His BBC documentary on Welsh football, Football Nation, is very good incidentally. Excellent soundtrack too, including this always wondrous Cate Le Bon track.
Another trip to Baku?!
Buzz Boncath(@BuzzBoncath)
Should @cymru beat the Danes & advance to the quarters - we will have played as many games in Baku this century as we have in Swansea (& two more than Wrecsam! - if my maths is right!) https://t.co/tSaPffnltb
Daniel James seems like a good sort and it’s confirmed in this piece by Ben Fisher on the flying Welsh winger.
“It speaks volumes for James’s down-to-earth character that, having completed the majority of his media commitments before training, he is happy to spare time for this interview a few hours later and, unlike when he is on the pitch, he is in no rush to race away.”
A welcome story here, per PA Media: The Premier League has announced it will donate automated external defibrillators to more than 2,000 grassroots football sites in the wake of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
Former Tottenham midfielder Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s match with Finland at the European Championship earlier this month and the 29-year-old only survived after being resuscitated on the pitch.
It led to renewed calls for defibrillators to be made more accessible, which have resulted in the Premier League working in partnership with the Football Foundation and Football Association to make the life-saving devices available to sites across the UK over the next few months.
Here’s the statement:
The Premier League has today announced it will fund the provision of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) at thousands of grassroots football clubs and facilities, aimed at helping save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest,” a statement read.
Working in partnership with the Football Foundation and The Football Association, the first phase of the Premier League Defibrillator Fund rollout will have AEDs provided to Football Foundation funded facilities which currently are without a life-saving device onsite.
In the second phase, grassroots clubs that own their facilities will be able to apply for funding for a defibrillator.
Together more than 2,000 sites will benefit from this investment, with the first 1,000 units delivered in time for the start of the 2021-22 season and the second batch expected in September.
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma may not have conceded in his last 874 minutes of action for the national team but is he any good at saving penalties?
Answer: Yes.
He’s faced 43 for club and country and saved 15 of them. That’s just under 35%.
Here’s Nicky Bandini’s feature on the 22-year-old stopper.
Italy are expected to brush aside Austria at Wembley on Saturday evening but here are some penalty facts anyway. They may come in use later in the tournament when trying to impress friends or loved ones.
Italy’s shoot-out record is not good: W4 L7
8-9 v Czechoslovakia, 1980 Uefa European Championship third-place play-off
3-4 v Argentina, 1990 FIFA World Cup semi-final
2-3 v Brazil, 1994 FIFA World Cup final
3-4 v France, 1998 FIFA World Cup quarter-final
3-1 v Netherlands, Euro 2000 semi-final
5-3 v France, 2006 FIFA World Cup final
2-4 v Spain, Euro 2008 quarter-final
4-2 v England Euro 2012 quarter-final
6-7 v Spain, 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final
3-2 v Uruguay, 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup third-place play-off
5-6 v Germany, Euro 2016 quarter-final
Austria have never been involved in a competitive penalty shoot-out.
Breaking footage of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden deciding who will take the fifth spot-kick against Germany in the shootout.
If you missed these earlier, here are our Euro 2020 power rankings as curated by Marcus Christenson.
1) Italy
2) France
3) Belgium
4) Netherlands
5) Portugal
6) Denmark
7) Germany
8) England
9) Spain
10) Croatia
11) Sweden
12) Wales
13) Austria
14) Switzerland
15) Czech Republic
16) Ukraine
Given that the top three are in the same half of the draw, if it played out we’d get an Italy v Netherlands final.
Good news for Italy maybe given that they’re unbeaten in seven games against the Dutch, a run dating back to 2009.
Here’s Gareth Bale saying not much about the Denmark game.
Gareth Bale of Wales speaks to the media on Friday afternoon. Fizzy drinks out of focus. Photograph: UEFA/Getty Images
It’s another big challenge. We know Denmark are a very good team, very well organised and have some very good players.
So they won’t be underestimated by us. We’ll be ready to go come kick-off and put in a big performance.
We’re always the underdogs and used to that tag. It doesn’t make a difference to us.
He’s technically correct. A check of the betting shows Denmark as odds-on favourites at 5/6 and Wales the clear outsiders at 4/1. Wales are 10/1 to win on penalties.
England midfielder Declan Rice says best buddy Mason Mount has tested negative in his latest test for coronavirus.
Mount is in self-isolation after coming into contact with Scotland’s Billy Gilmour after the Group D clash last week.
Rice said (and I’m guessing with a slight smile): “I’m a lost soul. A few of the lads came up to me and said I look lost. He has got a couple of days until he comes out, I have spoken to him and he has tested negative.”
Let’s drill down deeper and check the penalty-saving records of Saturday’s two goalkeepers.
Schmeichel saves a penalty from Luka Modric in the 2018 World Cup shootout against Croatia. Photograph: Jamie Squire - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Gulp if you’re a Wales fan. Schmeichel’s save percentage is just under 25% while Ward’s is 14%.
On the plus side Ward saved a penalty from Karim Benzema in the recent friendly against France so that is fresh in the memory.
Picture the scene... it’s finished 1-1 after extra-time between Wales and Denmark and this bad boy’s going to penalties.
Can some cold, hard facts quell those Welsh nerves which are running amok as Robert Page scribbles down his five penalty takers? Are Denmark useless at spot-kicks, maybe?
Past evidence is mixed although the Danes did lose their last shootout when some of this current squad were involved.
4-2 v Mexico, 1995 FIFA Confederations Cup group stage
2-3 v Croatia, 2018 FIFA World Cup round of 16
Denmark lose to Croatia on penalties at the 2018 World Cup. Photograph: Max Rossi/Reuters
Wales have never figured in a competitive shoot-out by the way.
Phil Foden has been speaking to uefa as the buildup to Tuesday’s game with Germany continues.
Although he struck the post early on in England’s opener against Croatia, the Manchester City man was substituted in that game and also hooked in the dire 0-0 draw with Scotland.
With a yellow card hanging over him, Foden was left out of the 23-man squad against the Czech Republic.
Phil Foden during a training session at St George’s Park on Friday. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Will Phil light up the tournament in the knockout phase? Here is his assessment so far:
To be honest, I expect a lot more from myself but I’m not going to be too harsh.
I didn’t really get involved in the games as much I would have liked. Hopefully, I can get the opportunity to play again and show what I am about. I feel like I’ve still got so much more to show this tournament.
Like I’ve done for my club, I’ve been scoring a lot of goals and I just want to continue that form into the national team.
And I believe that, hopefully in the next game, I can start getting involved in the goals.
Looking ahead to the Germany game, he’s confident that England can take it up a notch.
I’m hoping, come the Germany game, we can just express ourselves.
With the attackers we’ve got we can really hurt them, so hopefully we turn up. We’re as good as anyone on our day.
Obviously, I wasn’t born when all of this rivalry was going on (with Germany).
We’re a new team now and we want to create our own history. You can’t think too much about what’s happened in the past. We’re just going to focus on the game and create our own future.
Well, if Alexis Petridis gives Ed Sheeran’s new single four stars out of five, who am I to argue? Harry Kane will be tapping his toes to this one. Will Ed be on standby to rally the troops in Rome if England are trailing Germany at half-time?
Wales v Denmark. While you admire the pitch at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, check out some fun trivia.
Wales manager Robert Page was an unused substitute in Denmark’s 2-0 win at Anfield in a Euro 2000 qualifier.
Wales defender Ben Davies was a youth player at Danish side Viborg between 2001 and 2004.
Opposing goalkeepers Danny Ward and Kasper Schmeichel have been Leicester City team-mates since 2018.
Bale’s last two goals were scored past Schmeichel on 23 May as Tottenham won 4-2 away to Leicester on the final day of the Premier League season.
A general view inside the stadium as members of ground staff prepare the pitch. Photograph: Christopher Lee - UEFA/UEFA/Getty Images
Now a solid contender for ‘Top 10 reasons why it went wrong for England’ - Manchester City unsettling Harry Kane and Jack Grealish.
Here’s the story on City wanting to sign the Aston Villa playmaker.
For those playing the Euro 2020 Fantasy game, here are some players you should have had. There is a league at Guardian HQ: I’m mid-table and regretting not reading the rules that allow substitutions DURING Matchdays. Need to go Dutch appears to be the message although surely 97% of folk will already have Denzel Dumfries in their squad by now.
Is the When Saturday Comes wall chart predicting the future?
Current top scorer Ronaldo out front holding the trophy, with Raheem Sterling (scorer of all England’s goals so far) in second (may need a VAR check with Mbappe).
It’s time for another Euro 2020 edition of The Fiver.
“The round that we will go to our grave refusing to refer to as the ‘round of 16’ begins with Wales v Denmark tomorrow afternoon. This should be a feelgood story whichever team wins, and the draw is also guaranteed thanks to the enduring patriotism of Goldie Lookin’ Chain. The only regret is that no Wales fans are allowed in Amsterdam to potentially experience the joyous moment of being clonked on the head by one of Gareth Bale’s less precise finishes. From there it’s across to London, where voguish hotties Italy are expected to beat Austria with the minimum of fuss.”
Across to the uefa website to get reporters’ views and thoughts from both managers ahead of Wales v Denmark.
Matthew Howarth, Wales reporter: “Wales have already achieved their goal for the tournament by qualifying from a difficult group, but there is no reason why their Euro adventure cannot continue deep into the knockout stage. Denmark blew Russia away in the second half in Copenhagen but Rob Page’s side, who defended for their lives in Rome to clinch their last-16 spot, are an altogether different proposition. This has all the ingredients to be one of the ties of the round.”
Sture Sandø, Denmark reporter: “This tournament started all wrong for Denmark but they managed to scramble through, and now they are where they expected to be: in the knockout stage. Looking at the other match-ups, Denmark cannot be too unhappy about their opponents but they need to show great respect for Wales. The Russia game was great, scoring four goals, but the team still lack a goal-getter. How many of Monday’s goals can they recreate?”
Wales manager Robert Page during a team training session. Photograph: Andrew Medichini/AP
Robert Page, Wales manager: “We’re all ambitious and we want to go as far as we can, but we’re not naive going into this game. We’ve watched Denmark play in their most recent game and you can’t be anything other than impressed by what they’re doing. We also know that, on our day, we can give anyone a good game.”
Kasper Hjulmand, Denmark coach: “We have prepared well and feel totally ready for all scenarios. All in all, we are well prepared and are looking forward to it.”
Wales v Denmark stats Pt. II. More from Opta here ahead of Saturday’s match. Includes new assist king Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Just checked his Premier League numbers and he has eight assists (and six goals) in his 147 appearances in the English top-flight.
Hands up who’s had more assists than Kevin De Bruyne so far? Photograph: Oliver Hardt - UEFA/UEFA/Getty Images
Wales have only lost two of their last 16 competitive matches in all competitions (W10 D4), although those two defeats have arrived in their last five such matches – they haven’t suffered consecutive competitive defeats since June 2019 (1-2 v Croatia and 0-1 v Hungary).
In their 4-1 win against Russia, Mikkel Damsgaard became Denmark’s youngest ever goalscorer at a major tournament (20y 353d). The striker has been involved in six goals in his five appearances in all competitions for the Danes (3 goals, 3 assists).
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has three assists in his three games so far at Euro 2020, with no Denmark player recording more at a single edition of a World Cup or European Championship before.
England defender Tyrone Mings has been speaking to West Ham forward Michael Antonio about what can be done about racist trolls on social media.
From the PA:
Mings believes trolls target players in the hope that their account handles are shared, in order to gain notoriety.
Speaking to Antonio as part of The Shop Talk series sponsored by the Professional Footballers’ Association, Mings said: “When you filter (your social media accounts) better, and you stop people being able to see it as much, trolls will get bored – they just want to trigger you.”
Antonio suggested that an attempt to post certain words should trigger an alert which leads to social media companies immediately blocking the account in question.
“Why can you not have words that literally send an alert straight to Instagram, so you can’t physically type that word into the platform?” he asked.
“As soon as it comes up, it sends an alert and then accounts get blocked instantly. I feel like that should be the answer, and that should be an easy thing to be done.”
The blog baton passes now to David Tindall.
Italy’s pint-sized forward, their pocket battleship, their tyro, Lorenzo Insigne, has been speaking ahead of the Austria match tomorrow. Full credit offered to Roberto Mancini, who got them to the finals, instead of that nasty Gian Piero Ventura, who lost the World Cup 2018 play-off to Sweden.
It’s something that makes us proud, especially considering what they thought of us before the tournament started It’s the first time that I’ve played in such an important event at this level, in such an important role. In the past other coaches have used formations that were less compatible with my style of play, although I have always made myself available. Now Mancini is using a system of play that is more suited to me and to other players’ characteristics.
Life under Julian Nagelsmann at Bayern Munich will start with a match against Borussia Mönchengladbach.
More Uefa refereeing self-congratulation, from chief whistleblower Roberto Rosetti, who says VAR is working. Fourteen spot-kicks were given in the 36 group games, compared to seven at the same stage of Euro 2016.
Before the VAR project there were many, many fouls in the penalty area missed by the referees. Now, it’s impossible to miss these fouls. We know very well the strength but also the limits of the project. VAR is a Formula One project, and for this Formula One project we need top, expert pilots. We need to find the correct balance in the line of intervention, because our target is to keep football like it is. It’s not acceptable to study all the minor pushing or pulling, or minor contacts and marginal contacts independently. The laws of the game are clear. We want the minimum interference for the maximum benefit and we want to intervene (only) for clear and obvious mistake.
The VAR Project sounds like a rave band from the late 1980s, early 1990s.
More on that Álvaro Morata story.
Time to hand back to John Brewin for more blogging fun.
Excellent read here from former German defender and columnist Philipp Lahm.
Many people draw strength from the fact that they exclude a group and ascribe negative characteristics to it. That is wrong, and it is also unnecessary. I don’t need an enemy for my identity; I don’t become stronger through exclusion, but through cooperation. In the long run, success in a football team can only be achieved if people accept and appreciate each other’s differences.
Robin Mudie has got in touch to point out something we’re all thinking: the length of Gareth Bale’s shorts. “Is the photo editor of the Guardian under some sort of contractual obligation to force in as many pictures as humanly possible of Gareth Bale and his homage to 1980s sporting wear.”
Fashion, or a cry for help? Photograph: Marco Rosi/Getty Images
Well, this is nothing new as Guardian Deputy fashion editor Priya Elan pointed out last year.
And yet, the image of Alan Partridge is hard to shake off.
Alan Partridge - Quote of the Day(@APartridgeQOTD)
I’ve had these shorts since 1982. They did have an underpant lining, but it’s perished. They’ve taken a bit of a pounding over the years. #Eliud159pic.twitter.com/b5ABy1aDXH
A few stats for Wales v Denmark ahead of Saturday evening’s clash. History says they’ll get it done in 90 minutes.
None of the 10 previous meetings between Wales and Denmark in all competitions have finished level, with Wales winning four to Denmark’s six. This is the first meeting between the sides since November 2018, with Denmark winning 2-1 in a Nations League match.
Denmark recorded 59 shots in the group stages, with their average of 19.7 shots-per-game their highest on record in a major tournament (Euros and World Cup). Having converted just one of their first 44 shots in this tournament (2%), Denmark scored with four of their last 15 shots against Russia last time out (27%).
Wales have had a combined 97 shot attempts at Euro 2016 and Euro 2020, with 49 of those coming from Gareth Bale (33) and Aaron Ramsey (16), equating to just over half of their total efforts at goal.
Gareth Bale in training. Photograph: Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images
Uefa is investigating “potential discriminatory incidents” which took place during Germany’s 2-2 draw with Hungary in Munich on Wednesday.
(From Reuters):
UEFA did not give details of the incidents at the match, which was played in Munich on Wednesday.
Before kickoff, a protester waving a rainbow flag had invaded the pitch, while fans outside and inside the stadium carried similar banners to show their support for LGBTQ rights. This came after UEFA refused a request from Munich’s mayor for the stadium to be lit in rainbow colours for the game in protest at an anti-LGBTQ law in Hungary.
Mayor Dieter Reiter wanted to highlight legislation in Hungary banning school materials deemed to promote homosexuality and gender change and restricting the media from showing such content in programmes accessible to minors.
Last weekend, UEFA also opened an investigation into Hungary’s matches against Portugal and France in Budapest.
This is nice. A banner put up at the Swedish embassy in Kyiv, thanking Sweden for helping Ukraine sneak into the last 16. They qualified as one of the four best third-placed teams after Sweden beat Poland 3-2.
Ukrainian fans show their gratitude to Sweden. Photograph: Sergei Supinsky/AFP/Getty Images
Thanks John. I’m still coming to terms with Harry Kane bringing in Ed Sheeran to boost morale. It’s as if those in the squad who watched the second half of the Czech game haven’t suffered enough.
“He did a little sing-song while we were eating food,” Kalvin Phillips told BBC Radio 5 Live. But I’m intrigued by the Leeds midfielder’s response when asked if Ed performed ‘Three Lions’.
“To be honest he started playing it and then after 30 seconds he stopped.” What does that mean? Why? Booed off? I want to know more.
Obviously, this brings to mind the classic tale from Paul Lake’s book about another well-known Ed.
A typically low key Mel Machin expressed caution and warned us against complacency, but then a mischievous grin played across his face as he informed us that he’d arranged for one of his pals to give us a quick motivational pep talk. What do we need this for? We’re 3-0 up, for Chrissakes’ I remember thinking, wondering which former colleague of the gaffer’s was going to get wheeled out. From the direction of Roy Bailey’s physio room toddled Eddie Large, the Mancunian funny man and City fanatic who, in those days was a huge primetime TV star with his weekly sidekick ‘supersonic’ Syd Little. What followed was the most surreal half-time team talk I’ve ever experienced. Eddie wearing a shiny grey showbiz suit with rolled up sleeves, proceeded to dole out individual advice to each of the players using his well known repetoire of celebrity impersonations. So Deputy Dawg ordered me to keep tight in defence; Frank Carson told Nelly to use the width and pace of Whitey; Cliff Richard advised Trevor Morley to shoot on sight; Harold Wilson told Bob Brightwell to keep it simple and Benny from Crossroads told Andy Dibble to stay awake. Final score: 3-3.
Right, passing over to Dave Tindall for the next hour. Inundate him.
Steven Morris on football’s capturing of Welsh hearts.
The success of the Welsh football team in Euro 2020 is gripping a nation traditionally better known for its rugby. Come 5pm on Saturday, the streets will empty and the fans – the “red wall” (y wal goch) – will find a bar or living room to watch Bale, Ramsey and their teammates take on Denmark for a place in the last eight. Expectation is growing that Wales may emulate, or even surpass, their run to the semi-finals of the competition in 2016.
England’s goals so far have been scored by a player many didn’t want in the team in the first place. Jacob Steinberg says Raheem Sterling is entitled to wonder why he is not appreciated more.
Christian Eriksen has visited the rest of the Denmark squad after his release from hospital and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has been talking to CNN.
It was great to see him. That helped a lot of the guys I think just to see him and erase the last image we had of him on the pitch. To see him in real life and to see that he was okay...it was really important.
More on referees, per the Associated Press. Well done, refs, from the chief refs.
UEFA has given its referees and match officials high marks for their overall performance at the European Championship. Trends cited by UEFA chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti include nearly 2.5 minutes more active playing time per game, fewer fouls awarded and fewer yellow cards shown.
UEFA believes the first European Championship using video review means all tight offside decisions were correctly made and more penalties were correctly given.
Rosetti says offside “is not any more an issue for us.”
He praises the players’ good behavior and attitude for the average of only 22.4 fouls in the 36-game group stage. That raised the average active playing time to 58 minutes, 51 seconds compared to 56:30 at Euro 2016.
Àlvaro Morata has been speaking about the social media abuse he has been receiving for his performances for Spain during Euro 2012. He missed a penalty against Slovakia during a 5-0 win.
Per Reuters, taken from an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Cope.
I would like people to put themselves in my shoes and think what it’s like to get threats towards my family, people saying ‘I hope your children die’. I’ve had to leave my phone outside my room. My wife and children have come to the stadium in Seville with Morata on the back of their shirts and people have been shouting at them. It’s complicated. I understand people booing me for missing chances but there’s a limit.
Morata said he had a sleepless night after missing the penalty against Slovakia, which set up a last-16 tie with Croatia, but does not regret taking the spot-kick. He said that despite the abuse and criticism he has faced he feels a huge level of support from his team mates, adding former Spain great Iker Casillas had called him to lift his spirits.
I’m proud of the fact I picked up the ball (to take the penalty) after people booed me in the warm up. A few years ago I would have been devastated but I’m really motivated. Whoever thinks the opposite doesn’t know me. It’s hard to find a group like this especially in the difficult times. After a week like this I’ve been aware of how everyone looks at me but I look in their eyes and see they are supporting me.
A story from PA Media, and deserved praise for Wythenshawe’s finest referee and Altrincham fan.
English official Anthony Taylor has been praised for his “perfect” handling of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest during the Denmark v Finland match by UEFA’s referees chief.
Taylor immediately recognised the seriousness of the situation and signalled for medics to come on within seconds.
His quick thinking, along with that of Denmark captain Simon Kjaer, has been widely praised, and UEFA chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti said on Friday: “Everyone recognised that Anthony was perfect. He managed this difficult moment in a great way. We are proud about his behaviour, we are proud about his cold blood. “We recommended to the referees that safety is first, it is the most important target for us.
‘The referees must, and they are ready, to stop the match immediately in these situations. Anthony was amazing.”
Quiz! Quiz!! Quiz!!!
Ben White is yet to get a kick at the Euros but looks like he will be joining Arsenal.
Italy’s primacy in the power rankings is at stake when they play Austria tomorrow.
We await developments on who the new Tottenham manager will be. Though we have said that every day for two months now. To say Nuno has received a mixed reception so far would be underplaying it.
Pretty quiet so far out there.England are paying tribute to this Euro 96 legend. He played only 39 minutes but arguably - literally? - changed the game against Scotland.
Nicky Bandini on someone who is potentially the latest great Italian goalkeeper.
He has not conceded in his last 874 minutes played for Italy – the third-longest streak in the history of the national team. It is a shared achievement, made possible by the dominant performances of Donnarumma’s teammates. He has needed to make only two saves at this tournament to date.
And from the world of real football.
We are always very good with penalties – it’s always a little bit of a joke between the Germans and the English,” he says. “But I think if it goes to a shootout then we are the favourites because then you start to think about what has happened in the last 30 or 40 years. When we played in 1990 and 1996 … it’s a lot of pressure for the English players because they read every day in the newspapers all the stories about penalties. So England have a chance to win the game in 90 minutes or 120 minutes. But if it goes to penalties then Germany are the favourites.
It was 33 years ago today that Marco van Basten, European football’s finest ever striker, (join the debate BTL) scored his wonderful volley against the Soviet Union.
Elis James starts the car on Wales’s latest dream Euro trip.
Joe Rodon has been colossal in the heart of our defence, a throwback centre-half in a TikTok age, 23 years old but, as the pundits like to say, “a man who loves to defend”. Six clearances against Italy, two blocked shots, two interceptions. His concentration never dips, but growing up in Llangyfelach means he sweats like an app developer playing Tuesday night Powerleague when he’s representing his country in sweltering Baku or Rome.
Are Germany all that? Nick Ames investigates.
The headline in Kicker captured it perfectly. “Wild, confused, shaky”, it read. “Löw’s team remains a construction site.” Germany are infuriatingly unpredictable. In the good times, that becomes an endearing trait. When they dangle off the edge of the abyss as on Wednesday night, though, it morphs into reason for an urgent national inquest.
David Hytner travelled to the England camp near Burton-On-Trent, to hear that none of player are old enough to remember this pizza advert, in which Stuart Pearce’s acting career began and ended.
Some injury news amid this from Marcus Rashford.
Rashford, who is unlikely to start against Germany, was restricted to three substitute appearances as England finished top of Group D. Injuries have prevented the Manchester United player from producing his best form recently and he revealed that he may have an operation to cure a shoulder problem after the tournament. “I’m not 100% sure if I need it yet,” he said. “I’ll just take it as it comes. I’ll finish strong here and I’ve got a few weeks off to relax and decide what I’m going to do.”
Morning morning. Another rest day at the Euros, but no rest here, as we ready ourselves for four nights of red-hot soccer that may or may not includes teams playing for penalties. And will almost certainly include tears before bedtime. Saturday’s double-header of Wales v Cophenhagen and Italy v Austria take the attention but there is bound to be news from the England camp and elsewhere.
After all, we have under five days left to build up to England v Germany, and overnight we’ve had Sir Marcus Rashford banging the drum for our brave boys, and Baron Lothar Matthaüs bringing up the prospect of penalties, the old devil.
But before we do that, a word from the eight teams who have gone home. They’ll be missed.
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