Euro 2024

A REFEREE who once clashed with Lionel Messi has gone viral at Euro 2024.Jesus Gil Manzano was the centre of attention as he officiated his first match of the Euros.Referee Jesus Gil Manzano went viral after his first gameCredit: GettyThe referee had his own fan club at France vs AustriaCredit: GettyHe once angered Messi and was snubbed for a handshake with the ArgentineCredit: Getty Images – GettyThe Spaniard took charge of France’s 1-0 win over Austria and had his own mini fan club in the stand.A group of supporters dressed as match officials, complete with linesman flags and signs.One banner asked for Manzano’s shirt while another read: “No referee no party.”Manzano was criticised for his officiating by pundit Ian Wright after the match, with fans also mystified after he failed to award a corner when France keeper Mike Maignan saved a shot from Christoph Baumgartner.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt is not the first time Manzano has caused controversy, with the veteran ref once clashing with Messi.In a match between Barcelona and Girona in 2018 Manzano angered the superstar by showing his team-mate Clement Lenglet a red card.Messi felt aggrieved by the decision and confronted the official at full-time, giving him a piece of his mind.Manzano reacted by trying to calm Messi down, and even offered a handshake to remedy the situation.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSBut the Argentine was having none of it and refused to reciprocate the handshake.Manzano is one of 18 referees at the Euros and will be hoping to be selected for another match, despite the controversy he caused.Does this Scotland team have it in them to recover from humiliating Germany defeat against Switzerland More

KYLIAN MBAPPE was rushed to hospital after he suffered an apparent broken nose in France’s Euro 2024 opener.The new Real Madrid superstar, 25, was left covered in blood late on as the French beat Austria 1-0.Kylien Mbappe was spotted climbing in an ambulance and rushing to hospitalCredit: L’EquipeThe forward looks set for surgery on his broken noseCredit: L’EqipeHe suffered a broken nose against Austria for FranceCredit: GettyKylian Mbappe was left covered in blood after a clash on the pitch against AustriaCredit: ReutersMbappe’s face collided with Kevin Danso’s shoulderCredit: AFPMbappe’s nose appeared to be broken following the collisionCredit: GettyBlood poured from his nose after the gruesome coming togetherCredit: ReutersMbappe suffered the blow when mistiming a header and smacking his head against Austrian defender Kevin Danso’s shoulder.And that now means that he will have to wear a protective mask for the remainder of the tournament in Germany.Straight after the game cameras saw him climbing into an ambulance to go to hospital to get his injury checked.Following the tests, a press release from the French Football Federation (FFF) gave a positive update.READ MORE EURO 2024 NEWSIt read: “Kylian Mbappé returns to the base camp of the French national team.“Kylian Mbappé suffered a broken nose during the second part of the Austria-France held this Monday in Dusseldorf.“The captain of France was treated first by the medical staff and Dr. Franck Le Gall, who diagnosed him with a nose fracture.“Mbappé will receive treatment in the next few days, but he will not undergo surgery in the immediate future.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERS“A mask will be made for him so that the number 10 of the French national team can prepare for his return to the competition after a period dedicated to treatment”.And the striker appeared to be in good spirits after undergoing tests, as he made light of the situation.Ultimate Euro 2024 rich list reveals England’s top earning stars – and how Cristiano Ronaldo’s salary is worth OVER TEN times more than Kylian Mbappe’sDes idées de masques 🎭😅 ?— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 17, 2024

A post from Mbappe on X read: “Any ideas for masks?”The injury started what ended up being a bizarre five-minute period that followed for the striker, who found himself booked.After receiving medical treatment on the pitch for his busted nose, he was then forced to take to the sidelines before he could be reintroduced by the referee.But the forward took matters into his own hands and, instead of patiently waiting to be introduced, he made his way back onto the pitch without permission from the officials.And after doing so, he immediately flopped to the floor and sat down on the turf.Roy Keane was among those left unimpressed by Mbappe’s decision.Speaking on ITV, the Man Utd legend said: “I know players can make mistakes but to go back on and sit on the pitch. “He deserved that yellow card… I don’t like to see it.”And Gary Neville commented: “To look back, I think he’ll be disappointed. “I think he’s looked at [France manager Didier] Deschamps and Deschamps has gone ‘get on!’. “I think he’ll feel like he’s let himself down.”But fans did feel some sympathy for Mbappe’s nasty injury.The bizarre situation appeared to be a time-wasting tactic with France holding on to a narrow 1-0 lead against the Austrians.Deschamps himself was also shown a yellow card by the referee.Mbappe was finally substituted due to his injury in the 90th minute with Olivier Giroud replacing the attacker.Prior to his exit, Mbappe had looked electric on the ball, but had one moment to forget.The former PSG man was clean through on goal when he uncharacteristically struck a golden opportunity wide.But fortunately it didn’t impact the result as France were able to get their Euros off to a winning start.Speaking after the win, Deschamps said of the injury: “Yes, Kylian Mbappe has probably broken his nose.READ MORE SUN STORIES“His nose is not good at all. So we will see.“It’s obviously a negative point of the evening, even if it’s just his nose it is annoying for us.”Mbappe was booked for re-entering the pitch without permissionCredit: AFPThe star plonked himself on the turf after walking on from the sidelineCredit: EPADidier Deschamps was also shown yellow for his involvementCredit: Getty More

JUDE BELLINGHAM and Jamal Musiala are stand-out global ­talents.The whole world of football is watching them at this tournament and asking the same questions of them both: can they sustain this and end up building careers like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi?Jamal Musiala looked electric for Germany on Friday nightCredit: GettyJude Bellingham has been one of the best players in Europe this seasonCredit: RexThat’s how good they both are and they are starting to confirm as much with the starts they have made at these Euros — even though Musiala is 21 and Bellingham just 20.The two of them are friends who played together for England’s age-group teams, up until the Under-21s.But luckily for us Germans, ­Musiala — who was born in Germany but spent most of his childhood in England — chose to play for us.When a player like him chooses you, it’s like winning the lottery.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut don’t be greedy — you have Bellingham and he is exceptional.That goal he scored against Serbia on Sunday just made me go ‘wow!’Bellingham is so physically strong.When scoring that goal, he went in there and said, ‘Even if I clash heads and get hurt, I don’t care’.He went in with all his power — he has such courage and confidence.Most read in Euro 2024Bellingham and Musiala played together for England at youth levelCredit: Instagram @jamalmusiala10EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSHe was saying, ‘I believe in my own physical presence. I don’t care if I go up against a big central defender and get an elbow in my face’.He just said, ‘This is my ball, I’m going to score’.How hosts Germany look to return to their best for Euro 2024That mentality is really crucial in a tournament because it’s contagious to your team-mates.They will say, ‘He went in there when it really could have hurt — if there’s a 50-50 ball I am going to go in there and smash it as well’.It’s unusual to have exceptional ­talent and great physicality but Jude has both.Often, you have an exceptionally talented player and, as team-mates, you have to protect him because they are physically not the strongest.But Jude doesn’t need to pull back if he’s clashing with a tough No 6 or whoever. He is very complete.Bellingham’s physical presence is greater than Bayern Munich star Musiala, who is lighter and a bit of a different player.Both of them, though, can leave opposition teams already beaten in their own minds before the game starts.Within a team you need that feeling of having somebody capable of doing something special out of nothing — and both Bellingham and Musiala can score goals, get assists or win penalties and create something from nowhere.It’s a mental advantage you create. The opposition look over at these players in the warm-up and there’s a real fear.They can talk about trying to close them down — but can they really do it for 90 minutes? Jude’s growth since moving to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund last summer has been ­exceptional because his team-mates recognise how calm he is in front of goal.They know if you put him in a goalscoring position, there’s a high probability he will score.Real’s players have the class, technique and vision to get him in those positions.But for him to go there and play so freely and with so much joy is amazing, for such a young kid, at such a big club — and in a country where he doesn’t speak the language yet.He takes that confidence into the England side and they also have the quality to provide for him. It’s similar for Musiala.I was in Munich to watch Germany’s 5-1 win over Scotland.While the Scots helped by having such a bad day at the office, it was a night when I really felt the German team reconnected with the nation. It was crucial that they started the tournament so well.The Scottish fans made a lot of noise but after it was 2-0, they were quiet and you could only hear the Germans.Tomorrow, Germany play Hungary, who are dangerous when they’re underdogs — they are always giving us trouble… and England, too.They are unpredictable, physical and good on the counter-attack.But I am more confident about Germany after such a great performance and result against Scotland.I loved watching Musiala and ­Florian Wirtz really enjoying themselves in forward areas and both scoring early on.Trent showed he’s a central character for England… he deserves to keep spot, says Wilshere
THIS game felt a bit like an audition for Trent Alexander-Arnold in centre midfield, writes SunSport columnist Jack Wilshere.
I think he passed it and deserves another chance to show all the qualities that he can bring to the role.
I was pleased when I saw Trent in the starting line-up.
It’s a little bit braver than we have normally seen from Gareth Southgate and I like that.
It was: ‘Go on, go and play!’ It didn’t necessarily work out like that but that wasn’t Trent’s fault.
Southgate was experimenting with him in there, seeing if it worked.
If we get later in the tournament against the big teams, you will need someone who has played in there a few times and understands the position a bit.
The combination between Trent, Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka is a promising one.
You see Trent naturally drift over to that right side and receive it almost like a full-back.
It’s interesting what happens then with Walker.
He was still getting involved in and around the outside, which was good to see, and it was Walker who got forward to help create the Jude Bellingham goal.
That link-up is something we need to exploit more. We should probably have used it more last night as well.
At the start, he was a little bit shaky. He gave the ball away a couple of times, and one of them led to that decent chance for Aleksandar Mitrovic.
When he plays for Liverpool he comes inside. But it’s different when you’re in there from the start. It’s 360 degree pressure, from all sides.
I always found international football that bit quicker. You’ll often receive it with your back to the game and you’ve scanned, but you need to get more on the half turn to see what’s coming.
But it was difficult for Trent, especially in the first half, for him to show his range of passing. When you’re playing against a back five, with four in front, and they’re stubborn and just waiting . . . it is very hard.
There’s no space in behind, they’re very tight and organised.
And when the ball is going over your head, your job then becomes jumping on second balls, disrupting and trying to shield the big two up front.
Trent’s positioning was good and he made some good interceptions. I think he can — and should — hold on to the ball a bit more, draw the pressure, and then play the ball forward.
If someone comes to him, that frees up space for  someone else. And he and Declan Rice have the ability to find Bellingham and Phil Foden through the lines. I would like to have seen more of that. As the game opens up, Trent is a player who can pick the right pass.
Especially in transition, like he did with a lovely one down the side for Saka in the first half and another early in the second.
It was also good to see him get forward for a decent long-range shot.
But Trent was not helped by England’s performance in the  second half. We weren’t aggressive enough, we didn’t press well enough.
Trent’s audition lasted just under 70 minutes in the end. I believe  it is something Gareth should  persist with.
He is more than intelligent enough to work it out. And as the tournament goes on, I’m sure he will be fine in there.

At their ages — Wirtz is also 21 — they can play without their heads being too full of tactics or pressure.When Musiala chose Germany over England, it was important.Recruitment is so much part of international management in this global society when so many young players have dual citizenship.During my six years as head coach of the United States, we were fighting the Mexicans for so many kids who could have played for either country.My own son, Jonathan, is a goalkeeper who has played for the United States up to Under-23 level.These kids often feel more of a pull towards the country they have spent more time in.My son feels more Californian than German but he’s just moved to Cesena in Italy and, who knows, one day Germany could come calling for him.Musiala may go to the Premier League one day and may feel more English — but we’ve got him locked in for Germany now!I want to see Bellingham and Musiala continuing to put their stamp on this tournament.Major tournaments don’t come around often and this is when you can write history.READ MORE SUN STORIESI admire both kids for keeping their feet on the ground and dedicating themselves to football when they have so much attention.In the social media age, this really isn’t easy.Both England and Germany are footballing powerhouses with the same ambition — to win the tournament — and perhaps we can meet in the final.Musiala bagged a goal in Germany’s opener against ScotlandCredit: ReutersBellingham scored England’s only goal against Serbia on SundayCredit: Getty More

PHIL FODEN and his ­partner visited a mystic for a tarot-card reading before the Euros.Psychic medium Chloe Smith wouldn’t divulge exactly what she told the Footballer of the Year.Phil Foden struggled against Serbia on Sunday nightCredit: GettyBut after her palm was crossed with silver, it’s unlikely that she predicted a place on the subs’ bench for the knockout stage.But despite an extraordinary 27-goal season with Manchester City — in which he collected a sixth Premier League title before his 24th birthday — Foden’s position in England’s starting XI is up for debate.Foden’s club form has been so outstanding that his inability to replicate it with England has become another stick with which to beat Gareth Southgate.City are arguably the best team in the world and Pep Guardiola is widely regarded as the finest coach on the planet.READ MORE ON ENGLANDFoden has played all of his club football — 270 appearances — for Guardiola, who steadfastly refused to loan him out before he became a regular first-team starter.City play a very specific style and Foden fits in beautifully, after years of repetition.The idea that Foden should be exactly the same player for England as he is for City is a nonsense.Listen to the phone-in bores and social-media snipers and they’ll tell you that Southgate needs to release the handbrake, break the shackles, and then Foden will thrive.Most read in Euro 2024CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSIt’s just that nobody really knows what those things actually mean — especially as Southgate’s England have always scored plenty of goals.Foden, though, has netted just twice in his last 32 internationals — at Hampden Park last autumn and against Wales at the Qatar World Cup.Wyett ratings England v SerbiaAnd he has rarely, if ever, seized a game by the throat for his country as he so often does for City.It does not help Foden personally that England have Jude Bellingham — a generational talent, perhaps a once-in-a-century talent — playing in the No 10 role he is best suited to.In Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Serbia, Foden was vaguely anonymous.Meanwhile, Bellingham was absolutely everywhere, doing everything — a Jack of all trades, master of all trades.Plenty of pundits are suggesting that Southgate moves Bellingham into a deeper position in order to accommodate Foden.But the last thing England ought to do, having discovered a nailed-on future ­Ballon d’Or winner, is to play him anywhere but No 10.Great players should always be able to play together but, without two footballs, it’s not always easy.It has taken years of training-ground work and in-game experience for Foden and Kevin De Bruyne to be able to work so well in tandem for City. Southgate doesn’t have that amount of time.And Southgate isn’t a genius like Guardiola because, well, who is?There have been suggestions that Southgate has a problem with Foden — just as the Three Lions boss is supposed to have had a problem with most flair players — but the opposite is the case.Southgate has shown great faith in Foden, backing him despite the incident which saw him sent home in disgrace from Reykjavik after his England debut for a ­Covid-bubble breach with Mason Greenwood and two Icelandic models.It is now time for Foden to repay that faith.Footballer of the Year or not, he needs a big performance against Denmark on Thursday or Slovenia next Tuesday if Southgate isn’t going to look at starting more authentic left-wingers.The England boss has selected four in-form widemen, all tournament rookies, but all of whom might stake a claim.Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze are both obvious candidates on the left.READ MORE SUN STORIESCole Palmer and ­Jarrod Bowen — who was excellent when he came on as sub against Serbia — could also be in the running.Tournaments tend to take on lives of their own and squad players can emerge to become heroes in a way that even a tarot-card reader might struggle to predict.EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANY More