Euro 2024

BARNABAS VARGA suffered multiple fractures in his face in his horror collision with Angus Gunn.The Hungarian striker, 29, clashed with the Scotland goalkeeper, who came out at a free-kick to punch the ball clear in their Euro 2024 match.Barnabas Varga fractured multiple bones in his face after colliding with Angus GunnCredit: RexThe Hungary striker underwent emergency surgery on Monday morningCredit: GettyHowever, the pair accidentally made heavy contact, leaving both men down.Gunn got back to his feet quickly but Varga stayed down motionless in harrowing scenes as team-mates put him in the recovery position. The forward was rushed to hospital in Stuttgart, where he was conscious and stable.According to Varga’s father Andras, he underwent emergency facial surgery this morning after a visit from his club side Ferencvaros’ doctor Gergely Panics.READ MORE ON EURO 2024Panics gave an update on the footballer’s condition to the press – and detailed the injuries sustained.He told Hungarian news outlet Magyar Nemzet: “Barni suffered a concussion during the collision and lost consciousness.”By the time he reached the ambulance, he had already regained consciousness, after which he was taken to the clinic in Stuttgart, where, after the examination, a therapeutic plan was drawn up, according to which he would be operated on. “Our striker suffered multiple facial skull fractures, several smaller and larger bones were broken in his face, and some were even dislocated.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANY”After the operation, he will be kept in for two days. If everything goes well, he will be released on Wednesday.”Varga collided with Gunn during the second half of the Group A finale on Sunday night. Scotland vs Hungary was so bad BBC had no highlights to showFurious Hungarian players were angered by the time it took the walking medics to reach the stricken Varga and start treating him in the penalty area, with stewards holding up blankets to create a screen. Captain Dominik Szoboszlai believes Uefa should make a change to ensure players in a similar situation receive treatment as quickly as possible.The Liverpool midfielder said: “I don’t really know the protocols or how it works, but if our doctors say we need someone immediately to help, then I don’t think they should walk.”It’s not my decision, but I think we need to change something.”Even if someone is on the ground, and you know that it was a big collision, then just go on [the pitch].”Even if the referee is saying don’t go on, just go on. And if you can see it’s nothing serious, then you can just go down and it’s finished. But seconds can help a lot.”Panics refused to be drawn on the reaction of the medical team.He added: “Regarding the German protocol and first aid, I do not want to comment, as I do not know it in detail and I am not responsible for it.”However, I can say that I had the opportunity to visit Barna in the hospital, and I saw that he is in expert hands and is receiving a lot of attention.”Inside Barnabas Varga’s rise from semi-pro to Euro 2024
BARBABAS VARGA has enjoyed a meteoric rise from semi-pro leagues of Austria and Hungary to the Euro 2024 finals.
The Hungary striker played for six seasons, between 2010 and 2016 for SV Eberau in the Bergenlandliga – the regional fourth tier of Austrian football.
A record of over a goal every other game earned Varga a shot at the big time with with SV Mattersburg in the Austrian Bundesliga.
However, he scored only once in just 16 games over the next three seasons before dropping down to the second tier with SV Lafnitz.
After a mixed spell, Varga’s next step was to his homeland, again in the second tier, with Gyirnot in 2020.
That’s where it began to click for Varga and his eye for goal saw top division Paksi FC swoop.
Varga scored almost a goal a game in his first season with Paksi, finishing as the top scorer in the Hungarian league.
That earned the late bloomer an international debut, at the age of 28, in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Bulgaria.
One his third cap, away to Serbia, he netted his first Hungary goal.
Last summer, Varga joined Hungarian giants Ferencvaros and again got the golden boot as his side won the league, the first silverware of his career.

Uefa, however, defended those who treated Varga and insisted all the guidance was followed as they reached him within 15 seconds. The BBC were forced to apologise because the Uefa live feed showed a replay of the incident despite the severity of the collision.Hungary players looked visibly distraught after witnessing their team-mate’s horror injury. However, following a lengthy delay, the game carried on and Kevin Csoboth scored a 100th-minute winner to keep Hungary’s hopes of qualification for the knockout stages alive. READ MORE SUN STORIESPlayers celebrated by holding up and wearing a ‘Varga 19′ shirt for their striker. Varga, though, will play no further part in the tournament as he begins his recovery.Dominik Szoboszlai put on a Varga shirt and complained about the medics’ responseCredit: GettyPlay was stopped for nearly ten minutes before Varga went to hospitalCredit: Getty More

FORMER Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was caught speaking into his coffee cup instead of a microphone while working as a Euro 2024 pundit.The 39-year-old was covering a match for German broadcaster ARD when the bizarre mix-up occurred.Bastian Schweinsteiger was working as a pundit for Switzerland vs GermanyCredit: GettySchweinsteiger was caught speaking into a coffee cupAfter making a joke about his drink with presenter Esther Sedlaczek, he accidentally began speaking into the cup.It prompted Sedlaczek to quickly point out his error before he swapped back to the microphone.Fans took to social media to react, with one person writing: “What makes this even funnier is the fact how much he talked about coffee beforehand. He was asked how he and others prepared for such a match and he mentioned he was the coffee guy who always needed his coffee.”Another commented: “We’ve all been there.”Read More on GermanyWhile a third joked: “Bad performance right from the start.”Germany were held to a 1-1 draw by Switzerland on Sunday in the final Group A match.Dan Ndoye broke the deadlock 26 minutes into the game, putting Switzerland top of group temporarily.However, Niclas Fullkrug equalised in the 92nd minute to clinch a point.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSGermany went on to seal the top spot, with Switzerland two points behind in second.Julian Nagelsmann’s side now could face England in the knockouts if the Three Lions fail to beat Slovenia on Tuesday.How hosts Germany look to return to their best for Euro 2024 More

FOUR points from their two opening group games for England at Euro 2024 could be seen as a reason for celebration.It is widely accepted, after all, that four points will be enough to secure qualification. Gareth Southgate must make some tactical tweaks for the Slovenia gameCredit: GettyEngland can qualify top of Group C if they beat unbeaten SloveniaCredit: GettyFor the Three Lions though, this has not been the case.A drab 1-0 win against Serbia was followed up by a nervy 1-1 draw against Denmark. But they still go into their final Group C match against Slovenia as the favourites to progress top of the table.The mood around England is anything but positive with Serbia causing problems and Denmark having the better of the second group match. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLGareth Southgate has been criticised for a tactically passive approach with performances from the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Harry Kane viewed negatively.Southgate is expected to tweak his side with Conor Gallagher set to start in favour of Alexander-Arnold against Slovenia.But to win the game and brush off naysayers, Southgate will need to change more than just one player against Slovenia, who are no pushovers and seeking a last-16 place themselves after two points from back-to-back draws.Below we consider three key changes Southgate needs to make in order to get the best out of this England squad.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBe more aggressive out of possessionEngland sat incredibly deep against DenmarkOne of the most interesting aspects of the Euros so far has been the number of teams pressing high with aggression when they are out of possession.Austria and Spain in particular have looked very strong in this tournament without the ball.Euro 2024’s sexiest players revealedEngland, on the other hand, have been incredibly passive out of possession and have looked to drop back into a medium or even deep defensive block. Southgate has blamed the condition of the team for this, saying they are too tired to press how he would want.This lack of intent to press and win the ball back has seen England surrender possession, with both Serbia and Denmark controlling large periods of the game and applying pressure.Here we have an example of England dropping too deep with nine players behind the ballThere are some who think England cannot press high and with aggression with Harry Kane as the lone striker. When a team works high and looks to apply pressure quickly to the opposition as they build their attack then the press really needs to be led by the striker. This would mean Kane would have to be aggressive and quick to engage and press with players filling in and pressing higher around and behind him.While Kane does not typically press in this way at club level, as Bayern Munich are not aggressive out of possession, he is more than capable of playing in this manner.This lack of pressure from England leaves space in their defensive unitThen the likes of Bukayo Saka, Foden and Jude Bellingham all have the capacity to press and support behind the forward as he presses high.England need to be released and allowed to press high in order to disrupt Slovenian early if they want to dominate their final group match.The Anthony Gordon solutionAnthony Gordon can stretch the opposition defenceEngland have been calling out for some genuine width on the left-side of the pitch. While Saka, 22, has been one of the bright spots for England on the right side, where he has stayed outside and attacked the opposition defenders 1v1, the same cannot be said on the left-side.Foden has been more inclined to come inside and occupy the channels – and even the central spaces.Having a winger with a tendency to push inside and look to combine in central spaces is a strategy that works best when you have a full-back who can move into attacking positions in order to stretch out the pitch.However, without Luke Shaw England do not have this, and are instead being forced to play right-footed Kieran Trippier at left-back, who also looks to play narrow and inside whenever possible.Here we see why Anthony Gordon can be effective for England in stretching the opposition defenceThe obvious answer for Southgate is to move Foden from the left-wing to another position and to bring in a more orthodox winger on that side of the pitch.Newcastle United winger Anthony Gordon is the obvious option for this, but is yet to earn even a single minute in Germany.Gordon, 23, is the kind of player who will get into positions on the outside of the opposition defence and wants to receive the ball and attack defenders in the same way Saka has been on the right.Having wide players who stay outside and who look to attack and really stretch the width of the pitch will then create more space in central areas that England can look to exploit.Here Gordon gets on the ball and immediately looks to be aggressive and drive forwardThis would allow for attacking players and creative central midfielders to drive forward to occupy and attack the new open space.Bringing in Gordon for this final group match will just give England and Southgate a different dimension that they have been missing.Move Bellingham deeperJude Bellingham loves to drop deep to get on the ballIt would be fair to say Bellingham, 20, has been one of the shining lights of the tournament so far, and not just for England, with the Real Madrid midfielder playing as the 10 in England’s 4-2-3-1 shape. There is a strong argument, however, for Bellingham to be moved into a deeper starting position and to have him partnering Declan Rice as one of the two deeper midfielders. So far the experiment of using Alexander-Arnold as a midfielder, as opposed to at right-back, has not worked as intended, and it seems Southgate is leaning towards replacing him with Gallagher.But with Bellingham dropping into deeper areas to get on the ball and dictate the game, it would England without an advanced midfielder who can get into pockets of space between the lines and receive the ball.Bellingham will drop into deeper positions often to try to get on the ball and create overloads deep for EnglandThis is a role that would be perfect for Foden, 24, with Bellingham starting in a deeper role.Given the fact England have one of the best 6’s at the tournament in Rice we would still see Bellingham given freedom to move high from his deeper position and to look to join the attack. He would just be doing it from a deeper position from where he can gain momentum and make late runs into the area, like how he scored the winner against Serbia.Bellingham often leaves positions like this to come deeper when in fact England need a player in the more advanced areas to be in the pocketsThis would also, of course, create an opportunity for Southgate to play Foden in a central area from where he can be at his creative and dangerous best. Playing Foden as the 10 would see the Manchester City man in a position that is more suitable for him.Perhaps this tweak is something we’ll see later in the tournament, if Gallagher is brought into the deeper role on Tuesday.ConclusionSouthgate showed resilience and patience in going with the same starting line-up in England’s first two group matches.READ MORE SUN STORIESNow though he faces real pressure to make changes and to be more expansive and positive in his approach.Not long now to find out how he will react.ENGLAND vs DENMARK RATINGSENGLAND stumbled to a drab 1-1 draw with Denmark.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated the Three Lions team.
Jordan Pickford: 6
Looked a little jittery early doors, though there was nothing he could do about Morten Hjulmand’s corker and he made a decent parry after the break.
Kyle Walker: 7 
Made England’s opener by racing round a sleeping Victor Kristiansen – he’ll be having nightmares of that forevermore – and teeing up Kane via a deflected cross.
John Stones: 6
OK but you have got to wonder how fit he feels having barely played for Man City in the second half of the season, plus his injury and illness issues over the last month.
Marc Guehi: 8 and my star man
Really encouraging again from the Crystal Palace centre-back, looking sharp with his interceptions and assured in distribution.
Kieran Trippier: 6
Like Stones, he was fine, but England really need Luke Shaw back ASAP because having no natural left-footer at left-back is a problem.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 5
This experiment of playing Trent in midfield is far from convincing, especially when his passing was off it like it was here, barring one good ball to Saka. Subbed on 54 minutes.
Declan Rice: 5
Had to cover so much ground as England dropped worryingly deep in the first half and also lost it a few times in front of his back four.
Bukayo Saka: 7
Not quite as electric as his first half against Serbia, but another solid showing from our right winger who has been our most consistent attacker across the two games.
Jude Bellingham: 6
Nowhere near the majestic display he put in against Serbia and one of many who looked tired.
Phil Foden: 7
Was far more involved than against Serbia – although that was not hard – and had a few dangerous efforts from range, including one that smacked the post after the break.
Harry Kane: 6
Netted his 64th goal for his country with an opener he could not really miss, but then gave the ball away from Denmark’s leveller. Surprisingly subbed.
SUBS:
Conor Gallagher (on for Trent, 54): 7
Vital clearance on the stretch when Christian Eriksen was lurking and was not afraid to put his foot in.
Ollie Watkins (on for Kane, 70): 6
Played in by Bellingham’s lovely ball after coming on but could not finish from an acute angle.
Jarrod Bowen (on for Foden, 69): 6
Copped a nasty tackle which saw Joakim Maehle booked.
Eberechi Eze (on for Saka, 69): 6
On for his tournament bow though he was rarely involved.

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