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LUIS ENRIQUE REACTS TO HONESTLY TO ARSENAL TACTICS AFTER PSG WIN BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

 

PSG manager Luis Enrique, Champions League trophy

Luis Enrique gave his honest assessment of Arsenal’s tactics in their Champions League final defeat to PSG, while one reporter claims it’s now ‘inevitable’ the Gunners break their UCL duck.

Arsenal never really laid a glove on PSG in more than 120 minutes in Budapest. Thankfully, their crop of world class defenders ensured the Parisians struggled to craft much by the way of clear-cut chances either.

The Gunners defended manfully throughout the contest and in truth, it was the rearguard that gave Arsenal a sniff of glory by forcing a shoot-out.

Ultimately, Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes failed to convert after failing to hit the target altogether with their spot-kicks.

It ensured Arsenal’s historic season that brought their first league title in over two decades ended on the sourest of notes, though one person who wasn’t prepared to stick the boot in was PSG boss Enrique.

Speaking post-match, the Spanish manager summed up his emotions when stating: “I’m mixed. Excitement, fatigue.

“Everything but this is the best moment of the season. We are still champions, two in a row, it’s amazing.

“We deserved that. Our supporters, during the whole season. We deserve to be in the final.”

Luis Enrique reacts to Arsenal tactics

On Arsenal’s style of play that centres on disruption, defending deep and in numbers, and is generally reliant on set piece goals, Enrique admitted his PSG side were suitably challenged.

“It was very tough and difficult,” he admitted. “Congratulations to Arsenal, it was very tough.

“They played great. It’s normal. They try to take the match into phases they are strong. We tried to control the ball and press. We have won the title.”

Enrique has now won back-to-back UCLs and has taken his tally in this competition to three after previously winning the tournament with Barcelona back in 2015.

But while some managers – a certain special one, perhaps? – might get carried away after this accomplishment, Enrique insisted he’s got no interest in blowing his own trumpet.

Asked whether he should now be considered a legendary manager, Enrique replied: “Legend? I’m not interested in that.”

Arsenal, meanwhile, will win the Champions League with this current crop of players and Mikel Arteta at the helm.

That’s according to French journalist, Julien Laurens, who declared during the post-match fallout: “It is cruel for Arsenal fans, but it is inevitable that this club win the Champions League.”

He added: “Mikel Arteta will see the positives because that is the kind of guy he is.

“Arsenal are getting closer and closer. This team adds a bit more attacking power and desire. This team can have everything. It will hurt tonight.”

- Steve Pearson

WORLD CUP PERFORMANCES

 

SANDO TONALI SAVES ITALY FROM DISASTER

Sandro Tonali wheeled off in celebration in stoppage time when his speculative effort went through a sea of legs and into the net to win a rollercoaster of a match in Debrecen.

Sandro Tonali earned Italy a thrilling 5-4 win against Israel with the decisive late strike.

Sandro Tonali earned Italy a thrilling 5-4 win against Israel on Tuesday (IST) with the decisive late strike in the 2026 World Cup qualifier just as it looked like the Azzurri were plunging into another crisis. Newcastle United midfielder Tonali wheeled off in celebration in stoppage time when his speculative effort went through a sea of legs and into the net to win a rollercoaster of a match in Debrecen, Hungary, which Italy looked to have thrown away. The Azzurri, who have missed the last two World Cups, were leading 4-2 in the 81st minute when substitute Giacomo Raspadori rolled home almost immediately after replacing the impressive Moise Kean, who netted Italy's first two goals.

However, a clumsy Alessandro Bastoni own-goal and Dor Peretz's header drew Israel level before Tonali's fortunate effort moved Italy up to second in Group I -- level on nine points with Israel who have played a game more -- and in the play-off spot.

"We'll take the win which was crucial for us, but we're completely nuts, nuts because we conceded some absurd goals," said Gennaro Gattuso.

"We need to work on that because we're too fragile, we concede goals too easily. The boys know that, but this is my problem to fix.

"You have to give credit to the boys because every time they took a slap they had the courage to react and fight back." 

Italy trail leaders Norway by three points and still have a chance of taking first place and the group's sole direct qualifying spot.

But new coach Gattuso has a lot to think about ahead of October's return fixtures with Estonia and Israel, whose players donned black armbands in honour of the victims of Monday morning's deadly shooting at a bus stop in east Jerusalem carried out Palestinian gunmen.

Nominal home team Israel would have been good value for the draw, as Kean had previously twice pulled Italy out of the mire following Manuel Locatelli's early own-goal and a fabulous Dor Peretz strike in the 52nd minute in a largely empty Nagyerdei Stadium.

Italy rocked

Monday's match had cast a political cloud over Gattuso's first fixtures in charge of Italy due to Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The small group of Italian fans present turned their backs to the pitch during the Israeli national anthem, while boos also rang out from sections of the stadium, before then holding up banners which read "stop".

And the Italians on the pitch looked equally uninterested in the match come kick-off, with Israel snappier and more aggressive than the four-time world champions.

The nominal home had already had a goal disallowed by the time Locatelli bundled Dan Biton's cross into his own net.

Locatelli almost made up for his own-goal when he struck the bar with an acrobatic volley in the 31st minute, seconds before Kean wasted a great opportunity from a Gianluca Mancini cut-back.

But 10 minutes later Kean thumped a low drive past Daniel Peretz after collecting a knockdown from strike partner Mateo Retegui.

And Kean came to the rescue again nine minutes after the break, levelling with another powerful low shot just seconds after Peretz put Israel ahead for the second time with a brilliant first-time effort.

Politano finally put Italy ahead with a great volley after more fine work from Retegui, and when Raspadori rolled home the fourth it seemed the away team looked out of the woods.

But it took Tonali's unusual winner to finally secure the three points after uncharacteristically bad defending nearly left Italy's hopes of qualification hanging by a thread.

- Agency France-Presse 

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MAX VERSTAPPEN MAKES SHOCK REQUEST AFTER RED BULL HORROR SHOW

Max Verstappen has made a request not many would expect given one of the reigning world champion's greatest strengths.

© XPBimages

Max Verstappen has requested that rain does not fall during the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the Dutchman hoping for a dry race at the Hungaroring. 

Red Bull has endured a disastrous weekend in Hungary, to the extent that Verstappen had to settle for eighth on the grid. 

Yuki Tsunoda suffered a fourth Q1 exit in the last eight races, although was only 0.163s slower than his team-mate in the first part of qualifying. 

Both Red Bull drivers have encountered major grip issues, resulting in a dramatic loss of performance. 

Discussing Red Bull's grip issues, Verstappen told select media, including RacingNews365: "It's not running all weekend, so in that area [I feel] the same.

"Sometimes you think the balance is actually not very bad yet, in terms of a lot of understeer or oversteer. 

"But you just have zero grip, you can't attack corners and can't get on the gas. Nothing actually..."

Following qualifying, Verstappen was very vocal over the difficulties with the RB21, similar to how he reacted to qualifying in seventh last season at the Italian Grand Prix.

Asked if qualifying felt as bad as Monza last year, Verstappen stated: "In my opinion it was. It wasn't long ago... Monza was also really bad. 

"I also have little confidence that things will improve a lot during the race. I just don't have any grip, so then you're just sliding. I also have more tyre wear, so that doesn't really help either."

Interestingly, the weather looks set for a significant change ahead of the race, with heavy rain forecast. 

This has usually been a blessing for the four-time world champion; however, he is hopeful the showers stay away from the circuit.

"I never expected it to be our best weekend, but this was too tough. With the feeling I have in the car now, I'm also definitely hoping it doesn't rain."

- Aaron Deckers & Nick Golding

ROBBIE KEANE APPOINTED HEAD COACH OF HUNGARIAN CHAMPIONS FERENCVROS

Former Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane has been appointed head coach at Hungarian champions Ferencvaros.

The 44-year-old, who left his role as Maccabi Tel Aviv boss in June having guided the Israeli club to the league title, replaces Pascal Jansen following his departure for New York City FC.

A statement on the club’s official website said: “We announce the successor to Dutchman Pascal Jansen to lead our 35-time champion and 24-time cup winner team, as the 146-time national team player of the Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane has signed on Monday.

“The new head coach arrived in Budapest on Sunday evening and will leave on Tuesday to join our team at the training camp in Spain.”

Keane scored a record 68 senior international goals during a 19-year playing career which included spells with Wolves, Coventry, Inter Milan, Leeds, Tottenham, Liverpool, Celtic, West Ham, LA Galaxy and Aston Villa.

He moved into coaching in 2018 as player-manager at ATK in India and worked as an assistant to Ireland boss Mick McCarthy during his second spell in charge, and later took up a similar role under former Spurs team-mate Jonathan Woodgate at Middlesbrough.

He was part of Sam Allardyce’s staff at Leeds as they unsuccessfully tried to pull off an unlikely escape from Premier League relegation at the end of the 2022-23 season, but was then offered the chance to manage in his own right by Maccabi.

Robbie Keane (left) served as an assistant to Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy (Niall Carson/PA)

Keane guided the Tel Aviv club to a league and cup double and took them to the last 16 in the European Conference League in his one season at the helm.

However, his reign attracted criticism at home in Ireland after he opted to remain in his post following Israel’s military action in Gaza.

Keane, who will be joined in Budapest by assistant coach Rory Delap and analyst Phill Hudson, later said he had stayed on for the sake of his players and staff and revealed he had rejected a lucrative offer to carry on his work.

- Damian Spellman, Pa

SERGIO PEREZ LEFT RED-FACED BY TWO SACKED F1 DRIVERS AFTER :RAKING UP £3.7M BILL'

Sergio Perez's Formula One season hasn't gone anywhere near as well as his Red Bull partner Max Verstappen's, but the Mexican driver does top another table.

Sergio Perez tops all other F1 drivers when it comes to the cost of damages caused (Image: Getty)

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez is credited with causing the most expensive crash damages in this Formula One season – even ahead of two axed drivers. Despite starting the term strongly alongside peer Max Verstappen, the Mexican star has suffered a monumental drop-off as rival teams upped their game. This has left him eighth on the Drivers’ Championship table and without a podium since April.

To accompany this dip, Perez has also racked up a significant bill for the damages he’s caused his team, with an unofficial table dubbed the ‘Destructors’ Championship’ placing the 34-year-old highest, above Logan Sergeant, the table’s topper in 2023, and Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu- both of whom will be out of a seat come next year.

In fact, Sargeant has already been replaced at Williams by Franco Colapinto, meaning that the dismal Perez’s nearly £4million bill outweighs that of an already axed driver, increasing the mounting pressure on the Austrian team to find a replacement.

Though not an official source, the table reveals that Perez caused costly damages in China, Imola, Monaco, Canada, Austria, Hungary, Azerbaijan and Mexico. The estimated £3.7m in damages Perez accumulated, however, was largely due to his huge entanglement in Monaco, involving Haas drivers Kevin Magnussen and Niko Hulkenberg.

In the first lap, with cars bunching close, Magnussen caught Perez’s rear left and sent him spinning into the barriers. Both Magnussen and his peer Hulkenberg sustained significant damage, too, and their races ended prematurely. The bill assigned to Perez supposedly topped £2m.

"It's another accident in which Magnussen was involved. You should watch the replays carefully. Thank God it turned out well, but it was a very critical situation,” Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko told Sky Germany back in May when asked about the incident - which caused a 40-minute delay to proceedings.

"I was surprised how quickly they put this incident behind them. These are decisions that you can hardly influence. On the one hand, there is the danger and on the other hand, the damage is two to three million [euros]. With the budget regulations, that is a big handicap for us."

Another of Perez’s pricey collisions came in Azerbaijan, when, on the penultimate lap, the Mexican grappled with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, ending both of their races.

“It is a pathetic touch, an absolutely pathetic touch, with serious ramifications!” former F1 driver Mark Webber told Channel 4 when covering Perez and Sainz’s crash.

“Sergio is trying to get across into the tow. At this speed, it’s fine margins. Sergio’s repair bill this year is impressive. He’s got more of the Ferrari in view, when you’re [looking in] the mirror, you’re not quite sure where he should be. Sergio should have given him more room to get down that straight.

Next up on the calendar is the Las Vegas GP, where Perez will look to limit any further damages and embarrassment as his peer Verstappen looks to stamp down a decisive claim on what would be his fourth Drivers’ Championship title.

- BEN CRAWFORD

VIRJIL VAN DIJK 'ANGRY' AFTER FIRST RED CARD WITH NETHERLANDS

Virgil van Dijk was left angry with the decision to give him the first of two yellow cards against Hungary. David Balogh/Getty Images

Virgil van Dijk said he was "angry" with the decision to give him the first of two yellow cards as he was sent off for the first time in his Netherlands career in Friday's 1-1 Nations League draw with Hungary.

The Liverpool defender received two yellow cards in three minutes late in the second half, the first for dissent and the second a foul which was a straightforward booking.

That first card, for protesting after Donyell Malen was brought down as he surged towards goal with the Dutch trailing their hosts 1-0, left Van Dijk particularly frustrated.

"[The red card] is a bummer, should not have happened. But I'm especially angry about the first," Van Dijk told ESPN Netherlands.

"They say the captain is the only one who can talk to the referee. I walk up to him. Up tempo, but not in a nasty way, not at all. Very respectful. Because I felt it was a breakaway player, he did not go for the ball at all. If even the captain can not say anything ... then it gets difficult."

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman was also left perplexed by his captain's first booking.

"That moment was frustrating," Koeman told the NOS. "I don't understand it. I think we agreed that a captain can protest to a referee.

"That foul [on Malen] was good for a red card. There was no intention at all to play the ball. That Virgil then takes that second card is not convenient. He knows that himself."

Koeman confirmed he will not add to his squad for Monday's visit to Germany, who head Nations League Group A3 with seven points from three matches, two more points than the Netherlands.

It makes it a vital fixture in which the Dutch could rise to the top of the pool, or conversely be cut five points adrift with two games to play.

Koeman was left with a "reasonable feeling" after the draw in Budapest in which his side trailed to a first-half goal from Roland Sallai, but equalised late on through Denzel Dumfries, a goal that came after Van Dijk's red card.

"We didn't surrender, we went to play one-on-one and made the equaliser," he added. "Then they [Hungary] created some dangerous situations, but we defended well. That way you leave with a reasonable feeling."

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services

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HUNGARY STAR BARNABAS VARGA PICTURED IN HOSPITAL AFTER HORROR COLLISION AT EURO 2024

 Hungary forward Barnabas Varga has been visited by manager Marco Rossi and his team-mates in hospital, after he was stretchered off against Scotland with a fractured cheek.

Hungary's head coach, Marco Rossi, his staff and player Endre Botka have visited Barnabas Varga in the hospital to offer their support.

Varga copped a nasty collision with Scotland's goalie Angus Gunn during their Euro 2024 group game clincher. He was knocked out cold and gotrushed to the hospital, waking up to a busted cheek.

He is now able to take guests, and has been pictured smiling from his hospital bed, flashing a grin and thumbs-up. Rossi and the squad, along with the medical heroes treating him, are all seen beaming around his bed.

The Hungary FA dropped a line saying: "Led by Marco Rossi, some members of the professional staff and Endre Botka, representing the players, visited Barnabas Varga in Klinikum Stuttgart. The visitors interpreted the wishes of the whole team for the player."

Varga's gone under the knife to fix his injured face. His pals flipped him into the recovery pose before skipper Dominik Szoboszlai and the med team shuffled in a stretcher, reports the Mirror.

The Hungary players threw up a human shield and sheets up on the pitch to keep it all private.

After some claps from the crowd, he scooted off to get patched up in Stuttgart. Come Monday, the Hungary FA said Varga had clocked some proper gnarly face damage and a scrambled noggin.

"Several bones in Barnabas Varga's face were broken during the collision during the match, and he also suffered a concussion," they said in a statement. "The Ferencvaros striker is most likely to undergo surgery. He spends the night in the hospital in Stuttgart. The whole team is rooting for him! ".

- Harry Thompson 

EURO 2024: SZOBOSZLAI LAMENTS MEDICS' SPEED ON VARGA INJURY

Dominik Szoboszlai argued with medical staff to move faster after the injury. James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images

 Hungary captain Dominik Szoboszlai has criticised medical staff for their slow response to his teammate Barnabás Varga's nasty collision during Sunday's 1-0 Euro 2024 win over Scotland in Stuttgart.

Szoboszlai was among Hungarian players waving frantically for help as Varga, who fractured several bones in his face, lay motionless on the ground after a collision with Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn 68 minutes into the game.

When help finally arrived, Szoboszlai was seen grabbing the stretcher to try to hurry the medics along.

Varga was wheeled away for treatment, concealed behind a large brown cover held by officials.

"I don't understand this kind of protocol, why the medical staff don't rush in at this time?" Szoboszlai told Hungarian reporters.

"This question remains for everyone, so I hope that everyone can save a few seconds and save a life," Szoboszlai, who was briefly in tears over the collision, said.

"I hope we will never have to experience this again ... something needs to be done."

UEFA issued a statement on Monday, insisting there was "no delay" in getting treatment to Varga.

The statement added that the pitchside emergency team "arrived with the stretcher as soon as their intervention was requested by the medics to evacuate the player for his immediate transfer to hospital."

Coach Marco Rossi confirmed Varga regained consciousness before leaving the field and was taken to hospital where his condition was stable.

Hungary must wait for the outcome of other group matches to see if they will advance to the next round as one of four best third-place finishers.

The Varga incident seemed to spur Hungary on after what had been a dismal game with few chances, Szoboszlai's team stepping up a gear with a flurry of late opportunities that led to Kevin Csoboth's breakaway goal in the 100th minute after a lengthy period of stoppage time.

Szoboszlai celebrated the victory by wearing Varga's spare shirt turned back to front.

- Reuters 

SCOTLAND 0-1 HUNGARY | POST MATCH ANALYSIS | EURO 2024

EURO 2024 UPDATES: SCOTLAND'S KNOCKOUT-ROUND WAIT GOES ON

 

Scotland's dreams of a first knockout-round appearance at a major international tournament were Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The lead: Scotland's wait for the knockouts goes on

STUTTGART, Germany -- Scotland only needed one goal before kickoff. As it was, they didn't even have a shot on target.

The team that arguably brought the biggest support to Euro 2024 still somehow managed to leave it with a whimper, losing 1-0 to Hungary in Stuttgart to finish bottom of Group A. Victory on Sunday would have almost certainly sent Scotland through as one of the four best third-place finishers, reaching the knockout stages of a major international tournament for the first time in their history, at the 12th attempt.

The Tartan Army packed the MHP Arena with lung-busting renditions of "Flower of Scotland." A bagpiper stationed near one corner of the Scottish support enhanced an occasion already rich in emotion.

Steve Clarke's pre-tournament target of four points was within reach after recovering from a heavy defeat to Germany on the opening night -- for which around 200,000 Scottish fans descended on Munich -- by drawing with Switzerland four days ago. Yet the sense of occasion seemed to consume them. Perhaps the weight of history was too much to bear.

Hungary are rarely interested in possession for the sake of it. Scotland, atypically for them, had more of the ball but the palpable plan of keeping things tight before trying their luck later merely created a first-half stalemate.

Something had to give. Hungary may have lost twice, but their only hope of reaching the round of 16 was to win here and pray results elsewhere in the next few days would be enough to see them through.

Ché Adams fired over the crossbar from outside the box on 53 minutes. The hope for Scotland was that moment would spark an onslaught, but nothing followed. Stuart Armstrong wanted a 79th-minute penalty for a challenge by Willi Orbán, but Argentinian referee Facundo Tello was unmoved. They ended the game with an expected goals (xG) of 0.19 from the sum total of five shots, four of which came in second-half stoppage time.

A troubling injury to Barnabás Varga -- who appeared to collapse on the pitch before medical staff held up sheets to hide the forward from the crowd as he was prepared to be stretchered off, the Hungarian FA later confirming that he's in stable condition -- led to 10 minutes of added time.

Finally, the sides began to push forward with intent.

Substitute Kevin Csoboth hit the post. Scotland's four shots were all blocked. And then, in the 100th minute, Hungary counterattacked from a Scotland corner and Roland Sallai found Csoboth to slot home a low finish past Angus Gunn to cue pandemonium in the Hungary end.

With Group A first to be completed, Hungary must now wait to learn their fate as the third-place teams are determined.

Scotland's interminable wait to play a knockout match goes on. It's the shots you don't take you regret the most. -- James Olley

Sights and sounds around Euro 2024

Against Germany, Switzerland prove they can be a problem in the knockouts

FRANKFURT -- On the list of special wins at a major tournament, this could have been up there alongside beating world champion France in the round of 16 at the previous Euros.

Switzerland almost shocked the whole of Germany by leading the hosts until the 92nd minute in Frankfurt and threatening to overtake them atop Group A. The hosts should have seen it coming, considering this marks the fourth game in a row against their neighbours that Die Nationalmannschaft have failed to win. Despite Niclas Fullkrug's last-minute equaliser, earning Germany a 1-1 draw, this Alps derby will almost feel like a win for la Nati.

They showed again that in big tournament they are a force to be reckoned with. They did more than compete with Julian Nagelsmann's team; they nullified Germany's attacking potential by forcing them narrow and making them too predictable, thanks to a very compact block positioned in a 3-5-2 formation and expertly directed by captain Granit Xhaka and sweeper Manuel Akanji.

Dan Ndoye's first-half goal earned Switzerland a draw in their group-stage finale against hosts Germany on Sunday. Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images

To hurt the German defence, manager Murat Yakin chose to drop Xherdan Shaqiri and introduce the physicality of Breel Embolo. His partnership up front with Dan Ndoye would prove tricky and tiring for Germany's hulking centre-backs Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah to track.

Ndoye has lacked a clinical presence in the first two Swiss games, failing to score against 0.69 xG against the Scots and 0.22 expected goals and assists against the Magyars, but he can run. He predominately played in wide positions for Bologna this past season, where he could put his pace to use, and was always a threat in behind here, outpacing Rüdiger to create an opportunity in the first half that he put just wide.

Eventually, Ndoye got his first goal of the tournament, a very well-taken effort from close range just before the half-hour mark.

Even if the Swiss will feel disappointed not to have won, their superb performance, supported by 15,000 fans in Frankfurt, proved again that Yann Sommer & Co will be a problem for whoever faces them in the knockout rounds -- Julien Laurens

Ronaldo makes a mascot's day

It seems like everybody wants a piece of Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2024, from selfie-chasing pitch invaders to young mascots who are determined to make the most of being so close to the Portugal forward.

Six fans -- four during the game and two as the players left the field after the final whistle -- ran onto the pitch during Saturday's 3-0 win against Turkey in Dortmund, in an attempt to take a selfie with the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player. The incidents left Portugal coach Roberto Martínez voicing his concern over what could happen if players are approached by spectators with ill intent.

But there was a more harmless moment prior to kickoff when one of the mascots lingered on the pitch after the national anthems just to get a hug from Ronaldo.

A mascot makes sure she gets a hug of the Portugal legend. Angel Martinez - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

The little girl was stood in front of Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa during the prematch ceremony, but she had eyes only for Ronaldo. She kept looking back, and reaching out to touch her hero.

And as soon as the anthems finished, she followed the Portugal captain until he noticed her and smiled before giving her a big hug. -- Mark Ogden

Don't call us Sweden!

Among the wall of red Switzerland supporters for their match against Scotland was a small white sign. It read: "We are not Sweden." As you bump into Swiss fans around Germany, you may also see this slogan on t-shirts.

It all relates to people confusing the two countries, confusing the "Sw" in their names. It got to such an extent that Sweden launched their own marketing campaign last year called, "Welcome to Sweden (not Switzerland)." It features a clip of U.S. President Joe Biden saying in 2022 that Switzerland was joining NATO, when it was in fact Sweden.

Jacques Pitteloud, ambassador of Switzerland to the U.S., has since done his own video, clarifying Switzerland's side of the story.

So while Switzerland were taking on Germany on Sunday night in Frankfurt, the other "Sw" was watching on from home, having not qualified for Euro 2024. -- Tom Hamilton

A Switzerland fan makes his point clear. Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Georgia's press in hot water

Georgia are making their debut at a major tournament, and everyone connected to the team is determined to enjoy it.

Support has been feverish among fans outside the stadiums and in the stands, but the same has also been true of the press tribune. Media reporters wearing Georgia shirts celebrate goals in the same way as any fan, and every time their team launches an attack, they beat the desks with their fists in anticipation. It all got too much for one UEFA official during the game against Turkey ... and, as a result, a number of Georgia media representatives were politely asked to calm down.

After the 1-1 draw with Czechia on Saturday, goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was asked to conduct a news conference after his 11 saves earned him the man of the match award. After taking a couple of questions, Mamardashvili got to leave but before he did, he received a round of applause from the Georgian media in the room. -- Rob Dawson

Nagelsmann gets inspiration from basketball

A Canadian could play a big part in Germany's success at Euro 2024. Gordon Herbert is the Germany basketball head coach. Born 65 years ago in Penticton, British Columbia, he led his team to a win the world championships against all odds last summer in Pasay in the Philippines, beating the United States in the semifinals and Serbia in the final.

He was invited by Nagelsmann, his counterpart with the soccer team, to explain to his players the keys to success with his basketball players.

Herbert, who also has a Finnish passport after playing basketball in the country, came to Herzogenaurach, Germany's camp during the Euros, to talk about his philosophy and share his experience.

One of Hebert's points was finding the right balance of players in a well-constructed squad. He detailed that to be successful, a team needs pigs, who do the heavy work, and race horses, who are the difference makers. Germany have plenty of players who can execute both responsibilities. -- Julien Laurens

Stat of the day

Fullkrug's goal was Germany's third stoppage-time strike this tournament. That's the most by any team in a single European Championship. -- ESPN Stats & Information

Match previews for Monday

Group B: Albania vs. Spain (Düsseldorf; 9 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET)

Odds (via ESPN BET): Albania +5500, Draw +340, Spain -210

During Euro 2024, Albania have held meetings in Madrid, brainstormed in Barcelona and eaten in Seville. Those are the names of some of the rooms and the cafeteria at the Sportcentrum Kamen-Kaiserau where they are based in Germany. They were given those names after Spain stayed there for the World Cup in 2006. Albania will desperately hope it is some sort of good omen ahead of their match against the Spanish in Düsseldorf, where they have the chance to create history by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time ever.

That is easier said than done against a Spain side who have impressed in wins over Croatia and Italy. However, with La Roja already through to the round of 16, and midfielder Rodri suspended, coach Luis de la Fuente is expected to make changes. That could help Albania, ranked 66th in the world by FIFA (only Georgia are lower-ranked at the finals), in their quest for the three points which would almost certainly earn passage into the next round. A draw to finish on two points is unlikely to be enough. -- Sam Marsden

Group B: Croatia vs. Italy (Leipzig; 9 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET)

Odds: Croatia +210, Draw +220, Italy +135

Both Italy, coming off the 3-0 humiliation at the hands of Spain, and Croatia, who will almost certainly need a win to stay in contention, face Monday's clash in Leipzig with trepidation. Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic kept things simple: "We were facing elimination in Qatar, too, and then went on to the semifinals ... It's as if the knockouts have already started and you have to win to advance."

Dalic will need to make a big call with two key men of his "golden generation" with Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic both rumored to be facing being dropped for this game.

A draw would suffice for Italy, who say they will play for the win. If they do win, they'd be making history given that in eight previous encounters they have never beaten Croatia. Azzurri boss Luciano Spalletti is reportedly mulling wholesale changes, including replacing Jorginho in midfield with Nicolo Fagioli. It would be quite a comeback for the Juventus midfielder, who was suspended for gambling on football for most of the 2023-24 campaign. -- Gabriele Marcotti

Betting tip (odds via ESPN BET)

Both Italy and Croatia have disappointed so far this tournament. So many were critical of Italy's performance against Spain, where they were completely outplayed. Having said that, I still think collectively they are better than Croatia. So, Italy +130. -- Dan Thomas

One big read

Ronaldo is still the selfie king, even at 39 years old, 20 years after appearing at his first major tournament for Portugal. But it's probably a sign of his waning influence on his national team that he registered more selfie attempts from picture-chasing fans than significant contributions for his country during Saturday's 3-0 win against Turkey.

But Ronaldo is in Germany to play football and inspire Portugal to a second European title in three tournaments, and the harsh reality is that his powers are on the wane. The selfie stunts may end up being a distraction from his performance against Turkey, but no one can escape the truth forever, and Ronaldo, who was once the man who carried a nation's hopes, might now end up holding his team back if they progress to the latter stages.

- Mark Ogden: Ronaldo's declining ability could hurt Portugal

And finally ...

Daughter's wedding or Scotland game? Pat Nevin couldn't choose ...

Family is everything in the Nevin household. Pat, the former Scotland international and Chelsea and Everton winger, and his wife Annabel have two children, Simon and Lucy. When Lucy announced her engagement and wedding, everyone in the house in Duns, a small town in the Scottish Borders, was over the moon. The wedding was all organised in a gorgeous venue on the border with England for the weekend of June 22-23 ... Then Scotland qualified for the Euros.

When the schedule came out it showed that Scotland would play their final group game, decisive to make it to the knockout stages for the first time in their history, on June 23.

As a loving father, Pat couldn't miss the wedding. Yet as a pundit and commentator for the BBC, he couldn't miss what could be the biggest game in Scotland's history, either. So he celebrated the wedding Saturday, left the venue at 5 a.m. Sunday -- when some guests had just gone to bed -- and made it to Stuttgart for the game, hoping that the celebrations in Germany would be as joyous as the ones in Scotland. Only to watch Scotland go out with a whimper, barely taking a shot on goal. -- Julien Laurens

- ESPN

EURO 2024 UPDATES: TONI KROSS DELIVERING IN CAREER SWAN SONG

Due to retire after the 2024 Euros, Germany's Toni Kroos is showing why he's still one of the game's best midfielders. (Photo by Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

 The lead: Toni Kroos is worth it

STUTTGART, Germany -- Jamal Musiala and Ílkay Gündogan found the net and will make the highlight reels (rightly) as Germany dispatched Hungary 2-0 to seal a place in the knockout round. But the game only reinforced how this is Toni Kroos' team and how Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann is bending over backwards to accommodate him.

Kroos is 34, and it's a battle-worn 34. He has played a remarkable 3,607 minutes (plus injury time) spread out over 53 games. That's quite a feat for the midfielder in the twilight of his career. Indeed, Kroos himself revealed on the popular podcast he does with his brother that he thought he would miss the opening game because of a persistent pain in his neck.

But then, these are his final games as a professional -- he's retiring after the Euros -- and the pain is evidently worth bearing. With his mobility reduced, Nagelsmann didn't ask him to play in his traditional midfield role, and instead he turned Kroos into a point guard in possession. Kroos dropped deep to the left of the central defenders -- Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah -- and controlled the game. Probing, testing, giving and receiving the ball until he saw the opening for the sort of pass few can see and fewer still can deliver.

Writ large, it's an adjustment for a coach whose critics accused him of being too rigid and system-obsessed. And it's not the only one: Witness Musiala and Florian Wirtz being encouraged to cut inside from wide areas or Gundogan operating in the hole.

It worked against Scotland, partly because Steve Clarke's crew -- in addition to being terrible -- also played down a man in the second half. Hungary was a much sterner test and, again, it paid off. What Kroos gives you in possession outweighs the fact that off the ball the best he can do is clog passing lanes. He was a steadying presence -- the hub of Germany's wheel -- on a day when some of Nagelsmann's other ballers (Musiala, Gundogan) were sublime and others were more muted (Kai Havertz, Wirtz). Which is probably why Nagelsmann left him out there for the entire game.

Kroos is too important, and the adrenaline will carry him through in any case. Though that neck is bound to smart tomorrow. -- Gab Marcotti

Sights and sounds around Euro 2024

Shaqiri makes American history in Euros

COLOGNE, Germany -- We've seen wondergoals from Xherdan Shaqiri before in the European Championship. Remember his bicycle kick against Poland in 2016? If not, look it up. He added another to his impressive one-man canon of incredible strikes as his first-half goal in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Scotland helped ease Switzerland toward the knockout stages of this year's competition.

Shaqiri has spent the past couple of years in MLS with the Chicago Fire FC, and his 26th-minute strike earned him a slice of American history. He became the first MLS-based player to score in the Euros. So savour that, as he's not sticking around. He said last week that he's planning to leave Chicago and head back to Europe, and his goal against Scotland would've done his hopes for a contract no harm whatsoever.

While Scotland successfully nullified the threat of Granit Xhaka -- perhaps in some sort of Toni Kroos-related PTSD -- they lost Shaqiri for his first-half goal. Sloppy play at the back led to Anthony Ralston misplacing a pass straight into the path of Shaqiri, and without breaking stride, the diminutive, barrel-chested forward curled a beautiful effort past Angus Gunn and into the top left corner of Scotland's goal.

Xherdan Shaqiri scored Switzerland's goal in their 1-1 draw against Scotland on Wednesday in Cologne. JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images

"You knew when it was rolling towards Shaqiri, it was going into the back of the net," Scotland manager Steve Clarke said after the match. "You don't give top, top players that type of chance."

Shaqiri wasn't necessarily the best player on the pitch -- those in blue had several candidates for that, while Manuel Akanji was outstanding -- but he gave another reminder of his incredible skill set and why he's still box office. With Switzerland now on four points from their first two matches, they should be safely into the knockouts, where Shaqiri will be looking to add further goals to his highlight reel. -- Tom Hamilton

Spygate in the Switzerland camp?

An investigation was opened by German police in Stuttgart on Tuesday after an unidentified drone was seen flying over VfB Stuttgart's training ground during Switzerland's training session before Wednesday's game against Scotland.

The Swiss coaching team have two drones of their own that they use to film every session for manager Murat Yakin and his staff to analyse afterward. So imagine their surprise when, out of nowhere, they spotted a third one circulating over the pitch. The unexpected flying object remained above them for 10 minutes before flying off.

With Swiss suspicions of spying unable to be ruled out, police were called in to investigate, and the authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from around the complex. Judging by the good mood among Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka and his teammates after their convincing 3-1 victory in their first game against Hungary, the incident appears to have dampened their spirits. -- Julien Laurens

Georgia not delighted by Turkish anthem boos

Georgia manager Willy Sagnol was full of praise for his team despite their 3-1 defeat to Turkey in Tuesday's thrilling match in Dortmund, but he was less than impressed with the actions of some of the rival fans.

The thousands of Turkey supporters inside Signal Iduna Park made for a raucous and intimidating atmosphere. Sagnol didn't mind that at all, but after the game, he criticised those who had booed and whistled during the Georgian national anthem when it was played ahead of kick-off.

"You shouldn't do that," he said. "You should always respect your opponent. That didn't reflect well on Turkey."

With almost three million people of Turkish heritage living in Germany, their games at these Euros were always expected to attract feverish support. They turned Dortmund into a sea of red before playing Georgia, although their prematch partying was disrupted by torrential rain that continued during the game and after the final whistle. -- Rob Dawson

Germany stars honoured from station to station

If you are travelling to Germany by train, or using the rail network to move around the country during the Euros, be sure to double-check the names of each station that you pass through. As an honour for the players who have been called up in the host nation's squad by coach Julian Nagelsmann, each player has had his name added to the signs of the railway stations of his hometown.

Stuttgart's train station, for example, has "Heimatstadt von Jamal Musiala" ("hometown of Jamal Musiala") added to its regular signage. While the claim is technically accurate as the Bayern Munich star was born in the city, he moved elsewhere in Germany soon afterward and also spent part of his childhood in England, for whom he first played international football at under-15 level.

The capital city of Berlin has done the same for Antonio Rüdiger, Essen for Leroy Sané and Greifswald for Toni Kroos to name but a few. So far, 11 stations have been updated to call out one of their most illustrious sons, with 13 more to get the same treatment over the next few days.

This is part of the "Home of Football Stars" campaign, led by the German football federation and DB, the national train company, with 24 cities involved in total. -- Laurens

Heavy Metal Football

Frankfurt has turned out to be a melting pot of fans from many competing nations at Euro 2024 due to its well-connected international airport and proximity to other host cities including Dortmund, Stuttgart, Cologne, Dusseldorf and Gelsenkirchen.

But the national jerseys of Scotland, Denmark, England, Croatia and Albania were heavily outnumbered by the black T-shirts worn by followers of heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch in Frankfurt on Monday.

The Las Vegas-based rockers, whose hits include "Wrong Side of Heaven" and "The Tragic Truth," played to a sell-out 13,500 crowd at Frankfurt's Festhalle while the football fans watched the Euro 2024 action in the city's bars.

Posters advertising the concert had red "AUSVERKAUFT" (sold out) stickers emblazoned on them throughout the city, something that other acts such as Bryan Adams and Scorpions are yet to achieve for their gigs at the same venue later this year. -- Mark Ogden

Stat of the day

Klaus Gjasula of Albania is the first player in Euro history to come off the bench and have a goal and a own goal in the same match as Albania drew 2-2 against Croatia. -- ESPN Stats & Information

Match previews for Thursday

Group C: Slovenia vs. Serbia (Munich; 3 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET)

Odds (via ESPN BET): Slovenia -360, Draw +240, Serbia -125

Slovenia face Serbia at the Allianz Arena full of confidence after earning a 1-1 draw in their opening game against Denmark.

Making their first appearance at a major tournament since the 2010 World Cup, coach Matjaž Kek suggested his team were nervous in the opening exchanges against the Danes. But settling down after half-time and finishing the game strongly has created a sense of optimism in the Slovenian camp. They have never been past the group stage of a World Cup or Euros as an independent nation, but victory over Serbia at the Allianz Arena would put them on the brink of qualification for the last 16.

One thing they may have to work on is getting 21-year-old striker Benjamin Šeško into better goal-scoring positions. He hit the post with a stunning long-range strike against Denmark but didn't have one touch inside the penalty area. -- Dawson

Group C: Denmark vs. England (Frankfurt; 6 p.m. local / midday ET)

Odds: Denmark +425, Draw +250, England -145

These two teams last met in the semifinals of Euro 2020 at Wembley, when England came from a goal down to win 2-1 in extra time. Gareth Southgate's side can qualify for the round of 16 with a win in Frankfurt, but their opponents' need is greater, having been held to a 1-1 draw in their first game against Slovenia.

England's 1-0 win over Serbia puts them in a position of strength from which to improve, but they will need to do just that to justify their status as one of the pre-tournament favourites. Their first-half performance in Gelsenkirchen was encouraging, with Jude Bellingham playing a starring role, but England slipped back into familiar habits as the game wore on, dropping deeper and losing the ball cheaply. Southgate blamed that on fatigue, so it is possible he may look to freshen things up, but wholesale changes are unlikely.

Christian Eriksen enjoyed a dream return to Euros football three years on from his on-pitch cardiac arrest by scoring Denmark's goal against Slovenia. Here, he will come up against former Tottenham Hotspur teammates Kyle Walker, Harry Kane and Kieran Trippier, while fellow Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo might feature off the bench. -- James Olley

Group B: Spain vs. Italy (Gelsenkirchen; 9 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET)

Odds: Spain +110, Draw +120, Italy +270

The reigning European champions take on the UEFA Nations League winners as Italy and Spain meet in one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the group stage. The fact both teams won their opening games slightly reduces the pressure, but the match represents a huge opportunity for coaches Luciano Spalletti and Luis de la Fuente's sides to lay down a marker for the tournament.

There is plenty of recent history between these two nations, too. Italy beat Spain in the semifinal on penalties en route to lifting the trophy three years ago, while La Roja exacted revenge on the Azzurri in back-to-back Nations League semifinals in 2021 and 2023. Spalletti said Italy will attempt to play the attacking football he likes, but added that his team will be ready to "scuff up their Giorgio Armani suits" if necessary.

In a tournament where young players are playing a major role, all eyes will be on Spain's Lamine Yamal -- who against Croatia became the youngest-ever player at a Euros at 16 years and 338 days old -- as well. The winger spoke this week of seeing the fear in opponents once he has beat them for the first time. Likely to be tasked with stopping him is Federico Dimarco. -- Sam Marsden

Betting tip (odds via ESPN BET)

For me, Spain were the most impressive side in the opening round of matches. We saw a different style to what we are used to, but boy did it work. I like Spain to win against Italy +110. -- Dan Thomas

One big read

We've had our first look at the Euro 2024 field, and Germany look like the team to win the whole thing. What else have we learned? James Gill/Danehouse/Getty Images

All of the teams in Euro 2024 have played their first games, and they gave us a bit of everything we could want.

Five teams scored at least three goals, and Germany scored five. Fans from Albania and Georgia, immense underdogs, each got to thunderously celebrate goals, one of which came just 23 seconds into Albania's match with Italy. Another underdog, Slovakia, got to celebrate a huge win over Belgium. England got to both win and be miserable, two things they very much enjoy.

If you're a fan of last-minute fireworks, we got all we could want in Group F, with Georgia nearly scoring to tie Turkey before giving up an empty netter to fall 3-1 and Francisco Conceição scoring in the second minute of added time to finally pull Portugal ahead of the Czech Republic. (And if you're a fan of slapstick, we even got three own goals!)

The first round of matches at the 2024 European Championships was an absolute delight even if it didn't change a whole lot about the competition. The betting favorites before the tournament -- England, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain -- remain the favorites, and Belgium was the only team that lost as even a moderate favorite.

But let's overreact anyway. It's fun. Here are some takeaways from the first 12 matches of Euro 2024.

As if slumping to a shock defeat in Belgium's opening game at Euro 2024 wasn't bad enough, Amadou Onana was further vexed when a case of mistaken identity during his postmatch media duties caused the midfielder to become so incensed that he temporarily changed language.

After slogging through a less-than-stellar 1-0 defeat against Slovakia, Onana was pressed into fielding media questions, which he did so fluently in several different languages, including French and German.

That was until one journalist mistakenly referred to him as "André," which caused the Everton star to suddenly flip into a broad English accent in order to rebuke him.

"Andre's not even my name, mate," Onana snapped in crystal clear dialect, even chucking in a bonus "D'ya know what I mean?" for good measure.

This came after the journalist had presumably mixed him up with Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana -- who isn't featuring at the European Championship on account of being from Cameroon. -- Chris Wright

- ESPN