LEE PAYNE

Tag: czech

  • This week in the Euros #4 – Home or Rome?

    I’ve enjoyed Euro 2020. Major tournaments can often feel like they drag on but this one has been a good one. I’m sorry it’s nearly over.

    All that’s left is the final.

    Denmark continue to ride their wave of emotion

    Denmark’s players celebrate overcoming the Czech Republic in the quarter finals

    My last round up ended with two of the semi-finalists sorted – Spain and Italy – with two more quarter finals still to be played. The first of those was between the Czech Republic and Denmark, way out in the Azerbaijan capital Baku. The Danes took the lead after just five minutes through Thomas Delaney. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder was left unmarked at a corner and his powerful header down into the ground bounced out of the reach of the Czech goalkeeper and into the net.

    With half time approaching a fantastic cross by Joakim Maehle found Kasper Dolberg on the volley, who volleyed in to double the Danish lead. Dolberg has impressed in this tournament, with that goal adding to the two he scored in the last round against Wales. The 23-year-old might find himself with a big money move in the near future (with no disrespect to his current club, Nice).

    Another players who has had a good Euros is Patrik Schick. The Bayer Leverkusen striker got on the end of West Ham defender Vladimír Coufal’s ball into the box and managed to divert it beyond Kasper Schmeichel not long after half time to keep the Czechs in the game. It was his fifth goal of the tournament, making him its joint top scorer alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Denmark managed to hold on, though, and on a hot night in Baku celebrated reaching the semi-finals. A tournament that started with one of their players very nearly dying on the pitch and with back-to-back defeats to Finland and Belgium has gone on to see them reach the last four – and who knows? They could even surprise everyone and end up European champions, just as they did back in 1992 when they hadn’t even qualified.

    England ease past Ukraine

    England’s campaign had been flying slightly under the radar before they beat Germany at Wembley. A decent performance in the opening game against Croatia but only a 1-0 win, a disappointing goalless draw with Scotland and another 1-0 against a Czech Republic side who were quite happy not to top the group. They had got through the group stage pretty much untroubled, however, and they hadn’t conceded a goal. Another clean sheet and a couple of goals in the ninety minutes against the Germans whipped the country into a fervour and had ‘it’s coming home’ on everyone’s lips.

    Harry Maguire celebrates scoring one of England’s four goals against Ukraine

    A couple of hours after Denmark had sealed a place in the semi-finals, England and Ukraine kicked off in Rome. The victory over Germany was very much a ‘prove everyone wrong’ moment, but here England found themselves in the unusual position of big favourites for a quarter-final. Harry Kane settled the nerves just four minutes in by finishing from just outside the six yard box after an excellent pass by Raheem Sterling. England were well on top and when Harry Maguire headed in a second goal from a Luke Shaw free kick early in the second half Ukraine had no answer. Two more headers – one from Kane and a first international goal for Jordan Henderson – finished off a professional performance. England were in the semi-finals of the Euros for the first time since 1996, where they would play Denmark at Wembley.

    Captivating semi-final sees Italy progress

    With the pandemic making international travel difficult there were fears that the Wembley crowd for the first semi-final between Italy and Spain would fall some way short of the around 60,000 permitted. Those fears proved unfounded as a raucous atmosphere befitting of the occasion provided the soundtrack to a fascinating game of high quality football.

    Italy were the favourites, going into the match with a 100% record in the tournament, while Spain had seemingly stumbled their way through to this stage, needing extra time to get past both Croatia and Switzerland. The Spanish were not to be underestimated and started well, RB Leipzig midfielder Dani Olmo causing problems for the Italians. Gianluigi Donnarumma is already, at 22, one of the best goalkeepers in the world but there was a hint that the pressure was getting to him as he made some uncharacteristic mistakes in the first half. Spain couldn’t capitalise, though, with Mikel Oyarzabal missing two glorious chances to score. Seriously, the 24-year-old will be having nightmares about them.

    On the hour mark an Italy counter attack saw the ball at the feet of Federico Chiesa, who picked it up on the edge of the box after Aymeric Laporte had tried to scramble it away for Spain. Chiesa brought it into the area and curled a fantastic shot into the far corner. Italy had broken the deadlock.

    Spain brought the much-maligned striker Alvaro Morata on a as a substitute and with ten minutes remaining he played a brilliant one-two with Olmo to get behind the Italian defence and slot in an equaliser. The game needed extra time and Spain had the better of it. Italy looked tired but, once again, Spain couldn’t make the most of it and a penalty shootout was in order.

    Italy’s first penalty, taken by Manuel Locatelli, was saved. Olmo blasted Spain’s first over the bar. Both sides were successful with their next few before the unfortunate Morata had his saved by Donnarumma. The Chelsea midfielder Jorginho stepped up and was the calmest man in the stadium as he nonchalantly passed the ball into the corner to put Italy into the final. It was almost Panenka levels of cool.

    Jorginho rolls in an incredibly cool penalty to send Italy into the final

    England finally make a final

    Wednesday 7th July 2021 was the date of England’s semi-final against Denmark – 9,142 days since their last appearance in the last four of a European Championship. By this point football fever had well and truly gripped the nation, and with hours to go before kick off the crowds outside Wembley were building.

    England started the game well without ever really threatening to score. With half an hour played, Denmark won a free kick about thirty yards from Jordan Pickford’s net and Mikkel Damsgaard fired in a brilliant shot – the first goal England had conceded in the tournament. That wasn’t in the script. It could be claimed that Pickford should have done better as the shot wasn’t right in the corner but it was travelling at such pace I think you can give the Everton keeper the benefit of the doubt.

    It didn’t take England long to respond. Bakayo Saka played the ball to Harry Kane on the right hand side of the area and he squared it in the direction of the onrushing Raheem Sterling. Sterling had already scored three goals in Euro 2020, and it looked for all the world that he was about to make it four. Kasper Schmeichel, however, had other ideas and produced a brilliant stop reminiscent of his father Peter.

    Shortly afterwards, Kane played a delightful pass that made its way through the Denmark defence, where Saka was able to put it back across the box where Sterling was arriving once more. There’s no doubt that the Manchester City midfielder would have scored this time, had the Danish captain Simon Kjaer not turned the ball into his own net. There was nothing he could do really – he had to try to get in Sterling’s way and hope that ball evaded the goal. England were level, and from then on became the dominant side.

    England beat Denmark in extra time to reach their first major tournament final since 1966

    Every time England got a free kick in a crossing position they looked for the sizeable forehead of Harry Maguire, who very nearly scored but for a fantastic save from Schmeichel, who looked determined to spoil England’s evening after his quip in the pre-match press conference. Late on, England had a strong shout for a penalty turned down after a clumsy challenge on Kane – inexplicably, the referee decided that the incident warranted a free kick for Denmark. And that was that. Despite the introduction of Jack Grealish, who the Danes appeared to be terrified of, the game went into extra time.

    Rarely have I ever seen a period of extra time dominated more by one side. In the first fifteen minutes, Denmark could hardly get out of their own half. England were piling the pressure onto tired Danish legs. There was a shot from Kane, Grealish stung Schmeichel’s fingers, and then Sterling weaved his way into the box near the byline, where he was tripped and a penalty was given. I’ve seen a lot of whining in the days since that this was a soft penalty – not for me. It looked like a penalty in real time and still looks like one in slow motion. Kane stepped up, had his penalty saved by Schmeichel (of course he did), but was first to the rebound and stuck it away to put England in front.

    In the second period of extra time England were more defensive – Gareth Southgate withdrew Grealish and replaced him with Kieran Trippier, at first glance an odd decision but one designed to protect the lead. To be honest, Denmark never really looked like scoring an equaliser and after what felt like an age the referee blew the final whistle. England were into the Euro 2020 final.

    Denmark had given everything. They had done themsevles, their nation and their teammate Christian Eriksen proud. But as an Englishman, the scenes of celebration at the end with 60,000 fans singing Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline were great to see. 55 years (!) after their last, England would play in a major tournament final.

    So, is it coming home? Or going to Rome?

    Italy won their only European Championship to date in 1968 – this is England’s first time in the final

    Whatever happens on Sunday, the whole nation should see Euro 2020 as a success. England have so often been the butt of cheap jokes about how rubbish they are at football, about what an inflated opinion we have of our players – now they have a squad of players to be very proud of. In the early 2000s, when England undoubtedly had some fantastic players, it felt like they were incapable of putting club rivalries aside. The class of 2021 all seem to get on extremely well and want each other to succeed.

    Beating Italy is an almighty tough ask. They have gone 33 matches unbeaten. They have, in Donnarumma, a giant in goal. The warhorses, Chiellini and Bonucci, in the centre of defence. The brilliant Jorginho and Chiesa in the midfield. England have their work cut out. There would be no shame in defeat, but the feeling that the story would be left incomplete would be hard to ignore. Football doesn’t really need a popularity boost in this country, but I’ve heard people who have shown no interest in the sport before talk about how they’ve been ‘really getting into’ England’s run at Euro 2020. We’ve all, collectively, had something to celebrate after an awful eighteen months – is it too much to ask to go that one last step?

  • This week in the Euros #2… and #3

    For some reason, I failed to write about the second week of Euro 2020. Having made this great declaration of rounding up each week of the tournament, skipping one when it only lasts for four is poor form. Apologies. Let’s get back on track.

    England beat Germany in a knockout match for the first time since 1966

    Here’s what happened in the second week

    Since my last post, Scotland had their little moment with a heroic 0-0 draw with England (sarcasm is the lowest form of wit) before losing to Croatia and exiting the tournament. Their first major tournament in 23 years was over in eight days, and they’d scored just one goal.

    Hungary held world champions France to a draw before Germany brought their campaign to life with a 4-2 dismantling of Euro 2016 winners Portugal. On Sunday 20th June the final round of group games began with Switzerland sending Turkey – who some of the pundits had picked as their ‘dark horses’ – home winless, while Italy kept up their 100% record with a narrow victory over Wales. The Welsh didn’t mind, though, as they went through to the last 16 along with the Azzurri.

    In Group B, a stirring performance from Denmark saw them thrash Russia 4-1 in Copenhagen, marking a delightful fightback from the trauma of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest and sending them through. At one point it looked like Teemu Pukki and Finland might sneak through but their defeat to Belgium coupled with the Danish result brough their first major tournament to an end at the group stage. On the same day in Group C, unfancied Austria found a way into the second round by beating Ukraine, while plucky North Macedonia bowed out to the flying Netherlands.

    Denmark were superb in beating Russia 4-1 to make it into the second round

    England secured their passage through the group without conceding a goal by beating the Czech Republic at Wembley. Having finished top, they knew they would face the runners up of the feared Group F. The final round of games in that group were thrilling, topsy-turvy affairs – at various stages all four teams occupied second place. Eventually, a pair of 2-2 draws meant that it would be the old enemy Germany who would face England. In the other group, disappointing Poland were knocked out after a 3-2 defeat to Sweden, while Euro 2008 champions Spain reminded everyone what they were capable of with a 5-0 thumping of Slovakia.

    With a 24 team tournament moving into a knockout round of 16 sides, only 8 actually took their leave after the group stage. As well as the top two from each group, the four best third placed sides also got through – Finland and Slovakia were the unfortunate ones to miss out.

    The Welsh are sent packing

    Euro 2016 was the first time since the 1958 World Cup that Wales had appeared at a major tournament, and they memorably made it all the way to the semi-finals before being beaten by the eventual winners Portugal. Having got through the group stage the Welsh had hopes of emulating that achievement. Denmark, however, had other ideas and on a chastening evening in Amsterdam ran out 4-0 winners. The scoreline was a tad harsh (it was only 2-0 until the 88th minute, and Wales received a very dubious red card in stoppage time) but it was a sad end for a proud nation. Their captain and talisman Gareth Bale was rather rudely asked on the pitch immediately afterwards if he would be retiring from international football – the 31-year-old decided the question wasn’t worthy of an answer and simply walked away.

    It took Italy extra time to finally overcome Austria. Former Stoke and West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic thought he had given the underdogs the lead, only for his headed goal to be disallowed by the VAR for offside. Eventually Italy’s quality found a way through and they scored twice in the extra time period, though they did concede their first goal of the tournament with six minutes to go. Austria couldn’t find an equaliser but left Euro 2020 with their heads held high.

    It was a bad day for Gareth Bale and Wales as they were knocked out by Denmark

    The Dutch despair and the champions bow out

    The Netherlands were the favourites going into their last 16 tie with the Czech Republic. Having failed to qualify for both Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, the Oranje had been a welcome addition to the tournament. However, in a cagey game, it was the red card shown to centre half Matthijs de Ligt in the second half that gave the Czechs the impetus. The referee, with the help of VAR, decided that de Ligt’s handball had denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. The Juventus player was sent off, the Czechs scored twice and the Dutch were out.

    Also on their way out were defending champions Portugal, who were beaten by Belgium in a game far more entertaining than the 1-0 scoreline suggests. Half time was approaching when Thorgan Hazard – brother of Eden – curled in from outside the box. Despite their best efforts in the second half, the Portugese couldn’t find a way back, and you have to wonder if Cristiano Ronaldo – who will be 39 by the time of the next one in 2024 – has played his last match at a Euros.

    Manic Monday

    If there is a more exciting day of this tournament than Monday 28th June it would have to be really special. The first game saw 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia take on Spain, and it looked like the Spaniards had sealed their place in the quarter finals with a 77th minute goal from Manchester City’s Ferran Torres putting them 3-1 up. The Croatians weren’t about to give up, however, and a 92nd minute equaliser from Mario Pasalic took it into extra time. You might have thought the momentum would be with Croatia after that but, alas, Spain scored twice in the first period of extra time to finally win 5-3.

    The second match of the day, between France and Switzerland in Bucharest, had a lot to live up to – and it did. Haris Seferovic gave the Swiss a shock lead fifteen minutes in, and they were still leading into the second half when they were awarded a penalty. Defender Ricardo Rodriguez took it, but the chance to give his side an astonishing 2-0 lead went begging as Hugo Lloris of Spurs saved his spot kick. Within four minutes of that failure to convert the penalty, France were in the lead. Karim Benzema – not a nice man – scored twice as the world champions started to show why they were most people’s favourites for the tournament. With fifteen minutes remaining, a fantastic strike from Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba seemed to put the tie beyond doubt.

    Switzerland pulled one back through Seferovic’s second headed goal of the game, and then in the 90th minute substitute Mario Gavranovic finished superbly to spark wild scenes of celebration. It was 3-3, and just like Croatia v Spain, the game was going into extra time. Unlike Croatia v Spain, neither side could find a goal in the additional 30 minutes and so the first penalty shootout of Euro 2020 was upon us. Switzerland scored all five of theirs. France scored their first four, but their superstar Kylian Mbappe had his saved by goalkeeper Yann Sommer to seal a remarkable victory for the Swiss. In the space of two days the defending European champions, the World Cup winners and the World Cup runners up had all been knocked out.

    Yann Sommer saves Kylian Mbappe’s penalty to send France home

    England finally beat Germany in a knockout match

    The German football team is not what it once was. Having won the 2014 World Cup, they were eliminated at the semi-final stage of Euro 2016 by France and suffered an embarrassing group stage exit at the 2018 World Cup, losing to Mexico and South Korea. In the run up to this tournament they had been beaten at home by North Macedonia and thrashed 6-0 by Spain. But they are still Germany, and England hardly ever seem to beat Germany when it matters. The last time they had managed to do it in a knockout match was the 1966 World Cup final. England’s exits at Italia ’90, Euro ’96 and the 2010 World Cup had all come at the hands of the Germans. Despite possessing the best squad of players in years it just didn’t feel like it could possibly happen for England.

    Well then. At a raucous Wembley containing 45,000 fans, the home side showed their opponents plenty of respect in the first half, being very cautious at the back and hardly venturing forward. On the stroke of half time, a tackle on Raheem Sterling saw the ball loop towards Harry Kane to the left of the German net. The England captain was presented with a golden opportunity to score his first goal of the tournament, but his attempt to take the ball past keeper Manuel Neuer gave defender Mats Hummels the time to put in a crucial tackle. With 75 minutes on the clock, thoughts were already drifting to the prospect of a penalty shootout. But the introduction of Jack Grealish as a substitute had made England more of a threat going forward, and the Aston Villa man laid the ball off for Luke Shaw to drill it across the box, where Sterling was waiting to tap in. Wembley has rarely been louder. England were in front and with less than a quarter of an hour to go.

    Sterling very nearly went from hero to zero as a careless pass backwards allowed Chelsea’s Kai Havertz to put Thomas Muller through on goal. Muller has often been a thorn in the English side but on this occasion he rolled his shot just wide of Jordan Pickford’s right hand post. ‘That never happens!’ bellowed BBC commentator Guy Mowbray. Written in the stars? Maybe. Shortly afterwards, Grealish found himself in a crossing position and played the perfect ball onto the forehead of Kane, who expertly guided it into the ground. The ball bounced up, out of the reach of Neuer and into the net. After a few seconds where no one could believe what they were seeing, the celebrations reached another level as it dawned on us that, this time, it was happening. Germany had no time to make a comeback. England had beaten them in a knockout game for the first time in 55 years.

    The fans inside Wembley marvel at England’s victory over Germany

    England would play the winners of the game that kicked off later that evening between Sweden and Ukraine. Manchester City left back Oleksandr Zinchenko put Ukraine ahead with a thumping finish but Emil Forsberg equalised for Sweden before half time. There were no goals in the second half so extra time was needed – the fourth of the eight knockout matches to go to the additional half an hour. Sweden’s Marcus Danielson was sent off in the first period for a nasty tackle on striker Artem Besedin, a tackle which has since ruled the Ukrainian out for six months. Extra time was an awfully scrappy, stop-start affair which by the end of it saw Ukraine looking like the walking wounded. Just as penalties looked nailed on, Artem Dovbyk headed in an excellent Zinchenko cross to win it for Ukraine and break Swedish hearts.

    The Italians look like the real deal

    After a two day break, the quarter finals got underway with Switzerland taking on Spain in St Petersburg. Spain took an early lead when Jordi Alba’s half volley from a corner was deflected in by the unfortunate Swiss midfielder Denis Zakaria. The Spaniards created plenty of chances but couldn’t add to their advantage against a dogged Switzerland side. Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri equalised in the 68th minute, and despite Remo Freuler being shown a straight red card for a bad tackle thirteen minutes from time, the Swiss held out to take the game all the way to penalties. Sergio Busquets hit the post with the first Spanish penalty, giving Switzerland hopes of repeating their epic victory over France four days earlier, but they missed three of their spot kicks to give Mikel Oyarzarbal the opportunity to put Spain into the semi-finals.

    Later on, a pulsating first half saw Italy go in at the break 2-1 up against Belgium, ranked number one in the world. Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne scored excellent goals to give their side a two goal advantage, but a penalty in first half stoppage time from Romelu Lukaku kept the Belgians in it. To some surprise there were no goals in the second half but there was some superb football on display from both sides. Italy have been tight at the back, with elder statesmen Giorgio Chiellini (36) and Leonardo Bonucci (34) in the centre, and thrilling to watch going forward. Federico Chiesa seems to shoot every time he gets the merest glimpse of the goal, and this performance really set Italy out as the favourites to go on and win the tournament. As for Belgium, their much vaunted ‘golden generation’ are left trophyless once more, and with an ageing squad and manager Roberto Martinez leaving their chance to win something may have passed them by.

    So there we have it – you are now up to date with Euro 2020. As I write this it’s Saturday afternoon and the other two quarter finals, Czech Republic v Denmark and England v Ukraine, are a few hours away. The next time I write one of these will (hopefully) be just before the final. It’s been a brilliant tournament. What has it got left in store for us?

  • This week in the Euros #1

    We are now one week into Euro 2020 – and, yes, it is still called Euro 2020 despite being delayed a year by the pandemic. Probably because UEFA had spent millions on the branding for it. Anyway, with the intention of writing a weekly round up of what’s been going on at the summer festival of football, here we go.

    Andrea Bocelli gets everyone in the mood on opening night

    The tournament began on Friday night in Rome, where Italy played Turkey. The match was preceded by the opening ceremony, usually a dull and cringeworthy affair, but the tenor Andrea Bocelli superbly belted out ‘Nessun dorma’ while fireworks lit up the stadium around him and suddenly everyone was in the mood. Italy won 3-0, and backed it up with the same scoreline against Switzerland to mark their return to the major tournament stage having failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

    Andrea Bocelli got Euro 2020 off to a bang in Rome

    Christian Eriksen puts everything into perspective

    On Saturday, Denmark played Finland in Copenhagen. I was mainly watching that match to see how Norwich’s Finnish striker Teemu Pukki was getting on, but surely before half time I saw things I will never forget. Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen, their most famous player and one of Tottenham’s best players before he left for Inter Milan last year, collapsed with no one near him. You can always tell when something bad has happened to a player on a football pitch, as the others on the field will react with shock and wave their arms towards the dugouts, pleading for the medical staff to hurry up.

    Thanks to some rather insensitive camera work by the host broadcaster (that the BBC later had to apologise for, despite it not being their fault), I saw more of Eriksen’s plight than I wanted to. At one point I could see his face, eyes open but expressionless, and then the medics doing CPR on him. I was reminded of the time Fabrice Muamba collapsed on the pitch at White Hart Lane, a game I was watching with my Saturday night tea in 2012. I had to turn the TV off as I found it too upsetting. I then couldn’t think straight until I’d heard that Eriksen was awake and stable in hospital.

    I’m not sure how, but the players managed to come back onto the field and complete the game. Finland won 1-0. Eriksen remains in hospital and it’s hard to imagine him playing professional football again.

    Denmark’s shocked players form a human shield around their stricken teammate Christian Eriksen

    Good start for the home nations… unless you’re Scottish

    Wales were the first of the home nations to play in the tournament, drawing 1-1 with Switzerland in Baku on Saturday afternoon. Had Euro 2020 taken place when it was originally scheduled, the Welsh would have been managed by Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs – but he has been charged with assaulting two women and Robert Page is filling in, temporarily for now. It will take a lot for Wales to match the fairytale run to the semi-finals of five years ago but they already have one foot in the knockout stages after beating Turkey 2-0 in their second game.

    England got their campaign underway with a 1-0 win over Croatia at Wembley, who had beaten them in the World Cup semi-finals three years ago. There’s a fair amount of optimism around Gareth Southgate’s side but questions remain about their ability to handle the big games.

    Raheem Sterling scored the only goal of the game as England beat Croatia

    Scotland haven’t played at a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup and the excitement was palpable going into their opener against Czech Republic in Glasgow, but a 2-0 defeat – the second goal coming from the halfway line – brought them back down to earth. Their next game is on Friday night against England.

    The Dutch entertain and Mbappe sends a warning

    The most entertaining game of the first week was without a doubt the Netherlands beating Ukraine 3-2 in Amsterdam. The Dutch were 2-0 up and seemingly cruising, but a stunning strike by West Ham’s Andriy Yarmolenko sparked a Ukraine comback only for right back Denzel Dumfries to win it for the Netherlands late on. Similar to Italy, the Oranje have been absent from major tournaments for a while (in their case seven years) and are keen to make the most of being back on the big stage.

    Group H is this tournament’s ‘group of death’, containing both the current world champions France and European champions Portugal alongside Germany and Hungary. France met Germany in the first heavyweight clash on Tuesday night. France won 1-0 thanks to a Mats Hummels own goal, but Kylian Mbappe had a goal disallowed for offside and was also denied an assist by VAR. The 22-year-old looks set to take on the title of ‘world’s best player’ once Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo retire and his performance was a warning to the opposition of what’s to come.