Scott Murray's Blog, page 77

June 14, 2021

Scotland 0-2 Czech Republic: Euro 2020 – as it happened

Patrik Schick’s sensational long-range goal knocked the stuffing out of Scotland

4.30pm BST

Ewan Murray was at Hampden Park, and his report has landed. Clickity click. Meanwhile Poland are about to take on Slovakia, and Barry Glendenning will be following that here. Thanks for reading this MBM.

4.28pm BST

Steve Clarke speaks to the BBC. “It was quite an even game, I don’t think there was much in it. Obviously they were a little bit more clinical with their chances. Losing the goal with a second-phase set play was disappointing and we went in at half-time on the back foot, then the boy’s hit a wonderful strike from just inside our half. It was a shot that got blocked that fell perfect for them. So those moments went against us. When we had our chances to get back, we didn’t take them. It’s a good learning experience. We didn’t come here to learn, but you still learn your lessons, that’s what happens. I thought we played decent. At times we played some good stuff. Lots to learn for everybody. I’ll have a good think about it. We’ll go back to base camp, lick our wounds for 24 hours, then get ready for the game on Friday.”

4.22pm BST

The hero of the hour, Patrik Schick, talks to the BBC. “The first game is so important and we are happy to have won this game. It’s always hard to play against us, because we have a lot of hard-working players. Scotland was a tough opponent, but we were ready. I saw the keeper off his line, I checked already in the first half. I thought maybe this situation will come. I knew he stays very high, so when the ball came, I quickly checked where he was standing, and it was a nice goal. Croatia will be a little bit different but we will prepare.”

4.17pm BST

The captain Andy Robertson takes his turn. “The whole country wanted to get off to a good start. We were confident and excited. It comes down to not taking our chances. You can’t say we’ve not created. We’ve had some really good chances that on another day we should have done better with. If you do better on that, it’s a different game. For our first game at the highest level in a very long time, it’s a tough lesson for us. You have to take your chances. The Czech Republic did that, and we didn’t. The first one, we shouldn’t concede from second balls at set pieces. It’s a good header but we have to be stronger. The second one, it’s a one in a million shot. It knocked the stuffing out of us. We still had chances but we didn’t manage it.”

4.12pm BST

A slightly miffed John McGinn speaks to the BBC. “We got beat, so we were disappointed. We played pretty well in the first half without threatening them too much. We got in behind them. The first goal was a poor one to lose. Brilliant header, but you don’t want to lose from a set play or the second phase of it. The second one’s a brilliant strike, but we can do better. We can sit here and say we played all right, and we did play all right, and the 2-0 scoreline flatters them a wee bit. But they found the quality at the right moments and we need to find that on Friday. We can either sulk about it, or go to Friday with the same attitude. I had a couple of chances, the boys had chances, if we want to compete at this level we need to take those chances, and ultimately we were punished for it. I don’t think it’s a reality check. We played pretty well. It’s important we don’t sulk too much.”

4.08pm BST

Stuart Armstrong talks to the BBC. “It was a difficult one. The game was very compact and there wasn’t much space. We were playing too many long balls. When we passed it, we did quite well. But it was hard to break them down. Disappointed with the way the first goal went in from a set piece, apart from that we did pretty well for the most part of the game. They showed real quality for the second goal as we pushed a little bit more for that equaliser. We did have chances and we missed a bit of luck, and they were clinical. The little things didn’t go our way, but at this level you do need to be clinical. We need to learn from what happened and make a few tweaks. A clean slate for Friday and it’s a big one. We’ve got two chances to produce a good performance. It’s about analysing but not dwelling.”

3.58pm BST

Patrik Schick wanders back onto the pitch to receive the plaudits from his team-mates. His second goal, a world-class amalgam of opportunism and skill, was one for the ages. It was also right up there in the pantheon of absurd Scottish mishaps in major tournaments. Scotland weren’t awful, by any means, and things might have ended differently had Lyndon Dykes converted his golden chance to get his team back into the game. But they were certainly second best overall, the Czech Republic fully deserving of their victory. The Czechs top Group D, the Scots prop it up, and it’s going to be quite the night at Wembley on Friday.

3.53pm BST

Teófilo Cubillas. Juan Cayasso. Stefan Effenberg. Gazza. Abdeljalil Hadda. Patrik Schick.

3.52pm BST

90 min +5: Nope.

3.51pm BST

90 min +4: Robertson crosses deep from the left. Nisbet’s header clanks off the back of Boril and out for a corner. Time for a consolation?

3.51pm BST

90 min +3: Wembley on Friday evening, then.

3.49pm BST

90 min +2: The second is equally quiet.

3.49pm BST

90 min +1: The first of four added minutes passes by without incident.

3.49pm BST

90 min: A chance for Krmencick, sent free into the box by Coufal’s flicked header down the inside-right channel. Marshall stands tall and parries. “It’s poor solace, but for me at least Scotland haven’t played badly at all,” begins Matthew Richman, in an email headed ‘Straw clutching’. “Out of two excellent keeping performances, Marshall may feel unlucky he conceded to two world class finishes. Would have liked to see more clinical work up front, but for the first time in a long time I absolutely believe Scotland belong on this stage.”

3.47pm BST

89 min: The Czechs play a little keep-ball, forcing Scotland deep. The wrong end of the pitch for those hoping for a miracle.

3.45pm BST

87 min: Darida and the match-winning Schick make way for Sevcik and Krmencik.

3.44pm BST

85 min: Fraser slips a pass down the left for Robertson, who loops long. Forrest, at the far post, opts to roll inside for Adams rather than taking on the shot himself. Wrong decision. Nice move, though. It’s not as though Scotland have been totally impotent this afternoon; the ball - and even the best need a bit of luck - has resolutely refused to break their way.

3.41pm BST

84 min: Forrest does his level best to recreate Archie Gemmill’s famous goal from 1978, dribbling in from the right, beating two men, going right then left, only for his shot to be deflected over the bar by Celustka. That was nearly something very special. The resulting corner comes to nothing.

3.40pm BST

82 min: Adams sends Nisbet off down the inside-left channel. His shot deflects off Kalas and softly into the arms of Vaclik.

3.39pm BST

81 min: McGinn thinks he’s been fouled as he romps up the middle, but the referee waves play on. The Czechs counter, and suddenly Hlozek is found down the left in acres. He crosses low for Schick, who whistles an instant low drive straight at Marshall. So close to a hat-trick. “Remind me not to babysit for my grandson next time Scotland play,” writes Karen Brigden. “My youngest son supports Scotland and because of his ‘enthusiasm’ my beautiful, innocent two year old grandson now has a couple of new words added to his vocabulary.”

3.37pm BST

79 min: Scotland make another double change. Nisbet and Forrest come on for O’Donnell and Dykes.

3.35pm BST

77 min: A free kick for Scotland out on the right. O’Donnell swings it in. Cooper wins a header, the ball breaking to McTominay, just to the right of the six-yard box. McTominay shapes like Zinedine Zidane did at this stadium in the 2002 Champions League final ... but not with similar results. He flays his effort miles over the bar.

3.34pm BST

76 min: The match eventually restarts, and in the scrappy style. The clock is not Scotland’s friend here.

3.31pm BST

74 min: Dykes has accidentally slapped Kalas in the mush, drawing blood. A silent Hampden watches on as time ticks by.

3.30pm BST

72 min: A double change for the Czechs. Jankto and Masopust make way for Hlozek and Vydra of Burnley.

3.28pm BST

70 min: “I’m certainly no expert of halfway line goals,” begins Matt Burtz, “but I just rewatched David Beckham’s famous one, and he basically had two to three seconds to size up the situation and line up his shot. Schick had more or less half a second to pick his spot and deliver a perfectly weighted and sliced shot that many a golfer trying to get around a tree would be proud of, and one that landed in the goal to boot. Phenomenal effort.” Oh yeah, it was a sensational piece of skill, no doubt. Just the sort of lightning strike that only seems to happen to Scotland in major tournaments. Needless to say, there was a Scottish international goalkeeper in between the sticks for Wimbledon when Beckham scored as well in Neil Sullivan.

3.25pm BST

68 min: Scotland make a double change. Off go Hendry and Armstrong, on come McGregor and Fraser. McTominay takes Hendry’s place at the back.

3.24pm BST

66 min: Dykes misses an absolute sitter! Hendry crosses deep from the right. McGinn and Adams help the ball through to Dykes, ten yards out and free, level with the left-hand post. He opens his body and aims for the bottom left. Too casual. Vaclik is able to stick out a leg. A brilliant reaction save, but he should never have been allowed to make it.

3.23pm BST

65 min: ... but Robertson finds a little down the left and wins a corner. From the set piece, Hanley loops a header towards goal, but it’s a soft one, and easy for Vaclik.

3.22pm BST

64 min: Scotland are seeing more of the ball at the moment, but to little effect. The Czechs are holding their shape well. Not a great deal of space.

3.20pm BST

62 min: From the resulting corner, Adams wins a header that drops to Dykes, six yards out. Dykes sticks out a leg and pokes towards the bottom left. Vaclik smothers bravely at his feet.

3.19pm BST

61 min: They nearly get it, as Armstrong barges his way down the middle and looks for the top left. Kalas sticks out a leg and deflects the ball past a stranded Vaclik ... but inches over the bar. So close. So unlucky.

3.18pm BST

60 min: Robertson busies himself down the left but can’t get the better of Coufal. Goal kick. Scotland need something and quick.

3.16pm BST

58 min: The ball bounces around in the Czech box. Dykes tries his level best to bring it under control, but it won’t obey. You can hear a pin drop in Hampden at the moment. That other-worldly goal by Schick has taken the wind out of many a sail.

3.14pm BST

56 min: “Le Freak. C’est Schick.” Gary Naylor got the funk.

3.13pm BST

55 min: Darida latches onto a loose ball, just to the left of the D, and curls inches over the bar. For a second, that looked like nestling into the top-right corner. Scotland need to shake themselves down and quick.

3.12pm BST

54 min: That was at once an amazing finish, and one of those absurd moments Scotland specialise in. Not sure what Hendry was thinking about, shooting from so far out, but he wouldn’t have expected to be punished for his ambition like that.

3.11pm BST

This is a quintessentially Scottish major-tournament moment. Hendry tries again from distance. His shot is blocked, and rebounds straight to Schick, who romps forward. He spots Marshall miles off his line, so attempts one from just inside his own half! He sends a booming curler over the keeper and into the top left!

3.09pm BST

51 min: Hanley is good to continue.

3.09pm BST

50 min: Hanley slides in, leg extended. Coufal stands on his heel, accidentally so. That’s a sore one, and the physio is on.

3.07pm BST

49 min: This is also something! Robertson looks long for Dykes and Armstrong. Kalas slices over his own keeper. A complete shinner. Vaclik turns, races back, and claws away, just as Dykes was preparing to trundle home.

3.06pm BST

48 min: This is better! Robertson swings one in from the left. Vaclik palms it out. McGinn brings it down, and tees up Hendry, who curls a shot from the edge of the box off the top of the bar!

3.05pm BST

47 min: Scotland clear it, but that’s an appalling start to the second half from the hosts, who shipped two chances in quick succession.

3.04pm BST

46 min: The Czechs are on the attack immediately, Marshall forced into two saves in quick succession, first from Schick, breaking down the right, then from Darida, who robs McTominay and whistles one towards the bottom left. Corner.

3.02pm BST

The Czechs get the second half underway. Scotland have made a change at the break. On comes Che Adams - four caps, two goals already - taking the place of Ryan Christie.

3.01pm BST

Half-time analysis. Scotland had 52 percent of possession during that first half, and took six attempts at goal. Just the one on target, though. The Czechs got two on target out of four. Anis Aslaam adds: “One of the joys of supporting Scotland is that they’re traditionally able to be attractively heroic and heartbreakingly tragic in equal measure. Based on the first-half performance, they’re still holding true to the tradition.”

2.51pm BST

Half-time entertainment. It’s probably not the ideal time to trail this, but Jonathan Wilson’s overall point stands.

2.49pm BST

There wasn’t too much in it, but Scotland cracked after conceding a string of corners towards the end of the half. Patrik Schick’s header was a fine one, though. “Shickening,” quips Maia Harper.

2.48pm BST

45 min +1: Christie dribbles down the left and crosses. Dykes can’t get a head on the ball. The Czechs half clear. McTominay drives with purpose down the middle, and runs slap, bang into Boril. He wants a penalty, but he’s not getting one. You’ve seen them given, but it would have been extremely soft.

2.46pm BST

45 min: There will be one added minute.

2.45pm BST

44 min: “Aaaarrrgggghhh,” writes Mary Waltz, speaking, I’ll be bound, for quite a few of you.

2.44pm BST

43 min: Hampden roars in defiance. But that had been coming, after a series of corners and even more crosses. Great header, too.

2.43pm BST

Coufal bombs down the right on the overlap and swings it in. O’Donnell can’t close him down. Schick rises above Cooper and plants a header out of Marshall’s reach and into the bottom left.

2.42pm BST

41 min: One corner leads to another, Jankto winning this one off McTominay. He sends this one in from the left. Hanley eyebrows it clear ... but then ...

2.41pm BST

40 min: Some space for Masopust down the right. He wins a corner off Cooper. Darida sends a weird outswinger 40 yards back up the field, but Kral retrieves the situation and wins another corner off O’Donnell, this time out left.

2.40pm BST

39 min: More scrappiness now. Scotland will be happy enough with this, though, as they slowly reacquaint themselves with the major-tournament scene.

2.38pm BST

37 min: The Czechs pass it around calmly at the back, which is just showing off.

2.36pm BST

35 min: A replay of that corner on 32 minutes. McGinn took a whack from distance that was easily blocked, Scotland claiming Masopust did so with his hand. The ball did hit his arm, but it was in a natural position by his body, and there was no way it was a penalty kick.

2.35pm BST

34 min: More space for Robertson down the left. He loops a fine cross into the centre. Armstrong is racing in with a view to battering a header home, but he’s denied by Celustka’s clearance. Much better from Scotland, who had gone quiet for a bit back there.

2.34pm BST

32 min: A Scotland throw from the right. It flicks off Soucek’s head to Christie, who rolls a Pele-to-Carlos-Alberto style ball out left for Robertson. The resulting rising drive isn’t quite up there with the finishing touch to the 1970 World Cup final, but it does require tipping over by Vaclik. Shame. That would have been picture-book pretty. Nothing comes of the resulting corner.

2.31pm BST

30 min: Masopust, Schick and Jankto, right to left, combine well, pushing Scotland back in a panic. The ball’s looped into the mixer, and nearly drops for Soucek on the penalty spot. Fortunately for Scotland, he can’t quite get his bearings. Marshall eventually claims.

2.29pm BST

28 min: It’s all a bit scrappy. It’s not a classic, this. Yet.

2.27pm BST

26 min: Coufal stands on Robertson’s boot and somehow wins a free kick. Hampden responds with some pantomime booing.

2.25pm BST

24 min: Cooper passes long down the middle for Dykes, who very nearly brings the ball down. Had he managed it, he was through on goal. “Dykes looks more like Gazza ‘96 than Phil Foden did yesterday,” opines Justin Kavanagh. “Mind you, unlike the former Glasgow Ranger against Germany that year, he has already managed to get on the end of a low cross after a long, lung-busting run.” Justin is The Weaver.

2.24pm BST

23 min: Masopust turns on the jets down the right. Just as it looks like he’s made some space for himself, Robertson arrives to close it down, then shepherd him out for a goal kick.

2.22pm BST

21 min: Christie drops a shoulder and jinks between Boril and Kalas on the right. He’s racing towards the Czech box when he’s clumsily blocked off by O’Donnell, who is having an absolute shocker so far. Brilliant run by Christie, though.

2.21pm BST

20 min: Jankto is causing Scotland some bother down the left. He wins another corner, forcing Hanley to head his cross behind. Fortunately for the hosts, the corner is a non-event, nobody attacking Jankto’s delivery. Some worrying signs for Scotland.

2.19pm BST

18 min: Scotland launch a rapier-sharp counter. Armstrong and Robertson combine briskly down the left, the latter whipping a low cross towards Dykes. The striker prods a first-time effort inches wide of the left-hand post. Not entirely sure Vaclik had that covered. That’s got the crowd going again.

2.18pm BST

17 min: From the corner, Jankto blooters an effort miles off target. A roar of relief. Scotland invited unnecessary pressure on themselves there.

2.17pm BST

16 min: O’Donnell faffs about in defence and allows Jankto to race off down the left. He reaches the byline and cuts back for Schick, who fires towards the bottom left. Marshall gets down to save with a strong hand. Corner.

2.16pm BST

15 min: The Czechs have done a decent job in damping down the Hampden Roar. They’re bossing possession at the minute.

2.14pm BST

13 min: Jankto swings a dangerous ball towards the far post. Kalas nearly meets the dropping ball, six yards out, but it flies out for a goal kick. Marshall kids on that he had it covered, but that was none too clear.

2.13pm BST

12 min: Armstrong clips Darida’s heel. There wasn’t too much in it, but it’s a free kick out on the right. They load the box. Danger ahoy!

2.12pm BST

11 min: Coufal crosses from the right, hoping to find Schick. Marshall claims instead. The visitors are beginning to work their way into this game.

2.10pm BST

9 min: O’Donnell comes through the back of Boril, and is slightly fortunate not to be censured by the referee. Boril takes a while to get back on his feet, but he’s up and running again soon enough.

2.09pm BST

8 min: Jankto tries to worm his way down the right but Hendry is on point and shuts the door. Goal kick. The Czechs haven’t really shown in attack yet, though it’s early days of course.

2.07pm BST

6 min: Robertson’s delivery could be better, and nothing comes of the corner. This is a promising start by Scotland, though.

2.06pm BST

5 min: O’Donnell flings a throw into the box from the right. Kalas hacks a poor clearance straight at McGinn, who can’t get a shot away, but does win the first corner of the match.

2.05pm BST

3 min: The first sign of Scottish nerves as O’Donnell lets a simple pass run under his boot and out of play for a throw. Otherwise, the hosts have started brightly. Meanwhile here’s some blue-and-white solidarity from Anna Riijärvi: “I’m guessing it isn’t just me hoping that Scotland win this one to make the Friday match more interesting. As a Finn I have to say that I want Scotland to win against England. We always want to win against Sweden and even more against Russia since they are always considered the bigger teams. GO SCOTLAND!”

2.03pm BST

2 min: He then finds some space down the left. Hampden responds with a huge roar, then some slight disappointment as the cross is way too long.

2.02pm BST

1 min: Robertson’s first act is to launch one of his trademark intense presses, reaching the edge of the Czech box in about 1.5 seconds. Gauntlet down.

2.01pm BST

The captains Andy Robertson and Vladimir Darida exchange pennants and pleasantries, Scotland stand in solidarity against racism, then kick off ... and if exclamation marks are any measure of emotional investment, Toon Helsen is fairly excited: “Alba gu bràth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m Belgian but I’ve lived in Scotland for a number of years. As such, they’re really my second home nation after the Red Devils. CANNAE WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

1.57pm BST

The teams are out! Scotland in their famous dark blue, the Czechs in their change strip of white. Time for the anthems. The Czech ditty, stately and grand, is all water and meadows, pinewoods and rocks, orchards and spring blossom. Paradise on earth, they’re saying. As for the Scottish one ... well ... all together now ...

1.41pm BST

Ryan Christie, selected ahead of Che Adams, talks to the BBC. “I’m buzzing, obviously, raring to go now. The reception when we came out for the warm-up was incredible. Everybody’s missed that, we’ve missed fans in the stadium, it’s just the icing on the cake going into this game. It’s going to be tough, we’re playing in a major tournament, we have to be at our best. But our preparation has been absolutely superb so we’re raring to go.”

1.38pm BST

Hampden sends its love to Christian Eriksen. A nice nod to the heroism of his pal Simon Kjaer as well. Scotland and Denmark go back a ways, of course, the Scots having played a little part in the story of Danish Dynamite ... in so much as they got turned over by them in their opening game of Mexico 86. That story, should you fancy being reminded of it, is retold here.

1.31pm BST

Steve Clarke talks to the BBC. “It’s brilliant! A great atmosphere in the stadium. It’s fantastic to have the Tartan Army back. Small numbers, but I’m sure they’re going to make a hell of a noise.” He then explains that Kieran Tierney “picked up a niggle through the week in training; he’s not ready for this one but hopefully ready for the next one.” The interview ends abruptly soon after, the fans making such a racket that Clarke can’t hear a word that’s being asked of him. “It’s fantastic!” he smiles as he wanders off. The Hampden Roar in full effect.

1.26pm BST

This probably won’t settle any pre-match nerves, in fact it’ll probably pour fuel on the fire. Nevertheless, it bears reporting that Scotland are currently on a five-match unbeaten tear-up. They’ve lost only twice in their last 16, winning eight in that time, with two more decided on penalty kicks. They were impressive in both warm-up games, drawing 2-2 in the Netherlands and winning 1-0 in Luxembourg.

The Czechs’ last outing was a 3-1 win against Albania in Prague. That result ended a three-match winless run; four days earlier, they lost 4-0 away to Italy.

1.17pm BST

The excitement is building, though. “Could things get better than being retired, living in south-west France, and having to stay inside to watch the football because it’s too hot to venture outdoors?” wonders Richard Hirst, rhetorically, I’ll be bound. “Trouble is there are no teams such as Peru, Costa Rica or Morocco against whom Scotland can make themselves a laughing stock (nobody mention the opening moments of a certain team’s game against San Marino). And in any case it would be tempting fate to be horrible to Scotland given it would certainly bring retribution from the gods in the forthcoming game: so a sedate draw is called for.”

Ciaran Crowther adds: “Hope today settles the nerves for Scotland fans and rest assured your Celtic cousins across the Irish Sea will only be rooting for one team at Wembley on Friday.”

1.14pm BST

The excitement builds.

1.09pm BST

Steve Clarke’s big decisions, then. There’s no in-at-the-deep-end plunge for the super-promising Billy Gilmour, while Ryan Christie gets the nod ahead of Che Adams up front. The Czech side features West Ham duo Tomáš Souček and Vladimír Coufal, and Tomáš Kalas of Bristol City. Patrik Schick leads the line on his tod.

1.02pm BST

Scotland: Marshall, Hanley, Cooper, Hendry, O’Donnell, Armstrong, McGinn, McTominay, Robertson, Dykes, Christie.
Subs: McGregor, Adams, Gordon, Taylor, Turnbull, Nisbet, Fraser, McLaughlin, Patterson, Gilmour, Forrest, McKenna.

Czech Republic: Vaclik, Coufal, Celustka, Kalas, Boril, Soucek, Kral, Masopust, Darida, Jankto, Schick.
Subs: Kaderabek, Brabec, Barak, Holes, Krmencik, Sevcik, Mandous, Zima, Hlozek, Vydra, Mateju, Pekhart.

1.01pm BST

Some instant reaction to the Tierney news. It comes courtesy of James Humphries, who at 12.52pm BST emailed me this: “Last time I saw Scotland’s opening game at a tournament, I’d skived primary school to do it. Being much older now, I’ll be skiving work instead, but I’m clearly no smarter, because I can’t help but dream of a win. The hope, it’s the effing hope.”

James emailed again at 12.56: “See? See?!! So Tierney’s out? All I have to do is even mention hope, apparently, in order to get quick slap-down.”

12.53pm BST

Some breaking injury news, and it’s not great for Scotland. Kieran Tierney has picked up a knock in training - a recurrence of an old injury, apparently, so possibly his knee - and misses out altogether.

12.50pm BST

If you’re yet to read Daniel Gray’s gorgeous evocations of the beautiful game - Saturday 3pm, Black Boots and Football Pinks, and Extra Time - then you really need to get on them. A tip-top triptych. Here’s the man himself on Scotland’s ill-fated but rather underrated Euro 92 campaign.

12.40pm BST

Today’s edition of the Fiver has been meticulously hand-crafted to tempt fate in Scotland’s favour. We would say “enjoy”, but, well, y’know. “Here it is” will have to suffice.

12.35pm BST

The atmosphere is already building at Hampden. There will be 12,000 punters descending on the famous old stadium this afternoon. Well, 11,999 punters and one Wookiee. Is it possible to traipse with determination?

11.01am BST

Did you wake in the night with a fever? Sky the darkest blue? Still, small voices calling? Don’t worry, wipe the sweat from your brow, your imagination was always bound to run riot ahead of this. We’ve waited 23 years after all.

Most of the period since Mr Brown took his boys to the 1998 World Cup has been reasonably undistinguished, fair to say. The stand-out moment unquestionably being James McFadden’s glory strike against France. Oh, and the Kirin Cup. And a 1-0 win at Wembley. And McFadden’s winner against the Dutch, even if the return was lost 6-0. And the greatest three minutes of Leigh Griffiths’ career, only slightly completely ruined by Harry Kane. And that heroic two-goal comeback to scramble a draw with the Faroes. Hey, as periods in the wilderness go, it’s been good fun, one way or another.

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Published on June 14, 2021 08:30

The Euro 2020 Fiver: hopes pinned on diminutive geniuses like 1974 again

England were calmness personified at Wembley yesterday. As first games at a major finals go, their professional, clinical, poised win over bogey side Croatia was a most instructive experience. It was a much more impressive performance than their scrambled win over Tunisia in Russia three years ago, and look how well they did after that. It was also a much better result than the draws with Switzerland at Euro 96, Ireland at Italia 90 and Uruguay in 1966, three other particularly notable campaigns it says here. Statistically it wasn’t up there with the 3-1 win against France at the 1982 World Cup or the 2-0 win over Chile in 1950, but let’s not start pulling at threads. Go England! Well done, everyone, and for once we mean it.

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Published on June 14, 2021 04:09

June 12, 2021

Wales 1-1 Switzerland: Euro 2020 – as it happened

Kieffer Moore’s second-half header earned a point for Wales in their opener in Baku

4.21pm BST

Ben Fisher was in Baku to witness Kieffer Moore’s heroics. His report has landed, so off you click. As for the 5pm kick-off between Denmark and Finland, Barry Glendenning, like a pint of plain, is your only man. Thanks for reading this MBM.

4.18pm BST

Gareth Bale speaks to the Beeb. “Obviously a hard game. Both teams tried to play. It was the opening game, so it was a little bit tense. It wasn’t a bad result, so we take the positives. We had chances but so did they. You go one down and you can crumble, but we showed our class to keep playing and fight for the goal back. We worked hard, it was difficult in this heat, but we showed a lot of fight, determination and character. We have to keep on working and use this as a springboard for the next game.”

4.15pm BST

Rob Page talks to the BBC. “We wanted a positive start, and it feels like a win in the changing room. I’m so proud of the players for digging so deep. We got a bit of luck with the offside, but I wanted a positive performance and we certainly got that. We knew Switzerland would have a lot of the ball and that we’d have to be solid and organised defensively. Shaqiri was causing us a few problems. Unfortunately the gaps started to appear in the second half and they exploited that. Dan James looked dead on his feet because of the work he put in. He was disappointed coming off, but he’s great in there now, and it’s all about the squad. Kieffer Moore has been terrific at international and club level. He thoroughly deserved his goal. Turkey will be a tough test but we’re positive.”

4.03pm BST

Kieffer Moore speaks to the BBC. “It’s great personally, but it’s a good start for us. We would have liked to have won, but a draw from the first game puts us in a good position. It’s never good going a goal down, but to get one back and see the game out is a big positive for us. It was tough in the heat, but it’s what we expect in a hot climate, and we’re used to it. I’m enjoying it. It’s a big occasion and I’m loving every second of it!”

4.00pm BST

Wales look much the happier side after this draw. Kieffer Moore is understandably all smiles, receiving the congratulations of his team-mates. The Swiss are more subdued, having dominated the game and created the majority of the chances. But Wales dug in and got their reward for a determined response to going behind. They form a big huddle as Gareth Bale delivers a post-match pep-talk. A big game against Turkey coming up. The Swiss face an even bigger one against Italy, and may reflect that taking off Xherdan Shaqiri wasn’t the greatest idea.

3.56pm BST

The Swiss were the dominant side, but Kieffer Moore’s superb header has earned a precious point for Wales!

3.54pm BST

90 min +4: Mbabu sashays down the left and wins yet another corner for the Swiss. Rodriguez’s delivery is too long. Xhaka sends it back in from the right, and Ward claims confidently.

3.53pm BST

90 min +3: Wales are clinging on a bit here. Ampadu replaces Ramsey.

3.53pm BST

90 min +2: Mbabu drives down the middle then slips a pass down the right channel for Gavranovic, who spins and shoots. The half-blocked ball looks like looping over Ward and into the top left, but Ward claws away. The flag goes up for offside anyway.

3.51pm BST

90 min +1: One corner leads to another, which leads to nothing. There will be five extra minutes.

3.50pm BST

90 min: Zakaria wins a corner down the right. It’s hit long. Embolo wins a header, eight yards out. It’s going in. Allen does just enough to deflect it over the bar.

3.49pm BST

88 min: The ball bounces on the edge of the Swiss box, but doesn’t sit for Bale, who was hoping to send a fierce shot goalwards. His eventual effort is easily blocked.

3.48pm BST

87 min: That VAR check took quite a while, and no wonder. What to the naked eye looked an obvious offside was in fact one of those toenail / armpit-hair jobs. Closer than we all thought! But offside is offside, and Wales escape.

3.46pm BST

VAR has a look ... and Gavranovic was clearly offside. Wales breathe again!

3.46pm BST

A ball loops into the Welsh box down the left. Embolo rises to head back inside. Gavranovic, on the pitch for less than a minute, meets the dropping ball and lashes home. He wheels off to celebrate ... but is he offside?

3.44pm BST

84 min: Seferovic makes way for Gavranovic.

3.43pm BST

83 min: Brooks curls across the face of the Swiss six-yard box from the left. Ramsey slides in at the far stick, just inches away from poking home.

3.41pm BST

81 min: Seferovic grafts hard down the right, refusing to ship possession, then cutting back for Zakaria, whose low drive is blocked by Rodon. Both sides are in the mood for this, out in search of a winner.

3.39pm BST

79 min: Davies has a lash from distance. He shanks it miles wide left.

3.37pm BST

77 min: Mbabu crosses from the right. Embolo makes a hash of his header at the far post. Six yards out, he should have put the Swiss back into the lead.

3.37pm BST

75 min: That was such a well-worked goal ... and out of nowhere, really! The small Welsh contingent in Baku make enough noise for 40,000! Before the restart, James rather surprisingly makes way for Brooks. He’s not particularly happy about it.

3.34pm BST

This is better from Wales all right! A short corner’s worked back down the right flank for Morrell, who curls into the box. Moore, in a pocket of space by the penalty spot, guides a superb header across Sommer and into the bottom left!

3.33pm BST

73 min: This is better from Wales. Ramsey rolls a pass down the left for Davies, forcing Akanji into the concession of a corner on the right.

3.32pm BST

72 min: Wales continue to stroke it around, but the Swiss seem happy enough to let them do it, because they’re nowhere near the final third.

3.30pm BST

70 min: A little bit of Welsh possession, but it’s all very sterile. It’s been a low-energy second-half performance by Wales.

3.28pm BST

68 min: Switzerland aren’t in complete control, but they do look comfortable. Wales aren’t doing too much to worry them. There’s little by way of a press.

3.26pm BST

66 min: Shaqiri departs with an assist to his name. Zakaria comes on in his place.

3.26pm BST

65 min: Embolo dribbles down the left, uses Mepham as a shield before curling towards the bottom right. It files inches wide, with Ward surely beaten.

3.25pm BST

64 min: Nope. Ramsey sends a glorious inswinger towards the far post. All it needs is a nudge, but nobody attacks the ball, which sails inches wide of goal. As good a delivery as you’ll see.

3.24pm BST

63 min: Mbabu dispossesses James with a fine sliding tackle. The referee doesn’t see it that way, giving Wales a free kick to the left of the Swiss box, and issuing Mbabu with an absurd booking. Mbabu looks perplexed, and rightly so. Can Wales take advantage?

3.22pm BST

62 min: Embolo is back up and running.

3.21pm BST

61 min: James takes the corner. It’s worked out to Davies, who sends a rasping drive over the bar from the edge of the box. But there’s a flick off Seferovic, so James gets another go ... but hoicks the second one over everybody and away from harm, releasing all the pressure.

3.20pm BST

60 min: James turns on the jets again and wins a corner off Embolo. Before it can be taken, Embolo goes down, James having accidentally scraped his ankle during the challenge.

3.19pm BST

58 min: James has looked the most dangerous of those in red. He makes some space down the left and crosses low. The ball whistles all the way through to Roberts on the other flank, but as he prepares to shoot, Shaqiri gets involved to clear.

3.17pm BST

57 min: Ramsey curls a ball in from the right. James flashes a header goalwards from distance, but it’s blocked and cleared without too much fuss.

3.16pm BST

56 min: Embolo embarks on another determined run down the middle. He’s crowded out, but it takes three men. He’s flying at the minute.

3.15pm BST

54 min: Wales are so fortunate not to be two down. That would have been quite the double whammy, pretty much all of it down to the irrepressible Breel Embolo.

3.13pm BST

52 min: Embolo is on fire right now. He dribbles sensationally down the middle of the park, leaving a trail of red devastation behind him. Upon reaching the edge of the box, he feeds Mbabu in acres to his right. What comes next is neither cross nor shot, some diagonal weirdness that dribbles harmlessly wide left. What a run, though!

3.11pm BST

50 min: That was a fine delivery by Shaqiri, whipped in with pace, allowing Embolo to cleverly pick his spot.

3.10pm BST

Shaqiri takes. Embolo rises above Roberts and steers a fine header into the bottom left. Simple as that. Ward had no chance. On the balance of play, that had been coming.

3.09pm BST

49 min: Embolo turns away from Davies and Rodon, reaching the edge of the box. His rising shot is tipped over by Ward. And from the corner ...

3.08pm BST

48 min: Schar takes a while to get up ... and he looks a little groggy when he finally does. He’s off the pitch getting some running repairs.

3.07pm BST

47 min: Moore is booked for leading with his elbow as he challenges Schar for a high ball.

3.06pm BST

46 min: The ball’s sent witlessly out of play within six seconds of the restart. Hopefully not a harbinger of things to come.

3.05pm BST

Wales get the second half underway. No changes yet. “This feels like a deja vu of yesterday’s game, down to the more proactive team playing in white and the defensive team in red,” writes Kári Tulinius. “Though Switzerland is a lot less dominant than Italy, and Wales looking likelier to score than Turkey ever did. And Turkey don’t have a Gareth Bale.”

2.54pm BST

Half-time ad break.

2.50pm BST

The Swiss have been on top, though Kieffer Moore came very close to scoring with a superb header. It’s nicely poised.

2.49pm BST

45 min +1: Wales are nearly undone by a simple ball down the middle. Embolo brings it down inside the box, his back to goal. Mepham grabs a handful of his shirt, but Embolo stays honest. Instead of going down, looking for a penalty he may well have got, he lays off to Seferovic, who lashes high and wide from ten yards. A big let-off.

2.47pm BST

45 min: The corner’s only half cleared. For a second, it looks as though Shaqiri is going to blast a shot goalwards from the edge of the box, but the ball doesn’t quite sit down for him, and he’s crowded out.

2.46pm BST

44 min: Mbabu’s good to continue. Shaqiri takes the free kick, hitting it long. Bale rises at the far post and concedes a corner, with Seferovic lurking.

2.45pm BST

43 min: Davies comes through the back of Mbabu and is fortunate not to go into the book. A free kick for the Swiss out on the right. Everyone lines up on the edge of the Welsh box ... but first the physio comes on to double-check that Mbabu is OK.

2.43pm BST

41 min: Seferovic breaks a prolonged bout of tedium by sending a speculative effort over the bar from distance. He screams in irritation.

2.42pm BST

40 min: Bing and then bong.

2.41pm BST

38 min: This has become a little scrappy. The ball’s like a pixel in a game of Pong.

2.38pm BST

36 min: Switzerland continue to push Wales back. Embolo is afforded too much time, 25 yards out, and aims for the top right. His shot is deflected out, and Shaqiri gets another crack at a corner. This one’s not much cop either. Uncharacteristically poor delivery so far from the Power Cube.

2.37pm BST

34 min: Shaqiri’s delivery isn’t all that, but he gets a second opportunity. The retake isn’t much better.

2.36pm BST

33 min: Freuler hoicks one in from the left. Davies does well to head out for a corner, under pressure from Seferovic.

2.33pm BST

31 min: Wales load the box. Bale stands over the free kick. He curls towards the far post. A fine delivery, but nobody in red attacks the ball. It sails away harmlessly.

2.32pm BST

30 min: James tears down the left wing and threatens to whizz past Schar. He’s about to break into the box, so Schar cynically checks him, taking a booking for the team. This is a free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the left of the box.

2.31pm BST

29 min: Xhaka strides down the left before threading a pass inside for Shaqiri, who is bundled over but gets no free kick. He’s not happy.

2.29pm BST

27 min: Seferovic turns on the edge of the box and curls powerfully towards the top left. Just wide. He reacts accordingly, sucking back some air. Very close. Switzerland are on top.

2.28pm BST

26 min: Schar drives forward, down the inside-right channel, and attempts a one-two with Seferovic. Ramsey tracks back to intercept the return, just as Schar threatens to break into the box.

2.27pm BST

24 min: Shaqiri dinks in from the right. Roberts heads clear under pressure from Seferovic. Xhaka latches onto the clearance and sends a low drive wide right. Switzerland are getting plenty of joy down this right flank.

2.24pm BST

22 min: Somewhere in the multiverse, this game is 1-1, both sides having scored a marvellous goal. Switzerland, their tails up, come again, Seferovic getting on the end of a left-wing cross but heading harmlessly wide right. A nice open start to this match.

2.23pm BST

20 min: The corner’s hit low and hard towards the near post. Schar meets it with a backflick. It’s cute, and heading into the bottom right. Ward is positioned well to hack off the line. Great save. A second corner leads to nothing.

2.21pm BST

19 min: Moore comes back on. Then Mbabu busies himself down the right and wins another Swiss corner.

2.20pm BST

18 min: Moore temporarily departs so the physio can apply a bright red bandage to his sore head.

2.19pm BST

17 min: At the corner, Moore and Mbabu clash heads. Moore comes off worst and requires some lengthy treatment to stem the flow of blood.

2.18pm BST

15 min: Some room for James down the left. He curls towards Moore, who heads back towards the top left. It’s a wonderful steered header, and sailing in. Sommer arches his back and tips sensationally over the bar. That’s world-class football all round.

2.15pm BST

13 min: Bale spins gracefully into space down the right. He reaches the byline but is hassled by Rodriguez. Rushed, he gets far too much on his cross, meant for Moore at the far post. Goal kick.

2.13pm BST

11 min: Shaqiri crosses dangerously from the right. Rodon heads clear. Xhaka returns the ball with a shot of extreme prejudice. It’s really travelling, but hits his own man Seferovic and balloons away from danger.

2.12pm BST

10 min: After their slow start, Switzerland are beginning to dominate possession. Wales seem happy enough to sit back and wait for an opportunity to counter.

2.11pm BST

8 min: Mepham sweeps both ball and Embolo away with one confident slide tackle. No nonsense. Embolo stays down, wanting a free kick, but he’s not getting one.

2.09pm BST

7 min: Rodriguez’s delivery is woeful. For a second, it looks as though James is going to counter down the left, but Mbabu puts a stop to his gallop.

2.08pm BST

6 min: The Swiss settle, stringing a few passes together. Rodriguez crosses from the left. Mbabu rises highest at the far post, and his header leads to the first corner of the game.

2.06pm BST

4 min: Switzerland by contrast look a little nervous during these very early exchanges. Akanji sends a simple sideways pass into Row Z.

2.05pm BST

3 min: Wales win the ball again, Bale sending Roberts into space down the right. His low cross is hacked clear. This is a bright start by 2016’s semi-finalists.

2.04pm BST

2 min: Switzerland spend the first minute stroking the ball around the back. But then Wales snaffle it, James sent scuttling down the left wing. He curls into the Swiss box; Sommer claims easily enough.

2.02pm BST

The captains Gareth Bale and Granit Xhaka exchange pennants and pleasantries ... a knee is taken ... then Switzerland kick off. Here’s Matt Dony: “Right. I’ve been listening to Together Stronger and Bing Bong on a loop, reminiscing about 2016, and I am ex-ci-ted! This time around, it might well be an anti-climax. Let’s be honest, 2016 was magical in part because everything was new and there were no expectations. This is a horrible group, and I’m a looooong way from being confident. But it’s happening, and I’m determined to enjoy it whatever!”

1.56pm BST

Here come the teams! Wales are in dragon red, forcing the Swiss into second-choice white. We’ll be off soon, after a blast of the Welsh national anthem ...

1.49pm BST

There are “a few hundred” Welsh fans in situ in Baku. Here are some of them, recovering from a long flight.

1.29pm BST

Rob Page talks to the BBC. “We want to get the best 11 on the pitch, and the team picks the formation. That’s what we’ve done, we had that in mind all along. We’ve used the two friendlies to get minutes into the players and get them in the right position to play today. It’s a good problem to have when you have great goalkeepers. Neither are playing domestic football so I had to go with my gut on that one; Danny Ward has played his way into the team. It was always the plan to manage Aaron Ramsey slightly differently to the rest of the group. In the main he’s trained every day, it was just when the press were here we chose to keep him off the grass. There was no concern, and he was on the team sheet. If I’m the opposing manager and I’m looking at that teamsheet ... it’s exciting on paper!”

1.22pm BST

If this game is half as much fun as last night’s, we’re in for a treat. Paul Doyle sat down to watch Italy eviscerate Turkey, remote in one hand, quill in the other. Here’s his verdict on the tournament’s - and the BBC’s - opening night.

1.01pm BST

You’ll be wanting some expert analysis, then. Here’s what to expect from the two teams this afternoon, courtesy of our expert analysts.

12.57pm BST

Kieffer Moore starts for Wales, then. Reward for his disruptive second-half performance against Albania last weekend. Danny Ward gets the nod over Wayne Hennessey in goal. The busy young trio of David Brooks, Harry Wilson and Neco Williams are held back on the bench.

There’s plenty of Premier League representation from Switzerland: Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka is captain, while Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabian Schar of Newcastle also start.

12.53pm BST

Wales: Ward, Connor Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Ben Davies, Allen, Morrell, Ramsey, Bale, Moore, James.
Subs: Hennessey, Gunter, Neco Williams, Lockyer, Wilson, Tyler Roberts, Ampadu, Norrington-Davies, Jonathan Williams, Brooks, Adam Davies, Levitt.

Switzerland: Sommer, Elvedi, Schar, Akanji, Mbabu, Xhaka, Freuler, Rodriguez, Shaqiri, Embolo, Seferovic.
Subs: Widmer, Zakaria, Vargas, Mvogo, Zuber, Sow, Fassnacht, Benito, Mehmedi, Gavranovic, Omlin, Comert.

11.58am BST

Wales waited 56 years to make it to their first European Championship finals. You know how these things happen; like Cardiff buses, a second one’s turned up immediately. Nobody’s been seriously talking about a repeat run to the semis … but then again, what’s the point in competing if there’s no room for dreaming?

It’s not as though it’s beyond the realms. Joe Allen, Gareth Bale, Ben Davies, Chris Gunter, Wayne Hennessey, Aaron Ramsey, Danny Ward and Jonny Williams are all back and ready to go again. Meanwhile there’s plenty of fresh meat – Dan James, Harry Wilson, Tyler Roberts, Neco Williams, David Brooks – and so plenty here for Rob Page to work with.

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Published on June 12, 2021 08:21

June 11, 2021

Turkey 0-3 Italy: Euro 2020 opener – as it happened

Italy scored three goals for the first time in European Championship history as they made a statement against Turkey

10.00pm BST

Jonathan Liew was in Rome to witness the triumphant return of Italy to the big tournament stage. Here’s his report! Thanks for reading this MBM. See you tomorrow afternoon for the next game in Group A between Wales and Switzerland. Nighty night!

9.58pm BST

Italy made 24 attempts at goal this evening, eight of those on target. Their front three of Insigne, Immobile and Berardi were all excellent, two of them getting on the scoresheet, the other forcing the dam-breaking own goal. The captain Chiellini was immense when called upon at the back, and nearly opened the scoring with a fine header. Jorginho kept things ticking over in the middle. Pretty much a perfect start to Euro 2020 for the Italians, who must be in with a proper shout to add to their sole 1968 victory. “This has to be the worst act of Italian aggression on Turkey since the aptly-named Treaty of Ouchy in 1912,” quips Blaise Baquiche.

9.52pm BST

Nothing comes of the corner, and that’s the end of a magnificent all-round display by Italy. They were effervescent in attack, solid as ever in defence, against a very decent Turkey side. They’re now 28 matches unbeaten, and very much up for the cup!

9.50pm BST

90 min +2: Turkey flood forward. They want a consolation. Yilmaz is suddenly sent scampering into the box down the left channel. He tries to flick across Donnarumma but Chiellini slide-blocks sensationally. Italy want that clean sheet!

9.49pm BST

90 min +1: Demiral fires a hot backpass towards Cakir, who is forced into a hysterical lash out of play. Italy’s press has had Turkey in a fluster all evening.

9.48pm BST

90 min: There will be three added minutes.

9.47pm BST

89 min: London Buses dept. Dervisoglu makes a frustrated, forward’s lunge on Barella, and is quite rightly booked.

9.46pm BST

88 min: It’s been a long time coming, but here’s the first booking of Euro 2020. Soyuncu picks it up, having jumped crudely into Bernardeschi.

9.45pm BST

87 min: Barella slides in on Calhanoglu accidentally. Painful nonetheless. A sense that both sides, having put in quite the shift, would be happy to hear the full-time whistle now, for vastly different reasons.

9.43pm BST

85 min: Meras catches Berardi on the back of the leg. No point taking chances. Italy withdraw their man, replacing him with Bernardeschi. Meanwhile here’s this MBM’s co-author Mary Waltz: “Everyone. Turn your TV volume down. Click on Coltrane’s Ole. Watch Italy dance to McCoy Tyner’s rhythmic piano line. It’s wonderful.”

9.41pm BST

83 min: Turkey, as they have done for most of the match, especially during this second half, are chasing shadows.

9.39pm BST

81 min: This is the first time Italy have ever scored three goals in a European Championship game. They’ve been more than worth it. They’ve been superb. Insigne and Immobile make way for Belotti and Chiesa.

9.38pm BST

Cakir’s poor clearance is intercepted by Berardi. The ball’s worked out left to Insigne, via some cute interplay, Immobile sending him free. Insigne opens his body and curls into the bottom right. What a move, and what a finish!

9.36pm BST

78 min: Cristante is sent scampering free down the left. His low cross is missed by Demiral and finds Berardi, who faffs about instead of shooting. Then the flag goes up for offside. No matter, though, because ...

9.34pm BST

77 min: Italy’s corner is a non-event.

9.34pm BST

76 min: Spinazzola has been excellent tonight, always in acres out on the left. Here he is again, winning a corner off Under. Before it can be taken, Dervisoglu of Brentford replaces Karaman.

9.33pm BST

75 min: Kahveci shovels a clever pass down the inside-right channel. It drops towards Yilmaz, who runs towards the right-hand post but tries to flick a header back towards the left. He doesn’t connect. If he had, there was a fair chance Donnarumma was in trouble.

9.31pm BST

74 min: Italy make their first change as Locatelli is replaced by Cristante. “I think you meant radio controlled car,” writes Felix Wood. “Remote controllers are attached by wires. You are, as ever, completely welcome.”

9.30pm BST

72 min: The Italian fans are giving it the olés as their heroes ping it around. Any old excuse...

9.29pm BST

70 min: Turkey come again, Yilmaz and Celik combining crisply down the inside right. It’s neat play, but when they reach the edge of the box, the white shirts smother them. This might be a more progressive Italy, but they’re still masters of defence as well.

9.27pm BST

69 min: Turkey need something, and quickly. Meras wins a corner down the left ... but when it’s delivered, the whistle goes for some pointless shoving.

9.25pm BST

67 min: This has been a very impressive display from Italy, who have given Turkey the complete runaround. “How times have changed,” writes Mary Waltz. “The Italy of the eighties and nineties would have taken that one goal, hunkered down in a low block, and bled out the game. Today’s Italy hunted that second goal with vigour.”

9.24pm BST

It’s fair to say this had been coming. Barella is given all the time in the world, 25 yards out. He considers a shot but feeds Berardi into space on the right instead. Berardi chips long for Spinazzola, who shoots hard at Cakir from a tight angle. The keeper parries, but only to the feet of Immobile, who lashes home from six yards.

9.22pm BST

65 min: Turkey have been looking very leggy, so they make a double change. Tufan and Yokuslu, both bedraggled, are replaced by Ayhan and Kahveci.

9.20pm BST

63 min: Immobile frees Berardi into the box with a sliderule pass down the inside left. The flag goes up for offside, incorrectly so perhaps. A let-off for Turkey there.

9.19pm BST

61 min: Insigne looks for Chiellini. Turkey swarm and bundle clear. But this is attack versus defence, and a second goal looks very much on the cards. On that subject, here’s Mary Waltz: “Turkey gave a master class on how to employ a low block. Until the moment they didn’t. Now down a goal, what do they do? OK boys, try to score after not seeing the attacking half for over half the fixture.”

9.18pm BST

60 min: Turkey have been extremely rattled by the opening goal. Soyuncu needlessly wrestles Berardi to the ground out on the right, and this is a chance for Italy to load the box.

9.16pm BST

58 min: Locatelli is given all manner of time and space, and so advances on the Turkish box. He fires for the bottom right. Cakir makes a meal of turning it around the post. Another corner comes to nothing.

9.15pm BST

57 min: Tufan ships possession cheaply, allowing Berardi to scamper towards their box. Berardi offloads to Insigne on the left. His attempted curler is blocked and deflected out for a corner. Nothing comes of the set piece.

9.13pm BST

55 min: Demiral had to make some sort of effort to clear, with Immobile lurking behind for the tap-in. The Olimpico explodes into life, and Italy have the wind behind now. Spinazzola finds a little space down the left and lashes a shot straight at Cakir from a tight angle. The keeper parries.

9.12pm BST

A bit of space for Berardi down the right. He enters the box. Meras slips, and there’s some space to romp into. Berardi fires low and hard into the centre. The ball batters off Demiral’s chest at pace, and flies into the bottom right. There was nothing Demiral could do!

9.10pm BST

51 min: Under wins the ball off a dithering Jorginho and breaks upfield at hot speed. He reaches the edge of the Italian box and sends a deflected effort towards the bottom left. Donnarumma gathers.

9.08pm BST

50 min: Meras slides clumsily into Barella and takes a hefty whack in the ribs. He looks in some pain, insisting the physio comes on to check all’s well.

9.07pm BST

48 min: Yilmaz drives down the left and feeds Under on the overlap. Di Lorenzo comes across and barges the Turkish attacker to the floor. No free kick, which looks a dubious decision, Di Lorenzo making no effort whatsoever to play the ball, stepping across his man. But we play on.

9.05pm BST

47 min: Italy are on the front foot quickly, winning a corner out on the right. They waste it in comical style, Insigne and Berardi over-elaborating, the former tapping to the latter on his right, finding him offside. That was quite special.

9.03pm BST

Italy get the second half started. Both teams have made a change. Turkey have replaced Yazici with Under of Leicester City, while Italy swap Florenzi for Di Lorenzo at right back. No remote-control car delivering the ball this time round. “Was the little car at the start Insigne’s?” quips the appropriately monickered Stephen Carr, in reference to Italy’s diminutive forward. Tell you what, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these cars takes out a player’s ankle just before kick-off. Have the operators been put through rigorous driving tests? Physios across the nation will demand to know the answer.

8.50pm BST

Half-time entertainment. Many a rabbit hole to disappear down here. Make sure you’re back in ten minutes, though.

8.48pm BST

That’s the end of the first half. Italy swarm the referee regarding that penalty kick, and are told in no uncertain style to toddle off. Everyone calms down and departs for the changing rooms.

8.47pm BST

45 min: Spinazzola dinks a cross in from the left. The ball clanks off Celik’s arm. No penalty, as the players were standing right next to each other. VAR has a quick look and eventually agrees. Referee Danny Makkelie doesn’t look particularly impressed at his work being double-checked.

8.45pm BST

44 min: ... and then it’s Turkey who suddenly look dangerous, Yilmaz chasing a long pass down the inside left and going to ground very easily upon being eased away from the ball by Chiellini. He’s very fortunate not to be booked. The good-natured response from Chiellini probably saved him there.

8.44pm BST

43 min: More Italian passing and probing. Eventually Immobile grooves his way down the inside right and larrups a shot straight at Cakir. They’re getting a little closer.

8.42pm BST

41 min: Italy are beginning to betray their frustration. Locatelli works some space down the inside-right channel but then weirdly wedges a gentle ball forward towards nobody in particular. Catching practice for Cakir.

8.40pm BST

39 min: Berardi ends a lengthy Italian passing move with a frustrated whack over the bar from distance. Turkey haven’t showed much in attack, but they’ve been accomplished in defence so far.

8.37pm BST

37 min: Insigne finds a rare pocket of space just outside the Turkish box. He opens his body and attempts a curler towards the top right. The effort is weak, straight at Cakir, who calmly collects.

8.36pm BST

35 min: Yilmaz storms down the left and curls low into the mixer. With Tufan lurking, Donnarumma improvises a low punch to clear Italy’s lines. Just for a second there, it looked like opening up for Turkey, who have been very quiet in attack.

8.34pm BST

33 min: Barella crosses from the left. Immobile rises at the far stick, ten yards out. He sends his header wide right. Had that been on target, I’m not sure Cakir was getting there, the Turkey keeper scrambling across in clear panic.

8.33pm BST

32 min: ... but now Insigne strides into the box from the left and forces Tufan to hack out for a corner. The set piece is worked back down the left wing. Jorginho curls deep. Cakir punches clear, Chiellini falling as he does so. The Italy captain wants a penalty, but the referee once again correctly says no.

8.31pm BST

31 min: Italy continue to utterly dominate without causing Turkey too many problems.

8.30pm BST

29 min: Another penalty shout as Barella cuts in from the right, enters the box, and falls upon contact with Yazici. The referee’s not interested in this, either, and rightly so, the pair coming together from the side in a 50-50 collision as they battled for the ball.

8.27pm BST

27 min: Karaman has the opportunity to send Yilmaz scampering down the right, but faffs about. A disgusted Yilmaz is flagged offside when he eventually receives a pass.

8.26pm BST

25 min: Some brief respite for Turkey, who stroke it around the back for a bit, catching their breath. Their efforts draw warm applause from their fans.

8.24pm BST

23 min: Corner take two. Bonucci wins a header, and Chiellini, hanging around on the edge of the six-yard box, tries to backflick the dropping ball into the bottom left. He gets it all wrong, and was offside anyway, but that passage of play has the crowd going again.

8.23pm BST

22 min: Italy win the first corner of the tournament out on the right. And it’s a good one, pulled back for Chiellini, who is free on the penalty spot. The old boy steers a fine header towards the top right, but Cakir fingertips over the bar spectacularly. What an effort! What a save!

8.22pm BST

21 min: Insigne claims another penalty as his shot caroms off poor Soyuncu’s trouser arrangement and up onto his forearm. That’ll hurt, but at least the referee isn’t interested.

8.20pm BST

20 min: Bonucci strides forward and tries his luck from 25 yards. No sir!

8.20pm BST

19 min: Italy continue to probe, but the Turks have packed their defence. The hosts are dominating, but still haven’t warmed Cakir’s hands.

8.19pm BST

17 min: Spinazzola crosses from the left. It hits Celik on the seat of his pants, though the crowd - and a couple of saucy Italians - claim a penalty. Nope. Italy come again, Insigne one-twoing with Berardi down the left channel and entering the area. He looks to curl across Cakir and into the top right, but doesn’t get any bend on the ball. Goal kick. The first decent half-chance of the game.

8.17pm BST

16 min: Spinazzola launches a couple of sorties down the left, then feeds Berardi, who can’t get his cross into the box. Turkey have quietened the crowd a little bit.

8.15pm BST

14 min: Jorginho prompts from deep, encouraging Barella to probe down the right. He shoots, but is closed down quickly by Soyuncu. The ball loops into the air and back down into Cakir’s arms.

8.13pm BST

12 min: A long pass down the right releases Yilmaz into space. He crosses, but there’s nobody there. Eventually Calhanoglu arrives on the scene, but only to concede a clumsy foul. The first sight of Turkey in enemy territory.

8.11pm BST

11 min: Italy are in total control here, albeit in the sterile fashion. A lot of possession, but Turkey are holding their shape and there’s no way through.

8.10pm BST

9 min: Locatelli sprays a diagonal pass towards Berardi on the right. Ambitious but not totally accurate. Cakir claims again. A nice open feel to this.

8.08pm BST

7 min: Immobile chases a Berardi pass down the inside-right channel. Cakir is out quickly to claim. An irritated Immobile shoves the covering Soyuncu in the back, causing him to fall, then gesticulate in the angry style.

8.07pm BST

6 min: Insigne spots Berardi making a move down the inside-right channel, but can’t find him with a long pass. Demiral deals with it easily enough. This is a bright start by Italy, though.

8.05pm BST

4 min: Italy are on the front foot, early doors, pressing Turkey hard. Soyuncu is forced to hack out of play in the unceremonious style. The Turkish fans then pierce the air with pantomime boos and whistles as Italy stroke it around the back.

8.03pm BST

3 min: The first effort of Euro 2020, as Florenzi chases what appears to be a lost cause down the right and pulls back from the byline. Immobile pokes a first-time effort into the side netting from a tight angle. Cakir had it covered.

8.02pm BST

2 min: Turkey are in their red shirts, Italy in white. This stadium is really rocking! One heck of a row, and the stadium’s barely a quarter full. “Just a pity we don’t get to see Italy in their famous Azzurri tonight in the Stadio Olimpico,” writes Gary Byrne. “Perhaps they’re saving it for the final at Wembley against Germany next month.”

8.00pm BST

Captains Burak Yilmaz and Giorgio Chiellini swap pennants and pleasantries. Then a hug. Then the kick-off ball is delivered by a remote-control VW. The whistle goes, and Turkey kick off Euro 2020!

7.56pm BST

Here come the teams! A sensational atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico! Turkey and Italy take to the pitch and line up for two more anthems, both delivered in a much less overwrought style than Mr Bono. Euro 2020 will, at long last, be under way very soon! “Love how there was actually a bit of a singalong to Nessun Dorma,” writes Hugh Molloy. “I guess, when in Rome...”

7.51pm BST

Now there’s a virtual gig featuring DJ Martin Garrix, Bono and The Edge. They’re singing a song called We Are The People. Going for that Ibrox dollar, perhaps. Bono cranks the humanity up to 11, as usual, and that is pretty much that.

Happy birthday to Bono, then. pic.twitter.com/L38Ep62qiA

7.47pm BST

Andrea Bocelli turns up to belt out a verse and chorus of Nessun Dorma. Operatic magnificence, conjuring bittersweet memories of Diego Maradona expertly trolling an entire nation.

7.42pm BST

“Ciao Euro! Ciao Roma!” It’s the opening ceremony ... and it’s a load of balls. Literally. One for every country, the folk holding onto them arriving to the strains of the William Tell Overture. Then some fireworks, and some flying drummers, and at least they tried.

7.37pm BST

A quick peek inside the Italy dressing room. No Azzurri this evening. They are technically the away side, after all.

7.25pm BST

Emails, then ... and what better way to start dialogue with our beloved readers than with a trifecta from Peter Oh?

“It’s really too bad that Udinese’s Kevin Lasagna didn’t make the Italy squad because the match will kick off at noon my time and Turkey Lasagna sounds delicious. Buon appetito! Afiyet olsun!”

7.17pm BST

In case you’re nowhere near a television, here are the barnstorming titles for the BBC’s coverage. They always manage to get the hairs on the back of the neck standing, and this year is no exception. Is this sort of thing important? Of course it is.

7.08pm BST

Turkey’s side is built around three of Lille’s title winners. Burak Yilmaz, 35, leads the charge up front; Yusuf Yazici patrols the left of midfield and Zeki Celik is stationed at right back. Caglar Soyuncu of Leicester makes the starting XI, but his Foxes teammate Cengiz Under is on the bench, alongside on-loan Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak. West Brom’s Okay Yokuslu also starts.

Jorginho, fresh from winning the Champions League with Chelsea, binds Italy’s midfield. Not so fresh: the defensive pairing of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, with a combined age of 70. But hey, the Azzurri haven’t conceded in their last eight matches, all won, with 25 goals flying in at the other end.

6.52pm BST

Turkey: Cakir, Celik, Demiral, Soyuncu, Meras, Yokuslu, Karaman, Tufan, Yazici, Calhanoglu, Burak Yilmaz.
Subs: Gunok, Under, Tokoz, Bayindir, Antalyali, Kabak, Unal, Kokcu, Kahveci, Ayhan, Muldur, Dervisoglu.

Italy: Donnarumma, Florenzi, Bonucci, Chiellini, Spinazzola, Barella, Jorginho, Locatelli, Berardi, Immobile, Insigne.
Subs: Raspadori, Bastoni, Sirigu, Meret, Di Lorenzo, Belotti, Pessina, Emerson Palmieri, Chiesa, Acerbi, Cristante, Bernardeschi.

6.50pm BST

Turkey have played in Rome before ... but not against Italy. They faced Spain in a two-team qualifying group for the 1954 World Cup. They lost the away leg 4-1, but won 1-0 at home, and goal difference wasn’t a factor. A play-off was necessary, and it was held on neutral ground at the Olimpico. Ten minutes before kick-off, a Fifa delegate stormed into the Spanish changing room and insisted that star man Laszlo Kubala was ineligible, on account of having previously played for Hungary and Czechoslovakia. After a trenchant debate, Kubala agreed to keep his civvies on ... but Spain could only draw 2-2, then lost a subsequent drawing of lots. Turkey went to the World Cup, while Kubala suggested Fifa hadn’t wanted to risk his facing old pals and media darlings Hungary at a tournament the Golden Team were expected to win. Fifa responded by flatly denying they’d sent a man to the changing room at all, because they simply didn’t care either way. All a bit odd, but it means historically minded Turks may look upon this as a lucky venue.

6.40pm BST

Italy coach Roberto Mancini is looking to put on a show tonight, and for the foreseeable. “After all that has happened, and now the situation is getting better, it’s about time to get back to giving some joy. This will be our goal this month. We want to entertain people even if only for 90 minutes. It would be nice for everyone. So we are here, and we will try to give our everything. The first match is always the most difficult, especially at the beginning, but we have to be mentally free, to think about what we have to do, to do our job without thinking about other stuff, to enjoy it. This must be our goal.”

6.30pm BST

The 16,000 spectators might be wasting their time. That’s because the result appears to be a done deal; Achilles the Oracle Cat has prophesied victory for Italy in tonight’s game. Achilles, one of the mousers at St Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum by day, looked into his crystal bowl this morning and started chowing down on the Italians. He’s got form, having correctly predicted the winner of the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup, then the first four matches at the following year’s World Cup. He started getting a few things wrong after that, but nobody’s perfect, and yes I did consider making that pun before thinking better of it.

6.15pm BST

Approximately 16,000 fans are expected at the game tonight, and they’re all making their way to the Olimpico with a view to making some beautiful noise. Here are some Turkish supporters not doing a particularly good job of recreating the cover of Abbey Road ...

6.00pm BST

Tonight’s opener takes place at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome ... which according to our complete guide to all the Euro 2020 stadiums “resembles a large uncovered bowl slowly sinking into its designated patch of land between the Tiber river and Monte Mario hill”. It’s not super-safe ground for the hosts. While their all-time record in Rome reads 35 wins, 18 draws and only six losses, three of those defeats have come in their last six matches here. However, they beat Greece 2-0 here in qualifying, while their finals record in the capital at the Euros and the World Cup is eight wins and two draws ... and to be fair, they won the Euro 68 final here, 2-0 against Yugoslavia, so you can look at this a few different ways.

5.45pm BST

So how should we start the Guardian’s live, up-to-the-nanosecond coverage of Euro 2020, then? That’s right, with material first published ten days ago! Hey, there’s nothing wrong with a quick refresher course.

12.09pm BST

Hello! Where on earth have you been? We’ve been waiting 364 days for you. But don’t worry, we’ve stalled everyone. Turns out you’ve arrived in the nick of time. This is going to be a blast.

Thing is, people get so het up about where in-play tournaments are going to end up in the pantheon. Endless arguments. Half-decent games are compared to the 1984 semi between France and Portugal by folk desperate to believe they’re living through a golden age; half-decent tournaments are compared to Euro 80 by the glass-half-empty edgelord crowd. The truth, we can exclusively reveal, is almost always somewhere in the middle.

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Published on June 11, 2021 14:15

June 9, 2021

The Fiver | The managerial merry-go-round is spinning so hard and fast right now

The managerial succession at Wolverhampton Wanderers was dealt with in a very calm and measured fashion. Nuno Espírito Santo serenely announced his decision to move on. A backroom administrator gently scratched the nib of a fountain pen across a sheet of quality bond paper, carefully folding the request for a work permit for Bruno Lage then sealing it with wax. The request was delivered by hand to Her Majesty’s Government who issued the required permit, and now Mr Lage has been announced as the new manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The entire process was soundtracked by an instrumental version of The Girl From Ipanema, quietly piped through the Molineux PA system at volume setting three.

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Published on June 09, 2021 07:53

June 7, 2021

The Fiver | England usually schedule this sort of farce for the end of the tournament

We’re nearly there. At the end of the week, the space-time-continuum-bothering festival of football that is Euro Not 2020 kicks off in [checks notes] Rome. It’s definitely going to happen this time, it’ll get completed for sure, nothing to worry about at all, the Spanish squad has been forced into isolation after Sergio Busquets tested positive for coronavirus and can’t play their final warm-up game as a result. No, nothing to see here, nothing to worry your pretty little head about, roll up, roll up for Uefa Euro Not 2020, Live It, For Real(TM), step right this way.

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Published on June 07, 2021 08:55

June 6, 2021

Yuka Saso wins 2021 US Women’s Open – as it happened

Yuka Saso becomes second teenager to win US OpenNasa Hataoka edged out in play-offLexi Thompson gives up five-shot lead

12.58am BST

Congratulations to Yuka Saso, the new US Women’s Open champion. She becomes only the second teenager to win the US Open, equalling the record Inbee Park set in 2008 exactly: 19 years, 11 months and 17 days. Commiserations to Nasa Hataoka, who pushed her all the way to a sudden-death play-off; also to Lexi Thompson, her back-nine collapse earning her a place in Olympic Club infamy alongside Arnold Palmer, who lost a seven-stroke lead on the back nine to Billy Casper in the 1966 men’s version. Hey, there’s worse company to find yourself in. Thanks for reading this hole-by-hole report. Nighty night!

-4: Saso, Hataoka (Saso won play-off at first sudden-death hole)
-3: Thompson
-2: Khang, Feng
E: Yin
+1: Lin, Ko, A Jutanugarn, Henderson, Park
+2: Olson, Lee6
+3: Herbin, Ganne (a)
+4: Lee, Kim, Li, Stark (a)

12.49am BST

Megha Ganne is awarded her silver medal for low amateur, then Yuka Saso is given her Mickey Wright Medal. Finally she lifts the US Open trophy, deserved reward for a sensational victory. “My dream was to be world number one and win the US Open, but I wasn’t thinking I would hold this trophy this week. I am really happy. I knew there were par fives on the last few holes and maybe I could get my chance. After 18, I felt my stomach a little ... it hurts ... I don’t know why! But I ate banana and it feels better now. This means a lot.” Then a mention for Rory McIlroy, who she has modelled her swing on. “Rory mentioned me on Instagram, saying get that trophy, so I did. Thank you Rory!” Just a lovely speech from golf’s newest superstar!

12.44am BST

Yuka Saso’s victory this week will go down as a huge surprise, though perhaps it shouldn’t: she did tie for 13th last year, after all. The manner in which she bounced back from that dismal start - double bogey at 2, double bogey at 3 - was a demonstration of top-drawer sporting moxie. Her approaches at 16 and 17 put matchplay-style pressure on Lexi Thompson, who couldn’t cope. Just a 73 on the final day, and yet it’s a performance and a victory for the ages.

12.38am BST

Saso becomes only the second teenager to win the US Open. The first: Inbee Park, who was exactly the same age, 19 years, 11 months and 17 days, when she triumphed in 2008! That is very strange; sometimes the planets just align.

12.35am BST

After being warmly congratulated by the gracious Nasa Hataoka, then drenched in champagne, an understandably emotional Yuka Saso, the 2021 US Open champion, talks to NBC. How did she bounce back from that awful start? “I was upset and my caddy talked to me. He said there are still many holes to go, so keep what I was doing the last few days and trust the process. I was just glad and thankful that I was here and able to play in this tournament. It is unbelievable! I’d like to thank my family. I wouldn’t be here without them ... [some inevitable tears] ... I’m sorry ... to all my sponsors who helped me I am thankful ... to all my friends I am really thankful ... I hope I can do more and keep this going.”

12.31am BST

A perfectly judged right-to-left birdie putt drops, and the young Filipino wins her first major at the age of 19! Who would have thought this could happen when she double-bogeyed 2 and 3?!

12.30am BST

Hataoka rolls up to three feet. A short uphill one left for par. But will she get to make it? For the third time, Saso has a putt to win the US Open!

12.28am BST

Saso has made some outrageous escapes from the rough this week, and this might be her best! Her wedge cuts crisply through the cabbage, her ball biting eight feet from the pin! She’ll have a great look at birdie, and the pressure is really on Hataoka now, because her sand wedge from the centre of the fairway is weak, only just landing on the front of the green and spinning back a little. She’ll be left with a 30-footer. She needs something special.

12.23am BST

Hataoka still with the honour. She creams her drive down the middle of the fairway, about 100 yards from the hole. Saso’s drive however leaks off to the left, takes a hard bounce, and disappears into the filth. Advantage Hataoka with the roles reversed.

12.19am BST

Yep! She hits a supremely confident par saver into the heart of the cup, and we’re going to sudden death. Back to 9 with the pair of you.

Hataoka 4-4
Saso 4-4

12.18am BST

Saso goes for it ... and seriously overcooks it! To astonished gasps, she sends a fast one six feet past, the ball always staying on the high side. Can she knock in the return and take us back to the 9th?

12.17am BST

Hataoka strides around, in preparation for the biggest putt of her life. Eventually, all decisions made, she sends a well-paced putt to kick-in distance. It was never going to drop, mind, always staying up on the right. Another par, and for the second time today, Saso will have a putt for the US Open title!

12.14am BST

Saso next. She sends hers over the flag. The ball bites and threatens to spin back, but stops pretty much dead and she’ll have a look from 20 feet. Let the putting shootout commence.

12.12am BST

Hataoka to play first. She’s 103 yards out, in thick rough, halfway up the bank on the left. She does extremely well to smash her wedge onto the fringe at the front. The ball breaks to the right but just about holds the fringe. She’s pin high, and will be pleased with that outcome. She’s left with a 30-footer.

12.09am BST

Hataoka’s tee-box radar has gone on the blink at exactly the wrong time. She hooks her hybrid into the thick stuff down the left of the second play-off hole, the 18th. Saso splits the fairway. Advantage Saso once again.

12.06am BST

Saso up first. Her putt is always missing on the high side. She’ll have a three-foot tickler coming back. Hataoka then rolls her birdie effort straight at the cup ... but it stops a dimple short. She taps in for par, but only after asking whether this is a match-play style situation. It’s not. Saso cleans up, and we’re effectively sudden death now. Meanwhile NBC inform us that Lexi Thompson has declined the kind offer of an interview, which is hardly surprising given her back-nine collapse.

Hataoka 4
Saso 4

12.01am BST

Hataoka’s lie isn’t too awful, all things considering. After some deliberation, she bumps a glorious wedge into the front of the green, her ball working right to left, ending pin high. She’ll have an uphill look at birdie from 15 feet! Saso, from the short stuff, comes up 20 feet short. Ah the ebb and flow.

11.57pm BST

NBC have a quick word with the low amateur, the extremely cheerful Megha Ganne. “No disappointment at all. I had a ton of fun, and expect to see me back here! I’m going back to school tomorrow. My friends and sister will definitely snap me back into reality.”

11.55pm BST

Here we go, then. Hataoka has the honour, and hooks her drive into the cabbage down the left. Instant advantage to Saso, who turns the screw by whistling her drive down the right-hand side of the fairway. That’s gone one hell of a way.

11.51pm BST

The play-off, then. It’s a two-hole aggregate affair, the players playing the 9th then the 18th. If they still can’t be separated, it goes to sudden death, alternating between 9 and 18.

11.48pm BST

Golf, eh? Bloody hell! Anyway, we’re guaranteed a new major champion. Nasa Hataoka, 22 from Japan, has been threatening to make the breakthrough for a while, having tied for second at the 2018 PGA and third at the same event last year. She’s also got top-ten finishes at the ANA (2020) and the US Open (2018 at Shoal Creek) already on her CV. By comparison, Yuka Saso tied for 13th at last year’s US Open, and that’s it ... though the Filipino is only 19. Or, to be exact, 19 years, 11 months and 17 days, exactly the same age Inbee Park was when she won in 2008. Park is the only teenage winner of the US Open as things stand. Is a little bit of history about to be rewritten?

11.42pm BST

Saso makes her par putt for a 73. That’s one hell of a salvage job, and she’s in a play-off with Hataoka! Meanwhile poor Thompson taps in for bogey. A 75 as uncertain as yesterday’s 66 was majestic. She shipped a five-shot lead, and while that’s not up there with Arnold Palmer’s antics here in 1966, when he lost a seven-stroke lead on the back nine to Billy Casper in the men’s version, this is going to be a tough one to process. Back in 41 with a bogey-bogey finish. Palmer never won another major after his debacle; let’s hope the same fate doesn’t befall the popular Thompson, who smiles graciously as she congratulates Saso and Ganne, who both exit the green beaming, one as low amateur, the other heading into a play-off!

-4: Hataoka (F), Saso (F)
-3: Thompson (F)
-2: Khang (F), Feng (F)

11.38pm BST

Thompson, for the par and a place in a playoff. She prods timidly at the putt, and it’s never, ever, ever reaching the hole. She laughs out loud at her mistake, but this is going to be a difficult one to get over. More on that anon, but first, Megha Ganne rattles in a par saver for a 77. Huge cheers as she’s the low amateur!

11.36pm BST

Saso prowls, though she doesn’t take too long. A putt for the US Open. She sends the ball rolling serenely towards the cup ... it’s going in ... no it’s not. It turns to the right and she’s left with, under the circumstances, an extremely testing four footer coming back up to make a play-off!

11.33pm BST

Thompson has a decent lie in the bunker. This has to go close. What if she Bob Tways it for the win? Nope. She’ll need to make a 15-footer coming back if she’s to make a play-off ... while now Saso, whose jig looked up after those double bogeys at 2 and 3, has a putt for the title!

11.31pm BST

Thompson first, from 109 yards ... and yet again she comes up short, her 9-iron dunking into the bunker at the front. The door’s ajar for Saso, who from 98 yards, lands on the dancefloor. The ball spins back, shades of Sandy at Augusta in 1988, though not quite so close. She’ll have a look at birdie from 15 feet.

11.29pm BST

Jeonguen Lee6 also pars, signing for a very disappointing final round of 76. She’s +2. Ah well, she’ll always have Charleston. Then Nasa Hataoka tidies up, and she’s carding a magnificent 68 that saw her make three birdies in the last six holes. It was so close to four. She’s set a mark at -4. Can either Saso or Thompson birdie the last to snatch it?

-4: Hataoka (F), Saso (17), Thompson (17)
-2: Khang (F), Feng (F)

11.26pm BST

Saso clips her hybrid down the middle of the very narrow 18th fairway. The pressure’s really on Thompson now. Iron for safety. She whipcracks it down the track. What a response, especially in light of what’s just happened on 17. Up on the green, Hataoka rolls her birdie effort down the green. For a sweet second, it looks like dropping, but then veers off to the right. She should tap in for a 68, but nothing’s certain in this cauldron. Before that can happen, Shanshan Feng pars for a 71. She ends the week at -2.

11.21pm BST

Thompson sends a tentative dribbler towards the hole, the ball breaking apologetically to the left. A little more pace would have taken the gentle break out of the equation. Saso taps in for birdie. And up on 18, Hataoka sends her second over the flag to 15 feet. Anything is on now!

-4: Hataoka (17), Saso (17), Thompson (17)
-2: Khang (F), Feng (17)

11.19pm BST

Saso splashes from the big bunker to three feet. That’s really cranked up some matchplay-style pressure on Thompson, who having chunked a couple of chips today, opts to take putter from off the front. She clacks it to six feet. Massive putt coming up. But beforehand, some light relief - and a huge cheer - as Megha Ganne makes her first birdie of the day. Her smile is as wide as San Francisco Bay. She’s +3.

11.15pm BST

Three putts for Megan Khang on 18, and while she’s the new clubhouse leader, the mark is only -2. Her flat stick has let her down this afternoon, though it was the four consecutive bogeys on the back nine yesterday that crushed her hopes.

11.14pm BST

Saso, having bashed a fine drive down the right side of the 17th fairway, sends her hybrid into the bunker guarding the front left of the green. Up on 18, Hataoka swishes a controlled tee shot down the middle of the very narrow fairway. And back on 17, after great deliberation, Thompson leaves her approach a club short. “I hit that real good! I was staring that down. How stupid do I look?” Some light-hearted patter with her caddy there, but you can be sure she’ll be churning inside. She needs a big up and down from the apron at the front of the green to save par.

11.08pm BST

Thompson’s lie is appalling, and she needs every fibre of her being just to lash 40 yards up the hole. She’s making a meal of this short par-five. But up on the green, Feng takes three putts from the fringe, the bogey dropping her back to -2. Hataoka, however, having dribbled her long downhill birdie effort six feet past, knocks in the return to save her par. She departs the scene with a spring in her step. Penny for the thoughts of Thompson, back up the hole, looking the other way, trying to rediscover the exact location of The Zone.

11.04pm BST

The nerves are really kicking in now. Thompson pulls her drive on 17 into the thick stuff down the left. She’ll not be able to reach from there, surely. Up on 18, Khang’s tee shot finds the cabbage down the right, but she gouges a wedge onto the green. She’s a ways from the flag, but that’s a result from where she was. Two putts, and she’ll be setting a new clubhouse lead at -3.

11.01pm BST

Feng can’t reach the par-five 17th in two from the rough. She doesn’t reach it in three, either, coming up short with her wedge. Hataoka sends her second into thick rough guarding the front, her hybrid hanging up in the breeze. It’s doubly unlucky, because she was inches away from toppling into the bunker, leaving a relatively easy splash. As it is, her ball comes out hot. She’ll have a tricky two putts for par.

10.55pm BST

Khang isn’t quite finished yet. She lands her approach at 17 a couple of feet from the cup, and tidies up for birdie. She moves to -3. Meanwhile back on 16, Thompson lets her six-foot birdie effort dribble nervously below the cup and she has to settle for par. Saso, having screeched her wedge to three feet, makes birdie. This has become very interesting indeed.

-5: Thompson (16)
-4: Hataoka (16)
-3: Khang (17), Feng (16), Saso (16)

10.49pm BST

Lexi takes a long time over her approach. Can you blame her? This is one of the biggest shots she’ll have played for a long while. She lands her wedge in the middle of the green, spin putting the brakes on and turning it left, to within six feet of the cup! Meanwhile up on 17, Hataoka whistles a drive down the middle, while Feng picks the wrong time to miss her first fairway of the day. Knowing she needs a birdie here at the very least, her shoulders drop a little.

10.45pm BST

Thompson isn’t minded to take any unnecessary risks, and lays up with her second at 16. She’s in good nick, 100 yards out, in the middle of the fairway ... which is just as well, because up on the green, Hataoka makes her birdie putt, guiding in a right-to-left slider from 12 feet, and the lead is down to one! Par for Shanshan.

-5: Thompson (15)
-4: Hataoka (16)
-3: Feng (16)

10.40pm BST

Thompson digs deep and finds a cracking drive, just when she really needed it! A big boom that gently draws round the corner. Further up the hole, Feng and Hataoka take turn to find the green in regulation. They’ll have looks at birdie from 25 and 12 feet respectively.

10.36pm BST

Thompson’s driving may have fallen out of whack, but she’s not misplaced her ability to read the speed of these greens. She rolls a monster birdie up the 15th to a couple of feet, and makes no mistake with the par saver. Two huge tee shots coming up at the back-to-back par fives, though, and her big stick has been misbehaving since the turn.

-5: Thompson (15)
-3: Hataoka (15), Feng (15)
-2: Khang (16), Saso (15)

10.33pm BST

Ko Jin-young, the 2019 winner of both the ANA and the Evian, cards a 69 and joins Xiyu Lin in the clubhouse lead at +1. Meanwhile on 16, Megan Khang can’t save her par, shoving the putt right, the ball lipping out. Slipping back to -2, the jig may be up for the likeable and relatable 23-year-old from Massachusetts. She responds to events by blowing a raspberry.

10.29pm BST

Saso finds the green at the par-three 15th, but conservatively so. It’s a long two putts for par from the front, with the pin near the back. Thompson, the nerves beginning to jangle, only just gets on as well. Up on 16, Khang comes up a bit short with a chip from the fringe, and she’ll have a six-foot test to save par.

10.24pm BST

First up, her playing partner Saso nearly drains a 30-footer for birdie. While she’s doing that, a huge roar crackles across the Lake Course. Turns out it’s only - only! - Celine Herbin holing out from a bunker on 18 (she signs for a 71 and finishes at +3) but that’s surely going to send Thompson’s mind racing. What’s happened there, then? Is somebody eating into her lead? No - neither Hataoka nor Feng can make their birdie putts at 15 - but she can’t make her par saver, and now that lead is down to two.

-5: Thompson (14)
-3: Khang (15), Hataoka (15), Feng (15)
-2: Saso (14)
-1: Yin (15)

10.19pm BST

Thompson is in danger of opening the door here. She hits a heavy chip and is left with a 15-footer for her par. Big putt coming up.

10.17pm BST

Thompson’s lie is not the best, but not the worst either. She’s able to whip hard up the track, the ball bouncing off into the first cut on the left, just in front of the green. That’s a decent effort, all told, though it’s a big up and down coming up. On 15, Hataoka sends her tee shot over the flag, the ball holding the back of the green. She’ll have a look from ten feet at a third consecutive birdie. Her playing partner Feng finds the heart of the green, straight but well short. And on 16, Khang blooters a drive down the middle. What she’d give to take back yesterday’s back nine of 40. She’s shown great spirit to keep fighting after that.

10.13pm BST

Thompson’s tee-box satnav is still on the blink. She takes 3-wood at 14 and sends a huge slice into more thick nonsense down the right. You can’t be driving like this round here, and expect to win the US Open. Then again, this is what Saso was doing yesterday, and she got away with it pretty much every time. Lexi would take more of the same right now. Meanwhile up on 14, Hataoka creams her second to four feet en route to back-to-back birdies. She’s -3.

10.10pm BST

Thompson pulls her very makeable birdie putt at 13 left of the cup. She’ll have to settle for par. Up on 15, Khang whips a delicate chip from the back to three feet and tidies up for par; that’s a fine up and down from a tight spot.

10.04pm BST

On the par-three 15th, Khang is 12 inches short of slam-dunking her tee shot into the cup for an ace. But it bounds past and into the thick stuff at the back. On the par-three 13th, Thompson fires a brave tee shot straight at the flag, and leaves herself an eight-foot uphill birdie putt. All smiles again, after a couple of nervous holes. And Xiyu Lin of China signs for a 67 that gives her the early clubhouse lead at +1. This’ll be the 25-year-old’s best finish in a major by some distance.

10.01pm BST

Before Khang can tidy up on 14, Nasa Hataoka takes aim from the fringe at 13. She sends an oscillating effort into the cup for birdie, and the 22-year-old Japanese star, who already has four top-ten finishes to her name in the majors, gets properly involved in this tournament. Bogey for Lee6, though. Then Khang makes her birdie, and this leaderboard is beginning to look rather interesting.

-6: Thompson (12)
-3: Khang (14), Feng (13)
-2: Hataoka (13), Saso (12)
-1: Yin (14)
E: Lee6 (13)

9.56pm BST

Thompson elects to putt from the hill at the back of 12. Great decision. She judges the length perfectly, lagging it from 40 feet to 18 inches. She scrambles a nerve-settling par to remain at -6. A two-putt par for Feng on 13. And up on 14, there’s a textbook birdie for Megan Khang, who batters a drive down the middle, then sends her second similarly straight, to a couple of feet. She’ll have that for a birdie and share of second.

9.51pm BST

Thompson takes her sweet time over her second. Not sure this over-thinking is doing her any good. Her ball comes out hot and rolls down the hill at the back of the green. That’s where Feng found herself, ending up with bogey. Speaking of Shanshan, she’s just found the heart of the par-three 13th. Nowhere near the flag, but look what happened to Angel Yin when she failed to find the green.

9.48pm BST

The tension has been cranked up all across the Lake Course. Thompson sends a slice into the thick stuff down the right of 12. This is no time for her driver to start malfunctioning, not on a course as penal as this.

9.46pm BST

Thompson may have stumbled, but those around her are making mistakes too. Feng can’t make her par saver on 12. Yin meanwhile takes three putts on her way to a double at the 144-yard par-three 12th. And while Lexi was making a mess of 11, Saso was bogeying it too, punishment for overhitting a chip from the back of the green and sending her ball toppling down a ridge. The back nine on Sunday at a major championship, ladies and gentlemen!

-6: Thompson (11)
-3: Feng (12)
-2: Khang (13), Saso (11)
-1: Yin (13), Hataoka (12) Lee6 (12)

9.41pm BST

Thompson’s lead is suddenly only two. Her monster par putt breaks six feet to the right, then for the first time she prods with great uncertainty at a putt, sending it bobbling to the right of the cup. Her first double of the week, and suddenly this tournament takes on a different complexion.

-6: Thompson (11)
-4: Feng (11)
-3: Yin (12)
-2: Khang (13), Saso (11)

9.38pm BST

Feng’s second into 12 bounds over the back. She gives the subsequent chip too much. “Sit! Sit!” The ball does not sit. She’ll have a 12-footer coming back for par. Meanawhile on the par-three 13th, trouble for Yin, whose tee shot tipples down the swale to the left of the green. Shortsided, she tries to stun her chip into the bank, hoping it’ll take all the pace out of it ... but her aim is poor and the ball flies through the green. A long par putt remains.

9.34pm BST

Thompson takes a long time over her chip. She steps away from it a couple of times, clearly in two minds. Unsettled, it’s no huge surprise when she chunks it. Time to regroup, because things can unravel quickly around the Olympic Club. Big putt from the fringe, in more ways than one, coming up. Meanwhile the first-round leader Mel Reid is in with her second 78 of the weekend, and finishes the week at +12.

9.30pm BST

It’s not the greatest of lies. Thompson hacks out hard, but she can’t get the ball to the green. She’s a good 30 yards short. A big up-and-down attempt coming up.

9.25pm BST

Feng launches a 5-iron straight at the flag on 11. That’s a fine shot, and she’ll get a look at birdie from ten feet. She doesn’t make the putt, though, the ball breaking off to the left on its last turn, and the chance to reduce the lead to three is gone. Back on the tee, Thompson pulls her drive into the thick stuff down the left. A slight look of concern washes across her face as she imagines the lie.

9.21pm BST

Thompson misreads the line, the ball breaking well left, but pace is her friend. Perfectly judged, and she’s left with a two-footer to tidy up. Which she does, without fear or fuss. For a player who has often succumbed to nerves from short distances, she’s holding herself together wonderfully. There doesn’t seem a chink in her armour this week, though the back nine at a major is different terrain.

9.16pm BST

A three-putt bogey for Khang on 11. Her putter’s let her down again, for the second time in three holes. She’s -2. Meanwhile a minor mistake by the leader on 10, as Thompson leaves a wedge short of the green from 70 yards. She’s left with a 30-foot putt across a ridge.

9.11pm BST

A long birdie putt for Feng on 10 comes up short. Par. She’s -4. Up on 11, Yin sends an arrow straight at the flag and leaves herself a six-foot look for birdie. But she sends a fidgety effort to the right, and that’s a huge chance to grab a share of second spurned.

9.05pm BST

Thompson sends her second at 9 to ten feet, then looks to have made the birdie putt. The ball inexplicably stays up, teetering on the right-hand edge of the cup. You’d expect it to topple, but it’s not cooperating, and she’s forced to tap in for par. Still, she’s out in 34, which compares favourably to her partners Saso (38) and Ganne (41). Thompson remains four in front at -8.

8.59pm BST

Nasa Hataoka rattles in a right-to-left 20-footer on 9, and that’s her second birdie in three holes. She’s back to -2. She’s going round with Shanshan Feng, who has now grabbed second spot all for herself after sending her approach to four feet and tidying up for birdie. Back down the hole, Thompson splits the fairway with a booming 3-wood. And up on 10, Khang sends her second pin high to eight feet, and knocks in the birdie putt. It only just drops, mind. That needed every single joule of energy. She smiles at her caddy and mimes a heart flutter. Khang is great value.

-8: Thompson (8)
-4: Feng (9)
-3: Yin (10), Khang (10), Saso (8)
-2: Hataoka (9)
-1: Lee6 (9)

8.49pm BST

Saso chips delicately to a couple of feet. What an up and down! The 19-year-old Filipino has responded excellently to those back-to-back doubles early in her round. For a while it looked as though her head was spinning, but she’s showing real moxie here. Thompson meanwhile leaves her long birdie putt four feet short, and here comes the first test for a player whose flat stick has misbehaved in the past. No problem! In it goes. The gap’s still five.

8.44pm BST

With shots in hand, Lexi can afford to play smart. Saso has to go for the pin at the par-three 8th. It’s tucked away front left, and though she sends it close, her ball bounds into the rough. Shortsided and in the thick stuff, that’ll be one heck of a chip to face. Thompson responds by aiming for the middle of the green. No point looking for trouble.

8.39pm BST

Another birdie for Angel Yin! She steers a right-to-left slider into the cup at 9 from 20 feet, and hits the turn in 31. She grabs a share of second with Feng and Saso at -3. They all should be joined by Yin’s playing partner Megan Khang, but she pulls a short birdie effort and admonishes herself in the theatrical style.

8.34pm BST

Thompson, at the back of 7 in regulation, cradles her long birdie putt to kick-in distance. No need to race heroically at the hole with a five-shot advantage over Feng ... and Saso, who begins to repair all that early damage by draining a 25-footer for her first birdie of the day.

-8: Thompson (7)
-3: Feng (7), Saso (7)
-2: Yin (8), Khang (8)

8.27pm BST

An up-and-down few minutes for the penultimate group. Nasa Hataoka bounces back from double bogey on 6 with birdie at 7. She’s -1, as is Jeongeun Lee6, whose putter has proved problematic all week; three putts on 7 and the 2019 winner is heading in the wrong direction today, two over for her round. The third member of the group, Shanshan Feng, pars both holes in her usual steady style, though nearly drained a long birdie effort on 7. She remains five off at -3.

8.18pm BST

Brooke Henderson is having a good day. Birdies at 5 and now 8 have brought her up to level par for the tournament. How the 2016 PGA champion will rue that inexplicable second round of 78. She’s been on top of her game otherwise, posting 68 on Thursday and 69 yesterday. Meanwhile back on 6, pars for Thompson (-8), Ganne (+2) and Saso (-2).

8.14pm BST

Angel Yin already has a second-place finish at the US Open to her name. The 22-year-old from LA came in behind Jeongeun Lee6 at Charleston in 2019, and she’s bothering the top end of the leaderboard again. Having birdied 1, she sends her second at the short par-four 7th into thick rough down the left. No bother! Out comes the wedge, and she flips onto the green, her ball rattling into the cup at a very satisfying velocity. She joins the group tied for third at -2.

8.05pm BST

A huge smile plays across Thompson’s face as she reacts to that sensational shot. She’s really enjoying herself this week, explaining that she’s been trying to rein in the intensity, to the point of her being more than happy to stop and sign autographs during her round. In goes the birdie putt, and she’s in total control of this US Open right now. Nothing’s over yet, mind you, as the experience of Arnold Palmer, who lost a seven-stroke lead here on the back nine to Billy Casper in the 1966 men’s version, will amply illustrate.

-8: Thompson (5)
-3: Feng (5)
-2: Khang (6), Hataoka (5), Lee6 (5), Saso (5)

7.59pm BST

One of the shots of the week by Lexi Thompson! She’s out of position down the left of 5, in thick rough, a low-hanging branch in the road. She whips out, sending the ball wide right before drawing it back into the front of the green. It bumbles up to a couple of feet, one of those lovely, serene, inevitable golfing journeys. She’ll have that to go five clear of Shanshan Feng.

7.54pm BST

Another wild drive by Ganne, and she’s forced to pitch out sideways from behind a tree at 5. A little backwards, in fact. She had no other shot. Having found the fairway, she arrows her third at the flag, but the ball takes one bounce into thick greenside rough and disappears. One yard longer, and that would have been very close. She holds her head in her hands. It’s all good experience from the university of life, before she goes to actual university at Stanford.

7.50pm BST

Lee6 gets up and down from distance at 5 to limit the damage to bogey. A lovely sand wedge in from 80 yards to ten feet. Her second spot is taken by Shanshan Feng, who has been going along very steadily: 15 pars yesterday, four to start today, and now birdie at 5. Pars all round at 4 in the final group. These are the only players now under par for this tournament:

-7: Thompson (4)
-3: Feng (5)
-2: Khang (5), Hataoka (5), Lee6 (5), Saso (4)

7.45pm BST

To illustrate how difficult the Lake Course is playing today, only 12 players from a field of 66 are in red figures for their round. Only two of that dozen are more than one shot to the good: Celine Herbin (through 7, +1 overall) and last year’s joint runner-up Amy Olsen (through 6, level par overall). This will be Herbin’s best performance in a major by far; the 38-year-old from France’s previous best is a tie for 46th at the PGA.

7.39pm BST

Lee6, currently No2, hooks her tee shot at 5 into big trouble. The thickest rough, from which she barely advances her ball an inch. Take two finds the fairway. Bogey will be a good score from here. Back on 4, Thompson splits the fairway, then arrows her second to 12 feet. She’ll have a great look at birdie, and everything is falling into place for the 2014 Dinah Shore champion here.

7.34pm BST

Megan Khang would be an extremely popular winner. When it was all turning to dust on the back nine yesterday, she battled on with a smile, and that birdie / scrambled par finish, both holes celebrated in carefree style, might stand her in good stead. That’s because, having bogeyed 2, she’s gone on to birdie 3 and now 5, rolling in from 30 feet, to join the group at -2.

7.30pm BST

A huge putt here for Thompson, who gently strokes her 12-footer into the cup to scramble par. All of a sudden, she’s got a four-stroke lead ... over Lee6. Saso makes it back-to-back doubles after pushing her bogey putt wide right. Par for Ganne, stopping the rot to great acclaim.

-7: Thompson (3)
-3: Lee6 (4)
-2: Hataoka (4), Feng (4), Saso (3)

7.26pm BST

Thompson chips her second straight at the flag, but it’s not firm enough and she’s left with a 12-footer for par. Saso’s stuttering start continues as she blasts high out of the sand, but a good 25-feet past the hole. She leaves the long par putt five feet short, too. Ganne meanwhile hangs around patiently as the pair go about their business, having settled herself with a lovely tee shot over the flag to six feet.

7.21pm BST

“That was so bad.” Thompson reacts to her 8-iron into the par-three 3rd, which she hits heavy, her ball ending way short of the green and to the right. She’s not in quite so much trouble as Saso, who dunks her effort into a deep bunker. The leading pair are dragging each other down at the minute. It’s not easy closing out a major championship, is it.

7.17pm BST

Saso’s chip into 2, her fourth, isn’t all that, leaving a 30-foot putt for bogey. She very nearly rolls it in, but the ball sticks on the lip. A double. Ganne’s third from the fringe rolls 12 feet past, and results in a bogey. A double bogey, bogey start for the 17-year-old amateur. The crowd fall sadly silent as their young hero slips to level par. Thompson also drops a stroke, failing to get up and down from the front, her saver stopping a dimple short, just like Ganne’s.

-7: Thompson (2)
-4: Saso (2)
-3: Lee6 (3)
-2: Hataoka (3), Feng (3)
-1: Stark (4), Khang (4)
E: Olson (5), Yin (4), Ganne (2)

7.11pm BST

While the 2nd takes chunks out of the final group, the Swedish amateur Maja Stark rolls in a 15-footer on 4 for another birdie. She’s -1. Then back on 3, Lee6 bounces back from bogey by snaking in a monster putt from off the front of 4. That’s a real momentum shifter! She’s back to -3, and may find herself even closer to the leaders in a couple of minutes’ time.

7.08pm BST

Lexi, in the rough on the other side of the hole, follows Ganne in sending a chaser towards the front of the green. It’s about all either player could do. Finally it’s the turn of Saso, who appears to be in about 22 minds about what to do. She eventually hacks through the thick nonsense, but only manages to advance her ball 50 yards or so, still in the deep rough. She can only hack back out to the fairway, and will need to get up and down from 50 yards for bogey.

7.04pm BST

Saso’s ball is snagged in all sorts of Olympic-standard filth. Halfway up a bank, too. She’s got to decide whether to take her medicine and chip out sideways, or just go for the green with one big gouge. She’s got the power, it might be worth going for it, given there’s no certainty in the sensible option either. A big moment coming up, early doors. She’d take bogey now, if offered, you’d imagine. Ganne meanwhile only just missed the fairway with her drive, but the rough is so lush, she does extremely well to chase her ball up to the fringe.

7.02pm BST

That wasn’t a great putt by Thompson, in truth. A bit off the toe, the ball squirting a couple of crucial millimetres to the right. She sends her drive at 2 into the first cut down the left. Not ideal, but nowhere near as bad as Saso, who sends a huge slice miles right. By all accounts she’s modelled her swing on Rory McIlroy, whose recent major-championship travails open up a world of comedic possibility here. Up on the green, it’s a three-putt bogey for Lee6.

6.56pm BST

Thompson tickles her putt up to the lip, but it stubbornly refuses to drop. No matter, that’s an opening birdie and she’s extended her lead over Saso, who does well to get up and down from the back. Ganne can’t manage it, though, and it’s a double-bogey seven. A nightmare start for the young amateur, who flings her putter onto her bag in her first show of frustration all week.

-8: Thompson (1)
-6: Saso (1)
-3: Lee6 (1)
-2: Hataoka (1), Feng (1)
-1: Ganne (1)

6.52pm BST

Saso lays up at 1, only to send her wedge over the back of the green. Ganne - who doesn’t hang about, playing at the sort of speed that would make Brooks look like Bryson - clips what seems a perfectly judged fourth towards the flag, but it keeps on rolling and topples off alongside Saso. “Aw come on!” shouts someone in the crowd. The gallery has had her back all week, and they’re not about to abandon the effervescent amateur now.

6.48pm BST

Ganne has been ice-cool all week, but the nerves may have finally caught up with her. She’s forced to take her medicine and chip back out onto the 1st fairway, then slices her third into the gallery down the right. It’s a complete contrast to the way Thompson is playing the hole: she takes advantage of her big drive by lashing a long iron straight at the flag, the ball rolling serenely to ten feet or so, setting up an eagle chance. As statements of intent go, that’s a doozy. The putter often goes cold on Thompson; if she makes this, she might decide that it’s going to be her day.

6.45pm BST

Birdie for Nasa Hataoka on the 1st. Pars for Shanshan Feng and Jeongeun Lee6, the latter knocking in a six-foot saver that should give her succour after yesterday’s putting woes. The flat stick has been letting the 2019 winner down this week.

6.39pm BST

Here comes the marquee grouping! The 17-year-old amateur Megha Ganne is up first. A slightly nervous smile turns into a broad one as the gallery welcome her with a huge cheer. She was a bit wayward off the tee yesterday, and that continues here as she sends her drive well right. Yuka Saso is up next. She was also all over the shop with the big stick yesterday, but her first drive splits the fairway. Finally it’s the leader Lexi Thompson. She’s not won on Tour for nearly two years, so some nerves would be understandable, but she obliterates one down the track. That’s gone miles. Everyone’s out, then. This is on!

6.33pm BST

Megan Khang needs a fast start today. She was right up there yesterday afternoon, until four consecutive bogeys between 13 and 16 sent her crashing down the leaderboard. Her spirit didn’t break, though, and she celebrated birdie at 17 with a smile and an ironic celebration, then did the same, with added laughter, upon draining a par saver on the last. The only way to respond to a nightmare back nine, as she came home in 40. She immediately sets up a straight 15-foot birdie chance this morning, but pulls it wide left. So much for springing out of the blocks. She remains at -1.

6.26pm BST

In just about any other year - one without the sensational antics of Megha Ganne - we’d all be talking about Maja Stark. The 21-year-old amateur from Sweden has been hovering on the periphery this week, posting rounds of 71, 70 and 73. She’s birdied 1 this morning, too, and currently stands at level par for the tournament. As things stand, she’s tied for eighth place. Normally this is nosebleed territory for an amateur, but Stark has been there, done that: she tied for 13th on debut last year.

6.15pm BST

Before the leading contenders take to the stage, word of the first-round leader Mel Reid. A 67 on Thursday sparked talk of a possible maiden major for the 33-year-old from Derby. She looked focused, bang in the zone, a study in determination. But all that intensity must have been mentally exhausting. A disappointing 73 on Friday, then a strange 78 yesterday that variously featured a shank, a whiffed chip and a hole-out from 100 yards for eagle. Out of contention, she’s already carded a couple of bogeys today, at 2 and 4, and has slipped down to +7. But when it all comes down, this week should give her plenty of confidence going forward. As a late bloomer in the majors, compared to your Lexis, Inbees and Lydias, she’s trending in the right direction. Glory soon?

6.02pm BST

The tee times for the final groups at the business end of this US Open, then. All BST.

5.59pm: Kim Hyo-joo, Maja Stark (a), Brooke Henderson
6.11pm: Megan Khang, Inbee Park, Angel Yin
6.23pm: Jeongeun Lee6, Shanshan Feng, Nasa Hataoka
6.35pm: Lexi Thompson, Yuka Saso, Megha Ganne (a)

3.28pm BST

It almost defies belief that Lexi Thompson has only one major title to her name. When she won the Kraft Nabisco in 2014 at 19, it was assumed that she’d start racking up the slams with Sorenstamian regularity. But for one reason and another, it’s never quite happened. Three second places in the majors, three thirds, 16 top-ten finishes. It’s about that time, and yesterday’s flawless 66 was carpe-diem stuff. This is the first time she’s led the US Open after any round, a stat that might not say much about most 26-year-olds, but Thompson first played in this tournament in 2007 at the precocious age of 12. This is her 15th consecutive appearance. Is she finally going to land major number two?

Yuka Saso is best placed to stop her. The powerful Filipino spent most of yesterday’s round driving like Seve, but no matter, thanks to her ability to gouge back into position, as though the penal Olympic Club rough wasn’t there, and her scrambling skills around the greens; she chips a bit like Seve, too. If she wins today, she’ll join Inbee Park as the only teenage winner of the US Open. Park won in 2008 at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days; that’s Saso’s exact age today. Some things seem written.

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Published on June 06, 2021 16:58

June 5, 2021

Wales 0-0 Albania: international friendly – as it happened

Wales concluded their warm-up programme for Euro 2020 with an underwhelming but feisty workout at the Cardiff City Stadium

7.08pm BST

Ben Fisher was at the Cardiff City Stadium, and his report has landed. You know what to do! Thanks for reading this MBM, and the best of luck to Wales in Baku and, hopefully, beyond.

7.05pm BST

Rob Page speaks to S4C. “There are no injuries, and we’ve got minutes into the players who needed a top-up. It’s always been about next week. We’ve got through unscathed, and we’re all on the plane on Monday looking forward to it. I have a pretty good idea [what the starting XI against Switzerland will be] so we’re pretty set with it. Barring any reactions, we have our plan. We were better in the second half, but irrespective of formations, if you do the basics right - which we didn’t do in the first half, I thought we were quite sloppy at times - it helps and we created a few chances. There was a lap of appreciation for us to say thanks to the fans for being so patient, it’s been an absolute nightmare for them. We’re all in it together, and we can’t wait.”

6.54pm BST

Ben Davies speaks to Sky Sports. “It was a tough game. I don’t think everything went our way, but we’d rather it go that way now, than in the tournament. There’s a lot to work on this week, but no injuries is the most important thing. It was a proper game for a friendly, but we came through it fine. We’ve had a good few weeks of prep and we’re ready to get started in the tournament.”

6.52pm BST

It was a feisty affair. Both sides could easily have had a couple of men sent packing, but the referee managed to keep a lid on it. Just about. Wales will be happy to have kept a clean sheet, one that extends their unbeaten home run to 13. They’ll also be pleased with the performance of their second-half subs: Kieffer Moore, Harry Wilson, Jonny Williams and, of course, Gareth Bale injected some much-needed sass into the performance. Neco Williams had a couple of moments as well, coming as close as anyone to breaking the deadlock. Wales will leave for the Euros in good spirits. Baku ahoy!

6.47pm BST

No point using up all your goals / luck before the big event, right?

6.46pm BST

90 min +1: The game sputters out.

6.45pm BST

90 min: There will be two added minutes.

6.45pm BST

89 min: His players give it one last go. Some neat triangles are drawn down the left. Jonny Williams stands one up for Moore, who can’t quite get anything away. Wales have looked lively since the slew of substitutions. They’ve been much improved in this second half.

6.43pm BST

87 min: In his pre-match interview, Rob Page insisted this wasn’t really about the result. Nevertheless, he’s pacing around with a frown on, desperate for the winner that would see his team sent off to Baku with cheers ringing in their ears.

6.42pm BST

85 min: A rousing performance of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau by the 6,000-strong choir. You make your own amusement when nothing else is going on.

6.40pm BST

83 min: A melee as Laci comes through the back of Jonny Williams, who springs up and squares up. A huge melee is the inevitable result. Once the comic-book cloud of dust with fists and boots poking out of it dies down, Laci is booked, along with his captain Abrashi and a slightly confused Mepham.

6.37pm BST

81 min: Another corner; Wilson’s delivery isn’t up to much this time. Wales are pressing hard for the feelgood winner.

6.36pm BST

80 min: Abrashi slides in on Johnny Williams, who springs up and performs the internationally recognised mime for Calm Down. The referee steps between them, just in case.

6.34pm BST

78 min: Moore is stopped illegally as he works his way down the right. Free kick. Wilson loops it in. Selmani punches clear, and wins a free kick for falling over, as keepers do.

6.33pm BST

77 min: Another Albanian sub, as Seferi replaces Manaj.

6.33pm BST

76 min: More changes. Jonny Williams replaces Brooks, while Bare comes on for Laci and Kallaku replaces Cekici.

6.31pm BST

74 min: In latest London Bus news, we’ve waited 73 minutes for an effort on target, now there’s been two in 60 seconds. Bale crosses from the left, Moore slaps a header straight at the keeper.

6.29pm BST

73 min: ... the ball’s worked out to Williams, who creams a shot from the edge of the D towards the top right. Selmani claims in unorthodox fashion, clawing the ball behind him then dropping to smother. That’s the first effort on target by either side.

6.28pm BST

72 min: Brooks and Wilson take turn to shoot at goal. Both efforts are blocked. Bale then makes his first contribution, winning a corner down the left. From which ...

6.27pm BST

71 min: With perfect showman’s timing, Bale comes on for Roberts. The assembled 6,000 do their level best to take the roof off the Cardiff City Stadium.

6.25pm BST

70 min: ... and they’re singing loud and long for Gareth Bale.

6.24pm BST

68 min: Harry Wilson looks in the mood for this. He drops a shoulder to shimmy his way down the inside-right channel, but doesn’t quite catch his shot, which is pulled harmlessly wide right. That’s pumped the crowd up even more, though.

6.22pm BST

66 min: Selmani goes walkabout down the right flank! He’s barged off the ball by Moore, and is pretty lucky to hear the referee’s whistle. That looked a fair charge, and Moore would have had a clear run towards an open goal.

6.21pm BST

65 min: The crowd are doing their bit. Plenty of beautiful noise. Not so much happening on the pitch right now.

6.20pm BST

63 min: So that’s taken the sting out of the game. Wales were beginning to put a bit of pressure on for the first time, too, Abrashi at one point nearly deflecting a low Roberts left-wing cross into his own net.

6.18pm BST

61 min: Substitutions galore. Wales replace Ramsey, Allen and Davies with Rodon, Wilson and Smith. Albania swap Lenjani and Balaj for Trashi and Cikalleshi.

6.16pm BST

58 min: Norrington-Davies shoves Manaj over the touchline near the dugout. Manaj clatters into his manager, who falls over. Edoardo Reja is 75 years old. The shove was clearly deliberate, though he almost certainly wasn’t trying to clean out the manager; even so, Norrington-Davies is lucky to escape with a yellow.

6.12pm BST

56 min: Ramsey picks out Brooks down the right. A lovely sliderule pass down the channel. Brooks pulls back to nobody in particular. Wales come again, Brooks this time sending a high ball into the mixer. Selmani claims on his line.

6.11pm BST

55 min: Neco Williams gets fed up of the sterile possession, and tries to blooter home from 30 yards. It’s always heading over the bar, but not by much, and there was plenty of venom behind it. He’s good fun to watch when he slips into Attack Mode.

6.09pm BST

54 min: See 52 min.

6.08pm BST

52 min: Wales ping it around for a while. All very pretty, though they never look like advancing into Albania’s final third.

6.06pm BST

50 min: A corner for Albania is half-cleared. Brooks inexplicably decides to juggle the ball on the edge of his own box, and is quickly stripped of possession. Djimsiti whistles a first-time shot miles over the bar.

6.05pm BST

49 min: A long ball down the Albanian inside-right channel. Manaj threatens to tear clear, and is caught by Davies. That looked an obvious foul, and Davies was the last man, but the referee decides to do nothing at all. Wales using up some karmic credit for the Neco Williams dismissal on Wednesday there.

6.03pm BST

48 min: With the arrival of Moore, may we direct you to this?

6.02pm BST

47 min: Ismajli steps on Ramsey’s foot. The stadium falls silent as the star midfielder stays down ... but then there’s a warm ripple of applause as he gets back up. Hopefully a sore whack, nothing more.

6.00pm BST

Wales get the second half underway. They’ve replaced Ampadu with Moore, while Albania have swapped Doka for Veseli.

5.50pm BST

Pre-tournament preparation. Ahead of the Euros, history buffs are advised to bone up on 60 years and 15 tournaments’ worth of action with Euro Summits: The Story of the European Championship by Jonathan O’Brien. Breezy yet comprehensive, fun but authoritative, think of it as a perfect companion piece for Cris Freddi’s famous Complete Book of the World Cup, and I can’t think of praise too much higher than that. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.

5.47pm BST

There’s just enough time for Doka to take exception to a shove in the back from Norrington-Davies, keeper Selmani stepping in to keep the peace. And that’s the end of a first half in which Albania looked the more likely. Some half-time changes to come, I’ll be bound.

5.45pm BST

45 min: Williams sashays in from the right, evading a couple of challenges and getting the crowd going. Just as things look to open up, as he nears the penalty box, he miscontrols. A shame.

5.44pm BST

44 min: Bare tries to dribble out from the back but is pressed back by Brooks and Roberts. He eventually slips over and concedes a corner. It’s Wales’ first, and it’s a total non-event.

5.42pm BST

42 min: Wales establish a little more control, though only by lowering the intensity. They go nowhere as a result.

5.40pm BST

40 min: Brooks whips a ball in from the left. Ramsey slides in to meet at the near post, but can’t get his effort on target. That’s as dangerous as Wales have looked.

5.39pm BST

39 min: Ampadu hasn’t had a good game so far, but this is much better. Lenjani crosses deep from the left again, and Manaj is waiting to head home. He wins the aerial duel, nodding out for a corner, from which nothing develops.

5.38pm BST

38 min: But it all calms down quickly enough. Manaj is booked for getting involved in the thick of it, as is Brooks, who was brave in taking on the much larger Djimsiti, if nothing else.

5.37pm BST

36 min: Brooks and Djimsiti go forehead to forehead after a minor disagreement over a throw-in. A donnybrook threatens to break out.

5.35pm BST

34 min: Suddenly things open up for Wales, with Ramsey in acres on the edge of the box, screaming for the pass. Ampadu tries to feed it down the inside-right channel. Ramsey would be through on goal, but Ampadu slips and hoicks out for a goal kick. Ramsey is furious, and no wonder; that was a simple pass, and neither Welsh player was under any pressure whatsoever. A big chance spurned.

5.33pm BST

32 min: Davies tries to get something going by launching long. The keeper Selmani claims with nobody in red anywhere near him. Other than this, he’s had nothing to do.

5.30pm BST

30 min: Albania are pinging it around nicely. They look much better than their world ranking of 66 suggests.

5.29pm BST

28 min: Albania win the first corner of the match, reward for Lenjani’s deep cross, Mepham forced to head behind. Balaj can’t get a header on target, and Wales look to break through Allen. He’s shoved over cynically by Ismajli, who takes a booking for the team. That promised to be a dangerous counter.

5.27pm BST

26 min: There hasn’t been much for Wales to shout about so far, but here’s to a lovely pirouette out on the left, a dragback and spin that allows him to escape from a couple of men in one elegant move. It leads to nothing, but there’s nothing wrong with art for art’s sake.

5.24pm BST

24 min: Ampadu and Balaj clatter into each other. That’s a hefty 50-50 challenge, both men going into it at full pelt, and for a second it looks like the Welsh defender is hurt. Happily, he gathers himself and is soon up and about again.

5.23pm BST

22 min: Cekici is brought to ground by Roberts, who you suspect would be booked for the late slide in a competitive fixture. The referee merely ticks him off and awards the foul. Cekici gets up and flays the free kick deep into the stand, much to the annoyance of his manager Edoardo Reja, a friend and former team-mate of Fabio Capello at SPAL ... but we digress.

5.21pm BST

20 min: This is better, though, as Ramsey slips a ball down the inside-right channel for Brooks, who knocks the ball past Djimsiti and nearly breaks through. The Albanian defender stands firm, though, closing the door just in time.

5.19pm BST

18 min: Roberts tries to kick-start his team with some determined buzzing around as Albania play around at the back. He doesn’t achieve much, other than a block which flies back to the opposition, but his efforts draw a warm round of applause from the 6,000-strong crowd. They’ve had little else to cheer so far.

5.17pm BST

17 min: Albania should be ahead. A simple ball down the inside-right channel for Manaj. He barges Mepham out of the way with alarming ease and enters the box, only to send a rising shot well over the bar. A huge let-off for Wales, who need to wake up quicksmart.

5.16pm BST

16 min: Ampadu has had a fairly shaky start. Now he takes a throw, only to miscontrol when the ball’s returned to him. Throw to Albania.

5.14pm BST

14 min: Wales have enjoyed 66 percent of possession so far, but have done very little with it. No spark yet.

5.13pm BST

12 min: Ampadu plays a long ball down the right to nobody in particular. It bounces apologetically out of play near the corner flag. It’d have been sensational at Cardiff Arms Park.

5.10pm BST

10 min: Wales haven’t really got going yet. Albania are pressing hard, and most of the game so far has been played in the Welsh half, albeit nowhere near the Welsh box. Passing sequences at a premium right now.

5.08pm BST

8 min: Allen is bowled to the ground by Lenjani, though there’s no malice in the challenge, and the Albanian quickly apologises for his clumsiness.

5.07pm BST

7 min: Now it’s the turn of Neco Williams to get involved, unhappy with a late challenge by Lenjani. The referee might have his hands full here.

5.06pm BST

5 min: Manaj and Mepham have a brief exchange of views, causing the referee to step in and lay down the law. And here’s another sign that Albania haven’t just come to make up the numbers: Balaj puts Ampadu under some pressure, nicks the ball, and nearly scampers clear down the left. Wales swarm and put a stop to his gallop.

5.03pm BST

3 min: A long ball down the right nearly releases Brooks, but he can’t bring it down and it sails out for a goal kick. A poor first touch, which he acknowledges with an apologetic hand in the air. Shame, because Albania were very light at the back there.

5.02pm BST

2 min: A fairly gentle start to the game. Everyone’s just happy to be back.

5.01pm BST

Albania kick off ... but only after everyone takes the knee. Not a boo to be heard. Wales 1, England 0. There’s no room for racism. Challenge it. Report it. Change it. Kick it out.

4.59pm BST

The teams are out! Wales resplendent in dragon red, Albania forced into second-choice white. Albania’s national anthem swings along at a leisurely tempo; it would have made for good ITV closedown music back in the day. We’ll be off in a minute or two. “Ti’n gwylio’r gêm ar S4C?” writes Matt Dony. “Dylech fod yn rhugl yn Gymraeg erbyn y diwedd!” Sadly, there’ll be no Cymraeg-by-osmosis for me. I’ve panicked, bailed out, and gone over to Sky. Sori.

4.49pm BST

Pre-match entertainment. A most welcome blast of Euro 2016 nostalgia, with the only football song in history, as far as we’re aware, to stir Welsh folk, electronica, early Atari video games and the sonic motif of Twiki from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century into a bubbling neo-psychedelic stew.

4.42pm BST

Wales boss Rob Page speaks to S4C: “We can’t read too much into the shape or the personnel. These two friendlies were all about getting players the minutes they need. It’s all about Switzerland next week. We’re having a look at a couple of things. I want the players to go out there and enjoy themselves, it’s the last game before the start of the Euros and there are a few who will grab the opportunity with both hands, I hope, and give us an even bigger selection problem for next week. It’s great to have the fans in the stadium and hopefully we’ll put on a show for them.”

4.27pm BST

We also have a Euro 2020 player guide that is shiny, fancy and ridiculously good fun. Legal disclaimer: the Guardian accepts no responsibility should you lose several hours of the day and/or get lost down many rabbit holes.

4.23pm BST

The Guardian Experts’ Network is a many-splendored thing. Unique collaboration ... best media outlets on the continent ... local flavour and expertise ... you know the pack drill. We’re publishing two team guides each day in the run-up to the big kick-off, and you can have a good rummage here. Anyway, we’ve already done the team guide for Wales; in case you missed it, here it is, coming straight at you.

4.11pm BST

The big news for Wales: Neco Williams has been cleared to play, despite picking up that preposterous red card against France. For detail-hungry, rule-curious completists, here’s the FAW statement: “Fifa have confirmed that as per article 27.2 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code the match falls under the jurisdiction of Uefa. Uefa Disciplinary Regulations do not legislate for sanctions related to friendly matches. The FAW have therefore sanctioned Neco Williams directly for the red card but can confirm he will be available to participate in tonight’s fixture.”

Young Neco is one of only three players to keep their place in the starting XI. Chris Mepham and Joe Allen are the others who started the 3-0 defeat away to France on Wednesday. Ben Davies, Aaron Ramsey and Ethan Ampadu are back, while Gareth Bale sits on the bench, dreaming of splitting the fairway then sending a 7-iron to six feet. He might not be the only person doing that. Hey, it’s a pre-tournament warm-up, it is what it is.

4.01pm BST

Wales: Hennessey, Ampadu, Mepham, Ben Davies, Neco Williams, Levitt, Allen, Ramsey, Norrington-Davies, Brooks, Tyler Roberts.
Subs: Bale, Cabango, Colwill, Adam Davies, Gunter, Moore, Connor Roberts, Rodon, Smith, Ward, Jonathan Williams, Wilson.

Albania: Selmani, Ismajli, Kumbulla, Djimsiti, Doka, Cekici, Bare, Abrashi, Lenjani, Manaj, Balaj.
Subs: Ajeti, Cikalleshi, Harizaj, Hoxhallari, Kallaku, Laci, Ramadani, Seferi, Sherri, Trashi, Veseli.

1.57pm BST

It’s difficult to get a handle on Wales right now. Their last three matches against high-ranking big names have ended in fairly comprehensive defeats, 3-0 against England, 3-1 against Belgium, 3-0 against France. Other than that, though, they’re as dependable as they come: since the start of the 2019/20 season, their record against everyone else is played 15, won 11, drawn four.

You’d expect them to see off Albania tonight, then, though this match isn’t really about the final score. What’s important is grooving everyone in, with Switzerland in the Euros looming, and welcoming everyone back: fans are allowed in for the first time since November 2019. A 6,500-strong crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium will get behind their heroes this evening, a rousing send-off ahead of the big one in Baku this time next week. Kick off is at 5pm BST. Mae ymlaen!

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Published on June 05, 2021 11:08

June 4, 2021

Spain 0-0 Portugal: international friendly – as it happened

Spain had a hatful of chances, but they all fell to an out-of-sorts Alvaro Morata

9.06pm BST

8.36pm BST

Well, that was more fun than the scoreline suggests. Sid Lowe was there in person, and he’ll be filing his report in a while, so keep them peeled for that. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!

8.31pm BST

Pre-tournament friendlies are difficult to parse, especially with so many substitutions. One thing we can safely conclude, though, is that Spain would be dangerous if they had a dependable striker. To be fair, twas ever thus; even when they were raking in the trophies during the imperial phase of tiki-taka, they could be extremely frustrating up front. But tonight Alvaro Morata took this charming quirk to extremes, missing a couple of big chances before hitting the bar during injury time with the best one of all. The full-backs looked good, mind, while the keeper grew in confidence, and that midfield is as pretty as ever. Portugal meanwhile will be pleased with their defensive resolve, Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes combined sweetly, and Renato Sanches was a magnificent force of nature. Plenty of plus points for both teams, even if the goals didn’t flow.

8.22pm BST

Not a good evening for Alvaro Morata, who really should have won this for Spain on more than one occasion.

8.21pm BST

90 min +3: A free kick for Portugal, 40 yards out. Fernandes wedges it down the middle to release Ronaldo, but he should have waited for the whistle. Take two is a non-event ... and that’s that.

8.20pm BST

90 min +1: Well, they should have! Gaya’s clearance up the left wing sends Morata clear! Easy as that! He’s onside, and one on one with Rui Patricio. He draws the keeper, and ... batters his shot off the crossbar! Another absurd miss!

8.18pm BST

90 min: There will be two added minutes. Can either of these Iberian rivals snatch it?

8.18pm BST

88 min: Koke curls the free kick towards the far post. Ferran Torres gets the vaguest flick towards the bottom right. Rui Patricio gets down well to parry clear. That’s a fine save, and it was a wonderful delivery from Koke, though Spain may wonder why one of their forwards didn’t make a stronger connection. Spain have been impotent in the final third this evening.

8.15pm BST

87 min: Gaya cuts in from the left and is sandwiched by Rafa Silva and Palhinha. Free kick, and a chance to load the Portuguese box.

8.15pm BST

86 min: The intensity drops alarmingly, much to the crowd’s displeasure. To be fair to both sides, the slew of substitutions can’t have helped.

8.13pm BST

84 min: It’s not clear how this has remained goalless. Both teams - Spain especially - have had their chances. Best not to peak before the tournament starts, huh.

8.12pm BST

82 min: ... and he’s immediately in the action, curling a long pass upfield from the left touchline and releasing Ronaldo down the middle! Ronaldo heads forward, but too strongly, and instead of striding towards goal, the ball sails through to Simon.

8.11pm BST

81 min: Nuno Mendes comes on for Guerreiro.

8.10pm BST

80 min: The other Llorente makes his way down the right but can’t quite find Morata at the near post. Then another wave of attack, and Gaya crosses dangerously from the left. Morata tries to poke home, but mistimes his run again. Spain have had their chances.

8.07pm BST

79 min: Laporte makes way for Diego Llorente.

8.06pm BST

77 min: Morata sashays down the inside-right channel and cuts back for Ferran Torres, who should score from the penalty spot but allows his unconvincing shot to be blocked by Semedo.

8.04pm BST

76 min: Ruiz makes way for Koke, while Moreno replaces Sarabia. A huge reception for Koke, Atletico’s title-winning captain.

8.02pm BST

74 min: The pace has certainly dropped.

8.01pm BST

72 min: Sarabia makes good down the left and whistles a low cross through the box. The hapless Morata had gone too early. A slightly better timed run, and that was a tap-in.

7.59pm BST

70 min: Jota and the excellent Sanches are replaced by Palhinha and Rafa Silva.

7.58pm BST

69 min: A free kick for Portugal out on the right. Fernandes takes, finding Ronaldo six yards out. Ronaldo leaps high but glances his header wide left. You’d expect him to score.

7.57pm BST

67 min: Ferran Torres glides in from the right and yanks a weak shot right. Things were opening up for him there; he should have done much better.

7.55pm BST

65 min: Simon’s footwork in the first half was nothing short of appalling; here it’s absolutely delightful, as Garcia gives him a hospital pass. With Ronaldo and Jota bearing down, he executes a perfect pullback, sending Jota off to the shops, and rolls clear. Proper bullfighting brilliance. Olé!

7.52pm BST

63 min: Spain make a triple change: Thiago, Busquets and Pau Torres off, Pedri, Rodri and Eric Garcia on.

7.50pm BST

61 min: One corner leads to another, which leads to nothing.

7.49pm BST

60 min: Now it’s Portugal’s turn to miss a sitter. Ronaldo takes on Llorente down the right, reaches the byline, and stands one up for Jota, whose header from six yards is deflected over. He should have buried that.

7.48pm BST

59 min: Portugal make a couple more changes. Carvalho and Bruno Fernandes come on for Pepe and Oliveira. Here’s Charles Antaki: “Classy stuff from Busquets, which prompts the question of the last 10+ years in the Spanish National team – if not him, then who? Koke has been in and out of the team, Saúl likewise.. if we have to get down to the Dani Ceballoses, alarm bells.”

7.47pm BST

58 min: Pepe tries to shepherd a long pass down the Spanish right out of play. Llorente doesn’t allow him to do so, stealing the ball and cutting back for Sarabia ... who scoops over an unguarded net from 12 yards! What a miss!

7.45pm BST

56 min: Spain continue to dominate possession, though haven’t created much, that Morata chance being a glowing exception.

7.44pm BST

54 min: Llorente rolls a lovely pass in from the right to tee up Morata, clear just inside the box. Morata aims for the bottom left. Fonte blocks. The ball pings back to Morata, who aims for the bottom right this time, but drags it hideously wide. He should have scored. A look of misery washes over his face.

7.42pm BST

52 min: Laporte deals with the resulting corner, heading clear. Much better, though the bar was low.

7.41pm BST

51 min: Laporte attempts a clearing volley with his right peg. A hysterical slice sails into the crowd behind. Predominantly left-footed, then. What a way that would have been to mark his international debut!

7.39pm BST

50 min: A bit of space for Morata down the inside-right channel, slipped through by Busquets. Morata bashes his shot straight at Rui Patricio. He should have made the keeper work harder, at the very least.

7.38pm BST

49 min: Morata glides down the right. Pepe again has his antenna on, and intercepts once more. The old boy’s having a good match so far.

7.37pm BST

47 min: Pepe blooters into touch. By the dugout, Spain boss Luis Enrique brings the high ball down with a silky touch, much to the delight of the paying punters.

7.35pm BST

46 min: Busquets shovels a lovely pass down the inside-left channel for Sarabia, who chests down as he cuts infield. Pepe is on hand, though, to intercept just when it looked as though Sarabia was through.

7.34pm BST

Portugal get the second half underway. They’ve made the first change of the evening, swapping Joao Felix for Sporting striker Pote, who is making his international debut. “That tooth-brushing advert looks like an early David Lynch production,” writes Mary Waltz. “Creepy.” Yep, it was the first ad ever shown on British television, and it’s been non-linear narratives a-go-go ever since.

7.19pm BST

The players aren’t the only ones who should do some pre-tournament prep. Ahead of the Euros, history buffs are advised to bone up on 60 years and 15 tournaments’ worth of action with Euro Summits: The Story of the European Championship by Jonathan O’Brien. Breezy yet comprehensive, fun but authoritative, think of it as a perfect companion piece for Cris Freddi’s famous Complete Book of the World Cup, and I can’t think of praise too much higher than that. Highly recommended.

7.17pm BST

Just a few extra seconds of play, and that’s the end of an entertaining, occasionally feisty, first 45.

7.16pm BST

45 min: Sanchez tries to release Ronaldo down the left, but his pass is too heavy. Ronaldo tries to catch it, turning on the jets, but can’t quite reach it. He’s not completely out of juice yet.

7.15pm BST

44 min: The corner leads to nothing.

7.14pm BST

43 min: Busquets slides a crisp, first-time pass down the inside left. Ruiz steps into the box, drops a shoulder, and sees his low squirter deflected wide for a corner.

7.13pm BST

41 min: Sanches has been very impressive. He drives down the inside-right channel and thinks about shooting. He lays off to Ronaldo to his right. Ronaldo has a think himself, then pulls back for Semedo, who shows no such hesitancy, battering a wild effort miles over the bar. Ronaldo, hands on hips, wonders why he bothered.

7.11pm BST

40 min: Corner for Spain down the left. Ronaldo heads it clear. It’s been good fun, this.

7.10pm BST

39 min: Peseta for the thoughts of the deposed David de Gea.

7.09pm BST

37 min: Simon has not impressed so far. He’s already had the ball stuck past him, and was nearly closed down when faffing about with Busquets. Now here comes the worst of all. Gaya slides in to stop Sanches’s pass finding Ronaldo down the inside-right channel. The ball balloons into the air. Simon isn’t sure whether to catch or not, so opts to volley. His low hack smashes straight into Ronaldo and nearly whistles back past his lugs. He catches just in time. What a nonsense.

7.07pm BST

35 min: Now Sanches brings down Sarabia, and the crowd are baying for blood. There’s still no booking, though, and the referee gets this one absolutely right, Sanches having slipped over and accidentally cleaned his man out.

7.06pm BST

34 min: Sanches is very lucky to escape a booking as he clatters into Gaya. There might have been a couple of studs showing there, in fact. The referee makes do with a lecture.

7.04pm BST

33 min: Spain have been taking a few chances when playing out from the back. Simon and Busquets were nearly punished for over-elaborating a few minutes ago, some slapstick deemed worthy of a rerun on Spanish television. A lull, basically.

7.01pm BST

31 min: More of the pantomime booing, as Ronaldo takes possession of the ball. This is Atletico Madrid’s stadium, to be fair, he’ll be expecting it.

6.59pm BST

29 min: That was a timely attack by Spain, though, because after a slow start, Portugal were beginning to work their way into the game. A reminder how quickly they can spring forward.

6.58pm BST

27 min: A huge chance for Spain, as Morata, with the outside of his left boot, curls from the left wing, the ball dropping towards Ferran Torres at the far post. Torres should score, Pepe having been completely bypassed, but flashes his header wide right from close range.

6.57pm BST

26 min: A free kick for Portugal, the best part of 30 yards out. It’s tapped to Ronaldo, who considers belting it goalwards, but instead embarks on a dribble down a cul-de-sac. What a waste.

6.55pm BST

24 min: It was the right decision, though. Fonte was all over Pau Torres, so much so that the defender didn’t need to make any theatrical additions ... but did so anyway.

6.54pm BST

23 min: Portugal win their first corner of the game ... or rather Ruiz gifts them it. It’s hit long from the left. Fonte rises, ten yards out, and sends an unstoppable looping header over Simon and into the top left! But the whistle immediately goes for a foul. Ronaldo is livid.

6.52pm BST

21 min: Sanches takes matters into his own hands, and embarks on an elegant skitter down the inside-right channel. He nearly works his way into the box, but throws one shape too many and Pau Torres is able to block and clear.

6.50pm BST

19 min: Spain continue to stroke it around attractively, and when they don’t have it, swarm their opponents with great determination. Portugal are struggling to retain possession, and a certain forward is doing quite a lot of frowning and pointing, having seen very little of the ball.

6.48pm BST

17 min: Sarabia’s pressing forces Semedo into the clumsy concession of a corner ... but the referee points for a goal kick. More pantomime booing.

6.46pm BST

16 min: Spain have enjoyed a nice neat 75 percent of possession so far.

6.45pm BST

14 min: Oliveira clatters into Morata, having just been robbed by Thiago, an unnecessarily fierce challenge that should bring censure, but doesn’t. A kick out on the follow through. Play goes on, and Spain force the first corner of the match. Nothing comes of it, but the hosts are well on top here.

6.43pm BST

12 min: And now the reigning European champions show a bit of flash, Jota coming in from the left and wedging to the far post. A cute and clever run, but the hosts clear their lines easily enough.

6.42pm BST

10 min: Sarabia drives in from the left and one-twos with Morata. He dinks towards Llorente, preparing to slam home, six yards out. Pepe somehow contorts his body to improvise a prodded clearance. That was lovely football from the three-time European champs.

6.40pm BST

9 min: Rui Patricio takes his own sweet time over a clearance, much to the pantomime annoyance of the crowd.

6.39pm BST

8 min: Spain have established control of this game quickly. Plenty of passes in the old-school style, some tiki here, a bit of taka there. Put it together, and they’re probing with purpose down both flanks.

6.37pm BST

6 min: Jota comes in from the left and is upended unceremoniously by his Liverpool team-mate Thiago. No favours here.

6.36pm BST

5 min: Torres looks lively. He spins infield from the right and glides into the Portugal box. Fonte sticks out a leg and puts a stop to his gallop with a well-time tackle.

6.35pm BST

3 min: A long pass down the Spanish right. Ferran Torres gets on the end of it, cutting back to ... nobody in particular. But that’s a promising start for the hosts, who found the Portuguese defence wide open.

6.33pm BST

2 min: It isn’t too long before Busquets comes sliding through Danilo. Welcome to the Wanda.

6.31pm BST

Spain get the party started, in front of 20,000 fans. They’re back, baby! Spain are in their furious red, while Portugal sport second-choice teal.

6.29pm BST

The teams are out. Apologies for the late arrival of this MBM, we had a few technical issues to iron out. Everything’s been switched off and back on again, and here we are. Hey, this sort of tardy foolishness is in the grand tradition; one of Granada TV’s first foray into live coverage missed the first four minutes of a European Cup semi featuring the Busby Babes. They had ads to show, and people needed that sweet, fresh hit of Gibbs SR. We’ll be off in a minute or two.

6.21pm BST

Spain: Simon, Marcos Llorente, Laporte, Pau Torres, Gaya, Thiago, Busquets, Fabian, Sarabia, Morata, Ferran Torres.
Subs: de Gea, Azpilicueta, Diego Llorente, Koke, Gerard, Garcia, Rodri, Jordi Alba, Olmo, Oyarzabal, Gonzalez, Sanchez.

Portugal: Rui Patricio, Nelson Semedo, Pepe, Fonte, Guerreiro, Sergio Oliveira, Danilo Pereira, Sanches, Ronaldo, Joao Felix, Jota.
Subs: Lopes, Joao Moutinho, Andre Silva, Bruno Fernandes, William Carvalho, Rafa Silva, Neves, Goncalves, Nuno Mendes, Joao Palhinha, Rui Silva.

6.19pm BST

Welcome to some hot bonus MBM action, hand-crafted with precision tools to whet your appetite for the upcoming Euros. It’s a friendly between Spain and Portugal. They’re Iberian rivals, two of the best teams in the world … and the two most recent winners of the European Championship. ¡Esta encendido! Está ligado!

Portugal are the reigning champions of Europe. Euro 2016 was their first-ever major title, and since then they’ve added the inaugural Nations League in 2019. The dam thus broken, there’s a fair chance they’ll retain their title, their squad including Bruno Fernandes, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Diogo Jota, Andre Silva, and, to give him his full title, 36-Year-Old Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Published on June 04, 2021 13:06

The Fiver | A whiff of expensive cologne, a vague sense of regret and Josh King

There’s not much going on today, so a non-story about Everton seems an apposite direction for the Fiver to go in. You see, nothing of note has happened to the Toffees since the days of Paul Rideout, or Paul Power if you’re really trying to prove a point. The club recently got in a superstar manager in an attempt to shake things up, but look how that turned out. Though to be fair to Carlo Ancelotti, it’s hard to play football that’s easy on the eye with all the tumbleweed rolling around Goodison, this way and that, reducing each match to little more than an elaborate and never-ending game of Frogger.

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Published on June 04, 2021 08:55

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