Page 16 - Football

Euro 2020: Hazard, De Bruyne likely to miss Belgium's QF clash vs Italy

Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne will most likely miss Belgium's crunch Euro 2020 quarter-final against Italy here in Allianz Arena at Munich, according to team's head coach Roberto Martinez.

Swiss win appreciated, but ex-footballers say don't revile Mbappe

The footballing world was left dazed following world champions France's defeat to Switzerland 4-5 in the penalty shootout during the Euro 2020 round-of-16 match here on Monday night.

Euro 2020: Mbappe 'immensely sad' after failed penalty against Switzerland

Mbappe said after his failed penalty vs Switzerland cost the world champions a place in the Euro 2020 quarterfinals that it would be "very difficult to turn the page" and that his "sadness is immense"

Euro 2020 highlights: Switzerland beats France 5-4 in penalty shootout

Switzerland beats France 5-4 in the penalty shootout after extra time ends in a 3-3 tie. Switzerland to square off with Spain in the Euro Cup 2020 quarterfinals

Copa America 2021: Brazil star Neymar complains about pitch again

Brazil star Neymar complained about a Copa America pitch again. Brazil's quarterfinal on Friday against Uruguay or Chile will be in Rio de Janeiro at Nilton Santos Stadium, of which the field has been heavily criticized since the start of the tournament. In a post on Instagram, Neymar pondered Where will the next Brazil match be played? beneath photos of a dirt pitch and Wembley Stadium's impeccable-looking pitch during the 2012 Olympics. Neymar also criticized the Rio pitch on June 17 after Brazil beat Peru 4-0. Celebrating yesterday's goal in the beautiful' pitch of the Engenhao, the striker said, using the name Brazilians use to call the stadium. Please, fix the pitch. Lionel Messi and his Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni have also criticized the pitch of Nilton Santos. Brazilian media reported at the weekend that Brazil wanted to play its quarterfinal at Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba because of the pitch at the Rio stadium. If Brazil advances, it will also play the semifinal at Nil

Uruguay wins and puts Chile in Brazil's way in next stage at Copa America

Uruguay beat Paraguay 1-0 to finish second in Group A and move into a Copa America quarterfinal against Colombia. The result also left Chile to face defending champion and host Brazil in next stage

Copa America: Messi stars in record-breaking appearance for Argentina

Lionel Messi rose to the occasion as Argentina defeated Bolivia in the ongoing Copa America here at the Arena Pantanal.Messi scored two goals as Argentina defeated Bolivia 4-1 to finish at the top of Group A in the ongoing Copa America with 10 points from four games. The side will now lock horns against Ecuador in the quarterfinals on Sunday.As he stepped onto the field to play against Bolivia, Messi broke Argentina's record for most national team caps. This was the 148th time that Messi walked out to the pitch to represent Argentina.Messi went past Javier Mascherano to achieve the feat. In the game, Messi scored two goals in the 33rd and 42nd minutes respectively.In the game against Bolivia, Alejandro Dario Gomez had opened the scoring for Argentina as he netted the ball into the goalpost in the 6th minute.Bolivia did manage to score one goal in the 60th minute as Erwin Saavedra got the better of Argentina goalkeeper Franco Armani.Lautaro Martinez scored the final goal for Argentina .

Euro 2020: World champions France knocked out after losing to Switzerland

France on Monday (local time) was knocked out of the ongoing Euro 2020 here at the Arena National Stadium.

Euro Cup: Spain beat Croatia in extra time thriller to reach quarter-finals

Spain defeated Croatia 5-3 after extra time in their Round of 16 clash in the ongoing Euro Cup in Copenhagen to progress to the quarter-finals on Monday.Alvaro Morat scored in the 100th minute to take Spain 4-3 ahead and Mikel Oyarzabal netted one in the 103rd minute to get Spain a double lead. In the final few minutes, Croatia tried hard but were unable to score a goal as Spain got over the line.In the first half, Spain struggled to string passes together and the strikers failed to get through Croatia's defense. Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon was unable to control a bouncing pass from Pedri which resulted in an own goal as Croatia took the lead.However, Spain bounced back in style as Pablo Sarabia latched onto a rebound to drill home the equaliser from close range in the 38th minute.In the second half, both teams started the game from 1-1 but Cesar Azpilicueta scored his first-ever goal for Spain as the side again got the lead in the 57th minute.Croatia kept pressing hard for an ...

Lopsided rivalry: Anguished England takes on Germany at Euro 2020

There had already been the loss to Germany on penalties at the 1990 World Cup. Twenty years later came more World Cup agony against Germany, laced with the injustice of a wrongly disallowed goal

Kevin de Bruyne injures ankle as Belgium advances at Euro Cup 2021

Kevin De Bruyne's chances of playing again at this year's European Championship are in doubt after he was injured early in the second half of Belgium's 1-0 victory over Portugal.

Pointless to talk about contract amidst Euro 2020, feels Gareth Southgate

England Football Team head coach Gareth Southgate feels it's pointless talking about contract situations amidst Euro 2020 as he said it's better to look at end of the tournament

Euro Cup 2021: Sweden defender Lustig comes home to Glasgow to face Ukraine

When Sweden and Ukraine meet in Scotland on Tuesday at the European Championship, Mikael Lustig will feel right at home.

Czech Republic beat Netherlands 2-0 to reach Euro 2020 quarterfinals

The turning point of the game came in the 55th minute when Netherlands central defender Matthijs de Ligt was sent off for a handball when under pressure from Schick

Copa America: Ecuador reach quarterfinals after 1-1 draw against Brazil

Ecuador has qualified for the quarterfinals of the ongoing Copa America after the side played out a 1-1 draw against Brazil (local time) here at the Estadio Olimpico Pedro Ludovico

No rest for Argentina's record-chasing Lionel Messi at Copa America

Record-chasing Lionel Messi doesn't want to rest at the Copa America despite Argentina already having secured its place in the quarterfinals

Spain, Croatia peaking ahead of Euro 2020 knockout game

Dani Osmo will be lining up against some familiar opponents when Spain faces Croatia in the round of 16 at the European Championship. In fact, he easily could have been lining up for Croatia instead of Spain at Euro 2020. The attacking midfielder turned down overtures from Croatia's national team after moving to Dinamo Zagreb from Barcelona's academy as a 16-year-old and spending six seasons at the club. Olmo has never played senior club soccer in Spain he moved to RB Leipzig in 2020 but doesn't regret his decision to stick to his home country. "There was interest from Croatia, but I always preferred to play for Spain," Olmo said. The 23-year-old Olmo is part of a group of young players who have been given leading roles in Luis Enrique's new-look Spain team. Against Croatia, he has the added role of being the in-house expert on the opposing players. "Our coach knows the Croatia team well. If he asks me, I will share my opinion with him, Olmo said. I have played with the majorit

Euro 2020: Hazard's goal helps Belgium knock out defending champs Portugal

Thorgon Hazard's strike helped Belgium knock out Portugal of the ongoing Euro 2020 on Sunday (local time) here at the Estadio La Caturja de Stadium in Seville

Euro 2020: France looks to forwards, Swiss aim to end knockout drought

Winning the toughest group at the European Championship wasn't really a big surprise for the World Cup champions. Winning only one match in that group was, though. Regardless, it was still enough for France to finish first in Group F and set up a match against Switzerland on Monday in the round of 16. "A new competition is starting," France coach Didier Deschamps said. With Kylian Mbapp, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema, Deschamps has enough attacking power to deliver back-to-back major titles, something that would match the country's achievement in 1998 and 2000. Benzema and Mbapp swap quick passes and switch positions high up the field, with the quick-thinking and skilful Griezmann operating behind them. But none of them were able to score in the opening 1-0 win over Germany, a match decided by Mats Hummels' own-goal. Griezmann did get on the scoreboard in the 1-1 draw against Hungary, while Benzema scored both in the 2-2 draw against Portugal after rejoining the national squ

Croatia's Ivan Perisic has coronavirus, will miss next Euro 2020 game

Croatia forward Ivan Perisic tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss the match against Spain in the round of 16 of the European Championship.