After a postponement of 1 yr as a result of Covid-19 pandemic, the sixteenth version of the European Championship has not disenchanted.
Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, England, Sweden and France superior to the Round of 16 with prime spots of their respective teams. Belgium and France secured their spot with relative ease, clinching their locations earlier than their third and ultimate group match. England stored three clear sheets within the group stage, however solely managed to attain two objectives.
Meanwhile, Wales, Denmark, Austria, Croatia, Spain and Germany managed to go forward with second spot finishes together with reigning champions Portugal and Switzerland though each the perimeters closed on the third spot. Portugal’s 2-2 draw towards the world champions France was ok to see them via.
THE COLLAPSE OF CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN
Denmark’s gamers react as their teammate Christian Eriksen lies unconscious. (AP)
Perhaps essentially the most nerve-wracking second in current soccer historical past, Denmark’s Christian Eriksen collapsed on the sector in the midst of a bunch match towards Finland as a result of a sudden cardiac arrest. The Inter Milan attacking midfielder fell on the bottom within the forty second minute whereas operating close to the left touchline after a Denmark throw-in.
The 29-year-old’s life was saved when CPR was administered to him on the pitch and his coronary heart was re-started with a defibrillator earlier than he was taken to hospital. The Danish gamers have been extensively praised for the way in which they dealt with the incident, how their well timed intervention helped save Eriksen’s life and the way they united to protect him from the cameras.
Tributes, prayers and needs poured in from all over the world. Fellow footballers devoted their objectives to him together with Inter teammates Lukaku and Hakimi and former Spurs teammate Heung-min Son.
The Group B recreation was halted and finally restarted an hour and 45 minutes later. Finland went on to win 1-0. The former Tottenham participant has been discharged from hospital after an operation to implant a coronary heart starter system.
RECORD OWN-GOALS
Own Goal has scored extra objectives (8) than some other participant up to now at #EURO2020
Pure class. 👏 pic.twitter.com/xsV9e2a3dB
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) June 23, 2021
The ongoing match has already seen a record-breaking variety of own-goals. The eight own-goals are already 5 greater than the match document of three set at Euro 2016.
Two own-goals by Slovakia in Spain’s 5-0 victory adopted Portugal’s 4-2 loss to Germany when defenders Rúben Dias and Raphaël Guerreiro gave away the lead with two personal objectives 4 minutes aside.
The scorers of all eight own-goals within the group stage ended up on the dropping group, together with Germany defender Mats Hummels in France’s 1-0 victory. The record contains three goalkeepers who had various levels of luck.
BEST GOAL SO FAR
#Euro2021(Patrik Schick)Czech Republic Vs Scotland
54 yard Goal –(Longest Goal Ever!)#Unbelievable
This Breathtaking Feat👌👍👏🏻😊⚽⛹️♂️ pic.twitter.com/QiZ1ehFsZj
— Madhu_10 (@maadhumenon) June 20, 2021
A purpose from over the midway line! Czech Republic’s Patrik Schick noticed the Scotland goalkeeper off his line, launched a looping shot from simply contained in the midway line and gave his group a two-goal lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Scotland misplaced possession when a shot was blocked and the ball fell to Schick. The Bayer Leverkusen ahead seemed up and noticed opposing goalkeeper David Marshall approach off his line earlier than hitting an extended, curling shot that bounced into purpose.
Marshall gave chase, however he may solely watch the ball sail into the purpose earlier than he ended up tangled in internet. UEFA mentioned it was the longest distance for a purpose within the match at 49.7 meters. The earlier document of 38.6 meters got here from Germany midfielder Torsten Frings at Euro 2004.
HOW UEFA LOST ITS PRIDE
A protestor holds a rainbow flag as Hungary gamers line up earlier than the match. (Reuters)
With all of the respect UEFA acquired for standing up towards the formation of potential risk European Super League, all of it went downhill with the extent of hypocrisy on show in the course of the ongoing Euro 2020.
While the world celebrated June because the Pride Month to help the LGBTQ neighborhood, traces of the motion noticed its look within the largest soccer match going down because the pandemic. But UEFA didn’t swallow their delight.
First, UEFA launched an investigation into Germany group captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for carrying a rainbow armband. After wanting into the matter, UEFA concluded there was no case to reply, and allowed the 35-year-old to put on the armband as he was ‘promoting a good cause’.
However, a number of days later, issues took a nasty flip when UEFA rejected a request by Munich mayor to gentle up the Allianz Arena in rainbow colors for the Germany vs Hungary match. Mayor Dieter Reiter needed to focus on laws in Hungary banning college supplies deemed to advertise homosexuality and gender change.
UEFA claimed it needed to decline the request due to its ‘political context’. “UEFA, through its statutes, is a politically and religiously neutral organisation. Given the political context of this specific request – a message aiming at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament – UEFA must decline this request,” UEFA mentioned in a press release.
There was widespread criticism of its resolution in Germany. To mark their resentment, a few of Germany’s most well-known soccer stadiums lit up in rainbow colours because the 2014 World Cup champions performed Hungary.
RONALDO’S COKE SNUB
Hahaha nicely edited#Ronaldo #Coke pic.twitter.com/u03Ge765RX
— Javi🎗️ (@futbolesqueAFC) June 18, 2021
He didn’t even need to be on the pitch to seize headlines. One of the largest speaking factors to emerge out of Euro 2020 up to now has been Cristiano Ronaldo’s disdain in the direction of sponsors Coca-Cola. In Portugal’s first press convention, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner picked up two glass bottles of Coca-Cola stored in entrance of him, set them apart and held up a bottle of water as an alternative. ‘Agua‘ he mentioned, the Portuguese time period for water.
Not solely did the video turn into viral, the Juventus star’s motion grew to become web fodder for memes and jokes. Fellow footballers began participatng within the development, Italy’s Manuel Locatelli repeated Ronaldo’s snub to have a good time his brace whereas France midfielder Paul Pogba took purpose at one other sponsor, eradicating a Heineken bottle in entrance of him throughout a media meet.
Other manufacturers have been fast to profit from the chance as Fevicol, Zomato, Amul reacted with their very own advertising and marketing methods. Coca-Cola, which can be one of many official sponsors of Euro 2020, replied with a press release that ‘everyone is entitled to their drink preferences.’ However, the corporate misplaced $4 billion in market capitalisation.
