Page 16 - Europe

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.

Gas infrastructure across Europe leaking planet-warming methane - video

The EU is proposing laws this year that will force oil and gas companies to monitor and report methane emissions, as well as improve the detection and repair of leaks.

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 ...