General Football Thread

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Bellingham-inspired England reach Euro quarter-finals​

Reuters
July 1, 2024

GELSENKIRCHEN: England’s Harry Kane (second R) heads to score the winner past Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka during their Euro 2024 round-of-16 match at Arena AufSchalke on Sunday.—Reuters


GELSENKIRCHEN: Jude Bellingham rescued England from crashing out of Euro 2024 against Slovakia on Sunday with a stunning 95th-minute equaliser before Harry Kane’s early extra-time winner sent the sub-par pre-tournament favourites into the quarter-finals.

Slovakia started far sharper than England and gave their opponents several warnings before Ivan Schranz placed a deft finish past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 25th minute.

England, who will next face Switzerland, had come back to win their last three Euro games in which they conceded first, including the last edition’s semi-final, and thought they were level shortly after the break but Phil Foden was clearly offside before tapping home.

Harry Kane uncharacteristically headed a Foden free kick wide and Declan Rice hit the post as Slovakia were pinned deep in their own half late on, though England seemed to lack belief as their fans grew ever more frustrated.

But Bellingham, a day after his 21st birthday, equalised with an incredible bicycle kick at the death to take the game to extra time with England’s first shot on target.

And England took less than a minute after the restart to take the lead when Kane headed past the despairing Martin Dubravka from close range to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Slovakia had faded as the game drew on and went closest to an equaliser of their own just before halftime in extra time, when Peter Pekarik kneed a dangerous cross over the bar.

DORTMUND: Germany’s Jamal Musiala scores past Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel during their match at the BVB Stadion.—AFP

England repelled a late wave of balls into the box to secure a fortunate victory and set up a quarter-final clash with Switzerland in Duesseldorf on Saturday.

They will, however, need to be far better against the Swiss, who outplayed defending champions Italy in the last-16 and were unfortunate to concede a late equaliser against Germany in the group stage.

Late on Saturday, Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala’s second-half goals sent Germany into the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Denmark after their last-16 clash was delayed by a thunderstorm.

The game was suspended for 20 minutes in the first half due to the weather before Danish defender Joachim Andersen went from hero to zero soon after the break when his close-range finish was disallowed for offside and he conceded a penalty converted by Havertz in the 53rd minute.

The hosts established an unassailable lead in the 68th minute, however, when Musiala ran on to a ball over the top and curled home his third goal of the tournament to put Germany into the last eight, where they will face Spain or Georgia.

Havertz scored with a tidy finish as the stadium exploded in joy and as Denmark chased the equaliser, they were often exposed to counter-attacks and Havertz and Leroy Sane missed good close-range chances.

Musiala did not waste his chance, however, as he burst on to a long pass and placed a calm finish past Kasper Schmeichel to secure Germany’s place in the quarter-finals.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2024

 

[ghazi52]

France advance to Euro 2024 quarter-finals with late goal against Belgium​

Kolo Muani's deflected shot secures France's 1-0 win over Belgium, setting up a quarter-final clash on Friday

Reuters
July 01, 2024

France's Randal Kolo Muani in action with Belgium's Orel Mangala. PHOTO: REUTERS

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DUESSELDORF: Substitute Randal Kolo Muani scored (given as a Jan Vertonghen own goal) with five minutes left to send twice-winners France through to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on Monday after beating a disappointing Belgium 1-0.

France will meet the winner of Monday's match between Portugal and Slovenia in the quarter-finals in Hamburg on Friday.

With the game looking like it was headed for extra time, Kolo Muani picked up a ball from N'Golo Kante and fired a shot that deflected off Jan Vertonghen past keeper Koen Casteels.

France were in control for most of the match, with Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram finding chances on both sides of halftime and Kylian Mbappe quick-footed and threatening. Belgium could have won the game late on, with Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne forcing good saves from French goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

 

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Lionel Messi back at training ahead of Argentina’s Copa America quarter-final​

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s tears turn to cheers as Portugal survive his Euros penalty miss​

Slovenia’s historic Euro 2024 run bittersweet for coach Kek​

FRANKFURT: Slovenia boss Matjaz Kek hopes his side’s run to the last 16 at Euro 2024 will be the launching pad for...

https://www.brecorder.com/sports

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The ‘game of my life’, says Portugal Euros penalty hero Costa​

 

[Dalit]

Türkiye beats Austria 2-1. What a game. Türkiye played with their heart today. MashAllah. It will be Türkiye versus The Netherlands in the quarter finals.

 

[lightning f57]

Türkiye beats Austria 2-1. What a game. Türkiye played with their heart today. MashAllah. It will be Türkiye versus The Netherlands in the quarter finals.

I missed the game but stats seem to suggest Austria missed big chances and dominated in attack but failed to score.

The Netherlands will be a good test, they have a better chance to beat them than some of the other top teams.

 

[Dalit]

I missed the game but stats seem to suggest Austria missed big chances and dominated in attack but failed to score.

The Netherlands will be a good test, they have a better chance to beat them than some of the other top teams.

Austria had a lot of possession, but Türkiye also had good chances and could have scored more goals.

I hope Türkiye beats The Netherlands. Will be another tough game.

 

[ghazi52]

Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen inspire the Netherlands to 3-0 victory over Romania as Dutch reach Euro 2024 quarterfinals​

By Ben Morse, CNN
Tue July 2, 2024

Cody Gakpo celebrates with his teammates after scoring the Netherlands' first goal against Romania.
Fiona Noever/Reuters

The Netherlands booked its spot in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 thanks to a 3-0 victory over Romania on Tuesday.

Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for the Netherlands in Munich with a powerful finish midway through the first half as he continued his impressive goalscoring form at the tournament. It was the Liverpool forward’s third goal of Euro 2024.

The Dutch had multiple opportunities to double its lead but were wasteful in front of goal until Gakpo produced a magical run to set up Donyell Malen for the Netherlands’ second.

It was Malen who scored the third Dutch goal in added time, running clear before finding the net with a low shot.

The Netherlands will play Turkey in the quarterfinals after its 2-1 win over Austria in Leipzig later on Tuesday.

 

[Waz]

Turkey! Well done my Turkish cousins.

 

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MUNICH: Cody Gakpo (R) of the Netherlands shoots to score against Romania during their Euro 2024 round-of-16 match at the Munich Football Arena on Tuesday.—AFP

 

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USA crash out of Copa in group phase as Uruguay, Panama advance​

USA captain Christian Pulisic blames lack of attacking quality.

 

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Germany summons Turkish ambassador as row erupts over alleged right-wing salute goal celebration at Euro 2024​

By Nadine Schmidt, CNN
Thu July 4, 2024

Merih Demiral's so-called "wolf salute" after scoring against Austria has sparked controversy.

Germany summoned Turkey’s ambassador in Berlin Thursday in a tit for tat over a controversial gesture made by a Turkish soccer player celebrating a goal at the European Championship, according to the German foreign ministry.

A spiraling diplomatic row erupted after Turkish defender Merih Demiral made an alleged ultra-nationalist gesture – also known as a ‘wolf salute,’ which is associated with the Turkish right-wing extremist group “Grey Wolves” – during his team’s win over Austria on Tuesday.

 

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Turkey's goalkeeper Altay Bayındır gestures towards defender Samet Akaydin after an own goal in the team's game against Portugal at Euro 2024.

Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images

 

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Ten Hag extends Manchester United contract until 2026​

Ten Hag's contract extended after denying Man City double and qualifying for Europa League

ReutersJ
uly 04, 2024

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag celebrates with the trophy after winning the FA Cup. PHOTO: REUTERS

Erik ten Hag has signed a new contract with Manchester United to extend his stay at Old Trafford until 2026, the Premier League club said on Thursday as the Dutchman gets another chance to restore the record 20-times champions to former glories.

There had been speculation he would be sacked after United ended eighth last season -- their lowest ever finish in the Premier League -- and with British billionaire and INEOS chairman Jim Ratcliffe taking charge of football operations.

 

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Lionel Messi misses penalty but Argentina still reaches Copa América semifinals​

Matias Grez, CNN
July 5, 2024

Argentina beat Ecuador on penalties to reach the semifinals.
Agustin Marcarian/Reuters

Goalkeeper Emi Martínez was the hero for Argentina as La Albiceleste reached the Copa América semifinals with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Ecuador following a 1-1 draw.

Argentina led for most of the match in Houston, Texas, after Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez headed home from a corner on 35 minutes.

But Ecuador found an equalizer in stoppage time when Kevin Rodríguez glanced his header into the bottom corner from John Yeboah’s whipped cross.

La Tri then had a glorious chance to win the match just minutes later, but Jordy Caicedo put his header wide of the post from just six yards out.

With no extra time, the match went straight to penalties and Lionel Messi missed with the first attempt of the shootout, his Panenka effort hitting the top of the crossbar.

However, Martínez saved Ecuador’s next two penalties from Ángel Mena and Alan Minda as Argentina scored its next four to spare Messi’s blushes and book a place in the semifinals, where the team will face the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal between Venezuela and Canada.

Martínez, who has developed a reputation as a penalty shootout specialist, performed his trademark dance after brilliantly keeping out Minda’s spot kick.

The Aston Villa goalkeeper has faced 24 penalties for Argentina and has conceded just 12 of them, including nine saves, per the BBC.

Lionel Messi missed his penalty in the shootout.
Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo is focus of penalty drama as Portugal reaches Euro 2024 quarterfinals after beating Slovenia​

By Ben Morse, CNN
July 1, 2024

Cristiano Ronaldo is consoled by teammates after missing a penalty in Portugal's game against Slovenia at Euro 2024.
Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Portugal advanced to the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 after beating Slovenia in a penalty shootout on Monday in a game where Cristiano Ronaldo was reduced to tears after missing a spot-kick in extra-time.

Ronaldo had his penalty superbly saved by Jan Oblak after a frustrating evening for the striker. His failure to convert his penalty left the 39-year-old in tears and his teammates had to rally round the striker before the second period of extra-time.

In the shootout, Ronaldo stepped up and made amends by scoring his team’s first penalty while Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved all three of Slovenia’s attempts. Costa is the first keeper to save three penalties at a European Championships.


Portugal scored all four of their penalties with Bernardo Silva slotting home the fourth to confirm the victory.