Euro 2024

THE Euro 2024 round of 16 has been revealed – including England’s route to the final.The group stages have seen some thrilling moments and shocks, but now the real football starts.England have discovered their round of 16 opponentsCredit: GettyGeorgia will be in the knockouts for the first time in their historyCredit: GettyFollowing the conclusion of Group F, the last 16 has now been confirmed.England have been handed a favourable tie against Slovakia which will be played at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.The Three Lions were not convincing as they topped Group C with one win and two draws.However, Gareth Southgate’s side now have an easier route to the final as they will avoid the likes of France, Germany, Spain and Portugal.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Should England get past Slovakia, they will face either Italy or Switzerland in the quarter-final.A potential clash against the Azzurri would give the team a chance for revenge for the Euro 2020 final defeat at Wembley.And if England get past the Italians, then it would be one of the Netherlands, Turkey, Romania or Turkey in the semi-final.On the other side of the draw, there are some mouthwatering fixtures.Most read in Euro 2024CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSKylian Mbappe’s France will take on Kevin de Bruyne’s Belgium on Monday at the Düsseldorf Arena.Host nation Germany will face Denmark, and Spain will battle with debutants Georgia.Euro 2024’s sexiest players revealedCristiano Ronaldo and Portugal will play against Slovenia at the Frankfurt Arena.On England’s side of the draw, the Netherlands face Romania and Turkey take on Austria.That fixture will excite many with the two sides proving to be the dark horses of the competition.England will face Slovakia in the round of 16Credit: GettyThe Three Lions have been less than convincing so far at the tournamentCredit: GettyEngland player ratings: Southgate’s Gallagher experiment fails miserably vs SloveniaENGLAND served up another underwhelming performance – but still managed to top Group C.England dominated the ball, but Southgate will have plenty of questions to answer after a third straight display that lacked inspiration.SunSport’s Tom Barclay has given his ratings of the England players.Jordan Pickford – 6Largely a spectator due to England’s dominance on the ball. Asked the touchline what the Denmark score was during one break in the second half.Kieran Trippier – 6The one positive of having a right-footed player playing left-back is that he can dispatch in-swinging crosses, and one such one should have been headed home by Conor Gallagher before the break.Marc Guehi – 7Cruyff turn early doors showed his confidence from excellent displays against Serbia and Denmark, and barring one loose pass was good again.John Stones – 6One of many to miss his target with his passing. He wasn’t bad but, like others, way off what he has produced for his club.Kyle Walker – 5Played so safe, rarely looked to get forward. Was lucky at one point that Pickford was alive to his blast of a pass-back. Sliced cross after break summed up his off-night.Conor Gallagher – 4Got the nod after the Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment ended, but was poor, particularly, in possession and replaced at half-time by Kobbie Mainoo.Declan Rice – 7Had promised an “in your face” performance from his team, but he was really the only one to produce it. Very good out of possession, much better than against Denmark.Phil Foden – 7Liveliest of England’s attacking four by a mile and went close with a stinging free-kick. Booked for dissent, summing up England’s frustration.Jude Bellingham – 5Cut a very frustrated figure as he and Harry Kane got in each other’s way at times, while he was often shunted wide left as Phil Foden moved into the middle.Bukayo Saka – 6Tapped home on 20 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside in the build-up. OK but once again subbed after the break, perhaps due to fitness concerns.Harry Kane – 6Insists he is 100 per cent fit and maybe he is. What is 100 per cent certain is that he has been nowhere near as effective in this tournament as he usually is for England, albeit he was marginally better here.SubstitutesKobbie Mainoo (for Gallagher at half-time) – 7Made a difference when coming on, making England much more positive in their play. So much more confident with his touch than Gallagher.Cole Palmer (for Bukayo Saka on 71) – 7Finally made an appearance at this tournament and one clever ball through for Mainoo showed what he can do.Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Kieran Trippier on 84) – 6Came on for the final few minutes at right-back, with Walker going to left-back.Anthony Gordon (for Phil Foden on 88) – 6Like Palmer, first minutes at the Euros, but too late to make an impact.EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANY More

GARETH SOUTHGATE plans urgent talks with Jude Bellingham to reignite his Euros form ahead of England’s last-16 clash with Slovakia on Sunday.Bellingham struggled in the dismal Group C draws with Denmark and Slovenia after his winner against Serbia.Jude Bellingham produced disappointing displays against Denmark and SloveniaCredit: GettyGareth Southgate is set for talks with the Real Madrid manCredit: RexBoss Southgate and Three Lions icon Wayne Rooney are alarmed over the “frustrated” Real Madrid superstar’s dip in performance.When Southgate was asked if he will speak to Bellingham, he replied: “I will have those messages with him rather than plaster them over the papers.”And former England captain Rooney said: “He has looked very frustrated. I’ve been there in exactly the position. In the game against Slovenia, I saw him throwing his arms up.“Jude started the first game well but I’m sure he’d tell you himself he hasn’t had the best last two games.”READ MORE ON EURO 2024Rooney is also concerned that Champions League and LaLiga winner Bellingham, 20, is not “fronting up”.The ex-Manchester United striker told BBC 5 Live: “As a talisman for England and now Real Madrid, I haven’t heard him speak. So what is the reason for that?“As one of the iconic players for England, he should be fronting that.“We saw Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon speaking, who are playing bit parts in the tournament.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSEngland legend Wayne Rooney is concerned by Bellingham’s formCredit: GettyWhere has it gone wrong with Bellingham?By Dave KiddJUDE BELLINGHAM turns 21 on Saturday as a champion of Europe, a champion of Spain and as the finest player at the world’s most famous club.He’s a multi-millionaire, a Ballon d’Or contender and an underpants model — so let’s not play those violins too loudly.But after two matches of intense frustration and virtual anonymity at the Euros, we’re entitled to ask: Where has it all, at least temporarily, gone wrong?Bellingham’s career has been on an unerring upward trajectory since Birmingham City retired his shirt at the age of 17 and packed him off to Dortmund.Last summer’s move to Real Madrid was an instant and extraordinary success.Bellingham netted 23 goals in his debut season — including late winners against Barcelona in both of his first two Clasicos — on his way to winning LaLiga and then the Champions League.And now this, the bizarre idea being floated that Gareth Southgate should consider dropping the best player England have had for at least half a century.After the goalless draw with Slovenia, Southgate admitted that he is going to speak to Bellingham about the need to channel his frustrations.During dismal back-to-back draws against Denmark and Slovenia, the Brummie Galactico has looked thoroughly piddled off with refereeing decisions, with team-mates, with tactics which clearly aren’t allowing him to flourish.The crushing, unremitting tedium of watching this joyless England team play football is bad enough.Imagine being as good as Bellingham and having to play for them.To be shoved out on to the left wing — as Bellingham was for long periods in the goalless grind against Slovenia — to accommodate Phil Foden, who has rarely if ever dominated a game for England.The result was another miserable let-down for England supporters, who have turned against Southgate in their droves during this tournament.Only Southgate’s England can turn up in Cologne — the perfume capital of the world — and stink the place out.England lack express pace, they lack attacking intent, they lack experience in central midfield and they lack left-footed defenders.But they do have Bellingham — and Southgate needs to allow him to thrive pretty sharpish or they will be home either this weekend or next.Then the search for a new England manager would begin.Bellingham has frequently grabbed big matches by the scruff of the neck for his country — against Senegal in the knockout stage of the last World Cup, against Scotland at Hampden Park, against Italy at Wembley and in the Euros opener against Serbia.This is a man with a proven track record of winning international football matches and yet somehow his place in the England team is being questioned.Foden returned home for the birth of his third child but it is not yet known whether the Manchester City midfielder will return for Sunday’s last-16 clash in Gelsenkirchen.But there has been a problem in accommodating Bellingham and Foden in the same team.And while the City man is a wonderful player and the reigning Footballer of the Year, his England career has not been in the same league as Bellingham’s.If you are going to build a team around anybody, it is Bellingham.There is plenty to be positive about with England — as long as you haven’t actually watched any of their matches.The Three Lions have won their group and have ended up in a favourable half of the draw away from all four of the tournament’s strongest teams.But they can only progress from here if Bellingham takes the leading role, as he did so impressively in the first half against the Serbs.His is too great a talent to waste.“People want Jude and Harry Kane, Kyle Walker and Jordan Pickford — the senior players.“I know Jude’s not, but he’s going to play if fit and you want to hear him speaking.SunSport’s Latest Euro 2024 headlinesEURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANY“That tells me he’s probably not quite right.”Bellingham spoke after the Serbia game because he was man of the match — but has done no other significant media duties.England are hopeful Manchester City’s Prem Player of the Season Phil Foden will be back in time for the last-16 tie after returning home for the birth of his third child.And Rooney reckons Southgate should bring Gordon and Palmer into the team following their cameos in Cologne.Rooney said: “Anthony has to play on the left. Palmer, after his performance when he came on, maybe he can play.“With Phil Foden going home, that can make Gareth’s mind up.“Anthony comes in and it frees Bellingham up, so I think that will be the change he makes.”Southgate, meanwhile, admits he needs all of his big players to perform.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe said: “We need the whole team.“They have to keep going and in the end things will turn.”England player ratings: Southgate’s Gallagher experiment fails miserably vs SloveniaENGLAND served up another underwhelming performance – but still managed to top Group C.England dominated the ball, but Southgate will have plenty of questions to answer after a third straight display that lacked inspiration.SunSport’s Tom Barclay has given his ratings of the England players.Jordan Pickford – 6Largely a spectator due to England’s dominance on the ball. Asked the touchline what the Denmark score was during one break in the second half.Kieran Trippier – 6The one positive of having a right-footed player playing left-back is that he can dispatch in-swinging crosses, and one such one should have been headed home by Conor Gallagher before the break.Marc Guehi – 7Cruyff turn early doors showed his confidence from excellent displays against Serbia and Denmark, and barring one loose pass was good again.John Stones – 6One of many to miss his target with his passing. He wasn’t bad but, like others, way off what he has produced for his club.Kyle Walker – 5Played so safe, rarely looked to get forward. Was lucky at one point that Pickford was alive to his blast of a pass-back. Sliced cross after break summed up his off-night.Conor Gallagher – 4Got the nod after the Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment ended, but was poor, particularly, in possession and replaced at half-time by Kobbie Mainoo.Declan Rice – 7Had promised an “in your face” performance from his team, but he was really the only one to produce it. Very good out of possession, much better than against Denmark.Phil Foden – 7Liveliest of England’s attacking four by a mile and went close with a stinging free-kick. Booked for dissent, summing up England’s frustration.Jude Bellingham – 5Cut a very frustrated figure as he and Harry Kane got in each other’s way at times, while he was often shunted wide left as Phil Foden moved into the middle.Bukayo Saka – 6Tapped home on 20 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside in the build-up. OK but once again subbed after the break, perhaps due to fitness concerns.Harry Kane – 6Insists he is 100 per cent fit and maybe he is. What is 100 per cent certain is that he has been nowhere near as effective in this tournament as he usually is for England, albeit he was marginally better here.SubstitutesKobbie Mainoo (for Gallagher at half-time) – 7Made a difference when coming on, making England much more positive in their play. So much more confident with his touch than Gallagher.Cole Palmer (for Bukayo Saka on 71) – 7Finally made an appearance at this tournament and one clever ball through for Mainoo showed what he can do.Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Kieran Trippier on 84) – 6Came on for the final few minutes at right-back, with Walker going to left-back.Anthony Gordon (for Phil Foden on 88) – 6Like Palmer, first minutes at the Euros, but too late to make an impact. More

CZECH REPUBLIC’S dramatic Euro 2024 clash against Turkey descended into all-out chaos following the final whistle.The Czech’s crashed out of the tournament after being reduced to ten men with Antonin Barak sent off on 20 minutes. Czech Republic’s clash against Turkey descended into all-out chaos post-matchCzech Republic’s Tomas Chory was sent offCredit: ReutersCzech Republic’s Chory was fuming after being shown redCredit: ReutersTempers flared on the pitchCredit: ReutersStewards detain a pitch invaderCredit: ReutersHakan Calhanoglu opened the scoring for Turkey after the break before West Ham’s Tomas Soucek levelled.But former Everton forward Cenk Tosun won the game at the death and sent the Czech’s on their way.That is when all hell broke loose following the final whistle as players from both teams clashed. Yellow cards were handed out left and right with substitute Tomas Chory even getting sent off even though the game ended. READ MORE IN football The chaos ensued as a pitch invader ran onto the field before quickly being tackled by security in the height of the brawl.In total referee Istvan Kovacs dished out EIGHTEEN cards – a Euros record for the most given in a single game.Czech Republic bail out rock bottom of their group after just one point earned. Elsewhere in the group, Georgia sealed qualification with a shock 2-0 win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. Most read in Euro 2024CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSIt also meant England avoided Netherlands in the knockout stages to instead play Slovakia on Sunday.Turkey progress to play the in-form Austria, who topped Group D ahead of France and Netherlands.Ronaldo’s Portugal meanwhile play Slovenia, who held England to a goalless draw to seal their qualification.EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANY More

STUMBLING into the knockouts appears to be all the rage in Germany.Turkey are through to the last 16, but made incredibly hard work of it despite playing against ten men for more than 70 minutes.Hakan Calhanoglu broke the deadlock in the 51st minuteCredit: AFPTomas Soucek levelled the scores in the 66th minuteCredit: AFPIt wasn’t until the 94th minute that Cenk Tosun made sure of this victory over the Czech Republic, who had caused problems throughout.Everything seemed to be going against the Czechs. Already without star man Patrick Schick they then lost Antonin Barak to the earliest – and one of the harshest – red cards in Euros history.They battled on and grabbed a leveller through Tomas Soucek, the West Ham midfielder, but could not cause an almighty shock with a winner which would have sent them through.Striker Schick was named on the bench but did not warm up with the subs beforehand and was one of two to drop out from the draw with Georgia.READ MORE EURO 2024 NEWSThat didn’t stop him chipping in from the sideline, however, booked for his protests after 35 minutes. He was one of four players booked on the bench in a game which saw an astonishing 16 yellow cards shown to players by trigger-happy Romanian ref, Istvan Kovacs.The Czechs started well, pressing Turkey high and creating chances.Lukas Provod saw a drive sent behind, Tomas Soucek delivered a tricky cross which was just missed by teammates before Robin Hranac headed over.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSThey knew everything was on the line and were playing like it – but they were then criminally undone when Barak was shown his second yellow sent packing.His first booking, in the 11th minute, was a rather soft one for pulling a shirt and the second one also harsh.Putin CENSORS the Euros as Georgia fans’ VERY rude chant during Turkey clash is suddenly scrubbed from Russian broadcastDown to, ten they had to dump the plan to get after the Turks and sit in, battle to the end.Referee Kovacs was helping them make it a bitty game without rhythm.Turkey were still dominating but struggling for clear cut chances, and the underdogs were still looking to pose a threat on the break.But Turkey got their opener shortly after the restart.The Czech defence was firm but being stretched to the limit. First Yildiz drew a fine save from Jindrich Stanek.That fell to Ismail Yusek on the edge of the box whose effort was charged down by Soucek – but the ball fell back to his feet.The midfielder was able to feed Calhanoglu who powered a low strike into the far corner.Czech Republic now needed two goals, but felt like everything was conspiring against them as keeper Stanek was forced off injured after the goal.But then a bolt of hope. Seconds after Turkey missed a sitter at one end, Yildiz failing to convert Yilmaz’s cross from two yards out, Hammers midfielder Soucek bundled a leveller in.READ MORE SUN STORIESTomas Chory, sent on to mix things up, battled the Turkey goalkeeper Gunok and saw a shot blocked on the line by Samet Akaydin, but Soucek was there to bundle in the rebound.They continued to fight and cause problems but Tosun delivered the final blow in stoppage time.Cenk Tosun fired Turkey into the last 16 with a 94th-minute strikeCredit: APEURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANY More

A talismanic No7 led his nation from the front.And his countrymen, heroes all, made history.Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave Georgia an early leadCredit: GettyKvaratskhelia’s opener sparked jubilant scenes in GelsenkirchenCredit: AFPIt was the beginning of a momentous night for GeorgiaCredit: RexGeorges Mikautadze doubled Georgia’s lead from the penalty spotCredit: GettyAntonio Silva fouled Luca Lochoshvili for the penaltyCredit: PAGeorges Mikautadze is now the top scorer at the Euros with three goalsCredit: GettyIt was a dismal night for Cristiano Ronaldo and Co in GelsenkirchenCredit: GettyKvaratskhelia produced one of the performances of the tournament against PortugalCristiano who?No, this was the night of Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, his brothers in arms and Georgia.In the build-up to the game, Kvaratskhelia admitted he had been below par at his homeland’s first major tournament.The electric winger who played such a big role in Napoli’s 2022/23 Serie A triumph was not living up the nickname that his club’s fans had adoringly given him.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Kvaradona will never eclipse Diego Maradona.But for one night only he and his team got the better of living legend Cristiano Ronaldo and his much-fancied Portugal team.They led after barely 90 seconds, through Kvaratskhelia’s superb goal on the break.It felt unlikely they could hold out for another 90 minutes and more.Most read in Euro 2024CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSRonaldo failed to impact the game before he was taken offRonaldo felt he was being fouled in the area by Georgian defendersCredit: GettyRonaldo was booked for dissent after raging at the officialsCredit: AFPYet some gutsy defending and Portugal’s failure to make the most of their openings kept them ahead until George Mikautadze doubled their lead from a VAR-awarded penalty.Even then they still had more than half an hour to go against Roberto Martinez’s star-studded squad.Euro 2024’s sexiest players revealedBut in the end, Portugal paid the price for fielding a second string against a team for whom this was more than a football match.Reaching the last 16 at their first attempt is an achievement that will be remembered in Georgia long after the current political problems are resolved, hopefully soon and without violence.And for good measure, Georgia’s win and third place means England will not have to face Holland in the last 16.That’s for Gelsenkirchen 2006, Cristiano!There was no repeat of the winking with which Ronaldo greeted the sending off of Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney when Portugal beat England here on penalties in the World Cup quarter final.Martinez felt confident enough to chose to put minutes in the legs of some of his back-up players ahead of the knockout stage and to experiment again with three at the back.That meant wing-back roles for Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot and Wolves winger Pedro Neto, who were two of the eight changes from the 3-0 win over Turkey that had guaranteed top spot in Group F.It was another, Benfica centre half Antonio Silva, who gifted Georgia their perfect start.Under little pressure, he passed straight to Georges Mikautadze.As quick as you could say, “This team are known for their swift counter attacks”, Mikautadze laid a perfect pass into the path of Kvaratskhelia, who had run half the length of the pitch by the time he finished coolly.The celebrations were much less composed, not least in the press box…EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYKvaratskhelia’s opposite number was soon getting excited for different reasons.Ronaldo was moaning as early as the 10th minute about free kicks not being given in Portugal’s favour.Giorgi, the first name sported by many of Sagnol’s squad, comes from Ancient Greek and literally means farmer.Some of the Georgian challenges were pretty agricultural, to be fair.But Ronaldo allowed them and the situation to get under his skin.He saw a free kick fisted away by Giorgi Mamardashvili, then gave Silva daggers for taking the ball off his head.And after Francisco Conceicao hit a shot into the side-netting, the Portugal captain really lost his rag.Again, his complaints that his shirt was being pulled were not without justification.But he spoke and gestured too much and into the referee’s book he went, chuntering away at the world the whole time.Georgia had done nothing going forward for more than half an hour until Kvaratskhelia was twice just off target, with Ronaldo having a shot well blocked in between.When Neto picked up Portugal’s third yellow for diving at Euro 2024 – Rafael Leao earned the other two – his captain just about kept his temper.Mamardashvili scrambled to stop Neto’s corner going in directly and an eventful first half ended.It was a night to remember for the Georgia fans in Germany and back homeCredit: EPAGeorgia will now face Spain for a place int he quarter-finalsCredit: GettyThe pattern soon resumed.Portugal prodded and probed, Ronaldo was denied again by the latest in a series of blocks by the men in red.Kvaratskhelia had a chance to double his team’s lead but snatched badly at his shot.Then came Silva’s second moment to forget.He left in a lazy leg as he half-heartedly challenged Luka Locoshvili that Swiss referee Sandro Scharer deemed no foul.But after Mamardashvili made a brilliant save from Dalot, the VAR invited Scharer to have another look.Penalty. And Mikautadze stuck it away as if it was not the most significant moment of his life.Ronaldo was not impressed. Even less so when he responded to a faint tug on his arm by Lasha Dvali with a dramatic dive and the ref didn’t buy it.Shortly after Kvaratskhelia had kept the ball despite the attentions of about half the Portugal team, Ronaldo was taken off.READ MORE SUN STORIESWatford’s Giorgi Chakvetadze and Budu Zivzivadze had chances to give Georgia breathing space.But Portugal’s men in grey could not find a way through the heroes in red. More

ENGLAND will face Slovakia in the Euro 2024 last 16.Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions were handed the favourable match up following Portugal’s shock loss to Georgia.England face Slovakia in the last 16 and will be looking for some big improvementsCredit: GettySlovakia are proving to be a bit of a surprise package this summerCredit: APIt meant England avoided the Netherlands, who finished third in their group which was won by Austria ahead of France.England topped Group C with one win and two draws.They beat Serbia thanks to Jude Bellingham’s winner in their Euros opener before being held by Denmark and Slovenia.England play Slovakia on Sunday in Gelsenkirchen.READ MORE IN football The first fixture of the last 16 will see Switzerland take on Italy on Saturday at 5pm in Berlin.This is followed by Germany versus Denmark at 8pm.England have the 5pm kick-off on Sunday with Spain against Georgia following at 8pm.Monday sees France play Belgium at 5pm and Portugal taking on Slovenia at 8pm.Most read in Euro 2024CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSRomania meet the Netherlands at 5pm on Tuesday, with Austria playing Turkey at 8pm to round things off.Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon – who finally got some minutes in Germany and is pushing for a start – admitted England must improve.Gary Lineker fumes ‘the system is flawed’ and demands change after Ukraine make unfortunate Euros historyHe said: “I think our aim was was to make a statement and sort of correct the performance we’ve had in the past two games.”I still think we’re in that place. I think we’ve still got to do better I just think we can do so much better. That’s the problem. “We’ve got such good players. In training, we’re so good every day. We do everything right. And then it’s just not clicking.”Hopefully in the coming games it will because we need to start really attacking teams and dominating games.”I just think we can do so much better. That’s the problem. We’ve got such good players.”In training, we’re so good every day. We do everything right. And then it’s just not clicking.”Hopefully in the coming games it will because we need to start really attacking teams and dominating games.”It wasn’t the bore draw against Slovenia that dominated the England agenda today, but the news that midfielder Phil Foden has left the camp.The FA confirmed he is returning to Britain for a “pressing family matter”.It was later revealed that he is returning for the birth of his third child.READ MORE SUN STORIESPremier League Player of the Year Foden already has two children with 22-year-old girlfriend Rebecca Cooke – a son Ronnie, 5, and daughter True, 2.He is expected to return to the camp before England’s last-16 game on Sunday EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANY More