crazy epilogue, Bucharest “blues” and “populists”

• It happened yesterday

Criticized after two lukewarm performances since the start of the Euro, Spain responded with the manner: 5 goals passed to a modest team from Slovakia for a victory (5-0) full of authority. La Roja qualified for the round of 16, along with Sweden, who qualified before their match against Poland with their backs to the wall, and who managed to contain the waves of Robert Lewandowski at the end of the game to win 3-2.

Incredible epilogue in group F. Until 84^e minute of the match against Hungary, in Munich, Germany saw the ghosts of the 2018 World Cup appear again (elimination in the first round). And then Goreztka appeared for the equalizer (2-2) and the maintenance of the Mannschaft, which passes in the round of 16 by a mouse hole. Less breathtaking scenario on the pitch of the Ferenc-Puskas stadium in Budapest, but Ronaldo and Benzema provided the show (2-2): a double from the two former teammates of Real Madrid allows Portugal to validate his ticket for the eighth and the France to finish first in its group.

• The surprises of the group stage

Austria, the big odds

“We wrote history for Austria, today is a day to celebrate. ” Midfielder Florian Grillitsch was jubilant on Monday, after his team’s victory against Ukraine (1-0). Poured into a rather open group C with, of course, the Netherlands, but also Ukraine and the neophyte North Macedonia, Austria did not miss its chance and qualified for the first time in its history for the final phase of the Euro. A feat for Franco Foda’s players, when Austria had not reached the second round of a major tournament for thirty-nine years. Second in group C behind the Dutch selection, Das Team will face Italy, undefeated for thirty matches, on Saturday in London in the round of 16.

Croatia, qualified on the wire

Vice-reigning world champion, Croatia came to the Euro in a position of serious outsider. But the checkered team suffered to see the eighth: defeat by England (1-0) in its first match, battered by the Czech Republic (1-1), the Croatian selection worked to beat the ‘Scotland (3-1) Tuesday, June 22, in Glasgow. Hanging on by Steve Clarke’s players at half-time (1-1), and virtually eliminated from the competition, the Vatreni relied on their illustrious elders, Ivan Perisic and Luka Modric. The 2018 Ballon d’Or first gave the advantage to its own with a sumptuous exterior of the right foot, before serving Perisic perfectly on a corner.

• Euro star: Romelu Lukaku

Author of a brace on the first day against Russia (3-0), the colossus of Inter Milan (1.90 m for 94 kg) scored his third goal at Euro 2021 on Monday, June 21 against the Finland (2-0), with a powerful pivot strike. Back to the goal, “He is the best player in the world”, Finnish coach Markku Kanerva acknowledged after the meeting.

Co-top scorer of the first round and best director of the Plat Pays (63 goals in 96 caps), Lukaku is also a dribbler and a decisive passer. Against Denmark (2-1), his ride from the center line is the source of the Red Devils equalizing goal.

Since its emergence on the international scene during the Russian World Cup in 2018 and its arrival at Inter Milan the following year, “Big Rom” has been at the top of its game. Powerful and skillful, the 28-year-old Milanese was voted the best Serie A player this season (24 goals, 10 assists).

• Meanwhile…: Budapest? No, Bucharest

Six French supporters who were lucky enough to have their ticket to attend the France-Hungary match ultimately never set foot in the stadium. While the meeting was being disputed in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, these six colleagues from an IT company actually rallied… Bucharest, Romania.

Interviewed by a local journalist, the six fans explained their take on geography: “From the airport, we followed groups of supporters, confides one of them. I thought there were Hungarian fans who also went to the game. We followed them. We never thought they were Ukrainians. “” We need to learn more about Europe “, recognized one of the other members of the group, who finally followed Hungary-France… on television.

• In the skylight: Martin Dubravka’s nightmare

The Slovakian goalkeeper will not have very good memories of Sevilla. Still, Martin Dubravka’s match against Spain started off perfectly with a penalty stop, in front of the unfortunate Alvaro Morata. But a few minutes later, a strike from Sarabia on the bar will offer one of the most improbable moments of this Euro. Party to clear the ball for a corner after a rebound on the bar, Dubravka totally misses his intervention… and sends the ball into his net.

[? VIDEO] ? # EURO2020 ???? #SVKESP ??? OH THE WTF GOAL OF SPAIN !!!!!! ? Sarabia hits the bar, Dubravka r… https://t.co/GyvsTbCwzH

– beinsports_FR (@beIN SPORTS)

“We don’t want to be used in populist actions”

In the “Rainbowgate” affair, the UEFA president does not really share the German view of things. Aleksander Ceferin indeed denounced Wednesday, in the German daily Die welt, “populist” initiatives to justify its refusal to allow the city of Munich to light up its stadium in rainbow colors in protest against a Hungarian law deemed homophobic.

“Due to the popularity of football, people too often try to abuse sports associations for their own purposes,” said the Slovenian a few hours before the match between Germany and Hungary at the Allianz Arena.