Euro 2020: latest news and buildup to last-16 games – as it happened (2024)

Barry Glendenning has arrived in the MBM bunker, cracking his knuckles in preparation for Wales v Denmark, so I’m going to wrap up. I’ll leave you with a reminder of today’s main stories and features. Cheers!

• Ronaldo rediscovers joy on stage where he feels appreciated
• Denmark determined to deliver where it all began for Eriksen
• Italy undecided over taking knee at Wembley
• Pavard and Danilo incidents highlight concussion failings
• From Eriksen trauma to Hayes’ insight, pundits rise to occasion
• It may be now or never for Belgium’s world-beaters
• In reality, England v Germany is not a rivalry at all

You knows it

“The Welsh squad of 2016 and today remind me an awful lot of the Republic of Ireland squad in the early 2000s,” writes Niall O’Keeffe. “Four or five top players inspiring less talented teammates to raise their games to levels they had never experienced before. Bale, Ramsey, Allen, James and Davies are the clear stars for the Welsh. For us, all those years ago, Damien Duff, Robbie Keane, Steven Finnan, Shay Given and a certain Roy Keane. Talent a bit lacking now but Rice, Grealish, Michael Keane and Bamford would be nice. What’s that you say? Oh. Come on Wales!!”

Stick your comparison up your bollix. But seriously, that’s a very good point. Feels like a lot of people have forgotten just how brilliant Robbie Keane and Damien Duff were, particularly around the 2002 World Cup.

Here’s a nice piece from Andy Brassell on a man who has scored 109 goals for his country

“As a Danish Kiwi, I think Wales are awesome,” writes Lars Mathiasen. “They have serious talent in their squad and the way the players lift their game for their country has been crucial to their success. The trick is to keep that mindset going and not give in to the trap of thinking, ‘that was our one shot’.

“I know this because Denmark were there in 84 and 86 and 92 and 98. Now we have a team of players, who grew up knowing that it is possible, on a good day, to upset pretty much any other side, even without a certified superstar in the team. I obviously hope Denmark wins, but if not, I’ll be cheering for Wales and any other ‘small’ country left standing.”

A Danish Kiwi? Life’s not a game, but Lars is winning.

Alternative mood music

I have no insight to offer and nothing to add, save that this song is so bloody good.

Mood music

And if you’re not familiar with the story of Denmark’s wonderful, life-affirming mid-80s side, you might like this.

Wales v Denmark team news Nothing official yet, but it feels like selection is pretty straightforward for most managers. Wales should return to the XI that beat Turkey, and Denmark will surely stick with the team that landed four hits on the Russian bear.

“When I read the retro MBM of Euro 1996 the other day,” begins Yash Gupta, “one thing was quite clear: who was going to take the penalties. Any idea who might be the poor guy(s) this time around?

“Let’s be honest, no soul on earth knows how the game’s going to pan out. Germany were minutes away from crashing out, while England midfield... well, saying England has a midfield is already a compliment. So penalties are the only certainties for now.”

It’s hard to know who’ll be on the field if it goes to penalties, especially with five subs. There are a few penalty takers on each side - Kane, Gundogan, Rashford, Muller, Rice, Havertz - though not all of them have great records

The first match is still three hours away. But there is plenty of other live sport going on, if that’s totally your jam.

Today’s other game is between Italy and Austria. They’ve met a few times at the World Cup, though never in the European Championship finals. You might remember their match at Italia 90, when the hosts missed 472 chances before the substitute Salvatore Schillaci introduced himself to the wider world. Gianluca Vialli’s cross to create the goal was pretty magnificent.

“As a Welshman, I appreciate the support of the guys in the blog below,” writes Matt Dony. “I hope many others join in, but I’m not holding my breath. 2016 was tremendous fun, and the team were partly carried along by a warm wave of general goodwill from the public (apart from many English fans after the Iceland video. Which, let’s face it, was pretty funny.)

“This time around, playing Denmark, it does feel different. Maybe not the full Millwall ‘No one likes us and we don’t care’, but certainly a very different situation to last time. Realistically, getting out of what looked like a tough group is a great achievement. If it must end today, I’ll be proud of the team. But if, IF, the adventure continues, it would be a perfect end to a long, strange season.”

At least it’s on the BBC, so you won’t have to endure one of Sam Matterface’s zingers (sic) if Wales go out. I think you’ve got a decent chance. It’s not quite 50/50, but it’s not far off. Whoever wins, it’ll be a feelgood story for most neutrals.

Thirty-one years ago today, Dragan Stojkovic gave simulation a good name.

And twenty-nine years ago today, we all saw John Jensen score.

Twenty-five years ago today

And here’s the latest EuroCovid update, care of the Associated Press

Finnish health authorities have detected a spike in coronavirus cases that has been traced to football fans returning from neighboring Russia following European Championship matches in St. Petersburg.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has urged “all passengers who have traveled from St. Petersburg to Finland by any bus company to apply for a coronavirus test”.

Finland played two of their Euro 2020 group games in St. Petersburg, The team faced Russia on June 16 and Belgium on Monday. At least 2000 Finns are estimated to have traveled to the city for those matches.

The Finns finished in third place in their group and were eliminated. Russia also went out after finishing last.

St. Petersburg hosted six games in the group stage of the tournament and will host one of the four quarter-final matches on Friday.

This is an interesting piece from Paul MacInnes on football’s ongoing negligence on the issue of concussion.

In case you missed them earlier, here are our main pieces of Wales v Denmark in Amsterdam.

“Hi Rob,” writes Jon Collin. “Running the numbers on that Haaland restaurant story, a 30 grand tip on a €500,000 bill isn’t even 10%, the cheapskate. And he didn’t even have the decency to get in a good old-fashioned late-night summer hols brawl either.”

Imagine being that rich. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I’d be giving £100 tips at the barbers, and I’m bald.

And a letter from Vienna from Gabriel. “As much as I’ve been annoyed with what Austrian national teams made of the individual class available in recent years, I’m not really supporting them either. First of all Austrian television prioritises every meaningless detail about Austria’s campaign over important information on the best teams. Fun fact: ORF broadcasts a lot of winter sports because Austria‘s good at those.

“A lot of the sport hosts and commentators are not good at hiding their incompetence when they eventually cover football. Secondly, I’m afraid a prolonged run from Austria could mean Covid cases go up again due to public viewing, big parties with lots of drinking etc.”

A letter from Copenhagen from Lars Bøgegaard. “This date is the most mythical in Danish football history. So 29 years after the biggest ever Euros upset (Greece coming a close second and Czechoslovakia 1976 third), everything is perfectly poised for a Danish triumph tonight: Denmark riding high after the vulcanic eruption against Russia, most of the football world on their side and a stadium filled with Danes and Dutch sympathisers (dozens of Danes - including Eriksen himself - has played for Ajax.

Lars refers, of course, to Euro 92, point four written by the imminent Rob Smyth.

Away from the Euros, a transfer window perennial has been enjoying himself.

More on that St Petersburg Covid-19 story from AFP.

Russia’s Euro 2020 host Saint Petersburg on Saturday reported the country’s highest daily Covid-19 toll for a city since the start of the pandemic, data showed.

Official figures said the city, which has already hosted six Euro 2020 matches and is due to host a quarter final on Friday, recorded 107 virus deaths over the last 24 hours Russian news agencies said this was the highest toll of any Russian city since the start of the pandemic.

Saint Petersburg was where dozens of Finland supporters caught coronavirus after they travelled to the city for their team’s defeat against Belgium. Russia has seen an explosion of new coronavirus cases since mid-June driven by the highly infectious Delta variant first identified India.

The nation as a whole reported 21,665 new infections on Saturday, the highest daily figure since January. The dramatic rise in infections come as officials in Moscow are pushing vaccine-sceptical Russians to get inoculated, after lifting most anti-virus restrictions late last year.

News from the England camp, per PA Media.

England’s preparations for the Euro 2020 clash with Germany continued without Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount on Saturday. Having finished top of Group D, the Three Lions are preparing to take on Joachim Low’s side at Wembley in the round of 16 on Tuesday.

The availability of Chilwell and Mount for that match is in doubt as the duo are due to be in isolation up to and including Monday after coming into contact with Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour, who tested positive for Covid-19.

The Chelsea pair, who missed Tuesday’s win against the Czech Republic, continue to produce negative results but remained away from the group on Saturday morning, when 24 players trained at St George’s Park.

Harry Maguire trained indoors on Thursday after playing 90 minutes on his return from an ankle injury against the Czechs, but has now been back in the main session for two days.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin trained and is due to speak to the media on Saturday afternoon.

Barry Glendenning has manned his hoofer-doofer and, like the rest of us, watched the fun unfold on TV. It’s been good, hasn’t it?

Richard Hirst is in: “Sorry if this observation has already been made: England are one of only two teams (Italy being the other) to have beaten two teams who have qualified for the last 16. Must be worth something surely, he said, clutching at straws.

“And on Wales: was quite prepared to support them at football (though never rugby: having worked in Wales for 20+ years the rugby rivalry was too intense) until a certain Mr Bale said some ridiculous things about England before the game at the previous tournament. As long as he’s around Wales are a no-no, so it’s come on Denmark.”

Oh Richard.

This does not look good. The city held six matches in ten days, and a number of Finnish fans returned home to test positive.

Angus gets in touch. “The Belgians, ageing like a fine wine or ageing like a Trappist beer? Trappist beer can age beautifully. I hid a bottle of Orval at the back of a cupboard – after 12 years I couldn’t wait any longer, and it was delicious. Try it! Anyway: let’s hope that this is a good omen for Belgium’s chances.”

Ok then, wrong metaphor. Ageing like a can of Stella.

Romelu Lukaku has been talking, and comparing himself to the other great forwards in the world, starting with Cristiano Ronaldo.

Per Reuters.

At his age, he continues to shine and I’m going to try and get as close to his achievements as possible. Oh, I need competition. When someone says he’s better than me, I want to transcend him. Ronaldo wants to be the best at everything, (France striker Kylian) Mbappe also wants to win everything.

I’ve taken a big step. (Robert) Lewandowski, (Karim) Benzema and (Harry) Kane used to be talked about as world-class strikers. For me, those sort of comment was always limited to: ‘He is in shape’. Well, now I’m world class, too. That was my personal goal.

It was important to start winning trophies, and the Serie A title with Inter gave me motivation and now I also want to win with the Red Devils. It would be the ultimate recognition for this team. If I play badly I will be really disappointed in myself and the team, because now is the right time to harvest.

Jonathan Liew on the Belgians, ageing like a fine wine or ageing like a Trappist beer?

Portugal are not the team they were five years ago: they feel passive and flat-footed at the back, too vulnerable to pace, too reliant on the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo. Increasingly this is beginning to look like a tournament too far for Pepe. Belgium should win if they concentrate on their own strengths. But in that “should” is buried a multitude of curses as well as blessings.

Who do you fancy? Gracenote have the answers.

Gareth Southgate to stay on. There are few candidates for his position so it makes sense. He’ll be five years in the job later this year and Jogi Löw will have done 15 years by the time he hangs up his hair dye.

Best name in the tournament? Got to be up there.

It’s England v Germany on Tuesday, the big one. For England. This is beautiful from Barney Ronay.

The Germans! Wouldn’t you know it? Our greatest, our deepest rivals, our nemesis. Except, in reality, this this isn’t a close rivalry at all, not if we accept the standard definition that both sides need to be aware that it exists. Germany have won seven major tournaments. Germany have reached 15 semi-finals since the “one World Cup” of 1966.

Their most intense footballing rivalries are among their peers: Italy (nine finals), the Netherlands (14 semi-finals), France (world champions, neighbours). In this company England are a minor cast member, the bumptious cartoon dog, dukes up, who keeps on yappily inserting itself into the centre of the story.

No below-the-line comments today, so air your thoughts to me via John.Brewin.Casual@theguardian.com or via the Twitter on @johnbrewin_

Get in touch if you see fit.

France have not been too impressive so far, though that seems to be part of Didier Deschamps’ plan, but their injuries are stacking up ahead of Monday’s match with Switzerland.

Per Reuters.

France left-back Lucas Hernandez had to be taken off with a knee injury after the first half and remains doubtful against Switzerland. His replacement Lucas Digne is also nursing a hamstring injury and looks unlikely to be fit for Monday, forcing potential changes to Deschamps’ defensive plans.

Digne’s replacement in the game against Portugal, midfielder Adrien Rabiot, has himself been dealing with a nagging ankle injury since the end of the season and is not yet at 100%. To make matters worse, Thomas Lemar suffered a leg injury and Marcus Thuram hurt his right thigh in training on Thursday, hobbling off the pitch with the support of medical staff. France are already without Ousmane Dembélé, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament and will require knee surgery.

Angela Giuffrida, the Guardian’s Rome correspondent, reports.

The Italian players who refrained from making the gesture before the game against Wales were strongly criticised. Enrico Letta, the former prime minister, said: “Watching on Sunday, with all the Wales players kneeling and only [five] of the Italian players doing it, it was not a good image.

And Marcus Christenson profiles the Denmark coach.

He was a controversial choice as Denmark coach when given the job in 2019, to take over a year later. He was seen as a football romantic, a lover of Barcelona and Johan Cruyff, whereas his predecessor, the successful Hareide, was more pragmatic. Hjulmand does not believe it is as black and white as that but the team have played some sensational football under him, not least in the first three qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, beating Israel, Moldova and Austria, scoring 14 and conceding none.

Andy Hunter has been hearing from the Denmark camp and their coach, Kasper Hjulmand.

We respect Wales. What they’ve done in the last few years is really good, they remind us of ourselves. They are proud to represent their country, everyone supports them and the players always give their best football. We respect them a lot. At the same time we feel safe and comfortable in the things we do. We have so much power that we will hopefully have again tomorrow in what I consider to be an equal game.

And Ben Fisher spoke to Daniel James, the flying Welshman.

It is not just about being strong on the pitch but also about being robust. When games are coming two or three times a week, you have to be ready for that and your body has to be ready. Coming in every day and doing gym work, you can slowly reduce that risk of injury. As a player you never want to miss any games so you have to keep on top of that.

Jamie Jackson heard from Robert Page, who has proved himself an unlikely statesman, ahead of the Wales game..

I’ll sleep OK tonight. The support we’ve had back home: as much as it is frustrating for everybody – staff, players and supporters – that the supporters can’t be out here, the messages we’ve had, and social media with the kids in school singing the anthem for us, which is a montage of clips that we’re going to put together and show the players; we know that everybody, come the kick-off, will be behind us.

The knockouts are here, the knockouts are here. Following the surprisingly superb jamboree of red-hot soccer in the group stages, it’s time for the shackles to go on and the nerves take hold. Though hopefully not, as Wales ready themselves for a big match with Denmark in Amsterdam, though with no Welsh fans in the ArenA, pretty much.

Only those Welshmen living within the Schengen area can be there, and that arrangement means that Danish fans can travel despite their country being on the Covid danger list for the Dutch government. Such is the way of the world and Euro 2020.

Elsewhere, Italy v Austria brings back memories of a series of missed chances by Andrea Carnevale and then the arrival of Toto Schillaci. Well, if you are of a certain age. If you are of an even more certain age, then the 1934 World Cup semi-finals, played in San Siro, is probably the one you look to.

And there’ll be plenty of other stuff, hopefully, including despatches from the England camp.