Euro 2024

PORTUGAL are THROUGH to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 after beating Slovenia on penalties. The game was a frantic one and saw Cristiano Ronaldo miss a penalty in extra-time.Ronaldo stepped up to score in the shootout, however, Portugal keeper Diogo Costa was the hero after he saved three spot kicks to put his side through.Roberto Martinez’s side will now face France in the quarter-final on Friday, July 5.Match result: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia (3-0 pens)EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSFollow our live blog below…Martinez celebrates nervy winThere must have been times in Frankfurt where Roberto Martinez wondered how safe his role as manager was.However, his keeper came through for him and it was all smiles as they progressed to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.Portugal can take confidence from this victory and use that to go as far as they can in this tournament.Credit: GettyCopy linkCopiedDad’s Army continue to chase silverwareFor Pepe and Cristiano Ronaldo, there is no doubt that this will be their last appearance at a Euros tournament,It almost went pear-shaped for both of them, Ronaldo seeing his penalty saved before a Pepe slip allowed Sesko clean through on goal.Fortunately for the pair, it was not to be and they will celebrate long into the night as they now have a Euro 2024 quarter-final to look forward to.Credit: ReutersCredit: GettyCopy linkCopiedSlovenian hearts broken in FrankfurtThey have impressed everyone at Euro 2024 and done their country proud.Playing in their first-ever knockout match at a major tournament, Slovenia did not look out of place against Portugal.They had a chance to win the game in the final moments of extra-time but Diogo Costa saved Benjamin Sesko’s effort.Credit: ReutersCredit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedPortugal keep dreams alive in GermanyIt was an emotional night in Frankfurt as it seemed that Roberto Martinez’s side were heading towards an upset.They kept their cool and scored every one of their penalties in the high-pressure shootout.You could see as Bernardo Silva’s effort nestled in the back of the net just how much it meant to these players.Credit: APCredit: GettyCopy linkCopiedRonaldo makes up for missYou had to wonder if he was in the right frame of mind to step up and take another penalty after missing one in extra-time.True class shone through as he showed his mental strength and stepped up to take Portugal’s first penalty.After Slovenia’s spot-kick was saved, the evergreen Ronaldo stepped up and slotted home in style.Credit: APCopy linkCopiedPenalty misses Costa lot for SloveniaDiogo Costa is the hero of Portugal.He saved all three of Slovenia’s spot-kicks.They are through to the quarter-finals where they will now meet France.Absolute drama in Frankfurt.Credit: GettyCredit: PACredit: PACopy linkCopiedPortugal win 3-0 on penaltiesCopy linkCopiedGoal – Bernardo Silva (Portugal) 0-3Copy linkCopiedMissed penalty – Benjamin Verbic (Slovenia) 0-2Copy linkCopiedGoal – Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) 0-2Copy linkCopiedPenalty missed – Jure Balkovec (Slovenia) 0-1Copy linkCopiedGoal – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) 0-1Copy linkCopiedPenalty missed – Josep Ilicic (Slovenia) 0-0Copy linkCopiedPenalty shootoutCopy linkCopiedFT: Portugal 0-0 SloveniaJan Oblak has the chance to become a national hero.They may even name an airport after him if he can continue his penalty heroics this evening.Huge pressure on ten players now to do their stuff from 12 yards out.Copy linkCopiedFT: Portugal 0-0 SloveniaPortugal had a corner in the final moments but it was superbly defended from Slovenia.The referee brings the match to a close, we are heading to penalties.If anyone ordered drama, here it comes.Copy linkCopiedET: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia118. Semedo and Neves replace Pepe and Cancelo.Last throw of the dice for Roberto Martinez.We are into the dying embers of the game now.Credit: ReutersCopy linkCopiedET: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia116. What a chance for Slovenia to win this game.Pepe miscontrolled the ball and Sesko was clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat.Costa saved his centre-back, making the save with his leg to deny the Slovenian forward.Copy linkCopiedET: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia114. The effort goes straight into the wall and is cleared.Bit of a letdown after all the build up for that set piece.Slovenia are looking the more comfortable of the two sides right now.Copy linkCopiedET: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia112. Jota is penalised for a foul in a dangerous area.It is a chance for Slovenia to work the Portuguese keeper.The Slovenian manager has been shown a straight red card and is now in the stands.Copy linkCopiedET: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia110. Palhinha flicks on the free kick towards goal and Oblak tips it over the crossbar.As the resulting corner comes in, Ronaldo is penalised for a foul on the keeper as he punches clear.Slovenia will be in no rush to take this now.Copy linkCopiedET: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia108. Ilic has come on for Elsnik at the break.Balkovec is shown a yellow card for a cinical shove on Cancelo.It was almost like a rugby tackle that.Credit: PACopy linkCopiedET: Portugal 0-0 Slovenia106. For a goalless draw, this has been a good game.Everyone thought we were finally going to see a goal but Oblak had something to say about that.If this goes all the way to penalties, you wonder if Ronaldo is in the right headspace to take one now.Copy linkCopiedKick-off: Portugal 0-0 SloveniaWe are back underway at the Frankfurt Arena.Slovenia will just not give up in this game.Matjaz Kek’s side get us restarted.Copy linkCopiedHT: Portugal 0-0 SloveniaJan Oblak keeps Slovenia in Euro 2024.Cristiano Ronaldo’s drought in major tournaments cotinues.The former Real Madrid man was almost in tears after the Slovenia keeper saved his effort.He is now crying on the side of the pitch.Copy linkCopied More

FRANCE are taking on rivals Belgium in a tantalising Euro 2024 last 16 clash RIGHT NOW.And the headline team news is that Antoine Griezmann returns to the starting line-up for Les Bleus after starting on the bench last time out.France have received much criticism back home after failing to win their final two group matches and finishing second in Group D.Belgium also finished runners-up in Group E and only achieved one victory – a 2-0 win over Romania.The winner of tonight’s last-16 clash will play the winner of Portugal vs Slovenia in the quarter-finals on Friday, July 5.TV channel: ITV1FREE live stream: ITVXFrance team: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Theo Hernandez; Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot; Griezmann; Thuram, MbappeBelgium team: Casteels; Theate, Vertonghen, Faes, Castagne; Carrasco, Onana, De Bruyne; Doku, Lukaku, OpendaEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSFollow our live blog below…France 0-0 Belgium7. Belgium triple up on Thuram as he tries to weave his way to the byline on the right.In the end, Theate grows tired of the cat-and-mouse game by the corner flag and flattens his opponent with a shoulder barge.Copy linkCopiedFrance 0-0 Belgium5. A steady start from the French in possession.Griezmann is floating about between the lines as Les Bleus look for space to exploit.Copy linkCopiedFrance 0-0 Belgium3. On the volley, Rabiot arrows an early half-chance wide of the target.The early observation is that Belgium are operating with three centre-back while Castagne and Carrasco slot in as wing-backs.Copy linkCopiedKick-off – France v Belgium1. It’s on! Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg blows his whistle, and it’s France that get this Last 16 tie underway.The French are back in their changed strip of white shirts with blue pinstripes while the Belgians wear their dark red tops and black shorts.Copy linkCopiedHere come the two teams!A capacity crowd at the Dusseldorf Arena welcome the players of France and Belgium to the pitch.The 47,000 inside here include at least 8,000 from France, and one of those is a certain Paul Pogba.The former Manchester United man watches the fans morph into a French Tricolore at one end of the stadium, while a red wall has been assembled at the other.After the anthems, two of the most well-known faces in the game greet each other in the centre-circle for the coin toss, but only one of Kylian Mbappe and Kevin De Bruyne can lead their side into the last eight.Kick-off comes next.Copy linkCopiedWasteful outfits’ need to fireThis evening’s encounter in Dusseldorf pits together two of Euro 2024’s most wasteful teams in front of goal.During the group stage, only Serbia (3.8%) had a poorer shot conversion rate than both Belgium and France (both 4.2% – 2 goals from 48 shots).Indeed, the Red Devils have scored just three goals in six games across the last two major tournaments, scoring from just 3.6% of their shots (3/83) and underperforming their expected goals by 6.15 (3 goals from 9.15 xG).Copy linkCopiedKante king of the midfieldMany would have been forgiven for thinking N’Golo Kante’s international career was over after two years out of the fold.But the experienced midfielder was recalled by Didier Deschamps for this summer’s tournament, and he has not let his country down.During the group stage, Kante ranked top among his French teammates for chances created (7), tackles (7) and pressures applied (216), while he was joint-top for interceptions (3) and line-breaking passes under pressure (15).The 33-year-old has never ended on the losing side for France in a major tournament match (P18 W12 D6).Copy linkCopiedKevin key to unlocking French defenceDuring the group stage of this European Championship, Belgium were the team with the highest share of their line-breaking passes being those that broke the opposition’s defensive line (18%).And that’s hardly a surprise when you have the magnificent Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings.Indeed, the Belgium captain broke the opponent’s defensive line on more occasions than any other midfielder during the groups (11).Copy linkCopiedMasked man eyeing milestonesAfter coming through 90 minutes against Poland on Tuesday, France captain Kylian Mbappe has been deemed fit enough to start in the Round of 16 today.The man in the mask netted his first ever goal at a European Championship from the penalty spot against the Poles, and now stands on the brink of some major milestones.That spotkick to his tally to 13 at major international tournaments with only the great Michel Platini (14 in 19 games) ever having scored more for France at the World Cup and Euros.Mbappe is also only two goals away from becoming the third French player to net 50 goals in all competitions after Olivier Giroud (57) and Thierry Henry (51).Copy linkCopiedBelgium bring in Carrasco and OpendaDomenico Tedesco also makes two changes to his team to face France.The Belgium head coach brings in Yannick Carrasco and Lois Openda in place of – surprisingly – Youri Tielemans, and – less surprisingly – Leandro Trossard.It means that Dodi Lukebakio, available after suspension, is only named among the substitutes.There is some discussion as to whether the Belgians line-up with a back four, or a back three that sees Timothy Castagne and Carrrasco operate as wing-backs.Belgium (4-3-3): 1 Casteels; 21 Castagne, 4 Faes, 5 Vertonghen, 3 Theate; 7 De Bruyne, 24 Onana, 11 Carrasco; 20 Openda, 10 Lukaku, 22 DokuSubs: 12 Kaminski, 13 Sels, 2 Debast, 6 Witsel, 8 Tielemans, 9 Trossard, 14 Lukebakio, 16 Vranckx, 17 De Ketelaere, 18 Mangala, 19 Bakayoko, 23 Vermeeren, 25 De CuyperCredit: @BelRedDevils on XCopy linkCopiedGriezmann and Thuram back for BleusDidier Deschamps makes two changes to his French side after a disappointing draw with Poland in the final group game.The head coach recalls Antoine Griezmann and Marcus Thuram to his attack as he shuffles his system to go with two up top; Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola drop to the bench.Thuram will play alongside masked captain Kylian Mbappe with Griezmann in behind, ahead of a midfield three marshalled by the magnificent N’Golo Kante.France (4-3-1-2): 16 Maignan; 5 Kounde, 4 Upamecano, 17 Saliba, 22 Hernandez; 13 Kante, 8 Tchouameni, 14 Rabiot; 7 Griezmann; 15 Thuram, 10 MbappeSubs: 1 Samba, 23 Areola, 2 Pavard, 3 Mendy, 6 Camavinga, 9 Giroud, 11 Dembele, 12 Kolo Muani, 18 Zaire-Emery, 19 Fofana, 20 Coman, 21 Clauss, 24 Konate, 25 BarcolaCredit: @equipedefrance on XCopy linkCopiedBelgium bringing the partyWe’re still more than an hour from kick-off in Dusseldorf, but the Belgian supporters have been in the mood since this morning.These scenes from a local fan park earlier today shows just how pumped up and ready to party that the Red Devils masses are.Either that or their side-to-side movement is a tribute to England’s style of play at this tournament.Copy linkCopiedLes Bleus a shade of odds-onFrance have failed to convince at Euro 2024 so far, but the bookies are banking on class being permanent despite the questionable form; as a result, Les Bleus are the slightest touch of odds-on while the Belgians can be backed at more than 3/1.France win 19/20Draw 23/10Belgium win 16/5To reach quarter-finals:France to qualify 2/5Belgium to qualify 7/4Odds from William Hill correct at time of post publication.Copy linkCopiedNeighbours ready to renew rivalryThis teatime’s clash will be the 76th encounter between France and Belgium in all competitions.It means the Red Devils are the French’s most frequent opponent of all time, having faced them nearly twice as much as any other team – Italy and Switzerland are next in line with 39 fixtures each.Meanwhile, Belgium have only faced the Netherlands (129) on more occasions than the French.Les Bleus have won all four of their previous matches against Belgium at major tournaments, scoring 13 goals and conceding only three in the process.Their only previous meeting at a European Championship was 40 years ago in 1984 – the French won 5-0 in the group stage courtesy of a Michel Platini hat-trick and goals from Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez on their way to winning their first major trophy.Copy linkCopiedGood afternoon from DusseldorfWelcome to live SunSport coverage of France against Belgium in the Last 16 at Euro 2024.After the Sunday stress of England and the last-night swagger of Spain, it’s now time for the French and Belgians to show their European Championship credentials.Neither Les Bleus or the Red Devils clicked in the group stages, both faltering in front of goal to finish second behind unfancied opponents.Didier Deschamps’ side are yet to score from open play with superstar Kylian Mbappe confined to playing in a face mask after breaking his nose in his country’s opening game.Domenico Tedesco’s Belgium, meanwhile, blanked in two of their three group games with record scorer Romelu Lukaku troubling the linesmen and VAR officials more often than opposing goalkeepers.Both nations will be determined to click into life today, but only one can make it through to the quater-finals.It’s a 5pm kick-off at the Dusseldorf Arena, and news of the starting line-ups will be with us shortly.Copy linkCopied More