Match Reports
Bundesliga duo star in enthralling game – Sweden 3-2 Poland Player Ratings
Sweden secured top spot in Group B with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Poland at the European Championships on Wednesday. Poland went into the game needing a win or they’d be eliminated, and they made the worst possible start. Alexander Isak bundled the ball through to Emil Forsberg, who finished into the far corner with his weaker left foot via a small deflection. But they responded well to going behind and really should have been level in the 18th minute. Robert Lewandowski saw his header crash back off the crossbar, but the rebound fell perfectly for the Bayern Munich forward. With everyone expecting to see him nod home from close range, he somehow hit the crossbar again before it was cleared to safety. Shortly before half time, Paulo Sousa’s men had another opportunity to equalise. Piotr...
Ronaldo makes history, Man Utd and Real Madrid stars impress – Portugal 2-2 France Player Ratings
Portugal and France both progressed to the knockout stages of Euro 2020 after an entertaining 2-2 draw. The first chance of the evening fell to Kylian Mbappe. The youngster was played through on goal by an excellent Paul Pogba through ball, but his finish was underwhelming for a player of his standards. From then on, it was a half soaked in controversy, beginning when Portugal were awarded a penalty in the 28th minute. Danilo Pereira got his head to a cross and was caught by the arm of Hugo Lloris on the follow through. Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz pointed to the spot, despite protests from French players. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and slammed his penalty past Lloris. Just before half time, more controversy arose when France were given a penalty. Mbappe went down under contact from Nelso...
Real Madrid man MOTM, Man City player disappointing – Ukraine 0-1 Austria Player Ratings
Austria confirmed their place in the knockout stages of Euro 2020 with a 1-0 win over Ukraine. The first half was end-to-end, with both sides intent on getting a win – even though a point would probably take them both through to the round of 16. The deadlock was broken in the 21st minute, and it was Austria who took the lead. David Alaba’s cross was met by the studs of Christoph Baumgartner, who turned the ball into the net from close range. It wasn’t long before Ukraine came close to an equaliser when Mykola Shaparenko’s shot was palmed away by Daniel Bachmann, with Andriy Yarmolenko just inches away from getting on the end of the rebound. Austria responded with a couple of efforts of their own. Konrad Laimer had a curling shot beaten by Georgi Bushchan, and Marko Arnautovic skewed a glor...
Premier League and Serie A stars shine – Finland 0-2 Belgium Player Ratings
Belgium wrapped up top spot in Group B with a 2-0 win over Finland in their final group stage game. The first half was one-way traffic, with Finland evidently looking to stay in the game for as long as possible. Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku were seeing a lot of the ball, but couldn’t find a way through. Those same two players combined for the best chance of the opening 45. De Bruyne floated in a wonderful cross for Lukaku, but the Inter Milan forward’s finish was uncharacteristically poor, heading straight at Lukas Hradecky. Hradecky had to be at his best shortly before half time. Teenager Jeremy Doku drove into the box and struck a shot towards the far corner, but the goalkeeper threw out a strong left arm to turn it away. The two sides went in at the break level. Finland ended the h...
Man City star makes huge impact in comeback victory – Denmark 1-2 Belgium Player Ratings
Belgium came from behind to defeat Denmark in a thrilling Group B match at Euro 2020 on Thursday. It was the perfect start by Denmark, who took the lead after just two minutes. Jason Denayer’s pass was cut out by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who slipped the ball through to Yussuf Poulsen. The RB Leipzig man coolly rolled the ball into the bottom left corner to open the scoring. Both sides had chances within the next five minutes to add to the scoresheet. Belgium came close when Youri Tielemans’ cross was glanced towards goal by Dries Mertens, but straight at Kasper Schmeichel. Meanwhile, Denmark had three chances in quick succession to double their advantage. Joakim Maehle almost forced his way through but was smothered by Thibaut Courtois, and Martin Braithwaite also came close. Maehle was infl...
Barcelona man shines, full-back has another excellent game – Netherlands 2-0 Austria Player Ratings
Netherlands sealed top spot in their group after comfortably seeing off Austria in their second game of Euro 2020. The Oranje had the better of the first half, and were awarded an early penalty after a VAR check. Replays showed that David Alaba stepped on the foot of Denzel Dumfries, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Memphis Depay stepped up and slammed it into the bottom left corner. Alaba’s difficult start continued later on when he miscontrolled a throw in which allowed Depay to get into the box, but the former Manchester United man could only hit the side netting. Just before half time, Depay got another chance, and it was one that he really should have taken. Patrick van Aanholt floated a wonderful ball over the top to Wout Weghorst, who squared to his strike partner. But fr...
Arsenal-linked midfielder MOTM, Chelse and Inter men also shine – Italy 3-0 Switzerland Player Ratings
Italy continued their near-perfect start to Euro 2020 with a wonderful performance and win against Switzerland. The hosts dominated the first half, and thought they’d made a breakthrough when Giorgio Chiellini bundled home from Lorenzo Insigne’s corner. However, VAR ruled the goal out after replays showed that the ball struck Chiellini’s hand. This was his last contribution of the game, as he was substituted with an injury shortly afterwards. But it was not long before Italy took the lead with a wonderful goal. Manuel Locatelli played an excellent pass out to Domenico Berardi, who drove into the box and squared back to Locatelli for a tap in. Roberto Mancini’s men continued to control the first half, and they almost got a second when Leonardo Spinazzola was played through by Insigne, but t...
Ronaldo hits double, Liverpool man wasteful – Hungary 0-3 Portugal Player Ratings
A late flurry from Portugal saw them defeat Hungary 3-0 in their opening group stage game of Euro 2020 on Tuesday. The holders had numerous chances to take the lead in the first half but were wasteful in front of goal. Liverpool winger Diogo Jota was particularly dangerous, although his decision making came into question. Jota’s first chance came five minutes in, striking a shot from the edge of the box that was well saved. If he had got his head up, he could have played in Cristiano Ronaldo to his left. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man again had a lovely chance to open the scoring when he found himself free from Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick, but he put his effort way over the crossbar. Portugal continued to threaten and almost made an opening when Ronaldo slipped in Bernardo Silva. Ho...
Pogba impresses, Real Madrid man MOTM – France 1-0 Germany Player Ratings
France won their opening game of Euro 2020, defeating Germany 1-0 thanks to a Mats Hummels own goal. It was a strong start by the world champions, who twice came close to taking the lead in the first 20 minutes. Paul Pogba headed over from Antoine Griezmann’s corner, and Kylian Mbappe had a shot well saved by Manuel Neuer. And it wasn’t long before Les Bleus took the lead. Pogba was once again involved, floating a lovely ball over to Lucas Hernandez. The Bayern Munich man drilled a low cross into the box, and Mats Hummels sliced into his own net. Germany responded with a couple of efforts of their own. Thomas Muller flicked a header wide from Robin Gosens’ cross, and Ilkay Gundogan scuffed his effort after being set up by Serge Gnabry. But they weren’t able to clinch an equaliser before ha...
Barcelona starlet impresses, Man Utd man also performs well – Spain 0-0 Sweden Player Ratings
Spain and Sweden played out a rather entertaining 0-0 draw, with both sides missing big chances. Spain made a bright start to the game, and came closest to opening the scoring in the 16th minute. Koke swung in an inch-perfect cross for Dani Olmo, but the RB Leipzig man’s header was brilliantly kept out by goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Koke continued to be involved, twice finding himself in good positions. The first time he fired narrowly wide, and the second time he struck over from Olmo’s low cross. Spain’s biggest chance came seven minutes before the break. Alvaro Morata found himself clean through on goal after Marcus Danielson made a mess of a clearance, but the former Chelsea forward placed his effort wide of the target. Despite their dominance, La Furia Roja were unable to get a goal in th...
PSG midfielder shines in enthralling fixture – Netherlands 3-2 Ukraine Player Ratings
Netherlands came out on top after a frantic second half in their opening game against Ukraine. Netherlands made an explosive start to the game, and will have been disappointed to not go into the break leading. Memphis Depay almost opened his account in the second minute, but was denied by Georgi Bushchan after a solo run. Bushchan had to be at his best again shortly after when Georginio Wijnaldum played Denzel Dumfries in on goal. Moments later, the roles were reversed, with Dumfries crossing to Wijnaldum. However, Paris Saint-Germain’s newest recruit could only fire over the crossbar. The former Liverpool man would continue to threaten, and had a powerful volley well saved by Bushchan after a small deflection. The best chance of the first half came five minutes before the break, and again...
Real Madrid man stars in entertaining afternoon – Austria 3-1 North Macedonia Player Ratings
Austria collected three points in their opening game despite an encouraging performance from tournament debutants North Macedonia. It was a strong start from Austria, who got on the front foot early on. And, in the 18th minute, their pressure paid off. Marcel Sabitzer played a brilliant pass to the back post for fellow Bundesliga man Stefan Lainer. The full-back guided his volley into the far corner. The Austrians continued to dominate, with Sabitzer once again the architect. The RB Leipzig midfielder put in another cross this time for Sasa Kalajdzic, but the forward’s finish was disappointing. However, North Macedonia were not deterred, and the underdogs managed to find an equaliser in admittedly fortunate circumstances. After a mix up in the Austria backline, goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann s...
