BELGIUM LOSS TEDESCO BRISTLES AT 'GOLDEN GENERATION' TAG

ANTON NOVODEREZHKIN/TASS

 After more than 25 minutes of questions to Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne and coach Domenico Tedesco on Sunday, the dreaded words "Golden Generation" had not yet been heard.

And then it happened -- with the very last question, to Tedesco, on the eve of his team's opening European Championship game against Slovakia.

"It's a typical German question about the Golden Generation," quipped Tedesco, who is Italian-born though a German citizen. "I was expecting that one."

One day, Belgium coaches and players will not be pulled back to the gilded crop of prospects who seemed sure to one day win an international title, and possibly should have at Euro 2016.

It's been a label, and a millstone, for Belgium since the 2008 Beijing Olympics where an emerging squad included Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini and Jan Vertonghen.

De Bruyne and Eden Hazard were maturing in the team that reached the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals. The Red Devils were stunned at the same stage of Euro 2016 by Wales despite extra established stars Thibaut Courtois in goal and Romelu Lukaku in attack.

Marc Wilmots left as coach and was replaced by Roberto Martinez, who is now at Euro 2024 with Portugal.

There were eliminations as the world's top-ranked team by eventual champions: in the 2018 World Cup semifinals against France, and a Euro 2020 quarterfinal match to Italy.

Then another stunner, failing to advance from the 2022 World Cup group stage in Qatar, albeit because eventual semifinalists Croatia and Morocco did.

"Qatar is over now. It was a disappointment, yes, but it was 18 months ago," De Bruyne said Sunday ahead of the playmaker's third attempt to win a European title. "It is a new tournament, a new coach. The team has changed quite a lot."

Since the World Cup, veterans like Hazard, Dries Mertens and Toby Alderweireld have retired from the national team. Courtois fell out with Tedesco and is not in Germany.

De Bruyne is still here with Vertonghen (37), Lukaku (31) and Axel Witsel (35). Another Manchester City star, winger Jérémy Doku, is already at his third major tournament at 22 and much is expected from 21-year-old Johan Bakayoko on the right flank.

Belgium are still ranked No. 3 by FIFA.

"I wouldn't say our squad is third in the world right now but in a tournament it doesn't even matter," said De Bruyne, whose 33rd birthday falls between the round of 16 and the quarterfinals.

"There are a lot of young players in the team and they're really motivated," De Bruyne said, whose team is strongly favored in Group E that also includes Ukraine and Romania.

The 38-year-old Tedesco, leading Belgium at a tournament for the first time, acknowledged there was a squad overhaul.

"There is huge quality among the young prospects, who are already ready for this stage," Tedesco said.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.

- ESPN News Services

EURO 2016: ANTOINE GRIEZMANN ATAJWA NA UEFA KUWA MCHEZAJI WA EURO 2016

Antoine Griezmann amekuwa mchezaji bora katika michuano iliyoisha hivi karibuni ya Euro 2016...Uefa wamemtunuku mchezaji bora wa mashindani kwahiyo anaongezea taji lingine baada ya kupewa Golden boot kwa kuongoza kwa mabao...Griezmann mwenye umri wa miaka 25 aliongoza kwa kufunga mabao 6...Griezmann ni striker wa Atletico Madrid...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.

EURO 2016: WALES WAMEPAMBANA MPAKA WAMEWEKA HISTORIA

Wales wametoka nyuma na kuwaangusha wakongwe Belgium kwenye game ya robo fainali...Mechi ilikuwa kali sana na Belgium walianza kuona mwanga wakati Radja Nainggolan akipopiga mkwaju hatari mapema dakika ya 13...

Captain wa Wales Ashley Willams alisawazisha kwa kichwa dakika ya 30...Mchezaji asiye na club Hal Robson-Kanu aliwanyanyua mashabiki wa Wales dakika ya 55...Belgium walishambulia sana mwishoni laniki kichwa cha Sam Vokes kikawamaliza nguvu kabisa Belgium...

Wales watakutana na Potugal nusu fainali...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.

EURO 2016: ENGLAND YACHAPWA NA NCHI NDOGO YA ICELAND

England wameaibishwa na Iceland kwa kutolewa nje ya michuano ya Euro 2016...

Iceland ni ka timu kadogo ambako wachezaji wake hawana hata pesa na wengine wanacheza mpira kwa msimu tu maana wana kazi nyingine zakufanya lakini wamefanikiwa kuwatoa England na kelele zao...

Iceland inawatu takriban 330,000 na timu ni namba 34 duniani...England ni timu ambayo imejengwa kwa makelele na kujisifu bila kuwa na mantiki yoyote...

Iceland ndio waliocheza vizuri kuliko England na kweli walistahili ushindi...

Wameshinda 2-1 na mabao ya Iceland yalitoka kwa nyota Sigurdsson dakika ya 6 na Sigthorson dakika ya 18...

Rooney ndie aliyepata bao pekee la England dakika ya 4 kwa tuta...

Iceland watakutana na France ndani ya Stade de France Jumamosi...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.

EURO 2016: RATIBA YA MECHI ZALEO (GMT)

MONDAY 27TH JUNE 2016

ROUND OF 16

• Italy17:00Spain
• England20:00Iceland

EURO 2016: RATIBA YA 16 BORA (GMT)

SATURDAY 25TH JUNE 2016

ROUND OF 16

• Switzerland14:00Poland
• Wales17:00Northern Ireland
• Croatia20:00Portugal

EURO 2016: TIMU AMBAZO NIMEINGIA 16 BORA MPAKA SASA

Group A: France and Switzerland

Group B: Wales and England

Group C: Germany and Poland

Group D: Croatia and Spain

Group E: Italy

Group F: Hungary

Best third-placed teams: Slovakia and Northern Ireland

EURO 2016: IVAN PERISIC AISHANGAZA SPAIN NA KUSABABISHA SPAIN WAKUTANE NA ITALY

Croatia wamewachapa Spain 2-1 na kusbabisha Spain wakutane na Italy 16 bora...Timu zote zimefuzu round ya 16 bora lakini haikutegemewa matokeo yawe hivyo...Imepita miaka 12 na siku 1 toka Spain wachapwe kwenye michuano ya Europe...Spain ndio walianza kuona lango la Croatia mapema dakika ya 7 bao la Alvaro Morata na badae kabisa dakika ya 45 Croatia walisawazisha kupitia Nicola Kalinic...Kwa ujumla mechi ilikuwa kali mwanzo mwisho...Tusubiri 16 bora...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.

EURO 2016: WALES WAICHAPA RUSSIA 3-0

Wales wameweza kuwa nyamazisha Russia kwa kuwachapa 3-0...Wales walicheza vizuri sana na walitakiwa wawe na mabao mengi zaidi...Ni mara ya 2 Wales wanafuzu mashindano makubwa na ni mara ya kwanza wanacheza mashindano makubwa ya Europe...Bao la kwanza lilitoka kwa Aaron Ramsey mapema dakika ya 11 na kufuatiwa na bao lingine dkika ya 20 kutoka kwa Neil Taylor...Wales walishikilia mpini kipindi chote cha kwanza...Kipindi cha pili hivyo hivyo Wales walikuwa kwenye form nzuri na mnamo dakika ya 67 nyota wa Wales, Gareth Bale, alipachika bao na kumfanya aongoze Euro kwa mabao mengi...Bale amefunga mabao 3 mpaka sasa...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.

EURO 2016: SWITZERLAND YAISHIKA SHATI FRANCE NA KUINGIA 16 BORA

France wameshinda Group A huku Switzerland waliwashika shati France na wao kuingia 16 bora...Kifaa cha France Paul Pogba alicheza vizuri na kugonga mwamba mara 2 kipindi cha kwanza...

Sub Dimitri Payet nae aligonga mwamba baada ya kupokea mpira safi kutoka kwa Moussa Sissoko na kupiga volley hatari...Switzerland nao ilikuwa wapewe penalty wakati Sagna alipomvuta shati Blerim Dzemaili dakika za nyongeza...

France sasa kucheza na mshindi wa 3 kutoka Group C, D au E ndani ya jiji la Lyon Jumapili...

Switzerland watacheza na mshindi wa nafasi ya 2 Group C kwa sasa ni Poland lakini anaweza kuwa Germany au la...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.

EURO 2016: BELGIUM WAZINDUKA NA KUWACHAPA IRELAND 3-0

Belgium wamefufuka na kucheza mpira mashabiki wao walikuwa wanataka leo baada ya kumwachapa Republic of Ireland 3-0...Ni ushindi wa kwanza wa Belgium...Mabao 2 yalitoka kwa Romelu Lukaku na 1 kutoka kwa Axel Witsel...Hali ni tete kwa Ireland kwani wako chini kabisa ya Group E wakiwa na point 1...

Itabidi wacheze Italy Jumatano ili wazee kupata nafasi nzuri ya kufuzu 16 bora...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi.

EURO 2016:RONALDO AKOSA PENALTY KIPINDI CHA 2

Cristiano Ronaldo alikosa penalty muhimu siku ambayo ameweka historia ya kuwa mchezaji aliyecheza mechi nyingi kuliko wote Portugal...Ronaldo amechezaa mechi 128 akiwakilisha Portugal...Amepita rekodi ambayo alikuwa ameishikilia Luis Figo...Mechi iliisha 0-0 na walicheza dhidi ya Austria...Sasa Group F iko wazi kabisa...Kwa upande wa Austria nyota alikuwa kipa Robert Almer ambae alipangua mashuti hatari sana langoni kwake...Bofya hapa upate habari zaidi

EURO 2016: RATIBA YA MECHI ZA LEO (GMT)

Group B

• England   14:00   Wales

Group C

• Ukraine   17:00   Northern Ireland
• Germany   20:00   Poland

EURO 2016: MJUE MCHEZAJI MZEE KULIKO WOTE EURO 2016

Mchezaji mzee kuliko wote katika mashindano ya Euro 2016 ni Gabor Kiraly... Mchezaji huyo ni golikipa wa Hungary ambaye ana miaka 40... Kiraly ameweka gumzo kubwa katika mashindano haya baada ya kuendelea na utamaduni wake wa kuvaa suruali ya mazoezi badala ya zile zilizotengenezwa mahususi kwa ajili ya kuchezea mpira... Katika mahojiano na waandishi wa habari baada ya ushindi dhidi ya Austria, Kiraly alisema.. " suruali yangu inaendelea kurudia historia, kuniletea baraka na kuniwezesha kucheza vizuri Zaidi.."

EURO 2016: MSIMAMO WA GOUP F

Group F Country      W D L GD Pts HUN      1 0 0 2 3 ICE      0 1 0 0 1 POR      0 1 0 0 1 AUT      0 0 1 -2 0

EURO 2016: MSIMAMO WA GROUP E

Group E

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
ITA	1	0	0	2	3
IRE	0	1	0	0	1
SWE	0	1	0	0	1
BEL	0	0	1	-2	0

EURO 2016: MSIMAMO WA GROUP D

Group D

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
CRO	1	0	0	1	3
SPA	1	0	0	1	3
CZE	0	0	1	-1	0
TUR	0	0	1	-1	0

EURO 2016: MSIMAMO WA GROUP C

Group C

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
GER	1	0	0	2	3
POL	1	0	0	1	3
NI	0	0	1	-1	0
UKR	0	0	1	-2	0

EURO 2016: MSIMAMO WA GROUP B

Group B

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
WAL	1	0	0	1	3
ENG	0	1	0	0	1
RUS	0	1	0	0	1
SVK	0	0	1	-1	0

EURO 2016: MSIMAMO WA GROUP A

Group A

Country	W	D	L	GD	Pts
FRA	1	0	0	1	3
SWI	1	0	0	1	3
ROM	0	0	1	-1	0
ALB	0	0	1	-1	0