Page 32 - Football

Spain put 5 past Slovakia, book Euro last-16 berth

Spain produced their best performance of the group stages to qualify for the last-16 of the European Championships with an impressive 5-0 win over Slovakia.

Oh no! Euro 2020 racking up own-goals at a wild pace

The own-goals at this year's European Championship are coming at a blistering and record-breaking pace. Two own-goals scored Wednesday by Slovakia in Spain's 5-0 victory made it eight so far at Euro 2020. That's already five more than the tournament record of three set at Euro 2016. The first Slovakian mishap came when goalkeeper Martin Dbravka pushed a high rebound off the crossbar into his own net. Juraj Kucka then knocked in the final goal of the rout in Seville. There previously had been only nine own-goals scored in 40 years from the 1976 tournament through Euro 2016. And before this year, there had never been a European Championship game with two own-goals. There have been two in the past week. Portugal also scored two on Saturday, four minutes apart. Defenders Rben Dias and Raphal Guerreiro gave Germany a 2-1 lead in a match the Germans ended up winning 4-2. The scorers of all eight own-goals in the group stage ended up on the losing team, including Germany defender Mats

Busquets proves key as Spain gets back on track at Euro 2020

After helping Spain avoid elimination at the European Championship, Sergio Busquets had to pause for a moment while talking about his time away from the squad because of the coronavirus. The Spain captain teared up recalling the doubts that went through his mind after being told he had to go into isolation only days before the tournament was to begin. I'm emotional because I had to go through some difficult times, Busquets said. I had to stay at home for 10 days, not knowing if I was going to be back or not. Spain was glad Busquets did make it back, just in time to lead the team to victory over Slovakia on Wednesday. The Barcelona midfielder was voted the man of the match in the 5-0 win that sent Spain to the round of 16 after opening with disappointing draws against Sweden and Poland. The result allowed Spain to finish second in Group E, setting up a meeting against Croatia in Copenhagen on Monday. All this helped us grow, Busquets said. Now whatever challenges we have in front

Danish health officials: Delta variant reported during Euro 2020

Danish health officials have urged soccer fans who attended the Euro game between Denmark and Belgium on June 17 to be checked for the coronavirus

Well-drilled Sweden proving to be no pushover at Euro 2020

With a few minutes remaining in Sweden's chaotic European Championship match against Poland, Janne Andersson decided to have some fun in the technical area. Sweden's usually straight-laced coach saw a member of Poland's backroom staff, Jakub Kwiatkowski, scrambling to gather the loose ball that had been kicked out of play and got to it first. As Kwiatkowski confronted him, Andersson played the ball between his counterpart's legs and smiled at him. I tunneled him, Andersson said, using a classic Swedish term for the soccer move. He got annoyed, but I was happy with the tunnel. I didn't do it to mock him. He just came and I happened to put it between his legs. As for flamboyance on the field, well, that's been in short supply with Sweden at Euro 2020. And that suits Andersson just fine. Sweden, one of the continent's most pragmatic some might say boring teams, is in the knockout stage of a major tournament once again. And like at the 2018 World Cup, the team has done so by topp

Strikers search for goals, wing backs shine at Euro 2020

Kylian Mbapp scored the most goals in France last season, and Harry Kane did likewise in the Premier League. It's not just the fact that neither Paris Saint-Germain nor Tottenham won their leagues that links them. Nor the fact that both strikers are being talked about for transfers to new clubs after the European Championship. Although prolific for their clubs Mbapp with 27 league goals and Kane with 23 neither has managed to replicate their domestic scoring output at the European Championship. Kane managed only one shot on target in the three games for England. Mbapp had three for France. But neither striker found the back of the net. I think it's the world of a big player, England coach Gareth Southgate said, discussing Kane. Inevitably he's come through those periods and scored important goals for us and played exceptionally well. So it's a bit of a repetitive cycle. Perhaps it's a reflection of the toll of more gruelling pandemic-congested seasons on players' bodies. France

UEFA abolishes away-goals rule in club competitions

The away-goals rule was abolished on Thursday by UEFA after 56 years as a fundamental way of deciding matches in its European club competitions. The move was often proposed in recent years by club coaches who felt an idea from the 1960s was no longer relevant. Games now tied on aggregate score after the regulation 90 minutes in the second leg will go direct to extra time and then to a penalty shootout. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin cited the "unfairness, especially in extra time, of obliging the home team to score twice when the away team has scored." UEFA cited several factors that "blurred the lines between playing at home and away" including more television coverage to better understand opponents' styles, comfortable travel and better playing surfaces. Ceferin said the rule outlived its usefulness and inhibited home teams from attacking "because they fear conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage.

Euro 2020 round of 16 qualification scenarios for Portugal, Germany, Spain

In Group E, Spain, Slovakia, and Poland will be vying for the last remaining spots, while Group F, the fate of Germany, Portugal, and Hungary will be decided. Check Euro Cup 2021 today's matches

Euro Cup 2021 round of 16 schedule, qualification scenarios, team standings

A total of 16 teams will qualify for Round of 16 matches and Euro 2020's next round which will begin from June 26, 2021. Check Euro 2020 round of 16 schedule, qualification scenarios, team standings

Copa America: Peru rally to earn 2-2 draw with Ecuador to reach knockout

Peru came back from a two-goal deficit to keep alive their hopes of reaching the Copa America knockout phase with a 2-2 draw against Ecuador here.

Lewandowski, Poland out of Euro 2020 with 3-2 loss to Sweden

Robert Lewandowski had just headed the ball off the crossbar twice in as many seconds when it landed back at his feet

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes joint top-scorer in men's international football

Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo has become the joint top-scorer in men's international football

Copa America: Firmino, Casemiro score goals as Brazil defeats Colombia

Robert Firmino and Casemiro got among the scoring charts as Brazil defeated Colombia 2-1 in the ongoing Copa America here at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday.With this win, Brazil has consolidated its position at the top of Group B in the ongoing Copa America. The side now has 9 points from three games.In the first half, Colombia took the lead as Luis Diaz netted the ball into the goalpost. No more goals were scored in the first half, and as a result, Colombia walked in at halftime with a 1-0 lead.In the second half, Brazil managed to change its fortunes as Firmino first scored the goal in the 78th minute, bringing the scoreline level at 1-1.In the additional time, Casemiro scored the goal, and as a result, Brazil walked away with a 2-1 victory.Earlier on Wednesday (local time), Ecuador and Peru played out a 2-2 draw. Peru is now at the third spot in the Group B standings with four points from three games.On the other hand, Ecuador is at the fourth spot with just two points from three .

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 ..

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 .

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.

Argentina beats Paraguay, secures Copa America knockout spot

Papu Gmez scored in the 10th minute as Argentina beat Paraguay 1-0 and secured its place in the Copa America knockout stage. The result at the Man Garrincha stadium in Brasilia moved Argentina atop Group A with seven points from three matches. The game also gave Lionel Messi a record 147th cap for the national team, equalling the mark of retired defender Javier Mascherano. Chile, which also advanced to the quarterfinals, is second in the group with five points after the 1-1 draw with Uruguay. Paraguay has three points, followed by Uruguay (1) and Bolivia (0). Captain Messi, seeking his first major title with the national team, had to work with a team impacted by six changes in the starting lineup. Defenders Germn Pezzella and Nicols Tagliafico, midfielders Rodrigo de Paul and Leandro Paredes; and forwards Sergio Aguero and ngel di Maria started. Nicols Otamendi, Marcos Acua, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso, Lautaro Martnez and Nico Gonzlez were left out of the starting lineup. T

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