      Gareth Southgate’s side will have to watch out for dangerman Olek Zinchenko, 24, who has won the Premier League three times with Man City.His family fled Ukraine when Russian-backed forces tried to take control of the Donbas region in 2014.He is married to glamorous sports journalist Vlada Shcheglova.
      Ukraine’s manager Andriy Shevchenko beats Southgate in the fashion stakes, wearing Giorgio Armani suits made by his Italian fashion designer pal.Former Chelsea and AC Milan striker Shevchenko met his model wife Kristen Pazik at an afterparty organised by Giorgio.

      Actress Mila Kunis left Ukraine at the age of sevenCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Milla Jovovich hails from Ukraine’s capital, KievCredit: Rex

      Actress Mila Kunis left Ukraine at the age of seven when her teacher mum and engineer dad decided the country had “no future”.Kunis, whose grandparents were Holocaust survivors, also cited anti-semitism in the USSR as a reason for the move to the USA.
      The biggest sporting stars in Ukraine are former heavyweight boxing champions Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, who are brothers.Vitali, who was never knocked out in a professional bout, is now the mayor of the capital, Kiev.
      Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky once starred in a TV show as a teacher who unexpectedly becomes the country’s president.The comedy actor turned politician was caught up in a scandal with former US President Donald Trump, who tried to pressure him to investigate Joe Biden’s son Hunter.
      The nation is responsible for the greatest pole vaulter of all time — Sergey Bubka, from Luhansk, who broke the men’s world record 35 times and was the first person to clear six metres.

      Bond girl Olga Kurylenko grew up in poverty in the port city of Berdyansk
      Ukraine has the world’s longest musical instrument

      Bond girl Olga Kurylenko grew up in poverty in the port city of Berdyansk, having to share a flat with four relatives and her single mum. After moving to Moscow at the age of 15 she became a model.
      There will be split rivalries in the Resident Evil household, with star Milla Jovovich hailing from Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, and her director husband Paul WS Anderson from Northumberland. Jovovich’s family left the Soviet Union when she was five. The country has the most unusual tourist hotspot — the destroyed nuclear plant in Chernobyl. Each year 10,000 people visit the ghost town of Pripyat which was abandoned in 1986 after the meltdown.
      Josef Stalin’s policy of selling Ukrainian farm produce rather than allowing locals to eat it was blamed for the 1932-33 famine which claimed 3.9million lives. Some believe the Communist leader was punishing farmers who opposed giving up their land to the state.

      The country has the most unusual tourist hotspot — the destroyed nuclear plant in ChernobylCredit: Getty – Contributor
      The biggest sporting stars in Ukraine are former heavyweight boxing champions Vitali and Wladimir KlitschkoCredit: AFP

      Ukraine once had the third largest arsenal of nuclear weapons in the world before agreeing to give them all up in 1994. Russia assured their neighbours they would respect their borders in exchange, but broke that deal when they annexed the region of Crimea ten years later.
      Ukraine has been described as the second poorest country in Europe and 60per cent of the population live below the poverty line. The average yearly wage is £7,000 compared to £31,000 in Britain.
      In 1922 Ukraine became one of the founding republics of the USSR, and the Communist state’s second longest-serving leader Leonid Brezhnev was born in Ukraine.

      Andriy Shevchenko met his model wife Kristen Pazik at a partyCredit: AFP
      Ukraine’s manager Andriy Shevchenko beats Southgate in the fashion stakesCredit: SNS

      During World War Two the country lost 1.6million military personnel and 5.2million civilians.
      There are seven UNESCO world heritage sites in Ukraine including the green and gold-domed Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev. It is part of the Monastery of the Caves, where around 100 monks still live.
      Women get ahead with flower power — sporting woven head-dresses with colourful blumes. You might spot a few fans wearing the vinok on Saturday.

      Horilka is the national drink and 40per cent alcohol

      Wayne Rooney scored the winning goal when England defeated Ukraine 1-0 in Donetsk during the group stages of Euro 2012. Ukraine were co-hosts with Poland, but failed to qualify for the knockout.
      Never mind the vuvuzela — Ukraine has the world’s longest musical instrument. The horn, or trembita, would drown out the pipe that proved to be so annoying during the world cup in South Africa.
      If Ukraine lose on Saturday their fans can drown their sorrows with horilka, which is similar to vodka. This national drink is 40per cent alcohol and is sure to offer an even deadlier hangover.

      Can England fans travel to Rome for Euro 2020 quarter-final against Ukraine and how much do tickets cost? More

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      Ukraine boss Shevchenko’s son Kristian, 14, is future star at Chelsea’s academy and could qualify to play for England

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      ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO’S son is part of Chelsea’s academy – and could qualify to represent England through his residency status.Former Blues star and current Ukraine boss Shevchenko Sr is preparing to face the Three Lions on Saturday night, but could one day see his son Kristian play in white.
      Former Chelsea star and current Ukraine boss Andriy Shevchenko’s son Kristian, 14, is at the Blues’ academy
      Kristian Shevchenko turned 14 in November and is the second of the former Blues striker’s four sons.
      He was born and raised in London, making him potentially eligible to play for the Three Lions as a UK passport holder.
      But he’ll be supporting Ukraine – managed by dad Andriy – for the Saturday night’s massive Euro 2020 quarter-final clash in Rome.
      Shevchenko scored Chelsea’s opening goal in a 4-0 win against Watford in 2006 – just his second Stamford Bridge goal following his £30m move from AC Milan – the day after his son’s birth.
      He and team-mates Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Didier Drogba marked the goal with a ‘rock the baby’ celebration.
      And last year, Shevchenko confirmed his son was playing for the Blues youngsters, saying: “My second son is training at Chelsea academy.
      “This is a very good school, which brought up more than a dozen players of excellent level.”
      Kristian would also qualify to play internationally for Ukraine and likely the USA and Poland via his mother’s citizenship – Shevchenko’s wife is Polish-American model Kristen Pazik.
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      Asked which national team he would like his son to represent in the future, the 44-year-old said: “I would like to face such a choice. I’d love to. If there is to be such a choice, then we will talk.”
      The ex-Ukraine international-turned-boss, who scored 48 goals in 111 games for his country between 1995-2012, is their all-time top scorer and was appointed manager in 2016.
      He failed to lead them to the 2018 World Cup in Russia after the team were knocked out in qualifying by eventual runners-up Croatia.
      The former AC Milan striker famously struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League after leaving San Siro for Chelsea, scoring only 23 goals for the Blues during his two-season stay.
      Asked whether he believed the move to West London had been a mistake, he said: “In no way. I’m not even going to discuss that. I do not tidy up the past. Everything is as it should have happened, so it happened.
      “I have been living in London for the past 13 years. My family is there, it’s convenient there, plus I wanted my children to go to school there.”
      Shevchenko and Andersson have ugly touchline row as Sweden manager accuses Ukraine stars of diving in Euro 2020 game More

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      Classy Harry Kane helps get England fan new glasses after supporter cracked them wildly celebrating his goal vs Germany

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      AN ENGLAND fan who wrecked his glasses celebrating the Euro 2020 win over Germany has been leant a helping hand by Harry Kane.The Three Lions captain headed home the second goal of Tuesday’s memorable 2-0 win at Wembley.
      You, sir, have FREE GLASSES.— Specsavers (@Specsavers) June 30, 2021

      And the ensuing mayhem across the country led to one supporter’s glasses getting scratched to oblivion.
      Billy Taylor tweeted that he was planning a trip to Specsavers for a new pair after the game.
      But the opticians, who have run numerous ads backing England’s trophy bid this summer, were quick to lay down a challenge for Billy to bag a free replacement.
      If striker Kane retweeted the picture of his smashed lenses, he would receive the new pair free of charge.
      And the classy captain duly obliged, with Specsavers confirming his reward via Twitter.
      A number of social media users loved the gesture, including Brentford fan Billy, who wrote: “You lot are heroes.”
      Twitter user Tom added: “Lol best admin.”
      While Andy joked: “Touch of class that, from a Vision Express fan.”

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      Harry Kane hit the second goal on Tuesday to send supporters wildCredit: AFP
      One England fan will get a free pair of glasses after the striker retweeted his pleaCredit: Getty

      Kane’s goal, following Raheem Sterling’s opener, sent England fans into raptures across the country.
      Supporters at Wembley produced amazing scenes as limbs flew in every direction after the strike.
      Three Lions fans stepped up immediately with a selection of cracking memes shared online.
      A whopping 27 million viewers are said to have tuned in to watch the last-16 clash on BBC.
      Gary Lineker and Co were filmed going wild from their stadium studio as a plethora of celebs revelled in the moment.
      Hungover fans even joked about calling in sick to dodge work after the celebrations – with the ‘England Germany variant’.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

      Boris Johnson cheering on England v Germany mocked with Matt Hancock’s steamy clinch More

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      Meet Ukraine Wags cheering on their stars vs England, from TV star who slammed Guardiola to models and charity patron

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      UKRAINE players will be cheered on by a bedazzling team of Wags when they face England on Saturday.The Three Lions take on Andriy Shevchenko’s side in Rome for a place in the Euro 2020 semi-finals.
      Ukraine have a brigade of Wags backing them to the hilt at Euro 2020Credit: Instagram / @v.lada_sedan
      And among the partners supporting the boys in yellow and blue include a top journalist, charity patron and student.
      Here, SunSport details the women behind the Euros quarter-finalists.
      Vlada Zinchenko
      Oleksandr Zinchenko is undoubtedly one of Ukraine’s most talented footballers and he is married to one of the country’s most talented reporters.
      Vlada was working on the team’s 5-0 win over Serbia in June 2019 when he planted a kiss on her cheek to confirm their relationship.
      They were again in the spotlight as he helped Ukraine qualify for Euro 2020 a few months later, hugging on air.
      And Oleksandr proposed with a heartfelt display of roses inside the national team’s 70,000-capacity Kiev stadium before their big day last year.
      Vlada Zinchenko is pregnant with the couple’s first childCredit: Instagram / @v.lada_sedan
      The TV reporter and footballer revealed their romance two years agoCredit: Instagram / @v.lada_sedan
      Having turned out for a number of Manchester City games, Vlada was not afraid to share her tactical knowledge in a sharp criticism of Pep Guardiola.
      Following City’s Champions League loss to Lyon in 2020, and with her beau on the bench throughout, she fired a barb at the Spaniard via her YouTube channel.
      The 25-year-old said: “Perhaps I have no right to say this, perhaps Zinchenko will forbid me. But to put it mildly, and in order not to swear, this is completely Guardiola’s fault.”
      Oleksandr even apologised for the outburst on his wedding day and Guardiola apparently later joked to his player: “The most important for me is to be liked by your wife.”
      Oleksandr and Vlada are one of Ukraine’s most famous couplesCredit: https://www.instagram.com/v.lada_sedan/?hl=en
      Vlada once upset Pep Guardiola by criticising his tacticsCredit: https://www.instagram.com/v.lada_sedan/?hl=en
      Vlada has donned her country’s yellow and blue while following the team this summer, having recently announced her pregnancy with the couple’s first child.
      She posed with a bicycle in Amsterdam for her 459,000 Instagram followers before the defeat to the Netherlands, and was in Bucharest for the other two group games.
      And the journalist popped up in Glasgow for Ukraine’s beating of Sweden, in which Zinchenko was named Man of the Match.

      Vlada was in Glasgow for Ukraine’s last-16 winCredit: Instagram / @v.lada_sedan
      Kristen Pazik
      Ukraine manager Andriy Shevchenko has seen it all before thanks to a storied career as a player for the likes of AC Milan and Chelsea.
      And he has a wife who also knows the ups and downs of the sporting world in Kristen Pazik, the daughter of former Major League Baseball pitcher Mike Pazik.
      Kristen, 42, was born in Minnesota where her father enjoyed a number of top-tier outings, and is of Polish heritage.
      As a model, she appeared on the front cover of French GQ and is also a big tennis fan, attending Wimbledon frequently over the years.
      Ukraine boss Andriy Shevchenko married Kristen Pazik in 2004Credit: Instagram / @kristenpazik1
      The model has been supporting the Yellow and Blue with their four sonsCredit: Instagram / @kristenpazik1
      Andriy, 44, and Kristen married in July 2004, and have four sons – Jordan, Kristian, Olexandr and Rider.
      Second-eldest Kristian is signed to Chelsea’s academy and his birth in November 2006 was heralded the day after by the ex-striker’s celebration after scoring against Watford.
      The family were all in Glasgow for the win over Sweden and Kristen even attended Chelsea’s Champions League final triumph earlier in the summer.
      Inna Yarmolenko
      West Ham star Andriy Yarmolenko’s wife has been cheering on the Ukraine team from London and Kiev with their three children.
      For the win over North Macedonia, one of their trio of sons draped the blue and yellow flag over his shoulders as he cheered the side on from a fan park in the capital, dressed in full Hammers uniform.
      Inna Yarmolenko regularly shares snaps of her holiday retreatsCredit: Instagram / @yarmolkina10
      The wife of West Ham star Andriy watched the start of the Euros in LondonCredit: Instagram / @yarmolkina10
      Inna has worked on a number of social projects and charity events across the pond, aimed at promoting Eastern European culture Stateside.
      The couple got married in 2011 and Anglophile Inna has brought her social media followers along for many a trip across London.
      Yulia Pyatova
      The wife of national team captain Andriy Pyatov, Yulia was in the stadium in Bucharest as part of the Wags squad cheering on their partners.
      The couple recently celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary and welcomed eldest child Dariya shortly after their big day.
      Since then, their family has been completed with Milashka, Maya and Lev – with Yulia keeping their birth dates atop her Instagram profile.

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      Some 15,000 fans follow her activities, which included posing with a selection of other Wags last week in Bucharest with the caption: “It was not in vain that we flew with the girls!
      “And let all those who said that the woman on the ship is in trouble – see my story with cherries. AND WE BELIEVED UNTIL THE LAST IN OUR GUYS.”
      Julia Krivtsova
      Serhiy Kryvtsov was just one of the Ukraine stars cheered on by the Wags army in Bucharest.
      Wife Julia described her ‘incredible’ trip to Romania to her 6,000 Instagram followers.
      And Shakhtar Donetsk defender Serhiy has always had a huge fan in his partner and their three young kids; Andriy, Alisa and Esenia.

      Roksana Malinovska
      Atalanta midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi was a few fans’ tip to be a breakout star of Euro 2020.
      Back in Italy, he is being cheered on by wife Roksana and baby daughter Olivia.
      Roksana Malinovska is the Wag of Atalanta ace RuslanCredit: Instagram / @roksana_mali7
      The fashionista has a large following on InstagramCredit: Instagram / @roksana_mali7
      Roksana often shows her eye for fashion while posing for her 32,000-strong Instagram following.
      And the couple’s luxurious holidays also keep fans captivated, with Roksana posting a photo of herself alongside Eden Hazard in Sardinia last year.
      Tatiana Makarenko
      The wife of defender Yevhenii Makarenko was another in the stands for Ukraine’s Group C clashes in Bucharest.
      Tatiana is a model who divides her time between Kiev and Brussels, while hubbie Yevhenii plays for Anderlecht – spending last season on loan back at old club Kortrijk.

      The couple recently welcomed their second child to join toddler Sasha.
      And she watched Tuesday’s win over Sweden from Kiev, responding deliriously to her country’s late triumph.
      Christina Yaremchuk
      Few have had more to celebrate than Christina this summer after she watched Gent star husband Roman Yaremchuk bag two goals at Euro 2020.
      She witnessed their win over Sweden from a cinema alongside Tania Makarenko and Anna Kravets, the partner of striker Artem who did not make the squad.
      The model often delights her 8,500 Instagram faithful with images of her poses in a number of shoots.

      Margarita Stepanenko
      Margarita is a full member of the Wags brigade having made the trip to Bucharest and joined Yulia Pyatov for a YouTube show earlier this month.
      The wife of Donetsk veteran Taras Stepanenko is a huge foodie, revealing numerous recipes to her social media pals.
      And she often brings their three boys into her posts to show support for Ukraine’s Euros stars.

      Angelina, Ilya Zabarnyi’s girlfriend
      Ilya Zabarnyi is one of the youngest players at this year’s tournament and the 18-year-old counts student girlfriend Angelina as his biggest supporter.
      Studying philology at the National University of Kiev, the teenager also runs a site helping influencer hopefuls grow their social media accounts.
      And she will be watching on as the centre-back continues his breakout season against England, having been an ever-present at Euro 2020 so far.

      Fans baffled as Ukraine hero Dovbyk takes off shirt to reveal £200 sports bra More

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      Can you spot why Euro 2020 fans are loving this Beckham selfie at England V Germany game?

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      DAVID Beckham and son Romeo were all smiles as England beat German 2-0 in yesterday’s Euro 2020 clash.But eagle-eyed fans enjoyed a royal treat after the father and son pair shared a snap of them enjoying the game – with none other than Prince William and Kate Middleton photobombing their snap at Wembley.
      ⚽ Follow ALL of the latest news and updates from Euro 2020 with our live blog
      Romeo and David Beckham were photobombed by Kate Middleton and Prince William atCredit: instagram
      Prince George smiled and clapped as England beat Germany at yesterday’s match
      The jubilant ex-England captain and his son posed for a picture after goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane sent England into Saturday’s quarter-finals.
      And the Cambridges accidentally upstaged the brothers after getting caught in the background of the photo as they rose from their seats.
      Prince William and Kate had taken their football-mad son Prince George to the game last night, with all three joining in the celebrations as England thumped to victory.
      And they were not the only big names to join England fans at the game last night.
      Becks, 46, and 18-year-old Romeo joined Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding and David Seaman in a star-studded Royal Box to cheer on Gareth Southgate’s men.
      ROYAL BOX FIRST TEAM
      William, who is President of The FA, was seen pumping his fists in delight as England sunk Germany in a knock-out tie for the first time since 1966.
      Seven-year-old George was dressed for the occasion in a smart navy blue jacket, shirt and official FA tie as he cheered England to a famous victory.
      It is thought to be Kate’s first time watching an England men’s international in person.
      Ed Sheeran also donned an England shirt and was spotted sharing a joke with Beckham in the stands.
      Beckham leaned over to talk to William at WembleyCredit: Getty
      The Duke of Cambridge shared a joke with the Beckhams as they lapped up the Wembley atmosphereCredit: The Sun
      Singer Ellie Goulding was spotted at the star-studded matchCredit: Getty
      George peers excitedly down at the pitchCredit: Reuters
      Prince William excitedly chatted to his son at the gameCredit: Reuters
      Kate Middleton points to some of the action on the pitchCredit: Reuters
      The Shape Of You hitmaker was joined by wife Cherry Seaborn among a stellar first-team of stars enjoying England’s explosive win.
      William had travelled from Scotland for the 5pm showdown, after visiting a shipyard to meet the team building HMS Glasgow earlier.
      But it’s unlikely England fans will be able to jet to Rome to watch Saturday’s showdown with Ukraine.
      Anybody who arrives from the UK will be ordered to self-isolate for five days after arriving in Italy.
      THREE LIONS ROAR
      However, England fans living in the EU could be given tickets to the Euro 2020 quarter final so they can cheer on the Three Lions in Rome.
      Last night’s victory sparked wild celebrations, with fans across the country toasting an end to the national team’s Germany hoodoo.
      Boozy supporters scaled poles and chanted “It’s Coming Home” after goals from Sterling and Kane sent England into the last eight.
      Wembley erupted in the second half as Sterling – the Three Lions’ star man of the tournament – broke the deadlock in the 75th minute with a tidy finish from Luke Shaw’s low cross.
      Eleven minutes later, skipper Kane sent England fans wild as he headed in the second goal from a perfectly weighted Jack Grealish ball – leaving the Germans stunned.

      England lost to the old enemy 4-1 at the 2010 World Cup Final, after being beatne on penalties at the Euro 1996 semi-final.
      The Three Lions endured another semi-final penalty shoot-out heartache against the Germans at the 1990 World Cup.
      But with Ukraine next on Saturday and a possible semi-final against the Czech Republic or Denmark at Wembley are fans are once more dreaming its coming home.
      Ed Sheeran and David Beckham were sat next to each other in the standsCredit: Reuters
      England fans won’t be able to make it to the quarter final in ItalyCredit: Reuters
      Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling powered the Three Lions into the quarter finalCredit: AP
      Prince William was impressed by England’s winCredit: Getty
      Prince William, Kate and George go wild over England win as they join Beckhams for Euros 2020 historic victory More

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      Southgate says he was ‘party pooper’ in England dressing room as heroes take gentle walk after Germany Euro 2020 win

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      ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate has revealed he was a ‘party pooper’ in the dressing room after the heroic win over Germany.The Three Lions sent the nation into one huge party on Tuesday night after KO’ing the old enemy at Wembley.
      Gareth Southgate was keen to keep his England side grounded after beating GermanyCredit: PA
      Harry Kane finally grabbed his first goal of the tournament against the GermansCredit: Getty
      England’s starters vs Germany were allowed a relaxing walk on WednesdayCredit: Reuters
      Goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane fired England into the quarter-finals to set up a showdown with Ukraine in Rome.
      While supporters lined the streets of Britain in celebration, Southgate was keen to remind his stars that the hard work is just getting started.
      England’s starters against Germany were allowed a gentle walk on Wednesday while the rest of the group were put through their paces.
      The gaffer said: “I thought it was a brilliant afternoon.
      “We’ve talked about bringing enjoyment to the nation and this afternoon was what that’s all about.
      “The players were absolutely immense, right the way through the team, and the fans were as well. There were only 40,000 but it was as good an atmosphere as I can remember at Wembley.
      “But I was the party pooper in the dressing room – I just said that it means nothing if we don’t capitalise on Saturday now.
      “We’ve given people another day to remember, and now we’ve got to do it in Rome.”
      Southgate was also quick to heap praise on England’s goalscorers.
      England stars will now prep for Saturday’s cruch clash with UkraineCredit: AFP
      Southgate was keen to ensure England players didn’t get carried away at WembleyCredit: Getty
      The rest of the England group were put through their paces on WednesdayCredit: Getty
      Ben Chilwell, right, finally joined up with the rest of his England team-matesCredit: Getty
      Sterling bagged his third of the tournament while Kane finally broke his Euros duck to end a frustrating goal drought.
      Southgate added: “I was pleased for both of them because they both have to prove people wrong all the time. 
      “Raheem has been immense for us over a three or four-year period. He knows he has our trust and his performances have been electric. 
      England have welcomed back Mason Mount to trainingCredit: Getty

      “It was a really important moment for Harry, I think. It doesn’t matter what else you’re doing in the game as a forward, you need those goals so I was pleased to see the second one go in, I have to say.”
      England are now turning their attentions to Saturday when they take on Andriy Shevchenko’s underdogs Ukraine.
      They have welcomed back both Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount who return to first team training after their period of self-isolation ended.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho share England training together More

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      Inside Mancini and Vialli’s 40-year bromance, from strike partners at Sampdoria to leading Italy at Euro 2020

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      AS the final whistle blew at Wembley and Italy had edged past a stubborn Austria side, the sight of two old friends embracing stole the headlines.The inspired extra-time substitutions of Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina that decided the Euro 2020 last-16 with their goals was secondary to Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli sharing a warm hug.
      Gianluca Vialli and Robert Mancini celebrate Italy’s victory over AustriaCredit: Getty
      25 years before Mancini and Vialli shared a unique bond at Sampdoria
      The best friends have known each other for over 40 yearsCredit: Getty
      The pair, both 56, have been best mates for over 40 years. Mancini is now the coach of the national team, while Vialli is officially employed as team leader, although his influence is clearly more than that.
      As players, they tore Serie A defences apart as the ‘Goal Twins’ of Sampdoria, helping the club win their first and only Italian title.
      They would dine together at the now closed Carmine’s in Lombardy, talking football over fish soup. The two would also be seen dancing the night away at Portofino hotspot Carillon.
      Their bromance began at Coverciano, the Italian team’s headquarters, when they were teenagers. Observers immediately noticed the pair had an instant chemisty.
      “Roberto has been my hero since I was 14,” Vialli revealed on Italian TV channel RAI.
      “We met for the first time at Coverciano. People were already talking about him even then. We must have known each other for how long? Forty years? 
      “He had a foot in my goals and I had a foot in his.”
      CONTRASTING FORTUNES
      Vialli was something of a late bloomer. It was around the age of 13 that he began his quest to become a footballer at Cremonese, who were then a Serie C side.
      During that period, Mancini was considered one of the bright sparks of Italian football.
      In the early 80s, Mancini was considered one of the bright talents of Italian footballCredit: Getty
      Vialli began his career at lowly CremoneseCredit: IPS Photo Agency
      He signed for Bologna at 13, reportedly snubbing the advances of AC Milan.
      At 16, Luca was first to make his professional debut with I Grigiorossi, but Roberto didn’t have to wait too long for his – earning a Serie A bow three months before his 17th birthday.
      But it was the latter who would make a huge splash in his debut campaign – scoring nine times in 30 games.
      Mancini, the wonderkid, had caught the attention of Sampdoria’s wealthy and ambitious owner Paolo Mantovani, and was signed alongside Trevor Francis and Liam Brady in the summer of 1982.
      Back in Cremona, Vialli was also making a name for himself. He lead the Cremonese line for four years, helping the club gain promotion to the top flight for the first time in over 50 years.
      A SPECIAL BOND
      Away from their clubs, Vialli and Mancini had begun to form a special bond while on Italian under-21 duty.
      Mancini would repeatedly sell the idea of Sampdoria to Luca, and urged him to make the move to Genoa.
      In 1984, the trick worked. Vialli joined Mantovani’s revolution aged 19 rejecting several offers from major clubs.
      It was the beginning of Sampdoria’s most successful period in their history.
      The pairing of Mancini and Vialli turned Sampdoria into a forceCredit: Getty
      ⚽Get ALL of the latest Italy news and updates from Euro 2020
      In their debut season upfront together, the I Blucerchiati finished in the top four and won the Coppa Italia.
      Memorably, they terrorised the normally unflappable Franco Baresi in the second leg of the final scoring both goals to beat AC Milan.
      Soon, the Italian press would give them their own nickname – the “Goal Twins.”
      Mantovani was so taken by his strike duo, he adopted them as sons and even named his two dogs Roby and Luca.
      Mancini and Vialli used to room together at the Astor hotel, where Sampdoria’s stars would stay the night before a game, and would order midnight feasts of spaghetti alla bucaniera from team chef Giorgio Parri.
      Speaking about their relationship on the pitch to Sky Sports, Vialli revealed: “It came just naturally. When you’ve got this affinity things just happen, you just get on and there’s no jealousy.”
      He added: “Off the pitch it helps if you are friends. If you see things the same way and have the same philosophy in life.
      “And with Roberto it just happened. We were good friends.”
      CHAMPIONS
      More trophies would follow under new boss Vujadin Boškov, including back-to-back Coppa Italia titles in 1988 and 1989, then a European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1990.
      Mancini and Vialli, first and second in the front row, played just a handful of games for ItalyCredit: Getty
      The pinnacle of Vialli and Mancini’s achievements came in 1991 when they won Serie ACredit: Getty
      However, at international level they would only play a handful of games together as a strike duo, with competition for places fierce.
      Mancini would earn just 36 caps for his country during his career, while Vialli managed 59. Perhaps criminally, they only played in one major tournament together – Euro ’88.
      The pinnacle of Mancini and Vialli’s achievements came in 1991, when they were instrumental in landing the Italian championship for Sampdoria.
      Roberto was already showing a nous for leadership behaving like an assistant manager at times during the title-winning campaign.
      While Vialli won the Capocannoniere, Serie A’s Golden Boot, with 19 goals in 26 games.
      The Scudetto triumph would allow Sampdoria to play in the European Cup for the very first time in the 1991-92 season.
      A 112th-minute Ronald Koeman free-kick in the final against Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona ‘Dream Team’ broke their hearts in the competition.
      It would be the last time Vialli and Mancini ever played together.
      After the European Cup final in 1992, the pair went their separate ways with Vialli eventually ending up ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Mancini had a brief loan spell at Leicester City before turning to managementCredit: PA:Press Association
      Just two months later, Sampdoria accepted a £13million bid from Juventus for their talisman.
      REUNITED
      Both would appear on our shores at the end of their careers.
      Mancini joined Leicester on loan at 36 in 2001, buoyed by the success of Vialli who had won the hearts of Chelsea fans as a player and manager from 1996-2000.
      Mancini has enjoyed the far better career as manager, winning three Serie A titles with Inter Milan and one Premier League title with Man City, before finally taking on the national team job in 2018.
      As Mancini began his mammoth task of reinvigorating the Azzurri, Vialli was privately taking on his biggest challenge.
      Fighting pancreatic cancer, Luca underwent chemotherapy and lost two-and-a-half stone in weight.
      To hide his illness he wore extra layers and chunky jumpers. His daughters drew his eyebrows on and applied make-up to hide a pale complexion.
      Vialli also studied Asian philosophy and compiled a scrapbook of quotes, mantras and stories to help him through his journey.
      Vialli battled pancreatic cancer from 2018-20 and underwent severe chemotherapy treatmentCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription
      In 2019, Mancini brought his old pal Vialli back into the international fold as delegation chiefCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      It was only fitting that in 2019 Vialli was appointed as delegation chief – a position unfulfilled since Luigi Riva’s retirement in 2013.
      Last November, when Mancini’s assistant Lele Oriali was absent for the Nations League game against Poland, Vialli was seen in the dugout for the first time in nearly 20 years. More importantly, he was alongside his Mancini again.
      “Working with Roberto and the staff is emotional,” Vialli said.
      “He has said that we are becoming old but, for me, working here together will keep us all young.”
      With their victory over Austria, Italy set a new national record of 31 games unbeaten and have become many people’s favourites for the Euros.
      But Vialli, who is now cancer-free, admitted he had no idea his best mate would be such a good manager.
      “Roberto is a great coach, which I honestly did not expect when we were playing together!” he told TV show Notte Azzura.
      “He has created a wonderful atmosphere of confidence and trust in the players, and when a player feels the coach has faith in him, he can walk on water.
      “That’s not all, because Roberto also knows how to instil discipline at the same time.”
      Now, they are reunited on the Italian bench.

      Vialli has admitted he is shocked his pal Mancini has become a great managerCredit: AFP

      “We met 35 years ago and are not just friends, but brothers. We did extraordinary things at Samp, then the rapport consolidated even after we took different paths.
      “Friendship helps you to work better, because you have absolute trust.”
      Should Italy win Euro 2020, expect these two to be jumping up and down in each other’s arms like teenagers again. More

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      in Soccer

      Ukraine star Artem Besedin ruled OUT of England clash and forced to quit Euro 2020 camp due to injury

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      ENGLAND have been handed a Euro 2020 boost with the news that Ukraine star Artem Besedin has been ruled OUT of their quarter-final clash.Besedin was the victim of a horror challenge from Marcus Danielson that saw the Swedish defender shown a straight red card.
      This horror challenge has seen Artem Besedin ruled OUT of the England game
      Besedin has been sent home to receive further treatment on his legCredit: AFP
      Ukraine went on to score a winner in the final minute of extra-time – but are counting the cost of a long night’s work.
      Besedin has returned home for treatment and is out of the rest of the tournament should Ukraine beat England.
      The centre-forward came off the bench for Ukraine in three of their four matches at Euro 2020.
      Playing a total of 36 minutes, Besedin played his part in his nation reaching the quarter-finals, although has failed to score or claim an assist.
      VAR REVIEW
      Sweden defender Danielson was given his marching orders via a VAR review into his challenge in extra time with the scores level.
      The Swede was initially awarded a yellow after his attempted clearance ended with him catching Besedin on the follow-through.
      However, Italian referee Daniele Orsato was advised to have another look at the tackle on the pitch-side monitor.
      And replays showed that although Danielson got the ball first, his studs were high and they caught Besedin’s leg – bending it awkwardly.
      The centre-back – who plays his club football at Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional – was furious with the decision.

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

      The Ukraine striker had to be helped off the fieldCredit: AFP
      Marcus Danielson was going for the ball but his foot was highCredit: AFP

      Danielson’s red card meant he became only the fourth player to receive his marching orders in extra-time of a Euros match.
      And Ukraine finally made the extra man count with Artem Dovbyk’s stooping header enough to set up a quarter-final clash against England.
      SunSport’s referee’s expert Mark Halsey believes Danielson can have no complaints over his red card.
      He explained: “When you lunge at the ball with one or two feet you run the risk of being red carded for a challenge of this type.
      “Danielson was high and, although he won the ball first, his follow through caught Artem Besedin.
      “It was a challenge which endangered a player’s safety with excessive force and met the criteria for a dismissal for me.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Can England fans travel to Rome for Euro 2020 quarter-final against Ukraine and how much do tickets cost? More