Page 19 - Football

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.

France's showdown against Portugal at Euro 2020 lacks punch

France advanced without kicking a ball, and Portugal can move on as well even with a loss on Wednesday. Hardly the heavyweight showdown many had hoped for in a match pitting defending champion Portugal against World Cup champion France, and Cristiano Ronaldo against Kylian Mbappe. Results on Tuesday guaranteed France a spot in the round of 16. A one-goal loss for Portugal should be enough as long as Hungary doesn't win in Germany in Group F's other game. Still, that's unlikely to alter France coach Didier Deschamps' way of thinking, and he is thinking only of first place. "We still hold the cards, Deschamps said. If we win then we'll finish first." The winner of Group F will play one of the third-place finishers. Portugal can still win the group by beating France, but it depends on what happens in Munich in the match between Germany and Hungary. Germany and Portugal have three points and the same goal difference, while Hungary is last with one point and must win to advance. Por

Euro 2020: Wembley to host over 60,000 fans for semis, final

More than 60,000 fans will be permitted at the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final at Wembley Stadium following an announcement by the UK government

Euro Cup 2021 round of 16: Croatia and Scotland's fate hangs in balance

England and the Czech Republic were already qualified for the round of 16. Check Euro 2020's round of 16 qualification scenarios in Group D

Euro 2020: The Netherlands, Austria enter last-16 stage

The Netherlands scored a convincing 3-0 win over North Macedonia to end their Group C campaign with an all-win record and enter the pre-quarterfinals of Euro 2020.

Uruguay fires Copa America staffer after harassment charge

Uruguay's soccer association fired a member of its Copa America staff after reports of a team security guard being arrested for sexually harassing a woman. The soccer body said in a statement on Monday it made the decision due to the staffer's "reprehensible and unacceptable behavior," without providing details. It added the person, whom it did not identify, would return to Montevideo and be investigated from there. The Uruguay team is in the Brazilian city of Cuiaba, where it was playing Chile late Monday at Arena Pantanal. Chile and Argentina share the lead in Group A with four points after two matches. Uruguay has zero after one match. CONMEBOL said in a separate statement it received information of a sexual harassment accusation against a member of a team at the Copa America. It added it will cooperate with authorities in the investigation. Police from the state of Mato Grosso, which includes Cuiaba, did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

Euro 2020: Italy, Wales qualify to round of 16 from Group A

Italy and Wales on Sunday qualified from Group A into the round of 16 stage of the ongoing Euro 2020.On Sunday, Italy defeated Wales 1-0 at Stadio Olimpico while Switzerland defeated Turkey 3-1 in the Euro 2020 at the Baku Olympic Stadium. Italy topped Group A with 9 points while Wales and Switzerland finished with four points, but the former progressed to the next stage on the basis of goal difference.In the match between Italy and Wales, the former took the lead in the first half as Matteo Pessina got among the goal-scoring charts. No more goals were scored in the first half, and as a result, Italy went in with a lead of 1-0. No more goals were scored in the match, and as a result, Italy emerged victorious.Meanwhile, in the match between Switzerland and Turkey, the former took the lead in the 6th minute as Haris Seferovic netted the goal into the goalpost.Xherdan Shaqiri doubled Switzerland's lead in the 26th minute as he scored the goal. No more goals were scored in the first half,

England looks to rebound from draw, advance at Euro 2020

A couple of days contemplating why England hasn't already advanced at the European Championship allowed Raheem Sterling to fully assess the team's shortcomings. How could a stalemate with Scotland have been prevented? "With the ball we could have shown a bit more personality and dominated the game more with the ball," the England striker said. "As a team we need to know where to identify that and take control. We can't get brought into playing a certain way when we want to use the ball a little better." Starting on Tuesday, when the team faces the Czech Republic in its Group D finale. "I do feel there's a bit of an over-reaction," Sterling said. "I just feel there's more of a panic on the outside than inside the building. At the same time, the players who have been at a few tournaments, who have huge experience, try to help the other ones." England can't even blame unfamiliar surroundings for being held to a 0-0 draw by Scotland on Friday after beating Croatia 1-0. All of its gro

European Super League project still alive, says FC Barcelona President

FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta insisted on Sunday that the controversial European Super League project "is still alive".Joan Laporta told the FC Barcelona's members about the European Super League project and presented a thorough review of the background, the evolution of the process and the current situation of a competition that was initially promoted by a group of 12 European clubs and that is currently "alive, but not mature enough to leave it in your hands", so it was not possible to submit the item to a vote in the assembly."The economic conditions are very favourable, because the sporting and economic programme behind the Superleague includes an investment of 3.5 billion euros and "guarantees us more than 700 million euros per season plus variables," Laporta told the club's members, an official statement by Barcelona revealed.After the 12 initial founder clubs of the competition announced their intentions, there were reactions from the world of football and also from the ..