Key occasions
Back house in France, there’s an election happening and their players at Euro 2024 have been urging younger folks to exit and vote. This time, Ibrahima Konate was talking.
“I urge everyone to go and vote. I don’t want to tell people what to do but we must be together in all circumstances, we mustn’t be divided, that will only bring harm to everyone and to future generations. Of course it worries me, what is happening worries me. We cannot leave power to certain people who are intent on dividing people.
“Diversity has always been our strength. I come from an immigrant background. … Behind our skin color, there are hearts, that’s the most important thing.”
Several France players have spoken out from Germany concerning the political turmoil again house, together with Kylian Mbappé, Marcus Thuram and Ousmane Dembélé.
France midfielder Eduardo Camavinga needs to play extra, he tells Didier Deschamps – and a press convention.
“This is not a positive outcome for me. The fact that I don’t play much doesn’t necessarily make me happy. But I know that one day or another, my time will come. You have to be ready, like at the World Cup when the coach asked me to come on in the final.
“You have to be ready during training, already. Me, before matches, I do the same thing, I listen to music, I do my warm-ups. If my head is right, my legs will follow. A competition is not played with 11 players. The most important thing is to be focused until the end.”
Camavinga was launched as an ersatz left-back within the World Cup closing with Argentina, you might recall. N’Golo Kanté’s return has closed down the provision.
John Brewin
Thanks, Sarah. I’ll take care of the lunchtime crowd.
Right I’m simply going to run for a espresso and a chew to eat however I shall depart you within the very succesful palms of John Brewin…
Kate Connolly
It was towards her higher judgment that Bea Riemer agreed to hitch her pals within the fan zone close to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin this week. “I have been gradually getting into the tournament,” the 25-year-old enterprise scholar stated, however till then she had been concentrating solely on Germany’s video games on the Euros, “watching at home, in the gym and in a restaurant, my attention easily diverted; cautiously optimistic, a bit nervous of joining a bigger crowd.”
Witnessing Georgia’s magnificent 2-0 win over Portugal on the massive display screen, although, surrounded by followers of each these groups and others, has modified her entire angle, she stated. “This is one massive, fabulous party, and I don’t need to be in the stadium but I do need to be among other people, participating in the rollicking fun.”
Read extra on fan response right here:
Would you want an perception into Italy’s head coach? Well we have now you coated:
“I thought you might be interested to know that the 15’000 fans will not follow the eagerly awaited match in Geneva’s Fanzone,” Peter Greenwood emails. “The Fanzone is closed this afternoon because of the impending mega-tempest forecast from 4 pm.”
Thank you Peter for that info. Hopefully the 15,000 supporters will be capable of discover someplace to observe the sport elsewhere.
Aston Villa have appointed Robert de Pauw as their new supervisor after Carla Ward stood down from her position on the finish of the season.
He indicators a three-and-a-half 12 months take care of an choice to increase an additional 12 months.
De Pauw joins after a spell with Bayer Leverkusen.
Switzerland boss Murat Yakin is hoping his workforce can upset defending champions Italy. “We did our homework, we didn’t just watch these three games, but the preceding ones too,” he stated.
“Italy are able to vary and play many different systems. This is the home of tactical football and I really like the way they do things. They can defend collectively, go man for man all over the pitch, something that for example Atalanta do. We are ready and perhaps we can surprise Italy too.”
Björn has bought in contact about Germany’s potential workforce information this night.
(*16*)
Consistency is usually key, simply ask Sarina Wiegman. She began the identical beginning XI all through the Euros with the Lionesses they usually gained the trophy.
There is extra information within the switch market and it is a large one. Mary Earps has left Manchester United, she is anticipated to signal for PSG imminently.
Earps joined the membership in 2019 and has since gained the Women’s FA Cup. Rumours round her departure had been swirling since January.
The England worldwide’s closing recreation for United was a 6-0 loss to Chelsea.
Ben Thomas has bought in contact and spoken concerning the England choice dialogue:
“All of these different XI’s and formations show that there is no clear cut way to victory for England and that essentially no one knows what is best for us, and I trust Gareth way more than I do these others so-called experts. Especially when a lot of them are chopping and changing our back 4 which has been really solid so far.
“Many armchair experts also point out that Jude looks dead and then proceed to stick him in next to Rice where he’ll have to do a load more running. Dropping Saka and Foden at this stage is also a huge risk. But what do I know?”
It is certainly tough choosing the beginning England workforce, I feel Southgate gained’t change a lot. I may see Kobbie Mainoo coming into the midfield.
All 26 players practice for England
England have reported that all 26 players had been in coaching at the moment forward of their last 16 match tomorrow.
It had been reported that Kieran Trippier was an damage doubt after lacking two coaching classes however he’s again with the complete squad at the moment.
What are the routes for every workforce to succeed in the ultimate? England have helpfully posted a graphic to simply see each one among them:
Anthony Gordon has been within the headlines this week with a whole lot of supporters eager to see him within the beginning XI. He has actually made himself noticeable on and off the pitch. He has a graze to his chin after falling off of a motorcycle in a restoration session.
In his press convention yesterday he detailed how he went “10 feet in the air chin first”. “I could have [been hurt] with the speed I was going down a hill,” he stated. “I could have ended up anywhere. It was on the golf course and I’ve managed to land on the only bit of gravel there was.” Read extra:
Kári Tulinius needs to nab a Georgia participant for the Iceland workforce. He emailed:
“As an Icelander, I have to be realistic that more than half the players currently at the Euros would walk into the national team. That said, I’d love a goalscorer who can play on his own up front and be counted on to take one of his chances. So I’d happily offer Georges Mikautadze Icelandic citizenship.”
An incredible selection of goalscorer Kári, three objectives already on this Euros, I feel a whole lot of different supporters wouldn’t thoughts his title of their workforce’s beginning XI.
Marcus Christenson
England analysis to date: All the pre-tournament optimism has evaporated, three plodding group-stage video games sucking all the vitality out of the workforce and the followers. OK, the primary half towards Serbia was first rate however since then there have been questions concerning the players’ health, Gary Lineker calling the workforce’s efficiency towards Denmark “shit” and Gareth Southgate having beer cups thrown at him.
Harry Kane has been off form and so has Jude Bellingham, the workforce’s two largest stars. The Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment failed and so did the Conor Gallagher midfield experiment. Will Kobbie Mainoo begin now? Will Luke Shaw lastly play an element? There have actually been extra questions than solutions to date.
Owen from Brighton has emailed and bought concerned with our participant stealing chat. He stated:
“I know that for England Pickford is perfectly competent. (Spectacularly saving shots which are going wide excepted). However if I was going to nick another player it would be Donnarumma or Oblak
“Both have basically single handedly kept their teams in the tournament and as it goes in a quality keeper might be the difference.”
That’s fairly a daring steal for England, as you say Pickford is doing an excellent job. He simply took his main match clear sheets tally to 11. Italy’s Donnarumma and Slovenia’s Oblak are in good type however I’m not sure what number of supporters would change them in for Pickford. If we may do a nationwide survey it will be fascinating to see the outcomes.
England supporters will probably be considering whether or not supervisor Gareth Southgate will change up his choice for their last 16 match. Will Cole Palmer are available? Will Bukayo Saka transfer to left-back? Here the Guardian writers have picked their beginning XI’s:
I’d love to listen to from you. Fans are all the time eager to debate number of which of their nationwide players ought to begin however in case you may have a participant in your workforce that you can steal from one other nation who wouldn’t it be? Get in contact and let me know. And, in fact, there may be all the time snack chat. If you could have learn one among my blogs earlier than I do love to speak about snacks. Email me or publish on X (@rendellx).
A bit of facet observe away from the Euros as Chelsea have introduced a signing. Omari Kellyman has left Aston Villa to hitch the London membership.
The 18-year-old midfielder has signed a six-year deal.
He stated: “It is fantastic to be standing here as a Chelsea player. It’s a massive club with an amazing history, so it is great to join. It is a dream come true for sure. I’m buzzing to have put on the shirt and can’t wait to get started.”
The discussions round Bukayo Saka at left-back grew to become public area when Ian Wright spoke about it on ITV. He stated: “As great as Saka has done for England in terms of what he creates and his goals and assists, he is a natural left-sided player. He started playing for England on the left at youth level.
“He started at Arsenal on the left. If that’s going to give you the balance and gets you Cole Palmer in the team, it’s something you have to at least look at.”
But the Arsenal ahead has a special stance. He informed BBC 5 Live: “No, obviously I love Ian Wright and he says so many great things about me but I don’t think putting me out of position is the solution. But at the end of the day, I think we can talk about this but it’s in Gareth’s hands so we will just have to trust whoever Gareth selects on the day.”
Who may substitute Kieran Trippier within the England workforce? Well Gareth Southgate has a number of choices. Sky Sports report Ezri Konsa would be the most popular selection however the supervisor additionally has Joe Gomez to name upon.
And with the discussions occurring over the previous few days, will we see Bukayo Saka slot into the left-back place? That would make manner for a participant like Anthony Gordon to fit into the workforce. But Saka himself informed BBC Radio 5 Live yesterday that taking part in him out of place wouldn’t resolve something for England.
Kieran Trippier was not in coaching on Friday after lacking an earlier session within the week. It is known England are hoping he’ll be capable of make the sport.
Trippier damage doubt
England defender Kieran Trippier is an damage doubt for their last 16 match towards Slovakia on Sunday, in keeping with Sky Sports.
He has a calf concern that he has been carrying by the tip of the season. Trippier began all three of England’s group matches.
More to return.
The jeopardy of knockout soccer is upon us. Lose and you’re out. Knockout soccer additionally brings with it one of the crucial nerve-wracking points of the game: penalty shootouts. So how does every workforce stack up for penalties? Read this to seek out out extra:
Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand has each religion in his workforce. He stated: “At the start I considered Germany one of the favourites, and it’s too bad that they’re playing us,.
“They have quality and talent, and expressed themselves very well in the group. But we also have quality and talent, and they’ll have to be very, very good to beat us.”
Denmark are conscious of the tough recreation they’ve mendacity forward of them. Defender Jannik Vestergaard stated: “We know that to win the tournament it would be a bit of an upset. But we like being underdogs.
“Germany will be favourites, but we like being a bit of a pain to the opposition and playing to our strengths.”
Julian Nagelsmann was additionally requested if Germany are ready for the knockout stage. He stated: “We started with an easier game than we expected, then a more complicated game against Hungary, who were brilliant, then a third game against the Swiss, which was difficult, but we got a late equaliser.
“So in the end we had to deal with different things in the group stage so I think we are well prepared for the knockout stage.”
One vital query is on Germany supporters’ minds: Can Antonio Rudiger play tonight? He had a hamstring concern however he did return to coaching on Friday. Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann was requested about it at his press convention: “He’s very important. Our medical staff have been trying everything this week to get him fit again, and in training he looked good.
“We’ll see what happens overnight in terms of muscle issues. We have to wait and see what will happen, but at the moment he looks like being fit again so we’re happy to have him back. If nothing special happens (overnight) he could play.”
Jonathan Liew
First, the bugs. There has been an infestation of mosquitoes at Germany’s coaching camp in Herzogenaurach in Bavaria, one which has claimed quite a few victims, with a fortnight of humid climate rendering the squad’s outside viewing backyard – which sits proper subsequent to a forest – nearly unusable within the evenings. “I have already been bitten two or three times,” the striker Maximilian Beier admitted. “But if that’s the biggest problem, then fine …”
Then, the thunder. The DWD, Germany’s equal of the Met Office, is warning of extreme thunderstorms, torrential rain, giant hailstones, hurricane-force winds and maybe even tornadoes throughout the west of the nation on Saturday: completely timed to coincide with the crunch last-16 conflict towards Denmark in Dortmund.
If Germany’s Euro 2024 marketing campaign is starting to take the looks of a biblical ordeal, then relaxation assured: there are nonetheless loads of potential plagues to return.
Read the complete piece right here:
Jonathan Wilson
Germany Denmark evaluation: Imperious towards Scotland and ok towards Hungary, Germany misfired sufficiently of their draw with Switzerland to solid doubt on the sustainability of their enchancment beneath Julian Nagelsmann. Were they really that good towards Scotland, or had been Scotland simply horrible? The link-up between Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz has been efficient, however there are doubts as to whether or not they’re finest served with Kai Havertz dropping off or the extra sturdy skills of Niclas Füllkrug at centre-forward.
Are Denmark ok to hassle them? Probably not – though that’s what folks thought earlier than the ultimate of Euro 92 which Denmark gained 2-0. They flickered towards Slovenia and England however are very reliant on Christian Eriksen for creativity. Well as he performed within the opening recreation, the Manchester United midfielder struggles to last a full 90 minutes. But Denmark are strong sufficient, so if Germany aren’t fairly at their sharpest, they might make life tough.
Verdict Solid Germany win
Jonathan Wilson
Switzerland v Italy evaluation: Italy are unbeaten towards Switzerland in 11 video games stretching again to qualifying for the 1994 World Cup however they appear weak right here. They had been worryingly open towards each Albania and Spain and the change to a again three towards Croatia solely appeared to make them flatter going ahead. In objective Gianluigi Donnarumma has had a positive match, however an absence of creativity and the absence of a top-class centre-forward are main points.
For all the pre-tournament speak that they is perhaps over the hill, Switzerland, in contrast, have been incisive and creative, with their coach Murat Yakin having a clearly outlined and completely different plan for every recreation. Breel Embolo is now match sufficient to begin and his hold-up play, supplemented by the tempo of Dan Ndoye going past him, represents a significant risk. The one caveat is that they had been much less efficient when Scotland sat deep towards them – which can supply Italy a recreation plan.
Verdict Narrow Switzerland win
Preamble
Good morning and welcome to at the moment’s Euros information weblog. We have been with out European match soccer for three days and withdrawal signs have began to kick in however fortunately we’ll all get a soccer increase at the moment with the beginning of the last 16.
The knockout rounds start with Switzerland v defending champions Italy. Switzerland have had an excellent match to date, ending second of their group behind hosts Germany. They tackle Italy who haven’t proven their finest but however have displayed glimpses, notably within the build-up to and the end of Mattia Zaccagni’s equaliser towards Croatia.
The fixtures don’t cease after Switzerland v Italy with Germany v Denmark. Hosts Germany have been one of many groups to indicate what they’ll do, particularly with their 5-1 drubbing of Scotland within the opening recreation of the match. Denmark, in the meantime, haven’t been as imposing however they don’t seem to be a workforce to under-estimate.
We will probably be previewing each matches extra all through the day, in addition to bringing you any breaking information from round the remainder of the Euros. Let’s get began.