Scott Murray's Blog, page 16

Portugal 0-0 France (aet; 3-5 on pens): Euro 2024 quarter-final – as it happened

France squeezed through after a tense battle ended without a goal in 120 minutes, João Félix’s shootout miss proving decisive

The coaches Roberto Martinez and Didier Deschamps embrace warmly, the captains Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé exchange pennants, Mbappé pulls on his mask … and France get the ball rolling. Here we go, then! Spain await!

The teams are out! Portugal in red shirts with green trousers, France in second-choice white tops with blue breeks. A rare old atmosphere at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg. We’ll be off once coins are tossed and fists bumped.

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Austria 1-2 Turkey: Euro 2024, last 16 – as it happened

The match of the tournament so far, an epic battle from the get-go decided by two Arda Güler to Merih Demiral corner combos

2 min 14 sec: Baumgartner nearly equalises immediately with a fierce daisycutter from 25 yards that beats Günok all ends up and whistles inches past the left-hand post! This is an astonishing start to the game!

The corner swung in from the right by Guler. Viciously so, forcing Baumgartner to block on the line. The ball pings off Posch and back towards the net. Pentz scoops it off the line, but Demiral is on hand to roof from close range! What a start!

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Portugal 0-0 Slovenia (aet; pens 3-0): Euro 2024, last 16 – as it happened

Portugal keeper Diogo Costa was the penalty shootout hero after a tearful Cristiano Ronaldo missed a spot kick during extra time

5 min: The corner’s hit long from the left and finds Rúben Dias at the far post. Dias slashes a first-time shot into the side netting, then looks down at the pitch by way of theatrical explanation. It’s cutting up already.

4 min: Bernardo Silva loops a cross in from the right. It’s too high for Ronaldo, but nearly drops for Rafael Leão, six yards out and level with the far stick. Karničnik does exceptionally well to hook it away from danger just in time, and out for a corner.

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Germany 2-0 Denmark: Euro 2024 last 16 – as it happened

Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala scored the decisive goals on a storm-engulfed and sometimes controversial night in Dortmund

1 min: A very early run for Sane down the right. He digs out a cross but can’t find anyone in white. “I don’t see how Denmark can fail to progress from this match,” announces Jacob Hammer. “No team enjoys the role as underdogs more than we do and now we might play Germany, Spain, and France on our way to the final. Clearly this is how Kasper Hjulmand planned it. My only worry is that we might face Slovakia in the final (sorry England), be favourites, and get thrashed.”

Germany get the ball rolling. It’s hot and humid in Dortmund, and there’s a hurricane warning for later. Hopefully this will be done and dusted before the wind picks up. “I’m in Frankfurt, where I was hoping to see Scotland play on Monday night,” begins Simon McMahon. “That ain’t happening, so I’m supporting Germany tonight, though the fan zone here is closed due to bad weather, so it’s almost like home. A local hostelry then, maybe a beer or two, some mince and tatties. Come on Scotland Germany!”

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Czech Republic 1-2 Turkey: Euro 2024 – as it happened

Antonín Barák’s early sending off made life too hard for the Czech Republic to get the win they needed, as Turkey booked their place in the last 16

3 min: Nothing comes of the resulting corner. Meanwhile in the other match, Georgia have taken a shock early lead! Bob has your back.

2 min: Provod powers his way down the inside-left channel and has a dig from the edge of the box. Günok’s parry isn’t particularly authoritative, and squirms around the post for a corner.

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France 1-1 Poland: Euro 2024 – as it happened

Robert Lewandowski’s late penalty sent a toothless France side into the tougher half of the draw

4 min: France quickly establish their authority, probing this way and that. Poland happy to sit back for now. Then suddenly Barcola bursts down the left and wins a corner off Moder.

2 min: No pyro, no party, as they say. A lot of smoke drifting across the pitch. Perhaps some of it gets in Skorupski’s eyes, as the Polish keeper nearly tees up Mbappé 12 yards out with a blind and underhit pass across the face of his own goal to Dawidowicz. The defender intercepts just in time. He swivels and dribbles clear, getting his keeper, and Poland, out of trouble.

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Croatia 1-1 Italy: Euro 2024 – as it happened

Mattia Zaccagni scored a 98th minute equaliser to secure second spot for Italy and leave Croatia waiting to learn their fate

4 min: A long pass down the inside-right channel for Kramarić to chase. Bastoni ushers it out for a goal kick. But the ball’s soon coming back at Italy, and Sučić pearls a rising shot that Donnarumma is forced to tip over else it sneak into the top-left corner.

3 min: Croatia still have it.

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Scotland 0-1 Hungary: Euro 2024 – as it happened

Another tournament, another group exit for Scotland, as Kevin Csoboth crushed any faint hope of progress with a winner in the tenth minute of injury time

1 min: The kick-off has to be retaken, on account of Varga and Kerkez belting down the left wing before the whistle goes. And now we’re off…

Hungary kick off. What an atmosphere in Stuttgart! “A country riven by a rise in nationalism, fuelled by a demagogue leader, expressing nationalist bile in an unintelligible language, against Hungary.” Sunak-soaked satire from Paul Griffin, ladies and gentlemen. He’s here all week, try the harcsapaprikás.

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Spain 1-0 Italy: Euro 2024 – as it happened

Spain were utterly dominant though they needed a Riccardo Calafiori own goal for the victory their overall play deserved

5 min: That’s got Italy a bit jittery, and Morata very nearly closes Donnarumma down as the keeper dallies with the ball at his feet. If the early evidence is anything to go by, Italy will certainly need to get those metaphorical Armani suits filthy tonight.

3 min: That’s not a patch on Albania’s 23-second stunner, but it’s still a slow start by Italy. And Williams comes at them again down the left, nearly getting clear a second time. Spain making some early statements here.

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Scotland 1-1 Switzerland: Euro 2024 – as it happened

Scotland’s dream of making it through the group remains alive after a vastly improved performance in Cologne

Scotland get the ball rolling. What an atmosphere! It’s not quite at Turkey-Georgia levels, but it’s something all right.

The teams are out! Scotland in their famous dark blue, Switzerland in second-choice white. The national anthems are belted out: hymns to radiant morning skies growing red, of fighting for your wee bit hill and glen and sending folk homeward tae think again. The latter positively ringing around the Müngersdorfer Stadion. Marvellous! “On most days a single malt will win over a slab of Toblerone,” notes Krishna Moorthy, pouring everyone a 43.8%ABV drop of hope. We’ll be off in a minute.

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