Euro 2024

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

GARY LINEKER labelled the Euros system “flawed” after Ukraine made unwanted history after being eliminated from the tournament.Sergei Rebrov’s men followed up a 3-0 defeat to Romania in their opening game with a 2-1 win over Slovakia.Gary Lineker feels the Euros system is ‘flawed’ as Ukraine were eliminatedCredit: BBCUkraine had four points after their three games but still finished bottom of Group ECredit: GettyHeading into the final round of fixtures all four Group E teams – Romania, Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine – were level on three points.With Romania and Slovakia drawing, Ukraine knew only a win over Belgium would prevent them from finishing bottom and being knocked out on four points.But they could only muster a goalless draw, despite going close on several occasions late in the game.It means they are out of the Euros, while teams in other groups have advanced with four points.READ MORE ON EURO 2024They are the first team to be knocked out of the Euros with four points since the tournament was expanded for the 2016 edition.And an unhappy Lineker was quick to bring this quirk up as he criticised the format.Speaking on the BBC, he said: “Well, Belgium have got themselves through but you feel for Ukraine.”They did everything towards the end there, probably the better side overall but it’s heartbreak for them.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”The first team to not make it through with four points, I do think this system is flawed at the moment.”They need to look at it, I suspect, at some point.”SunSport’s Latest Euro 2024 headlinesSecond AND third place both went through with three points in Group C as Denmark and Slovenia progressed.Meanwhile, Ukraine’s draw with Belgium forces The Red Devils into a blockbuster last-16 showdown with France.EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYEngland need superhero Bellingham back to have any chance of winning Euro 2024JUDE BELLINGHAM delivered a masterful, super-hero performance in the opening 45 minutes at Euro 2024, writes Charlie Wyett.Yet we have not seen much from the boy wonder since.Maybe he left his cloak in the dressing room at Gelsenkirchen and is still looking for it.But he needs to discover in time for the last 16 tie this weekend otherwise England are knackered.Approaching the serious part of Euro 2024, this team really does need to get a grip and start showing some personality.At times against Slovenia, Bellingham just looked lost.Let’s hope he can sprinkle some stardust in the knockout stages because Gareth Southgate certainly needs something.Bellingham should come good. This could still be HIS tournament.Read Charlie Wyett’s England vs Slovenia verdict in full.Or check out all of Charlie’s Euro 2024 stories. More