Euro 2020 News

Denmark international Christian Eriksen starts training for the first time since his cardiac arrest on the pitch during the Euro Championships in 2021.

Portugal and Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo might not have won the Ballon d'Or this year but the year 2021 was once again a fruitful one for the talismanic strike. In these collection of pictures, we take a look at seven records smashed this year.

England captain Harry Kane and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday had condemned the racial abuse of the players following the loss. The 23-year-old footballer said he will never apologise for his roots and wished the final game had gone differently on Sunday.

The England team have earned praise for their stand against racism, while a number of players have also campaigned on other social causes. The multi-racial make-up of the squad had been hailed as reflecting a more diverse modern Britain.

As Italy lifted the Euro 2020 at Wembley on Sunday night after defeating hosts England, New Zealand cricketers Jimmy Neesham and Scott Styris took a cheeky dig against the Three Lions. 

England paid the price for their defensive tactics in the final half as the match went to the penalty shootout, where Giorgio Chiellini-led side holding onto their nerves to emerge on top with a 3-2 scoreline. The former English captain has been a regular fixture in the English crowds at Euro and Wimbledon over the last week.

“I deserved this one didn’t I?” Bonucci said, while enjoying a beer at the presser. He then went on to pick up a Coke bottle kept in front of him and drank from it before stating – ‘I’ll drink everything tonight’. Ronaldo had famously snubbed Coke at one of Portugal’s pressers and had urged everyone to drink water.

Most virus restrictions have been lifted since the spring and those that remain were largely ignored by the mass of Italy fans who danced in the streets of the capital chanting ‘we are champions of Europe’. David Bellomo, a 23-year-old from the southern city of Bari, pointed out that this was Italy's second big victory this year, after Italian band Maneskin won the Eurovision Song Contest in May.

Portugal couldn’t replicate their past heroics and go the distance in the tournament, Ronaldo had a dream run till the time his side was alive. Ronaldo also became the leading goal-scorer in the history of Euros, with his 14th strike. In addition, he equalled Iran’s Ali Daei as the top scorer in international football.

England got off to a dream start when Luke Shaw found the back of the net in the second minute of the game. Italy, who dominated ball possession, found the equaliser in the 67th-minute when Leonardo Bonucci scored.

Jordan Pickford had to save from Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Chiesa as Italy cranked up the pressure and it paid dividends when Bonucci pounced from close range after the keeper had turned Andrea Belotti’s header onto a post. England could have no complaints after inviting their opponents on and offering almost nothing in attack.

The last of Italy’s four World Cup victories came in 2006, when Chiellini had already made his international debut but didn’t play at the tournament. But the team is a comparative underachiever in the European Championship with its only title in 1968.

England has also been charged under Article 16 (2)(g) for the disturbance caused by its supporters during the national anthem. Denmark's national anthem was booed by a section of England fans before the match started.  

The England football team were cheered on by some of the hottest WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends), including Harry Kane's partner Katie Goodland, Jordan Pickford's wife Megan Davison and Harry Maguire's partner Fern Hawkins, as the home side faced Denmark in the UEFA Euro 2020 semifinal at the Wembley Stadium in London. England managed to book their final berth to face Italy, thanks to Kane's extra-time strike. Know more about the top WAGs of the England football team through these collection of pictures.

Nerves jangled, fulltime came and went. The spectre of a dreaded shootout loomed, and then in the 104th minute Sterling went down under the lightest of challenges and up stepped Kane to propel England into their first final since the 1966 World Cup.

Schmeichel was on hand again with an excellent diving save to palm away a Harry Maguire header and England began to turn the screw in the second half, but, despite their relentless passing and probing around the box, they struggled to carve out a clear opening and the match rolled into extra time. The extra 30 minutes became a virtual attack v defence exercise, as Schmeichel saved again from Kane and Jack Grealish and the fear of penalties began to rise among the home fans.

Check the complete live streaming and live telecast details from the UEFA Euro 2020 semifinal between England and Denmark.  

Italy avenged their shootout defeat to Spain in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals and their resounding defeat in the Euro 2012 final, and completed a second straight European Championship victory over the Spaniards after their 2-0 win in the last 16 at Euro 2016. Wembley’s capacity was expanded to 60,000 and although coronavirus restrictions prevented fans from travelling abroad, the two countries’ expatriate communities turned out to pack each end behind the goal and generate a scorching atmosphere, which heightened the sense of occasion between two titans of international football.

Forward Pablo Sarabia is Spain’s only absentee while Italy are likely to bring in Emerson at left back for Leonardo Spinazzola, who tore his Achilles tendon in the quarter-final win over Belgium. There will be few Italian or Spanish supporters at the match at Wembley due to England’s COVID-19 restrictions on visitors.

The teams, then, will be meeting in a fourth straight tournament. This match promises to be different, though, purely because of the way Italy’s approach has altered since Roberto Mancini took over as coach in 2018.