On the bill: Croatia-Scotland
Woe to the vanquished. With only one point on the clock in Group D, Croatia and Scotland have no other choice but to win tonight in Glasgow to see the knockout stages. Second at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Balkan selection has been stammering its football since the start of the competition – defeat (0-1) against England, difficult draw (1-1) against the Czech Republic. But the wealth of the Croatian workforce offers several cartridges to the coach, Zlatko Dalic, against valiant Scots – as against the Three Lions (0-0) – but technically limited. “We haven’t shown the true face of Croatia in the last two games”, warns Ivan Perisic, scorer against the Czechs.
In the other match of the group, England and the Czech Republic can rotate their squads, the two selections are qualified without playing, guaranteed to finish, at worst, among the four best third group.
Croatia-Scotland, Tuesday, June 22, at 9 p.m., on BeIN Sports (and live on Lemonde.fr)
Harry Kane is in pain. The English striker, who has stacked goals (23) and assists (14) this season in the Premier League with Tottenham, fails to regain, in selection, the level that had made him the top scorer of the last World Cup (6 goals). But it would take more for Gareth Southgate, the coach, to withdraw his confidence.
Kane, replaced during the match against Croatia and Scotland, will again spearhead the English attack for the Group D “final” against the Czech Republic on Tuesday evening at Wembley Stadium. “He’s fundamental, not only for the goals he scores, but also in the construction of the game and for everything he brings to the team. (…) He is our most important player, there is no doubt ”, Southgate said the day after the disappointing draw with Scotland.
Czech Republic – England, Tuesday 22 June, at 9 p.m., on M6 and BeIN Sports (and live on Lemonde.fr)
It happened yesterday:
In Group B where the Netherlands had already qualified and North Macedonia eliminated, the suspense lay in the Ukraine-Austria poster. Baumgartner’s goal from a corner was enough for the happiness of the Austrians (0-1), who finished runners-up and ensure their qualification. Third with three points, the Ukrainians are not sure whether they will finish in the top four third.
In the evening, the Danes played a dirty trick on the Russians by inflicting a severe 4-1. Second in group C – with only one victory – the Scandinavians join Belgium in the round of 16, which ends up leading the group after its success against Finland (2-0), the third in three games for the Red Devils.
Meanwhile …: a cut to 25,000 euros
In a Copa América already deeply marked by the Covid-19, Chile has gone through its controversy. Six Chilean internationals are accused of violating health protocol after a hairdresser posted a video on social media showing him in a room among players, including Arturo Vidal, the Inter Milan midfielder.
? Así comenzó el escándalo en la concentración de #Chile ??: un peluquero ingresó a la burbuja y publicaron los vid… https://t.co/9GfrgIKflT
A controversy that could turn into a scandal, some newspapers claiming that women have been invited to the hotel in Cuiaba (Brazil) where the selection is housed. Information denied by the Chilean federation. In the meantime, the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) has imposed a fine of 25,000 euros on the selection for non-compliance with the bubble.
In the skylight: the English players in blond? Chick
Imagine the whole England squad with Phil Foden’s blond hair ? #ENG # EURO2020 https://t.co/ft5qBNCAoz
Phil Foden hopes to have launched the fashion of the summer. The Manchester City player, who dyed his cropped hair blonde before the Euro, announced at a press conference that his teammates would emulate him if the Three Lions won in the final on July 11. “I told the team that if we were to go to the end of the competition, everyone had to have the same hairstyle as me, and they agreed”, said the player in an interview with Talksport. However, it remains for Gareth Southgate’s men to win the tournament, something they have never managed to do in sixteen appearances in the competition.
A corner of blue sky: hi, here is Moussa Sissoko again
His presence may have escaped you, but Moussa Sissoko is well in the list of 26 Blues for this Euro. For now, Didier Deschamps’ favorite soldier would be more of a reserve soldier. In the stands against Germany, replacing (without coming into play) against Hungary, the midfielder saw the situation without qualms. Not the kind of house.
In an interview granted on Monday at West France, the former Toulouse player confides his happiness to be there and says he is ready. “Everyone knows their place. Karim [Benzema], Kylian [Mbappé], Grizou [Antoine Griezmann] are stars… You have to accept their status, recognized Sissoko again. I, who have less status, am still proud of it. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. “
Considered by many as the “darling” of Deschamps, Sissoko admits that the coach likes him, “But like the other players”, he tempers. “I’ve been here for a long time, maybe it’s easier for him to talk to me than to younger players. ” Words of a soldier.
Flight catch: electric atmosphere between Budapest and Munich
“It is extremely harmful and dangerous to mix sports and politics (…), the Germans know it well. “
With the approach of the Germany-Hungary match, decisive for the qualification in the group of France, Wednesday evening in Munich, the host city of the meeting proposed to UEFA to light up the Allianz Arena stadium in the colors rainbow in solidarity with the LGBT community. A way of protesting against a law adopted on June 15 by the Hungarian Parliament aiming to prohibit “Show homosexuality” to minors.
Anger of Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto: “It is extremely harmful and dangerous to mix sports and politics”, he said, Monday, quoted by the Hungarian news agency MTI, before slipping, in an allusion to the Nazi past of Germany: “Historical experience shows that this is a bad thing and, more than anyone else, the Germans know it well. “
https://t.co/9ikZ8VUvUk
Scotland will have to do without one of their midfielders to seek a victory against Croatia, at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Billy Gilmour, 20, who had been established against England, was diagnosed positive for Covid-19 on Monday morning. The Scottish Federation has let it be known that he will stay in solitary for ten days. This would also compromise his participation in a possible round of 16 on June 27, 28 or 29. On the English side, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell, contact cases of the young Scottish player playing at Chelsea, were placed in solitary confinement. A big blow for the Three Lions.
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