Euro 2020 LIVE: England vs Germany latest plus Wales v Denmark last 16 build-up
Keep track with all the latest Euro 2020 news and build-up to Wales v Denmark and Italy v Austria as the round of 16 matches begin
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Your support makes all the difference.Keep up to date with all the latest news from Euro 2020 as England prepare to face Germany with Wales poised to kick off the round of 16 against Denmark on Saturday.
Leon Goretzka came on to their rescue Germany in the dying stages of Wednesday’s Group F conclusion, which of course means Germany travel to Wembley next Tuesday to take on England.
Though Die Mannschaft represent a tough first opponent in the knockouts, England can still count themselves lucky to have fallen on the favourable side of the draw. Wales on the other hand have a very tough run through to the latter stages of the tournament, with Denmark up first, but they also feature in the same side of the draw as France, Italy, Spain and Croatia, while Belgium take on Portugal in the standout fixture, with Cristiano Ronaldo fresh from breaking yet another international record.
Jordan Henderson, who banked a half of football in the Three Lions’ final game against Czech Republic, has moved to rally his teammates: “We’ve got quite a young squad but I think that can be a positive thing. A lot of these lads just go out and play, enjoy the game, play with no fear. And that’s what they need to do again on Tuesday. Go and enjoy it, go and show everybody how good they are. Use the emotion and passion in the right way to give you energy for the game, because that can be the difference really. As an experienced player I can help with that and make sure we’re in the right frame of mind going into the game and make sure training’s at the level it needs to be over the next few days to prepare for that one. Everybody’s confident, everybody’s feeling good and we’ve got a good few days to prepare for a huge game. But a lot of the lads have played in huge games already: Champions League finals, Champions League games, cup finals, big games for England. They’re used to big games even though they’re young and I’m sure they’re looking forward to this one.”
Follow all the latest news from the tournament as we build up to the first round of knockout games:
Euro 2020 team of the group stage with Cristiano Ronaldo, Jorginho and Danny Ward
Boring or blitz machine: Which Germany will turn up against England at Euro 2020?
Euro 2020: Power ranking every nation in the last 16 by chances of winning the tournament this summer
England vs Germany: Can you still buy tickets for Euro 2020 match at Wembley?
Who will win England vs Germany Euro 2020 last-16 match and what are the odds?
Euro 2020: Jordan Henderson speaking to the media
Jordan Henderson has taken to his seat at St George’s Park and is speaking to the press. Updates to follow.
WSL: Heath and Press depart Manchester United
Manchester United’s women’s team have already lost numerous players at the end of this season, and the latest departures are easily the biggest.
Tobin Heath and Christen Press brought with them mammoth followings and – when they were fit – invigorated the side which was then managed by Casey Stoney. They joined as part of an influx of American players to the Women’s Super League, but Manchester City’s Abby Dahlkemper is now the only one remaining in the league.
It feels like another nail in the coffin for United, who once topped the WSL in the 2020/21 side and ended up finishing fourth. They are now without a head coach and need to undergo a large recruitment drive over the summer.
Heath and Press’ departures were expected, they are now official. Racing Louisville hold their NWSL rights and it will be interesting to see whether they end up playing there or elsewhere.
Euro 2020: England received surprise Ed Sheeran gig yesterday
Gareth Southgate must have been displeased with the way in which his side had played in the group stages as they ended up receiving a surprise concert from Ed Sheeran.
The Telegraph reports that the players were “thrilled with the impromptu gig arranged for them”. International tournaments usually result in celebrities turning up to national team camps, but you’ve got to feel sorry for the England players here.
Sheeran is a boyhood Ipswich Town fan who recently announced a sponsorship for the club’s men’s and women’s teams. He’s gone up in my estimation a little bit for that, but the music has still got a long way to go for me.
Reaction: UEFA scrap the away goals rule
With the away goals rule gone, I wonder whether we will see away teams deciding to sit back instead of attacking in European fixtures? The rule change has been brought in to stop home sides from doing just that, but it could have an adverse effect for the other team.
I would have definitely have scrapped away goals counting in extra time – that gives an unfair advantage to the away team – but if both teams have the benefit of the away goals rule, then what was the negative? The days of European nights settled on away goals are gone.
Reaction: Uefa have abolished the away goals rule
Miguel Delaney sums up the decision to abolish the away goals rule succinctly here. There is definite logic as to the decreasing importance of the rule in relation to its original purpose, yet it had a unique impact on the atmosphere of a game.
Imagine what the Spurs vs Ajax semi-final would have been like without the last-minute winner. Will it ultimately be positive? I think it probably will in terms of making the games more competitive, but it was a key part of European football.
Breaking: Uefa abolish away goals rule for all competitons
Uefa have abolished the away goals rule for all club competitions as of the qualifying phases of the 2021/22 campaign’s tournaments.
The rule will affect men’s, women’s and youth club competitions and means that games will go straight to extra time if they end in a draw. They will also be removed from the criteria used to determine final rankings when two are more teams are equal on points in the group stage.
According to Uefa, statistics from the mid-1970s until now show a “clear trend of continuous reduction in the gap between the number of home/away wins”.
Uefa scrap away goals rule
The away goals rule has been scrapped for all Uefa competitions, it has been confirmed.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/euro-2020-power-ranking-every-nation-b1870497.html
Enough about the goals - what about the competition itself? We’ve taken a look at every nation left in Euro 2020 and assessed their chances of winning the tournament outright - factoring in the squad, their performances so far and now the route to the final and last-16 opponents.
England ahead of Spain?! Denmark in the top 10 after only earning three points in the group stage?! Lunacy, surely.
What order are the final few in is one big question...and do you agree, is the other?
Top scorers at Euro 2020 as Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way
Who will wind up taking the Golden Boot this summer? Of course, the No7 is already out in front after the group stage but there’s no telling how long Portugal’s journey will continue, given a very tough assignment in the last 16 against Belgium - who themselves have one of the favourites in attack.
Here you can find the odds and all the other players to have netted at least a couple at Euro 2020.
Current standings
5 - Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal
3 - Patrik Schick, Czech Republic
3 - Emil Forsberg, Sweden
3 - Romelu Lukaku, Belgium
3 - Georginio Wijnaldum, Netherlands
3 - Robert Lewandowski, Poland
3 - Memphis Depay, Netherlands
Wales just 50 hours away from their Euro 2020 knock-out game
The Dragons are preparing for their biggest international in five years - since their European Championship semi-final, indeed. They face Denmark in Amsterdam on Saturday afternoon and the squad are building up for the game in training.
No Ethan Ampadu for that game, but Rob Page has an otherwise full squad to choose from as he plots the downfall of the Danes. Stick with a back three to match up the opposition? Revert to the 4-2-3-1 of earlier in the tournament?
Some big calls for the boss to make, including where to play Gareth Bale and get the best out of him.
How Kalvin Phillips went from sidelined youth to England star
To say Kalvin Phillips’ rise has been fast barely does it justice - only one season in the Premier League and now a pillar of the national team at Euro 2020.
However, a youth coach has explained how he almost missed the boat to the pro game at all over concerns how he handled pace - thankfully, technique and application won out over the insistence of physicality being the be-all and end-all for youngsters.
One of “his famous tackles” in front of a scout and a quick switch of play appear to have sealed the deal for his move to Leeds.
Kalvin Phillips’ pace nearly saw him miss out on professional football, childhood coach reveals
The Leeds midfielder was 14 before his hometown club finally gave him his chance
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