Page 29 - Europe

From Russia with guile: Putin woos Europe with false tale of friendship

He's speaking to the visions of sovereign European grandeur that live even in moderate politicians' heads.

Eden Hazard's return gives Belgium a dilemma at Euro 2020

Eden Hazard hobbled toward the sideline after the halftime whistle, seemingly with pain in his ankle after an innocuous fall in the penalty area.

Switzerland bids to end run of last-16 losses at Euro 2020

Switzerland had to wait a day to find out it advanced to the round of 16 at the European Championship. That's nothing compared to its 67-year wait for a quarterfinal spot at a major soccer tournament. Switzerland beat Turkey 3-1 to finish third in Group A on Sunday, but it took losses for Ukraine and Finland on Monday to guarantee the Swiss a spot in the round of 16 as one of the four best third-place teams at Euro 2020. The players followed other games via the internet from their plane as they flew from Azerbaijan to Italy to train for the next round and had what forward Breel Embolo called a little reception in the hotel to celebrate. Round of 16, we're coming, Embolo told Swiss broadcaster SRF on Tuesday. We all felt happiness because it was clear we'd hit our minimum target. The round of 16 is where things get tricky for Switzerland. The team lost at that stage at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and at Euro 2016. Going out at the same stage again would put them in the similar ..

A jab at veracity

States should not aim to artificially push vaccination numbers

England through to Euro 2020 last 16 as group winners

England advanced to the last 16 at Euro 2020 as Group D winners after beating the Czech Republic 1-0.

19-year-old Bukayo Saka stands tall for England at Euro 2020

Bukayo Saka was put on the field to turn possession into penetration, to create chances for an England team that had scored only one goal in two matches at the European Championship. He did all that and more, but he still came up short in one particular area. Raheem Sterling scored the only goal in England's 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic on Tuesday by heading in a cross from Jack Grealish that flew just over the jumping Saka's own head. It was a great cross from Jack and Raheem was there for the goal, the 19-year-old midfielder said. I almost got there but I'm just not quite tall enough. He was good enough, however. Good enough to get UEFA's player of the match award. And maybe even good enough to stay in the starting lineup when England plays its next Euro 2020 match in the round of 16. He earned that opportunity (to play) tonight and he has grabbed it, England coach Gareth Southgate said. England already knew it had advanced to the round of 16 before the game at Wembley .

Covid: Europe gets fresh warning as Delta variant spreads rapidly

While the delta variant is increasingly dominant in Europe, that's happening as overall Covid-19 cases are plunging across most of the continent to the lowest levels since last summer.

Euro 2020: Spain need a draw against Slovakia to enter last-16

Spain need a point in their last group game against Slovakia on Wednesday night to assure their place in the last-16 of European Championship.

Austria beats Ukraine 1-0 to advance at Euro 2020

A chaotic 15-minute span for Christoph Baumgartner gave Austria the win they wanted and the advancement they craved. The midfielder was involved in a clash of heads early in the first half, then scored the only goal in Austria's 1-0 victory over Ukraine at the European Championship on Monday. Baumgartner jumped to clear a corner in the 17th minute but was knocked to the ground after colliding head-to-head with Illia Zabarnyi. He was given medical attention and was cleared to continue playing. Four minutes later, he knocked in a corner from Austria captain David Alaba on the other end to give his team a lead it was to carry to the final whistle. Baumgartner didn't make it that far, however. He was replaced in the 32nd minute, walking off the field while holding his head. He's OK, Austria coach Franco Foda said. He had some problems before he scored the goal but luckily, he stayed on the pitch, scored the goal. After that, he felt dizzy and we just decided to take him off the pitch

Memphis Depay, Wijnaldum score, Netherlands beats North Macedonia 3-0

Memphis Depay scored one, he set up Georginio Wijnaldum for the next two, and the Netherlands made it three out of three.

Euro 2020: Belgium knock out Finland, Denmark move past Russia

Belgium broke down the resilient Finns 2-0 to progress into the last-16 with three wins in as many games, while Denmark swept through after securing a 4-1 win over Russia in Euro 2020 group stage.

Spain players criticized after ignoring fans at Euro 2020

Spain's national soccer team has faced criticism for its performances at the European Championship, and now the players have to defend themselves from accusations that they snubbed their own fans. A video of players ignoring supporters in Seville has put the squad in a tough spot ahead of its final group match against Slovakia on Wednesday. Only a victory will be enough to secure the team a spot in the next round at Euro 2020. The video was posted by Spain's national team on its Twitter account. It was shot by the Spanish soccer federation as the squad left its hotel ahead of Saturday's 1-1 draw against Poland. Spain had opened with a 0-0 draw with Sweden and is in danger of not advancing past the group stage. In the short video, several dozen fans are seen outside the hotel as players make their way to the bus that will take them to the nearby La Cartuja Stadium. The crowd, which includes many youngsters and children, is waving Spanish flags, applauding, cheering and loudly chantin

Positive coronavirus case disrupts Scotland, England at Euro 2020

A coronavirus infection created disruption for two teams at the European Championship after a positive test for Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour also led to two England players having to self-isolate

UEFA declines Munich application for rainbow-colored stadium

UEFA has declined the Munich city council's application to have its stadium illuminated in rainbow colors for Germany's final European Championship group game against Hungary on Wednesday. The governing body said in a statement Tuesday that it understands the intention behind the proposal but must decline this request because of its political context a message aiming at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament." Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter's application on behalf of the council made clear it wanted to protest a law passed by Hungarian lawmakers last week that prohibits sharing with minors any content portraying homosexuality or sex reassignment. The law was denounced as anti-LGBT discrimination by human rights groups. Hungarian Foreign Minister Pter Szijjrt blasted the German plan on Monday. "In Hungary we have passed a law to protect Hungarian children, and now in Western Europe they are griping about it," Szijjrt said in Luxembourg. "They want to express this by ...

'Euphoria' for Denmark after difficult start at Euro 2020

Kasper Schmeichel described his feelings after Denmark's win over Russia at the European Championship with one word. "Euphoria," the goalkeeper said. That sense of unbridled joy is a nice feeling for a team that's been through, as Schmeichel put it, a turbulent emotional roller coaster at Euro 2020 but now has every reason to look forward with optimism. The 4-1 win over Russia secured a spot in the round of 16 for Denmark, where it will play Wales on Saturday in Amsterdam. "After the last 10-12 days that we've been through, it feels great to advance," Schmeichel said. "So much has happened, but now the Euros start in earnest for us. We have a chance to make this a really good tournament after a very, very difficult start." That start, with Christian Eriksen suffering cardiac arrest during the opening game against Finland, has made Denmark a sentimental favorite for many fans even outside the country. In Denmark, it has made the entire nation unite even more than it usually would

Hungary's immunity cards allow packed stands, raise concerns

Tens of thousands of soccer fans packed the Puskas Arena in Budapest last week to attend Euro 2020 matches. It was the first full-house international soccer event in Europe in more than a year made possible largely by Hungary's adoption of government-issued immunity cards. The only one of the tournament's 10 host countries to allow full crowds in stadiums, Hungary has conducted one of Europe's most successful COVID-19 vaccination drives. The immunity cards attest that their bearers have received at least one vaccine dose or recovered from COVID-19, and allow them access to sports events as well as to services and venues such as hotels, spas, concerts, theaters and indoor restaurant dining. Yet while the cards have allowed many to regain many aspects of pre-pandemic life, others worry that their use could impact fundamental rights. "There was a lot of anxiety in society on potential discrimination," said David Vig, director of rights group Amnesty International Hungary. "(The ...

Spain set to bring in Sergio Busquets to avoid Euro 2020 debacle

Spain may summon its most experienced player for its most important match at the European Championship. Sergio Busquets is set to return for the match against Slovakia on Wednesday, when La Roja faces the possibility of an embarrassing elimination in front of its fans. Only victory for Spain will be enough to ensure a spot in the round of 16 at Euro 2020. A draw may be enough, but only if Poland doesn't defeat Sweden in the other Group E match. Both games will be played at the same time. The 32-year-old Busquets, the only player left from Spain's World Cup-winning squad in 2010, didn't play in the team's first two matches after testing positive for the coronavirus. The Barcelona midfielder had to go into isolation and only rejoined the squad on Friday. He did not dress for the game against Poland on Saturday. "We missed him," Spain defender Csar Azpilicueta said. "We tried to make up for his absence, but Sergio is a key player for this team and we are happy that he is back." Rodr

Germany hosts Hungary as sports, politics mix at Euro 2020

Both Germany and Hungary are trying avoid early elimination from the European Championship. The Hungarians need to win when the teams meet on Wednesday, the Germans don't. The match will take place following a request to light the stadium in rainbow colors to protest what the Munich city council said was the "homophobic and transphobic legislation of the Hungarian government. UEFA turned down the council's application. It previously gave the go-ahead for Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to continue wearing a captain's armband with the rainbow colors considering that it was promoting a good cause, i.e. diversity. It will be the first competitive match between Germany and Hungary since the Miracle of Bern in the 1954 World Cup final, when the West German team came from behind to defeat a Hungarian side considered to be the best in the world 3-2. Hungary coach Marco Rossi's current team can't be compared to the Mighty Magyars of yesteryear, but it can still reach the round of 16 after

Euro 2020: Mount, Chilwell go into self-isolation, out of England squad

Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell will miss England's last Euro 2020 group match against the Czech Republic later on Tuesday, as both players have gone into self-isolation.

Robert Lewandowski looks to find a way past Sweden at Euro 2020

Robert Lewandowski is facing another early exit from a major international soccer tournament.