Euros

FORMER Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos left France forward Antoine Griezmann covered in blood after KICKING him in the HEAD during a Euro 2024 qualifier.France and Greece were locked in a stalemate four minutes into the second half when the incident occurred.
France’s forward Antoine Griezmann was kicked in the face by Konstantinos MavropanosCredit: AFP

France were awarded a penalty for the dangerous challengeCredit: Rex
Griezmann suffered a nasty gash on his head from Mavropanos’ bootCredit: Rex
After five minutes of treatment, Griezmann was able to continueCredit: Rex
A cross swung in from the left by Theo Hernandez looked set to find the head of Griezmann, before Mavropanos’ wildly high boot came flying in to clatter the Atletico Madrid man.
Both players hit the deck – with blood immediately streaming from the face of the ex-Barcelona man.
Referee Matheu Lahoz’s first course of action was to point to the penalty spot, before he swiftly ushered medical staff onto the pitch to treat Griezmann.
Some of Mavropanos’ team-mates appeared to be protesting the decision despite the blatant nature of the spot kick.
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Lahoz then walked over to the ex-Gunners man and booked him – with Mavropanos accepting of the call.
Griezmann’s head injury was treated for five minutes before he was bandaged up and continued playing.
Kylian Mbappe’s penalty was saved, but he was then given another chance after a re-take was ordered due to encroachment.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward, 24, made no mistake second time around as he dispatched what proved to be the only goal of the game.
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Mavropanos, who played eight times for Arsenal before leaving in 2022, was perhaps fortunate to get away with just a yellow card for the challenge on Griezmann.
But 20 minutes later the Stuttgart centre-back was given his marching orders when he denied a clear goalscoring opportunity by hauling down Randal Kolo Muani.
The result maintains France’s 100 per cent record in Euro 2024 qualifying as they move on to 12 points from four games.
Greece remain second with six points from three matches, with Republic of Ireland and Netherlands three points adrift and Gibraltar rock bottom.
Mavropanos played eight games for Arsenal before he left the club last yearCredit: Getty – Contributor More

MARTIN ODEGAARD has taken aim at Scotland after the Tartan Army produced a stunning comeback to beat Norway in Oslo. Steve Clarke’s men maintained their perfect start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign in style despite Erling Haaland opening the scoring with just half an hour left to play at the Ullevaal Stadion.
Martin Odegaard played the full 90 minutes in OsloCredit: Getty
The Man City superstar scored from 12 yards after being fouled by Ryan Porteous in the box and it looked like the Scots were going home empty handed.
But Lyndon Dykes stepped up with a sensational leveller on the 87th minute – moments after the Norwegian striker was subbed off.
It was then Kenny McLean who sealed the win for the travelling Scots less than two minutes later and Clarke’s heroes held out until the final whistle.
It puts the Tartan Army on nine points after three games and they’re now in the driving seat to qualify for next year’s tournament in Germany.

But Arsenal playmaker Odegaard reckons Scotland “didn’t create anything” during the match in Oslo and believes his side should have won the tie.
Speaking on Viaplay after the match, the midfielder said: “To be honest, I didn’t think they played a great game.
“But, as you say, they have a good team spirit, they fight for each other and they stick together and they fight until the end, so, credit to them. But, I think today we were the better team so it’s a tough one to take.”
The 24-year-old added: “It’s hard to sum up, to be honest. We didn’t play a great game but I thought we controlled everything defensively without the ball, they didn’t create anything.
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“We had the lead with a few minutes to go so it shouldn’t happen.
“Yeah, very, very tough one to take so it’s hard to explain.”
When asked what it meant for his side’s qualification hopes, he wasn’t too hopeful: “It’s looking very difficult now at the moment, we have to be honest with ourselves.
“But, the only thing we can do is stick together and fight together, we have a new game on Tuesday and we have to be ready and win that game and take it from there.
“But it looks difficult now.”

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ROBERT PAGE saw ten-man Wales suffer their first home Euros qualifying loss in 12 years with an embarrassing defeat to Armenia.Grant-Leon Ranos and Lucas Zelarayan both struck twice to severely dent the Dragons’ hopes of reaching next year’s finals in Germany.
Wales suffered a humiliating defeat in Cardiff on Friday nightCredit: Rex
Kieffer Moore was shown a red card in the 78th minuteCredit: Rex
It was a night to forget for the men in redCredit: PA
A disappointed Wales boss Rob Page watched on from the touchlineCredit: PA
The Dragons had been unbeaten on home soil in their past 12 home Euro qualifiers since losing 2-0 to England in March 2011.
But, after Dan James’ opener, terrible defending allowed Armenia – who are ranked 97th in the world and had lost nine of their last ten matches – to inflict a crushing Group D blow in one of Wales’ most humiliating international losses.
Ranos made it 3-1 to Armenia in a chaotic second half before Harry Wilson reduced the deficit to one goal.
Zelarayan scored his second for the visitors and then Kieffer Moore was sent off for kicking out at keeper Ognjen Chancharevich following a tangle of legs.
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Page’s shell-shocked side dropped to third in the table and next up is a tough trip to group leaders Turkey in Samsun on Monday night without the suspended Bournemouth striker Moore.
Defeat there and the hopes of Wales qualifying for a third successive Euros will be in tatters.
Wales, who would have gone top of the group above Croatia with a win, had taken a tenth minute lead through James’ sixth international goal.
But Page’s decision to pick a bold and attacking 4-4-2 line-up backfired as Armenia came from behind.
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Wales had been coasting early on, Moore heading a good chance wide following Brennan Johnson’s cross from the byline before James put the home side ahead.
Armenia complained of a foul by Rodon on Tigran Barseghyan in the build-up but Bulgarian referee Georgi Kabakov played on.
Rodon, Ethan Ampadu and Johnson combined and the Nottingham Forest forward, the subject of a £30million rejected bid from Brentford on Wednesday, supplied James, who smashed home at the back post.
It was a fast start by Wales but they looked vulnerable to Armenia’s slick attacks.
The alarming space between defence and midfield was exposed as Armenia stunned the Cardiff City Stadium through Zelarayan and Ranos.
Zelarayan was left unmarked as he volleyed past keeper Danny Ward from Nair Tiknizyan’s cross.
Then Ranos headed home to capitalise on Joe Rodon losing possession to Ugochukwu Iwu.
The Borussia Mochengladbach-bound striker eased in between Chris Mepham and Connor Roberts to nod home a fine centre by Zelarayan.
Ranos, who was born in Germany to Armenian parents, then added his fourth goal for his country in just two games after the interval.
The 19-year-old striker joined Bayern Munich in 2018 – a time when he changed his surname from Mamedova-Ranos to Ranos – and plays for the German giants’ second string.
But his accomplished finishes showed just why Bundesliga outfit Monchengladbach have snapped him up on a free transfer next month.
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Wales winger David Brooks came off the bench for his first cap in two years following his cancer battle.
Although Wilson scored from close-range, Zelarayan sealed a famous Armenian win on a horror night for Page’s men with a few boos from the home fans at the final whistle. More

STEVEN GERRARD would have been proud as punch.The way his fellow scouser sprayed passes around the midfield, tracked back when needed and lit up the night with an absolute belter of a goal.
Trent Alexander Arnold starred for England against MaltaCredit: AP
He scored a sensational goal for Gareth Southgate’s sideCredit: Getty
Harry Kane netted his 56th goal for his country from the penalty spotCredit: PA
Callum Wilson netted a fourth England goal from the penalty spotCredit: Getty
So it was fitting that Trent Alexander-Arnold, who considers Gerrard as his greatest Liverpool hero, delivered a hugely-impressive shift out of position in central midfield while also wearing 10 on the back of his shirt.
This was the same number as Gerrard often wore for the Three Lions.
And while this was a straightforward win over Malta, Alexander-Arnold gave both Gareth Southgate and Jurgen Klopp food for thought after.
Let’s be honest, Alexander-Arnold is no Jude Bellingham. And it was only against Malta – who did not have a single touch in England’s area.
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But it was also only Andorra two years ago that Alexander-Arnold was handed his first ever run-out in England’s midfield and was so disappointing he was shoved back to right-back after 45 minutes.
But here, the 24-year-old played with the confidence he has squeezed you from a hugely-encouraging end of season run for Liverpool where he played in a hybrid role, pushing up from defence into midfield when Klopp’s team had the ball.
England were easy winners thanks to an own goal from Ferdinando Apap, Alexander-Arnold’s long-range stunner and a penalty from Harry Kane in the first half.
Callum Wilson added a second goal for his country from the penalty spot late on.
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James Maddison struggled to impress against MaltaCredit: Getty
So, it is now three wins from three in this Euro 2024 qualifying campaign which means that Southgate’s men are sleepwalking their way to the finals in Germany.
Yet on Monday, North Macedonia visit Old Trafford for their third visit and have yet to lose a game in England.
And Southgate absolutely must give Alexander-Arnold another run-out in the same position, to the right of a midfield three.
North Macedonia may not be world beaters but they still shocked Italy in a World Cup play-off and Alexander-Arnold must be given another vital chance. Even though, if we are being realistic, he would only be used as back-up if Southgate’s other midfield permutations are not working.
Alexander-Arnold was only given the chance because Bellingham is back home injured. 
But with Conor Gallagher and Kalvin Phillips the other alternatives, Southgate really must keep Alexander-Arnold even though some of Manchester City’s players should finally have sobered up to start the game in Manchester.
Alexander-Arnold, who played for Liverpool’s youth team in midfield, has spent most of his England career looking in from the outside.
The fact this was only his 19th cap showed you that Southgate has clearly never trusted him and when you look at some of his defending for Liverpool, little wonder.
Not helped by the fact right-backs Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Reece James are ahead of him, this was his first start since June last year.
At the World Cup in Qatar he was handed just 33 minutes, against Wales.
Southgate said ahead of the game he was not expecting a perfect performance but just wanted to see signs of encouragement so it was mission accomplished.
It was a comfortable victory for Southgate’s menCredit: Reuters
And for the England coach, this was a much more pleasant night than his last trip here in 2017 when the away fans chanted “we’re fu**ing sh*t” with the scores goalless.
On a slightly lighter note, the Maltese fans, clearly not impressed by their opponents reputation for cuisine, started with bizarre chants of “fish and chips”.
Malta defender Apap was wearing the number 13 on the back of his although he might consider wanting to change numbers in future.
He made a complete mess of trying to block Bukayo Saka’s bobbling cross from reaching Kane and instead, ended up booting the ball into his own net.
Not even Kane would have dared to claim that goal which was created courtesy of an outstanding ball over the top of the defence by Alexander-Arnold, who had combined well with Saka before he went off at the break with a knock.
Alexander-Arnold delivered the stand-out moment of the game in the 28th minute when taking just one touch to control a poor clearance from home skipper Steve Borg and his finish from 25 yards was unstoppable.
Kane struck England goal number 56 from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Matthew Guillaumier. 
Phil Foden came on at half-time for Saka, Marcus Rashford and Wilson were given run-outs while there was a proud moment for Eberechi Eze who made his debut as a 70th minute replacement for James Maddison, who struggled to impress.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi was handed only his fourth cap and first appearance and after a slightly nervous start, comfortably grew into the game.
And Notts County’s Jodi Jones, thrilled to be playing against the England team he was supporting at the World Cup, delivered a few moments which brought a cheer from the home fans.
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Wilson completed the scoring from the spot after a handball from defender Borg to finish off a comfortable if unspectacular win.
And for Southgate and his players, at least the journey back to the airport was a lot more comfortable than last time here.
England maintained their 100 per cent record in Euro 2024 qualifyingCredit: Reuters More

GARETH SOUTHGATE believes he must win Euro 2024 to have any chance of staying as England boss.And he is happy to help the FA search for a successor – whenever the time comes.
Gareth Southgate believes he must win Euro 2024 if he wants to stay on as England bossCredit: Getty
Southgate, whose contract runs until December next year, took England all the way to the Euro 2020 final on home soil.
Asked if he thought he could take charge at another major tournament after next summer in Germany, Southgate said: “We’re going to have to play well and go a long way in the tournament for that even to be a consideration for everybody.
“I’m more than comfortable with that.
“My aim is to try to win the tournament and everything I do is geared around that and every conversation I have with the players now is geared around that.
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“What will happen in the future at the moment isn’t at the forefront of my mind.
“But trying to win this European Championship is.”
Southgate considered stepping down after the World Cup in Qatar, partly because of the backlash to England’s dismal showing in the Nations League leading up to it.
He had a change of heart and revealed within days of the Three Lions’ quarter-final defeat by France that he would keep going at least until the end of his current deal.
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But whatever happens between now and next summer, Euro 2024 looks like being the natural point for England and their second most successful manager to part company.
The FA, led by technical director John McDermott, will be making plans for who will succeed Southgate.
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He added: “Whatever John and everybody else at the FA would like, really – I’m not precious about it, if I could help in any way.
“At whatever point I leave here, hopefully we’ve won something, but if I’m second most successful, I’ll be more than happy to become the third very quickly.
“I joined here to help English football and that will never change for me.” More