Rob Smyth's Blog, page 88

June 18, 2021

The Euro 2020 Fiver | Yep, it’s England v Scotland. Truly, yins don’t come much bigger

It’s England v Scotland tonight: there’s your Friday Fiver! Buh-bye!

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Published on June 18, 2021 04:30

June 17, 2021

Netherlands 2-0 Austria: Euro 2020 – as it happened

Memphis Depay and Denzel Dumfries scored as the Netherlands secured a place in the last 16 with a comfortable win over Austria

10.01pm BST

That’s it for tonight’s blog. Jamie Jackson has filed his match report so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company and emails - see you tomorrow for England v Scotland. Night!

9.52pm BST

Peep peep! The Netherlands join Italy and Belgium in the last 16 after a comfortable victory over an agomphious Austria. Memphis Depay’s early penalty put them ahead, and the impressive wing-back Denzel Dumfries sealed the win with his second goal of the tournament. They have won their group with a game to spare, which means Frank de Boer can play the reserves against North Macedonia if he is so inclined.

9.47pm BST

90+1 min Four minutes of added time.

9.47pm BST

90 min “Won’t a draw between Ukraine and Austria send Ukraine through on goals scored, as things stand?” says Jason Finch.

It would, but four points would almost certainly be enough for Austria to go through as one of the best third-placed teams.

9.46pm BST

89 min Lazaro’s hopeful cross is headed wide by Kalajdzic near the penalty spot.

9.43pm BST

86 min Kalajdzic has been excellent since coming on. He beats four players in a tight space and finds Leiner, whose overhit cross is retrieved by Onisiwo. He wins a corner, but that’s also overhit and headed away.

9.42pm BST

85 min: Good chance for Austria! Karim Onisiwo almost scores with his first touch. Kalajdzic flipped a nice pass over the defence towards Onisiwo, who pulled off his man but then headed straight at Stekelenburg.

9.41pm BST

84 min Two more changes for Austria: Philipp Lienhart and Karim Onisiwo replace Dragovic and Schlager.

9.39pm BST

83 min Luuk de Jong replaces Memphis Depay, who scored the first and helped make the second.

9.39pm BST

82 min I don’t think this Netherlands team is good enough to win the tournament, not without Virgil van Dijk, but with a fair wind they could easily reach the semi-finals. The team spirit looks excellent.

9.38pm BST

81 min Alaba charges forward from defence and smacks a superb 25-yard shot that swerves just wide of the far post. That was a lovely effort.

9.35pm BST

78 min It’s unusual to see a Netherlands side that is happy to play on the counter-attack, but they’ve done it very well tonight.

9.33pm BST

76 min Dumfries is on his haunches, holding his personal space after an accidental collision with Lazaro.

9.32pm BST

75 min Austria know a draw against Ukraine in their final game should be enough for them to reach the knockout stages of a tournament for the first time since 1982. They’ve been dismal tonight, mind.

9.31pm BST

74 min Another change for the Dutch: Ryan Gravenberch replaces de Roon, who had a good game doing the dirty work in midfield.

9.29pm BST

72 min Ah, he came on for Gregoritsch in the 62nd minute. Awards please!

9.29pm BST

72 min Hang on, when did Kalajdzic come on?

9.29pm BST

71 min A dangerous corner from the substitute Lazaro hits Kalajdzic, takes a deflection off a Dutch defender and rolls this far wide.

9.28pm BST

71 min So, the Netherlands will play a third-placed team from group A, D, E or F in the last 16. Realistic possibilities include Switzerland, Portugal, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Slovakia and Poland.

9.27pm BST

70 min Another change for Austria: Valentino Lazaro replaces Baumgartner.

9.25pm BST

68 min The right wing-back Denzel Dumfries is having a fine tournament: two goals, one assist and umpteen barnstorming runs.

9.25pm BST

Austria are punished for their dangerously high line. Depay, just inside his own half, flicked a clever pass through to the substitute Malen. He drew the keeper and then squared the ball to Dumfries, whose shot went through the diving Bachmann and into the net. It looked close to offside but replays showed Malen was comfortably on.

9.23pm BST

Denzel Dumfries scores his second of the tournament!

9.21pm BST

65 min A triple change for the Netherlands: Nathan Ake, Donyell Malen and Owen Wijndal replace Daley Blind, Wout Weghorst and Patrick van Aanholt.

9.20pm BST

63 min Austria still haven’t had a shot on target. The Netherlands have only had two, but it’s the thought that counts.

9.19pm BST

62 min Weghorst shoots well wide on the turn from 15 yards.

9.19pm BST

62 min A change for Austria: Konrad Laimer is replaced by Florian Grillitsch.

9.18pm BST

61 min: Good save from Bachmann! The corner almost leads to a second goal. It was driven very deep by Depay towards Weghorst, who headed it back across goal. An instinctive header from de Vrij was pushed away by the flying Bachmann, and de Jong’s follow-up deflected this far wide.

9.17pm BST

60 min Depay slides a nice pass inside the wing-back Lainer for van Aanholt, whose cross is put behind by the lunging Lainer. That was a good recovery from him.

9.17pm BST

59 min “Is the Anschluss/Disgrace of Gijon a bit too overhyped?” muses Niall Mullen. “Eight years later Ireland & the Netherlands downed tools at 1-1 in their last group game to ensure they both went through at Egypt’s expense but neither team have gone down in infamy like Germany and Austria (although Frank Rijkaard tried his best to rectify this in Holland’s next game).”

I watched the game in full a few years ago, because I’m like that, and it was nowhere near as bad as I expected. Much of the outrage was because they qualified at the expense of a brilliant, charming Algeria side.

9.13pm BST

57 min Austria have played with greater purpose and intensity since half time, though they still don’t really look like scoring.

9.12pm BST

55 min The swashbuckling Dumfries runs onto a lovely pass from Wijnaldum. But his cross is blocked, with the ball ricocheting off Dumfries and out for a throw-in.

9.09pm BST

51 min “As an Israeli,” says Ezra Finkelstein, “is it cool to support the referee?”

Of course, especially when he’s following in the footsteps and whistleblows of possibly the greatest referee of all time.

9.06pm BST

49 min Dumfries cuts the ball back to Wijnaldum on the edge of the area. He moves the ball onto his left foot and swishes a shot that is well blocked by Dragovic. Wijnaldum, a goal threat at the best of times, is even more dangerous in this advanced role.

9.03pm BST

46 min Laimer breaks into space down the right, looks up and slides a low cross that is intercepted by de Ligt. He might have done better there.

9.02pm BST

46 min Peep peep! The Netherlands begin the second half.

9.02pm BST

“True, France was at the 1978 FIFA WC,” says Alexandre Chesneau. “I had almost forgotten that, but I shouldn’t have - while the performances were largely forgettable (not that I would know about that by virtue of not being born at the time - that’s hearsay from people who lived to see it), their dead rubber against Hungary was somewhat worth remembering. Both teams turned up in white and France (who were apparently at fault, failing to take into account a note from FIFA) had to borrow kits from a local club. It’s probably the only time France wore green and white strips in any competition.”

France were pretty unlucky to get such a fiendish group. They played superbly against the hosts Argentina, eventually losing a classic and controversial match 2-1. But you’re right, the kit is the first thing people talk about.

9.00pm BST

“I was a bite late to the MBM tonight and see I’ve already missed references to 1978, 1996, Three Lions, Peru and Iran,” says Simon McMahon. “This is what the kids call ‘trolling’, right? And though I agree England may well have lost the collective noggin in many things recently, losing to Scotland is, alas, not one of them. Can we just skip to Saturday after this game, please?”

Or to the release of The Second Big Weekend by Arab Strap later in the year.

8.55pm BST

“The ‘Welsh referee’ that Andreas Broman referred to was the marvellous Clive Thomas,” says Matt Dony. “Even by normal refereeing standards, he had a somewhat pedantic attitude towards application of the laws of the game. And he was one of Wales’ biggest sports stars for a long time. Heady days. Glad we have a little more to cheer about these days!”

The Netherlands were particularly big fans of Clive Thomas.

8.48pm BST

Half-time reading

8.46pm BST

Peep peep! That was a very comfortable half for the Dutch. A split-second misjudgement from David Alaba allowed Memphis Depay to ram home an early penalty, and both he and the captain Gini Wijnaldum could have made it 2-0 just before the break. Austria had plenty of the ball and did precisely bugger all with it.

8.45pm BST

45 min “Re the European teams at the 1978 World Cup: Sweden, obviously,” says Andreas Broman. “Thomas Sjöberg scored in the opener v Brazil, they equalised and Zico thought he had the winner - only for it to be chalked off by the Welsh ref who claimed it was a second too late. We also played Austria and Spain, so that’s three. Plus Scotland, Holland. West Germany, Italy? Then possibly Poland. Leave the rest for you.”

Yep, Italy, Poland, France and Hungary were the others. Then Argentina, Brazil, Tunisia, Mexico, Peru and Iran, I think.

8.44pm BST

44 min Now Depay has a shot blocked after good play from Wijnaldum.

8.43pm BST

43 min “Rob, you are being far too harsh on your mother country,” says Mary Waltz. “No one does darts like England.”

Ahem.

8.41pm BST

41 min van Aanholt surges into the area and lays the ball back to Wijnaldum, whose first-time shot is crucially blocked by Ulmer. Wijnaldum didn’t connect as cleanly as he would have liked.

8.41pm BST

40 min: Depay misses a great chance! van Aanholt sprays a fine angled pass over the defence towards Weghorst in the inside-right channel. He could shoot but instead guides the ball across the area towards the unmarked Depay. It takes a slight deflection and then Depay, on the stretch, lifts the bouncing ball over the bar from six yards. It did sit up a little awkwardly for Depay, but he should still have scored.

8.39pm BST

38 min If it stays like, the Netherlands will win the group and Austria will need a point against Ukraine to be (99 per cent) sure of reaching the last 16. A draw would also be enough for Ukraine. Reports that the match is being moved to Gijon are unconfirmed.

8.35pm BST

36 min “Thanks for the link to the video of Ogris’s impressive individual strike at Italia ’90,” says Martin Hughes. “I thought there was something a bit off with the video until I realised it’s just not quite the same without the inimitable commentary of a certain A.P.”

8.35pm BST

35 min Hinteregger tries to homage Giovani van Bronckhorst’s absurd goal in the 2010 World Cup semi-final. It’s beautifully struck but a few yards over the bar.

8.33pm BST

34 min It’s not a great game. You’re welcome.

8.32pm BST

32 min Austria are having a good spell, with Sabitzer increasingly influential, and de Vrij is lucky not to be booked for an off-the-ball block of Ulmer.

8.31pm BST

30 min “In my experience, VAR in Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga is of similar quality to VAR at the Euros,” says Kári Tulinius. “It seems mostly to be the Premier League which mucks VAR up. I can’t tell you what they do differently in Stockley Park, though.”

It’s almost as if, in the last few years, England has completely lost the noggin in almost every aspect of human existence.

8.29pm BST

29 min Sabitzer plays a nice through pass to Baumgartner, who takes it in his stride and is about to shoot when de Ligt makes a lovely sliding tackle from the side. That was classy defending, clean as a whistle.

8.28pm BST

28 min Austria appeal in vain for a penalty when Baumgartner’s shot hits de Ligt. I don’t think so. I think de Ligt wore it on the forehead, in fact,and then it bounced up between his legs.

8.26pm BST

26 min “I totally agree with Mary Waltz (16 min) on penalty style,” says Mike MacKenzie. “My favourite ever penalty taker was Beppi Signori of Lazio. He was left footed and always stood two steps from penalty spot. Then it was two steps that weren’t even very quick and wham! And into the net went the ball.”

You want penalty style? I’ll show you penalty style.

8.25pm BST

24 min Depay runs onto a long throw, knees the ball into space and lashes it into the side netting. That was a good effort from a fairly tight angle on the right side of the area. It was also poor defending from Alaba, who allowed the ball to run across his body and into the path of Depay.

8.22pm BST

22 min Not much is happening, which gives me the opportunity to apologise for making a Horlicks of the permutations in the preamble. If Netherlands win tonight they will definitely finish first in the group, but that’s not the case for Austria if they win. Don’t ask me why, it’s far too tedious to explain.

8.21pm BST

20 min “It’s against my nature to be positive about anything, so I’m going to turn this into a whinge,” says Tom Hopkins. “VAR seems to have been surprisingly untedious in the tournament thus far. I’m saying that puts the approach of the fun haters at Stockley Park into sharp relief?”

It’s been good, hasn’t it - quicker and clearer.

8.17pm BST

18 min Netherlands look pretty comfortable. Austria have had plenty of the ball but look on the gummy side of toothless.

8.16pm BST

16 min “Depay provides a perfect argument to those penalty takers who prefer the slow walk, hop, skip and shoot penalty trend,” says Mary Waltz. “Two steps, strike with power wins even if the goalie goes in the right direction.”

8.13pm BST

14 min de Roon is booked for a sliding foul on Gregoritsch.

8.12pm BST

13 min Depay whips a first-time shot from 22 yards that is really well blocked by Dragovic (I think).

8.12pm BST

12 min Alaba was also booked for that foul on Dumfries.

8.11pm BST

Memphis Depay scores! It was an excellent penalty, driven hard and low to the left. Bachmann went the right way but was nowhere near it.

8.10pm BST

10 min: PENALTY GIVEN! It’s an Andrex-soft penalty, but a penalty nonetheless. Dumfries beat Alaba to a loose ball, approximately a centimetre inside the area, and was caught.

8.09pm BST

9 min: VAR check! Netherlands have a decent appeal for a penalty turned down when Dumfries beats Alaba to a loose ball right on the edge of the area. I think this will be given.

8.07pm BST

8 min Schlager is robbed near the halfway line by De Roon, who shoves the ball forward to Weghorst. He tries play in Dumfries but the pass is underhit and that’s the end of that.

8.06pm BST

5 min Ulmer zig-zags between Dumfries and de Vrij on the left edge of the area and then falls over after a tangle of legs with Dumfries. Nobody really appealed for a penalty, which is a surprise. I don’t think it was a penalty, but it was worth haranguing the referee in the hope he might panic and give it.

8.04pm BST

4 min And now the Netherlands enjoy a bit of quality time with the pig’s bladder.

8.02pm BST

3 min Lots of early possession for Austria, most of it in their own half.

8.01pm BST

1 min David Alaba has again started as the spare man in defence for Austria.

8.00pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Austria, in their black strip, kick off from right to left. The Netherlands are in their beloved brilliant orange.

7.58pm BST

“Painful reminder of 1978…” says Graeme Keay. “Of course, the one team that I and Scots remember being in the finals was ... Peru. Oh, the national humiliation, the shame, the pain. But we’re over it now, really we are, thanks for asking...”

On the plus side, you seem to have closure on the Iran game, and I thought that was the real

quiz
humiliation.

7.57pm BST

“None of us can work out why the Dutch go into the game ahead of Austria in the table?” says Nick Crowther.

It’s because Ukraine won today, so it becomes a mini-league involving the three teams on three points. The Netherlands are top because they beat Ukraine, while Austria are yet to play a game in the mini-league. Had Ukraine drawn or lost today, Austria would be top of the group. I think.

7.55pm BST

The players line up for the anthems. It’s a beautiful evening in Amsterdam, and the Johan Cruijff Arena is a sea of orange.

7.53pm BST

If you’re into a bit of digital polyamory, you can join liveblog genius Scott Murray for coverage of the US Open. But please do it in a new browser, not just a new tab, or my pride will be mortally wounded.

7.38pm BST

“Your clip prompted me to look up where the 1978 World Cup was held because there was such a distance between the pitch and the crowd I wasn’t sure if it was on the moon,” says Matt Burtz. “Anyway, it was in Argentina, and in my research I learned that it was the last World Cup to be limited to 16 teams. Ten of those came from Europe, and aside from the two we know about, I defy anyone to name the other eight without cheating, as it is a motley assortment.”

Come on, that’s easy: Scotland and seven others.

7.25pm BST

“I don’t believe in revenge and I don’t believe that Austria have a strong chance of grabbing all three points today,” tubthumps Peter Oh. “However, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief for a couple of hours in the slim hope that Alaba and company will exorcise the 5:1 loss to the Dutch at the 1978 World Cup. Arnautovic’s absence will hurt (more so because it was so avoidable) but on their day the Austrians have enough quality to squeeze the Oranje for maximum juice.”

That’s the only previous game between these two at a major tournament. The defending isn’t the best, though it’s nice to be reminded of Rob Rensenbrink’s incisive elegance.

7.22pm BST

Pre-match reading

6.52pm BST

Both teams make one change from their victories on Sunday. Mathias de Ligt has recovered from a groin injury and replaces Jurrien Timber in the Dutch defence. Austria bring in Michael Gregoritsch, who scored from the bench against North Macedonia, for Sasa Kalajdzic. Marko Arnautovic is suspended.

Netherlands (3-4-1-2) Stekelenburg; de Vrij, de Ligt, Blind; Dumfries, De Roon, F de Jong, van Aanholt; Wijnaldum; Weghorst, Depay.
Substitutes: Krul, Bizot, Veltman, Ake, Wijndal, Berghuis, L De Jong, Promes, Klaassen, Gravenberch, Malen, Timber.

3.17pm BST

After 21 years of hurt and hubris – acquired on a blood-splattered balcony in Memphis – the tall showboating preacher in the handsomely cut double-breasted suit received his heart’s desire: anointment. And the television arc lights never went out.

If you were paying attention to your super soaraway Guardian in 1989, you’ll recall this quote from Alex Brummer’s feature on the Reverend Jesse Jackson. It is also, according to a search of our digital archive, the only time the phrase “years of hurt” was used in this beloved rag before 1996. Then Ian Broudie wrote the lyrics to Three Lions, and the phrase became part of the lexicon of sport. It’s used most often during international tournaments - not only in football, and not only when England are getting giddy again.

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Published on June 17, 2021 13:52

June 15, 2021

France 1-0 Germany: Euro 2020 – as it happened

An own goal from Mats Hummels gave France victory over Germany in a hard-fought heavyweight clash

12.47am BST

10.06pm BST

Anyway, that’s it for tonight’s blog. I’ll leave you with Sid Lowe’s report from Munich - night!

10.05pm BST

There is a bit of talk about Rudiger biting Pogba just before half-time. I missed it, but it’s all over the usual channels. It doesn’t look like much to me, though I have been watching a lot of True Blood lately.

What's happened there between Rudiger and Pogba?! #FRAGER | #ITVFootball | #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/Oi2Mm7RV7z

10.00pm BST

9.59pm BST

The decisive goal, or rather own goal, was scored by Mats Hummels, who had a pretty miserable night against Kylian Mbappe. Karim Benzema and Mbappe also had goals disallowed for offside in the second half. But France’s real stars were in midfield - in very different ways, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Adrien Rabiot were superb.

Germany were purposeful at times, desperate at others, and might need to think about whether their 3-4-3 system gets the best out of certain players. Yet they still had enough chances to draw the game, and I’d be loath to bury them. As Hugh McIlvanney once wrote, they could be very awkward revenants.

9.55pm BST

Peep peep! The world champions start their campaign with an assured victory in Munich. There wasn’t a huge amount in it but France were a bit smoother, a bit calmer, and won the game without really getting out of second gear.

9.51pm BST

90+4 min Rabiot is replaced by Ousmane Dembele. Talking of which.

“Rabiot has been brilliant,” says Kári Tulinius. “He marked Havertz out of the game, and has generally been the stone in Germany’s shoe for the whole game.”

9.50pm BST

90+3 min “So one of the favourites only wins thanks to an own goal,” says Lizz Poulter. “Not a devastating display of form.”

You don’t always get the full picture when doing an MBM, because half the match is spent looking at a computer screen, but I think France have looked terrific against a German side who will surprise a few people in the next fortnight.

9.48pm BST

90+1 min The pictures are back, and a groggy Adrien Rabiot is receiving treatment. There are six minutes of added time, though it should be seven or eight now because of this stoppage.

9.47pm BST

89 min They’ve gone to an Alipay advert mid-match!

9.46pm BST

89 min Corentin Tolisso comes on replace Karim Benzema, who was fairly quiet but produced enough high-class touches on his return to competitive international football.

9.45pm BST

88 min Sane curls a poor effort miles over the bar.

9.44pm BST

88 min The free-kick is 22 yards out, just infield from the right edge of the area.

9.44pm BST

87 min Muller’s cross hits the raised arm of Rabiot just outside the area. Before the free-kick is taken, Germany bring on Emre Can and Kevin Volland for Ginter and Gosens.

9.43pm BST

Clean, clinical and fractionally offside.

9.42pm BST

VAR check for offside! Pogba turned on the halfway line and put Mbappe clear in the inside-right channel. He moved into the area and slid the ball across to give Benzema a tap-in at the far post. Clean and clinical.

9.42pm BST

Game over, and I don’t fancy anyone else’s chances in the tournament.

9.41pm BST

84 min Germany have had more possession, more shots and more corners - but France have been the better team. They look scary, not least because they haven’t really got out of second gear.

9.38pm BST

80 min Hummels took the ball but he went through Mbappe’s legs to do so. In the modern game, I think that’s a penalty. There was no VAR intervention though. I suppose you could argue that it wasn’t a clear and obvious error; personally I think it was.

9.37pm BST

80 min Bringing Mats Hummels out of international retirement at the age of 32, to face Kylian Mbappe, is a human rights violation.

9.37pm BST

78 min: Big shout for a France penalty! Pogba finds Mbappe, who plays the ball off to Benzema in the centre circle. He knows he can’t control it with defenders close to him so he improvises (I think) an ingenious first-time push into the abundant space behind the defence. Mbappe again destroys Hummels, who had a five-yard start, and moves into the area. Then he cuts across Hummels, who makes a desperate tackle from the side. Mbappe goes down, the referee moves his whistle towards his mouth... and then doesn’t blow it. Hummels definitely got the ball, but whether he came through Mbappe to do so is the issue. We haven’t seen a replay yet.

9.34pm BST

76 min A decent cross on the turn from Kimmich is claimed by Lloris. France haven’t quite declared at 1-0, but it’s fair to say a second goal is no longer their priority.

9.33pm BST

75 min “If Werner had been picked ahead of Gnabry,” begins Ian Copestake, “I guess Germany would still be playing with a false nine! I’m here all week. Try the schnitzel.”

Normally I wouldn’t allow cheap digs at such an admirable footballer, but the comic timing of that jaunty exclamation mark was too good.

9.31pm BST

74 min A double change for Germany: Werner, Sane replace Gnabry and Havertz.

9.29pm BST

72 min There’s a break in play because of what looks like a muscle injury to Ginter.

9.28pm BST

71 min This is a good spell for Germany, probably their best of the match. Timo Werner and Leroy Sane are about to come on.

9.27pm BST

69 min “Pavard just got knocked out (actually knocked out) and he’s still on,” says Frazier Stroud. “Genuinely dangerous that he’s still playing.”

I was so busy typing that I didn’t really see whether he was out cold, but the broader point, that head injuries aren’t taken seriously enough, is undeniable. It’s getting better, though not quickly enough.

9.25pm BST

66 min: Mbappe has a goal disallowed for offside! Ach, that’s a shame as it was a beautiful finish. Pogba reversed a majestic angled pass over the defence to Mbappe, who twisted his man inside out, then inside again before shaping a curler into the net off the far post. At that moment the flag went up, and replays confirmed he was offside when he received the pass from Pogba.

9.23pm BST

66 min Benzema cuts inside from the left and hits a rasping shot that is blocked.

9.23pm BST

64 min “As an entry in the annals of best-ever, what are your opinions on Makelele vs. Kante?” says Peter Turner. “Are they comparable players? Who was better? I never really got to see Makelele play. And who else should be considered?”

Makelele was much better at the deliberately clumsy foul. Kante’s tackles are much cleaner in both senses. My feeling is that Makelele was more consistent over a longer period, but at his peak Kante is superior. That said, there are folk who will have seen much more of them than I have.

9.18pm BST

61 min Pavard is going to continue.

9.18pm BST

60 min Pavard is still down, and in the current climate I’m surprised Gosens hasn’t been at least booked. It was vaguely reminiscent of, yep, Schumacher and Battiston. Pavard still has all his teeth but he may have to go off with either concussion or a jaw problem.

9.17pm BST

58 min Kimmich’s brilliant clipped cross is almost met by the flying Gosens, who arrives like a desperate superhero at the far post. Pavard heads it clear and is smashed in the face either by the knee or the hip of Gosens, who then falls over himself when he lands. A split-second later, Kroos’s long-range shot hits Gosens in the six-yard box. That wouldn’t have counted as Gosens had been rightly penalised for the challenge on Pavard.

9.15pm BST

58 min At times Germany have been a bit of a mess in this game, yet they could still have scored three or four. There’s a moral in that story, though I’ve no idea what it is.

9.14pm BST

57 min Gnabry runs onto Kimmich’s angled through ball from the right. He tries to go round the outrushing Lloris, who clears the ball with his thigh as he slides towards Gnabry. That was a crucial touch, without which Germany would have surely been given a penalty.

9.13pm BST

56 min Benzema pinches the ball off Kimmich and immediately plays it in behind for Mbappe on the left. He is unusually indecisive and the attacks peters out. Moments later, Muller’s snapshot is crucially blocked by a defender, Varane I think.

9.12pm BST

54 min: Great chance for Gnabry! Gosens breaks down the left and crosses deep to the unmarked Gnabry. He slightly mishits a volley into the ground that bounces over Lloris and onto the roof of the net. It should be 1-1, or 2-1 with Rabiot’s goal, it’s up to you.

9.10pm BST

52 min: Rabiot hits the post! It should be 2-0. Mbappe comes infield to receive possession, turns and flicks a gorgeous pass with the outside of the right foot to release Rabiot in the inside-left channel. He moves into the area, hesitates slightly and then curls a shot that hits the outside of the near post. He was under pressure by the time he had the shot but he should still have scored, or squared the ball for Griezmann to do so.

9.08pm BST

50 min Germany’s bench includes Timo Werner and Leroy Sane. They could also, as discussed, bring on someone like Lukas Klostermann and move Kimmich into midfield. They need to do something because at the moment France are in control.

9.05pm BST

48 min “I just can’t understand the roles of Kroos and Gundogan,” says Yash Gupta. “They need a Rodri/Casemiro type player beside them to succeed which can be played by Kimmich but he’s on right side. Too many times their left wing back thought of putting a cross in before realising not enough men to attack in the box. It’s not that Germany has played badly, but seeing the sight of Muller and Havertz occupying the same area, much like other midfielders, makes me wonder if a striker would be ideal to sort the midfield out.”

Pep just can’t resist tinkering in these big games, can he?

9.05pm BST

47 min Mbappe runs at a palpably terrified Hummels, twisting him one way and then the other before slightly overrunning the ball. In the end Hummels did well to force him wide, but there was a moment during the attack when, if I was Hummels, I’d have been sorely tempted to run straight off the field, down the tunnel, out of the ground and straight into permanent international retirement.

9.02pm BST

46 min Peep peep! France begin the second half.

9.02pm BST

“I’m curious about Gavin’s message earlier (44 min),” says Hussain Cheema. “Did you have a look? Was Pogba’s pass intentional or not.”

I did. I still think he meant it, though I see what Gavin is saying. I just think he’s too good to misplace a pass as badly as that, and I think his little jump was more excitement than frustration with Mbappe. But only Pog knows.

8.59pm BST

“I can tell you that my French colleagues still discuss Battiston and Schumacher to this day,” says Chris Drew. “It still rankles. A lot.”

No offence, but as somebody who grew up in England, I find that a bit embarrassing.

8.51pm BST

“If only,” says Stuart Jenkinson, “there was a word to describe the pleasure derived from watching a highly accomplished, World-Cup winning defender score a Sunday-league-clogger own goal.”

8.50pm BST

Half-time reading

8.49pm BST

Peep peep! The world champions lead through Mats Hummels’ unfortunate own goal. After a slow start, France were the more relaxed, authoritative side. Paul Pogba was excellent, and made the goal with a majestic/overhit pass, while N’Golo Kante was a disgraceful affront to centuries of human imperfection. Germany were a little more frantic, yet they still played pretty well and had chances to equalise. The second half won’t be dull.

8.46pm BST

45+1 min One minute of added time.

8.46pm BST

45 min Kante is such a fascinating player. I can’t recall a defensive midfielder, ever, with his combination of speed, reading of the game, equanimity and clean tackling.

8.44pm BST

44 min “I’m pretty sure Pogba meant that pass for Mbappe,” says Gavin. “You could see he was about to curse himself before the ball reached Hernandez.”

That’s interesting, I’ll have a proper look at half-time. I learned the hard way at school that, when you mishit a cross from 40 yards out, you shouldn’t put up your hand in apology a split-second before it sails over the keeper’s head into the net.

8.43pm BST

43 min Kante is having another ridiculous game. While I was trying to describe the last two incidents, he made two or three interceptions that nobody on the else on the planet would have managed.

8.42pm BST

41 min Pavard’s cross is taken down on the chest by the unmarked Benzema at the near post, but his touch is slightly too heavy and that ruins any chance of a shot. Instead he lobs the ball back across the area and it’s cleared. For a player with Benzema’s lightness of touch (can a footballer have a velvet chest? They can now!) that was half a chance.

8.41pm BST

40 min Kimmich, who is on a yellow card, accidentally kicks Hernandez in the face as they wrestle for a loose ball. Hernandez goes down holding his face, but it doesn’t get the desired red card for Kimmich.

8.38pm BST

38 min: Chance for Gundogan! Gosens’ cross from the left takes a deflection and bounces towards Gnabry at the near post. He improvises an ingenious overhead flick to Gundogan, who bobbles a first-time shot well wide from 12 yards. Pogba did just enough to put him off but it was still a decent chance.

8.36pm BST

36 min Mbappe destroys Hummels in the inside-left channel, moves into the area and tries to pick out Benzema. Ginter makes a vital interception and knocks the ball behind for a corner. This is starting to look a bit ominous for Germany.

8.35pm BST

35 min Varane gets France out of a bit of trouble with some adroit footwork on the edge of his own area.

8.34pm BST

33 min Germany need to do something about Pogba, who is getting far too much time to spray passes left and right.

8.32pm BST

31 min I don’t know why I’m telling you this, as it’s a given on recent form, but N’Golo Kante is having a brilliant game. So is Paul Pogba, which isn’t such a sure thing but is a pleasure to watch when it does happen. There isn’t a huge amount between the teams but France are playing with greater confidence and authority.

8.28pm BST

28 min “What a pass from Pogba!!” says Ruth Purdue. It really was gorgeous.

8.27pm BST

27 min Germany have responded really well to going behind. Muller is fouled by Pogba 25 yards from goal. This time the free-kick is fractionally to the right of centre... and Kroos bends it over the bar.

8.25pm BST

25 min Kroos’s free-kick hits a leaping French player in the wall.

8.24pm BST

24 min Kante is penalised for a tackle on Gundogan 22 yards from goal. The free-kick is just to the left of centre, perfect for Toni Kroos.

8.24pm BST

23 min Hummels scored the only goal when Germany beat France in the World Cup quarter-final seven years ago. It’s a nightmare for him, especially after such a high-profile recall, but it was a great ball from Pogba and a really awkward cross by Hernandez.

8.22pm BST

22 min Germany almost equalise straight away, with Gosens’ cross headed wide by the stretching Muller. It was fractionally too high for him.

8.22pm BST

Pogba opened Germany up with a flipped crossfield pass to Hernandez on the left side of the area. He hammered the bouncing ball across the face of goal towards Mbappe, six yards out. Hummels got in front of Mbappe but couldn’t adjust his feet quickly enough and shinned it into the roof of his own net.

8.20pm BST

Mats Hummels gives France the lead!

8.20pm BST

20 min After a sluggish start France look relaxed and confident. And now...

8.18pm BST

17 min France are starting to show their class. Mbappe zips infield from the left, beats Ginter with ease and smashes a shot towards the far corner. Neuer gets down smartly to his left to punch it round the post.

8.17pm BST

16 min: Chance for Pogba! Griezmann flashes an inswinging corner towards the six-yard line, where Pogba gets in front of Rudiger but then mistimes his header and shoulders the ball over the bar. That looked an excellent chance.

8.16pm BST

15 min After good play from Kante, Pavard’s dangerous low cross is put behind at the near post by the stretching Ginter.

8.15pm BST

15 min Ruth Purdue (7.49pm) knows. It’s extremely cagey.

8.13pm BST

13 min This happened before the game, though I don’t think they showed it on the TV coverage.

Jesus. Protester has just parachuted in. Nearly crashed into fans here in the stadium. Saw something with Greenpeace on his parachute.

Smacked into a big line overhead. Managed to just steer it out of the fans and land on the pitch. Then taken away by security. pic.twitter.com/Dz1UHASD9O

OMG!!! Zum Glück ist nichts passiert… Schockstarre… pic.twitter.com/FYcZQFilT9

8.13pm BST

11 min It’s all pretty cagey, especially from France.

8.10pm BST

9 min “There seems to be a general assumption that three teams in this group will go through to the next round,” says Mary Waltz. “The loser of this match could easily lose to Portugal, and even though beating Hungary is a lock it could be a 1-0 result the way Hungary bunkers down. Three points doesn’t guarantee passage to next round, or does it?”

It doesn’t. At Euro 2016, two teams (Portugal, Northern Ireland) went through with three points and two (Albania, Turkey) went home.

8.08pm BST

8 min France’s formation is slightly different to the one we excepted (and to the official team graphic they put out on social media, the lying Tweeters). It’s a fluid 4-3-3, with Griezmann to the right and Mbappe to the left of Benzema.

8.07pm BST

7 min Kimmich is booked for a late tackle on his clubmate Lucas Hernandez.

8.07pm BST

6 min A quick throw finds Havertz on the move in the area, but the ball bounces up awkwardly and he can’t control it on the chest. His movement was excellent though.

8.05pm BST

5 min Germany have started like the home side, having almost all of the possession in the first five minutes. France haven’t yet settled, but they will.

8.04pm BST

4 min Kroos’s free-kick from the right is headed over by Hummels, 10 yards out. It was a quarter chance at best.

8.03pm BST

3 min Germany’s front three looks very fluid, with Muller, in particular, invading whatever space he likes.

8.02pm BST

1 min France have started with the Pogba to the right of Kante and Rabiot to the left. Germany have Gnabry as the false nine and Muller playing from the left.

8.00pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Germany kick off from right to left. Both teams are in their home strips - Germany in white, France in blue.

7.56pm BST

“If I’ve understood my wallchart correctly, these are the last two teams on show,” says Charles Antaki. “So far nobody has put an absolute seal on being obvious contenders, so France or Germany could stick themselves up on the leaderboard. Or collapse in a dismal show of ineptitude, that’s always possible.”

There’s also every chance one of these teams will be playing England at Wembley in the last 16. Even as a neutral, that brings me out in gulps.

7.55pm BST

Here come the players: France, the designated home side, go first, followed by Germany. On ITV, Clive Tyldesley starts with a cracking statistic: 19 of the 22 players starting this game have won the World Cup and/or the Champions League. This really is elite group-stage association football.

7.49pm BST

“I hope this game is like the highly enjoyable craziness of that Portugal and Netherlands game years ago,” says Ruth Purdue. “I doubt it will be and probably will be cagey.”

That game certainly wasn’t cagey, though some of the players could have ended up behind bars. Honk!

7.46pm BST

“You’re right that it’s difficult to pick a winner of this tournament (which is a good thing),” says Simon McMahon. “But I can’t get out of my head one team who could win it, and one team that definitely won’t (a bad thing, if you’re a Scotland fan).”

I wouldn’t worry. There’s about as much chance of England winning it as there is of Dundee United winning every single game they’ve ever played against Barcel-oh.

7.33pm BST

The tactical battle will be fascinating: France’s diamond against Germany’s 3-4-3. On the face of it, Germany should be overwhelmed in the centre of midfield but I’d imagine Muller (or Gnabry if he plays on the left with Muller as the false nine) and Havertz will drop in when France have the ball.

7.28pm BST

7.23pm BST

“Low needs to play Kimmich in the centre of midfield to give Germany a chance,” says David Brennan. “Sticking him on the right is a bad move. Gundogan and Kroos is a bit lightweight.”

I’m not sure Kimmich is a heavyweight, though he is a genuinely great midfielder. Who would you play at right wing-back though?

7.16pm BST

“Not sure we should automatically expect the holders of the World Cup and the No2-ranked team to win,” says Lizz Poulter. “Word on the street seems to be that there’s a lot of disharmony in the French dressing room. I’m managing my disappointment early.”

I think France will win the tournament, but they could easily do a Germany 2018 or a France 2002. I’ll let you into a secret: nobody has a clue.

7.03pm BST

7.01pm BST

6.54pm BST

Hungary 0-3 Portugal was the final score in the early game, though that doesn’t really tell the story of the game. All three goals came in the last eight minutes, two from the record-breaking Cristiano Ronaldo.

6.52pm BST

Karim Benzema plays at a major tournament for the first since France’s team 1-0 defeat to Germany in the World Cup quarter-final seven years ago. Germany’s recallees (is that a word? It is now!) Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller also start.

France (4-D-2) Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Kimpembe, Hernandez; Kante; Pogba, Rabiot; Griezmann; Benzema, Mbappe.
Substitutes: Mandanda, Maignan, Lenglet, Lemar, Giroud, Dembele, Tolisso, Zouma, Digne, Coman, Ben Yedder, Kounde.

5.30pm BST

Hello and welcome to live coverage of France v Germany in Munich. This is a semi-final dressed up as a group game. The most famous matches between these two - 1982, 1986, 1982, 2016, 1982, NINETEEN EIGHTY TWO - have all been for a place in the final of the World Cup or European Championship. This match, the first time they have ever met in the group stages, is a rare treat - football’s equivalent of Radiohead playing the John Peel Stage on Friday afternoon.

France are both the world champions and the best team in the world. But we said that about Germany before Russia 2018 and they embarrassed themselves, so anything’s possible, especially in a group of death. Paul Doyle, peerless as ever, makes the case both for and against France in this article.

View more on Rob Smyth's website »

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Published on June 15, 2021 14:06

June 13, 2021

England 1-0 Croatia: Euro 2020 – as it happened

Raheem Sterling scored the only goal as England deservedly beat Croatia in a tight game at a sweltering Wembley

7.26pm BST

4.30pm BST

That’s all on a - yep - historic day for England, who have won their opening game at a European Championship for the first time. I’ll leave you with Jacob Steinberg’s player ratings and David Hytner’s match report. Night!

4.25pm BST

Gareth Southgate’s verdict

“It’s lovely to have given our fans and our country a really enjoyable afternoon. Huge credit to the players - I thought they dealt with a big occasion really well. The heat was incredible. There were moments where the tempo dropped but for the majority of the game we were in control. We didn’t give them many opportunities and we looked dangerous.

4.20pm BST

And here’s the infectiously perky Mason Mount

“It was a good game, a very good game. We were on it from the first whistle and we could have had a few goals early on. We’ve really tried to work on our counter-press and it was brilliant in the first 20 minutes. Then the sun kicks in, we get a bit tired and they have a bit of the ball. But that’s natural with the players they have, and I thought the way we managed the game today was brilliant.

4.15pm BST

David Hytner has filed his report from Wembley, and here it is.

4.15pm BST

4.14pm BST

Here’s Kalvin Phillips, who can’t stop smiling

“It was very enjoyable. It was really warm! That took its toll towards the end of the game. It was a great result and I’m very happy with my performance. I know there’s two more group games left and I need to perform just as well again, if not better.

4.10pm BST

Here’s Tyrone Mings

“It’s a dream come true to play in a major tournament for England, and I loved every second of it. It’s probably the hottest game I’ve played in, but the team showed a lot of grit, determination and quality, and we’re over the moon with the start.

4.05pm BST

Both these teams play again on Friday: Croatia play the Czech Republic in Glasgow, then England meet Scotland at Wembley. Oh yes.

4.01pm BST

Raheem Sterling speaks

“I always said that if I ever play at Wembley in a major tournament, I’m going to score. It’s my back garden, I had to score. There’s a lot of different reasons why I haven’t scored for my club, and that’s totally irrelevant now. I’m here with England, I’m enjoying my football and I’m just delighted to score. It was a lovely weighted pass from Kalvin.

3.57pm BST

It’s been a really good day for Gareth Southgate. Sterling, whose selection was ridiculed, scored the goal, while Kieran Trippier was excellent at left-back. The change from 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1 also worked perfectly, and had a direct impact on the goal with Phillips further up the field.

3.55pm BST

3.54pm BST

They’re playing Three Lions on the tannoy. It’s over, forget it.

3.54pm BST

Raheem Sterling’s goal, made superbly by Kalvin Phillips, gives England a deserved victory. There wasn’t much in it, and it wasn’t a great game, but England’s young midfield - Rice, Phillips, Mount - righted the wrongs of 2018 by keeping Croatia at arm’s length. Tyrone Mings also had a very good game, but those three midfielders, all aged 25 or under, were the stars.

3.51pm BST

There was a slight scare at the end. Perisic’s long throw was headed away to the edge of the area, where Pasalic spanked a half-volley into orbit. And that was the last kick of the game.

3.50pm BST

Peep peep! For the first time in their history, England have won their opening game at a European Championship!

3.49pm BST

90+3 min A long, straight ball is headed across the area towards Petkovic, and Pickford is quickly off his line to claim. That was good goalkeeping.

3.47pm BST

90+2 min Another England change: the goalscorer Raheem Sterling, whose selection was widely ridiculed, is replaced by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

3.47pm BST

90+1 min Apart from that great chance for Rebic, Croatia haven’t really created anything of note.

3.46pm BST

90 min There will be four minutes of added time.

3.45pm BST

89 min A nasty clash of heads between Vida and Bellingham leads to a break in play. They both seem okay. The players take the opportunity to enjoy a Gatorade chaser or two.

3.44pm BST

87 min This would be, in the face of almost no competition, England’s best result in the opening match of a major tournament since they beat France 3-1 in 1982.

3.42pm BST

86 min “If you are going to sub in Rashford,” says Mary Waltz, “shouldn’t he be on the left side?”

I agree, I think he’s a bit lost on the right (so does your beloved Jose Mourinho). I don’t mind him up front, where he’s playing now, if you are holding onto a lead.

3.41pm BST

85 min Croatia bring on Mario Pasalic for Mateo Kovacic.

3.40pm BST

84 min Perisic’s mishit cross is claimed by the backpedalling Pickford. Croatia are having more of the ball now, as you’d expect, but England look relatively comfortable. In the 2018 semi-final you could see the equaliser coming for maybe five or six minutes before Perisic scored it. That’s not the case here, at least not yet.

3.38pm BST

82 min What a moment this is: Jude Bellingham, 17, becomes the youngest player ever to appear at the European Championship. He has come on to replace Harry Kane, with Mount moving to the right and Rashford going up front.

3.37pm BST

80 min Nobody will really care about the negatives if England win, BECAUSE IT’LL ONLY JOLLY WELL BE COMING HOME, but I suppose Kane’s anonymity is a slight concern - especially as he was similarly quiet in general play at the World Cup, even though he won the Golden Boot. Ach, who cares, I don’t know what I’m on about, he’s Harry Kane FFS.

3.34pm BST

79 min That’s Rebic’s last touch - he is replaced by Bruno Petkovic.

3.34pm BST

78 min Rebic turns smartly and finds Vrsaljko, whose cutback is coolly intercepted by Rice. He’s had a really good game. In fact England’s three central midfielders have been excellent, which is significant as that’s where the World Cup semi-final was lost.

3.32pm BST

77 min “I was just thinking how few shirtless men I’d seen in the crowd even with this heat,” says Sean Boiling. “Then Raheem pops up and the shirts fly off.”

Heaven knows what state of undress Ian Copestake is in by now.

3.32pm BST

76 min Actually, I think it’s just cramp. He’s going to continue.

3.31pm BST

76 min There’s a break in play while John Stones receives treatment. This doesn’t look great, actually, and Ben White is warming up.

3.31pm BST

75 min England have never won their opening game at a European Championship. But they have thrown away a lead before. In 1980, and 1996, and 2000, and 2004, and 2012, and 2016.

3.31pm BST

74 min: Sterling misses an excellent chance! Trippier’s deep, driven free-kick is headed back smartly by Mings towards Sterling, who lashes it over the bar with his left foot. That was a really good opportunity.

3.29pm BST

73 min A cross from the right is headed on by Rebic towards Perisic, and Walker does really well to get between him and the ball to shepherd it through to Pickford.

3.27pm BST

Goals. The striker’s currency. Sterling! pic.twitter.com/TQV3no4efq

3.26pm BST

71 min And a change for England: Phil Foden, who had a decent game and hit the post early on, is replaced by Marcus Rashford.

3.26pm BST

70 min Two changes for Croatia: Nikola Vlasic and Josip Brekalo replace Brozovic and Kramaric.

3.25pm BST

70 min Modric drives it flat to the edge of the D, where Brozovic charges onto the ball but volleys well wide.

3.25pm BST

69 min Croatia win a corner on the left. Walker wasn’t happy with the decision...

3.23pm BST

67 min Mount whips the free-kick just over the bar. Livakovic had it covered but it was sweetly stuck. Mount has been his usual perky, purposeful self.

3.22pm BST

66 min Brozovic fouls Mount 22 yards from goal and is booked. This free-kick is in a great position, and Mount will surely take this one.

3.21pm BST

65 min: Rebic misses a great chance! Croatia should be level. Kovacic’s long-range snapshot was blocked by Stones on the six-yard line. But he could only divert it straight to Rebic, who dragged well wide from 15 yards. That was a really flustered attempt.

3.20pm BST

Never forget where it started #BoyfromBrent pic.twitter.com/3eftHHCWW5

3.20pm BST

64 min The goal has re-energised England, for richer and poorer. Foden is booked for a slightly overzealous tackle on Gvardiol.

3.18pm BST

63 min Kane is back on his feet and seems okay.

3.18pm BST

61 min: Sensational defending from Gvardiol! Phillips and Foden combined to find Mount on the left of the area. He clipped a superb cross towards Kane, who was about to score at the far post when Gvardiol stretched around him to clear. Kane’s momentum took him into the post, and he is still down.

3.16pm BST

60 min Now it suits England to play at a slow pace, because they have a precious advantage.

3.14pm BST

It’s Raheem Sterling’s first goal at a major tournament. But it also belongs to Kalvin Phillips, who made it with a superb, surging run. He beat two players in the inside-right channel and angled a perfect through ball to Sterling, who was on the move as always and forced a first-time shot through Livakovic. That’s a lovely moment for Sterling, who has had such a bad time at major tournaments, and also for the outstanding Kalvin Phillips.

3.12pm BST

England take the lead against the run of play!

3.11pm BST

55 min Modric’s long-range shot is easily saved by Pickford. Croatia kept the ball for a long time beforehand, and if I was an England fan I’d be reaching for the Jaws soundtrack.

3.10pm BST

55 min Broadly speaking, the slower the game, the more it suits Croatia. At the moment it’s being played at a snail’s pace.

3.09pm BST

54 min Kane turns Vida smartly, 25 yards from goal, but his through pass to Sterling is intercepted. I thought he was going to hit that.

3.08pm BST

52 min “I’m watching in America at a bakery,” says Jenn Sykes. “In a lot of places here you can’t sell alcohol on Sundays until the afternoon so the bars won’t open. It’s a bit jarring to watch a game surrounded by pink boxes and cupcakes, but they have a TV and cable subscription so I’ll take it!”

3.06pm BST

50 min A dodgy backheader from Trippier almost puts Rebic through on goal, but the alert Pickford charges out of his area and boots the ball clear. Croatia have started the second half well.

3.04pm BST

48 min Kovacic is booked for a crunching tackle on his clubmate Mount. He did win the ball but the referee decided his challenge was irresponsible, reckless or whatever the word is.

3.02pm BST

46 min Mings’ attempted pass to Stones is blocked by Perisic, with the ball looping into the arms of Pickford. For a split-second it looked like it might drift over him into the net, which would have registered about 9.2 on the Gualtierifarceometer.

3.01pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Croatia kick off, hoping to put some second-half hurt on England once again.

2.59pm BST

“An impressive first five minutes,” high-fives Chris Harrison, “followed by lots of aimless sideways and backwards tiki-taka, Sterling huffing and puffing but ultimately either tripping over the ball, giving it away or nearly hitting the corner flag when your average U.12 would have found it easier to test the keeper. And Harry who?”

You must have loved the second half against Switzerland in 1996.

2.59pm BST

“If it is so hot there, the game will only get slower in the second half,” says John Burrell. “Is that a bad omen for England?”

Not necessarily, especially as both teams can use five substitutes. England have some good attacking options – Grealish, Rashford, Grealish, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Saka, Grealish, Grealish and possibly even Grealish.

2.47pm BST

Before you get your half-time cuppa/chaser, we have a small favour to ask. Our football coverage is open and free for anyone, anywhere, to enjoy (or endure, if you’re on the England rollercoaster at a major tournament). Since we pioneered interactive minute-by-minute coverage of football in the late 1990s, our liveblog community has grown around the world.

We are proud that during matches we receive emails from so many different places - London to Lagos, Sardinia to Shinjuku, the deserted beach to the socially distanced pub. There’s no paywall, no need for a ticket; equal access for all. And we can only maintain this thanks to funding from our readers. From as little as £1 you can show your support for the Guardian’s sport journalism today. Help power us for today, the rest of Euro 2020, and the years to come.

2.46pm BST

Peep peep! An intriguing half - that’s not a euphemism - ends goalless. Phil Foden hit the post early on, and for a while it looked like England’s young team might overrun Croatia. But as the half went on Croatia came into it and started to slow the game down in the heat.

2.45pm BST

45 min Perisic plays a smart give-and-go on the edge of the area, but Mings steps across to make an important challenge. He’s had a good half.

2.43pm BST

43 min And Trippier cracks it into the wall.

2.42pm BST

43 min Mount and Trippier are over it...

2.42pm BST

42 min Sterling runs onto another long ball forward, forcing Caleta-Car to handle the ball just outside the area. He is booked and England have a free-kick in a great position: 22 yards out, slightly to the left of centre.

2.41pm BST

2.40pm BST

41 min “Hi Rob,” writes Paris Goddard. “It’s 01:35 on Monday morning here in Wellington (New Zealand, not Somerset). If this goes badly it’ll be the earliest my week has ever been ruined.”

Now that’s what I call optimism.

2.40pm BST

40 min Not much is happening. Kyle Walker, who has had an iffy first half in possession, spanks a cross straight out of play.

2.39pm BST

38 min “Would you have picked Pickford in goal today?” writes our old MBM friend Eleanor Ward.

I would, mainly because he has tournament experience. I suspect Sam Johnstone might be the best of the three keepers, but it would be too big a risk to throw him in.

2.37pm BST

37 min Sterling, who has been erratic but lively, zips infield from the left and finds Foden on the edge of the area. He tries to twist away from a couple of defenders and is firmly tackled.

2.36pm BST

36 min While it’s too early to start playing the theme from Jaws, Gareth Southgate will be slightly uneasy with how the game has drifted in the last 10-15 minutes. The tempo is a lot slower, which surely suits Croatia’s geriatricos.

2.34pm BST

34 min Phil Foden shows his class with a dainty first touch to kill Phillips’ clipped pass while in mid-air. I don’t know what else to tell you.

2.33pm BST

32 min “5:07am in Vancouver off to The London Pub and the beer will be flowing,” wrote Dan Mulligan shortly before kick-off. “Love these strange KO times while away.
Come on England.”

I haven’t done that enough, but I did watch the 2018 semi-final at 2am in Perth. I got drunk on my own about four times in a 24-hour period, and because of the different time zones they were all guilt free!

2.31pm BST

31 min One slight concern in what has generally been a good start is that I can barely remember Harry Kane touching the ball. It’s actually the inexperienced players - Phillips, Rice and Mount in particular - who have been most impressive.

2.30pm BST

29 min “Vindaloo, Vindaloo ...!” shouts Ian Copestake, whipping off his fake 1982 Admiral kit and swinging it about his head.

2.29pm BST

28 min England have had 60 per cent possession overall, but Croatia have definitely been on the ball a lot more in the last 10 minutes or so. Modric is seeing too much of the ball for Gareth Southgate’s liking.

2.28pm BST

27 min A half chance for Perisic, who slashes over the bar from 17 yards. Vrsaljko’s cross from the right was missed by everyone at the near post and drifted across the area to Perisic, who twisted his body for the shot but couldn’t get over the bouncing ball.

2.26pm BST

26 min Sterling runs onto Trippier’s throw, 22 yards from goal, but wallops the bouncing ball miles wide. That looks like a deliberate tactic, with Sterling running infield, into space, to receive Trippier’s throws. A similar move led to Foden hitting the post early on.

2.24pm BST

24 min Vrsaljko’s cross is headed away by Mings at the near post. It’s been an unexpectedly comfortable start for England’s slightly makeshift defence.

2.23pm BST

23 min Croatia are slowing the game down at every opportunity. They know their experience will become more of an advantage if they can take the game deep.

2.21pm BST

20 min Sterling again gets behind the Croatia defence, this time on the left side of the area. He turns and flips a cross to the far post that is headed away. At the moment, England’s youth is trumping Croatia’s experience. But then we said the same in the first half of the World Cup semi-final.

2.19pm BST

19 min Foden tries to snake around the outside but is dispossessed by the diligent Kovacic. England are playing with a really impressive energy and purpose.

2.17pm BST

17 min Phillips is fouled 35 yards from goal. Trippier flips the ball over the defence towards Kane, who is offside, the end.

2.17pm BST

16 min “In this searing heat Croatia will regret their black kit in the last 20 minutes,” says Mary Waltz. “Their aging side will melt.”

Literally.

2.15pm BST

15 min Sterling went to the last World Cup in great form and had a bit of stinker, so maybe this will be the reverse. He has been really bright so far. One thing Sterling doesn’t get enough credit for is his irrepressibility - he never hides, even if he’s having a rough time. That attitude, combined with his speed and movement, mean he will always be a threat.

2.13pm BST

13 min Thanks for all your emails, with which I am doggedly failing to keep up. It’s been a pretty frantic start to the game, faster than I expected in this heat.

2.11pm BST

11 min Kalvin Phillips has started the game really well, with and without the ball. It took four or five minutes for them to settle down, but since then England have been dominant.

2.09pm BST

9 min The resulting corner is headed away as far as Phillips, whose crisp volley from 20 yards is pushed away by the sprawling Livakovic. This is terrific stuff from England.

2.08pm BST

8 min Caleta-Car makes a vital tackle on Sterling, although I think he was offside as he ran into Phillips’ clever pass. He tried to turn back inside Caleta-Car, who ensured neither Sterling or the ball would pass.

2.07pm BST

7 min “Like I always say,” says Mike Mackenzie, “a tournament doesn’t really start until the English fans are annoyed by the manager’s starting XI!”

2.06pm BST

6 min: Foden hits the post! Almost a dream start for England. Sterling broke through midfield, running onto a clever long throw from Trippier, and found Foden just outside the area. He controlled the ball on the stretch, teased Gvardiol and shaped a lovely left-footed curler towards the far post. It beat the diving Livakovic and bounced off the inside of the post.

2.04pm BST

4 min It’s been a slightly nervous start from England, with a few loose touches. Croatia, whose team are much more experienced, look pretty assured.

2.02pm BST

2 min England are indeed playing with Trippier at left back. But the formation is slightly different, 4-1-4-1 rather than 4-2-3-1. Declan Rice is playing in front of the back four, with Phillips and Mount ahead of him.

2.01pm BST

1 min Peep peep! England kick off from right to left.

2.00pm BST

The England players take a knee... and there is a lot of booing. It’s soon drowned out by cheers and applause, but that’s not really the point.

1.59pm BST

England are in their snazzy home strip, Croatia are wearing a very stylish black change kit.

1.58pm BST

The Croatia anthem is briefly booed. Tremendous stuff. Then the England playersand fans belt out God Save the Queen, some with more gusto than others. This is it, the start of another emotional spin cycle.

1.56pm BST

Harry Kane leads England onto the field. Then Luka Modric, England’s nemesis on this ground in 2007 and in Russia in 2018, strolls on with the Croatia team. They’re all wearing tracksuits, despite the heat, possibly to shoe how hard they are.

1.54pm BST

The players are in the tunnel. The 22,500 fans at Wembley are making a rare old noise. Here we go!

1.41pm BST

A suited Gareth Southgate speaks

“We’re very focussed on today’s game. We’ve prepared tactically. We know everybody around us is hugely excited and the players and staff are as well, but we have to focus on the performance and forget the noise.

1.36pm BST

“Somehow, something doesn’t feel right about this match,” says Chris Evans. “Could be the team selection, could be the booing, could be Covid. Not sure. Feeling uneasy.”

Wait until England win their first corner. You’ll be straight up on the roof singing Atomic Kitten.

1.33pm BST

Half an hour to kick off. It’s boiling at Wembley, just below 30 degrees. It’s not ideal gegenpressing weather.

1.31pm BST

1.30pm BST

“The Sancho omission is a bit odd,” says Seth Ennis. “I thought the whole squad are available as substitutes.”

Not at this tournament. Each team is allowed 26 players in their tournament squad, then 23 in each matchday squad. Two of the 12 substitutes must be goalkeepers. The three England players missing out today are Sancho and Ben Chilwell, who were fit and available for selection, and Harry Maguire.

1.26pm BST

Some of you have suggested England could play with a back three. I’d say that’s highly unlikely, as it would mean Raheem Sterling or Phil Foden playing as a left wing-back. Stranger things have happened, but not many.

1.22pm BST

The pre-match thoughts of Mason Mount

“I’m very excited. We know how big the game is but we’re confident and in a good state of mind. We’re looking forward to the game. I’ve had a little bit of experience playing against [Modric], which always helps, but it’s a different game today. We’ll be doing everything we can to stop them as a team and then focus on what we can do when we have the ball. It’s gonna be a tough game today, with the heat as well, so it’ll give us a massive boost to have a crowd at Wembley.”

1.19pm BST

Tubthumping department

“Nice to see we’re keeping up tradition by selecting blatantly unfit key players, picking others out of position, and inexplicably leaving some of the form players on the bench (or in the stands, in the case of Sancho),” says Dave Adams. “For all that Southgate talks a different game to previous England managers, does anyone seriously doubt that Grealish and Sancho would be in the XI today if the played for City or Liverpool? Can’t see anything ahead but disappointment, finger pointing, and a scrappy win over Scotland.”

1.03pm BST

I’m away to grab a coffee for the next 10 minutes or so. I’ll leave you with this terrific piece, which I suspect speaks for a few of you.

12.54pm BST

“Is Jadon Sancho’s non-selection partly because he plays in Germany and hasn’t played too much in England?” asks John Burrell. “I can’t understand why he wouldn’t at least be in the bench.”

I can’t see that being the reason, but I’m as surprised as you that he isn’t among the subs. I’d have had him in the XI, never mind the XXIII.

12.52pm BST

There are no big surprises in the Croatia team. Andrej Kramaric is preferred to Bruno Petkovic, which should mean Ante Rebic starting up front. The talented Nikola Vlasic, who is still feeling his way back from injury, will come off the bench at some stage.

12.48pm BST

“I have opted out of following England (decided not to get a ticket or a tattoo) but have allowed myself peeps at the MBM,” says Ian Copestake. “There is such a bad taste in the mouth from how the crowd reacts to the team and to how the press will gladly throw Southgate to the ‘lions’. I just don’t feel the love.”

Wait until they win their first corner; you’ll be straight up on the roof singing Vindaloo.

12.46pm BST

England’s route to glory/failure

“It’s worth pointing out,” begins Simon Bromley, “that while finishing second in the group would mean an easier last 16 game for England, they would then have to play the Group of Death winner in the quarters - without home advantage.”

12.44pm BST

England (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Trippier; Phillips, Rice; Foden, Mount, Sterling; Kane.
Substitutes: D Henderson, Johnstone, Shaw, Grealish, J Henderson, Rashford, Coady, Calvert-Lewin, White, James, Saka, Bellingham.

Croatia (4-3-3) Livakovic; Vrsaljko, Caleta-Car, Vida, Gvardiol; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Kramaric, Rebic, Perisic.
Substitutes: Kalinic, Sluga, Brekalo, Vlasic, Budimir, Pasalic, Skoric, Badelj, Petkovic, Juranovic, Bradaric, Ivanusec.

12.40pm BST

That leaked England team has been confirmed. Jadon Sancho isn’t even on the bench, which is weird, while Jordan Henderson has been included in the matchday squad so that he can do a few card tricks in the dressing-room at half-time.

Team news is in!

Your #ThreeLions to face Croatia in our opening game at #EURO2020... pic.twitter.com/HxYXprXtex

12.35pm BST

“Very much feeling the hope and despair vibe,” says Lizz Poulter, “but right now I feel this is a lose/lose match. If England win, the chances are they’ll top the group and have a harder time going forward. If England lose, ENGLAND LOSE!, which is a terrible way to start the tournament. Still, at least we’re all feeling the love for Christian Eriksen and Denmark.”

It’s a very good point. If England win the group they stay at Wembley for the last 16 – but they would have to play the team that finishes second in the France/Germany/Portugal/Hungary group. If they finish second they should have an easier game, but they would lose home advantage. If they finish third, you can do your own wallchart because I haven’t a clue what happens then.

12.30pm BST

Croatia If you want to know more about how their team has evolved since they reached the World Cup final, Aleksandar Holiga is your friend.

12.26pm BST

This isn’t going to end well, is it

12.23pm BST

Atomic kitten being sung with a new depth and pathos at wembley. Can confirm Southgate still turning people on. A healing moment.

12.21pm BST

12.20pm BST

Croatia’s recent form is poor, with seven defeats in the last 13 games. But they are still a dangerous, streetwise team, and you don’t need to read between too many lines to know how much they would love to do a number on England today.

12.11pm BST

We have a separate liveblog for all the other Euro 2020 business. I’m happy to report that the news on Christian Eriksen remains positive.

12.10pm BST

Early team news/pre-match mellow-harshing

The word on the social media street is that Jack Grealish won’t start for England. This is the reported team, in the popular 4-2-3-1 formation: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Trippier; Phillips, Rice; Foden, Mount, Sterling; Kane.

11.49am BST

Dear reader, meet Hope and Despair. If you’re an England supporter, they’ll be staying at your place for the next few weeks. They’re a well-meaning pair, if a little high maintenance, and they’ve already invited a few of their friends round for the England games: Giddiness, Hype, Anger, Hubris and even Racism, though you don’t have to answer the door to that particular clown.

Yep, it’s time for a new series of everyone’s favourite tragicomedy: England’s attempt to win a second major tournament. This is their 20th attempt at glory since 1966, not including the tournaments they failed to reach, but only the second in which they have had home advantage.

IT’S ONLY JOLLY WELL COMING HOME

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Published on June 13, 2021 08:30

June 12, 2021

Belgium 3-0 Russia: Euro 2020 – as it happened

Romelu Lukaku scored twice and sent a message to Christian Eriksen as Belgium started their tournament with an easy win

9.56pm BST

That’s it for tonight’s blog. Thanks for your company and emails on a surreal, distressing but ultimately uplifting day. Goodnight.

9.53pm BST

Peep peep! A perfect start for Belgium, who were in second gear throughout yet still hammered Russia. The voracious Romelu Lukaku scored twice, with the substitute Thomas Meunier also on the scoresheet. Meunier’s involvement was the only real downside for Belgium: he came on in the first half after a nasty eye injury to Timothy Castagne.

9.52pm BST

90+2 min “Hello Rob,” writes Kaspar Larsen. “Just to inject, at the post-match press conference, Hjulmand, the Danish coach, confirmed that the teams had been given two options by UEFA: Either resume play tonight or at noon tomorrow. Nothing later was doable since Finland has their next game on the 16th. Hjulmand confirmed that his players all agreed that tomorrow would have been untenable, as they wouldn’t have been able to sleep tonight anyway, and thus in no fit state to play so early tomorrow.”

9.51pm BST

90+1 min Two minutes of added time. This has been a stroll for Belgium.

9.50pm BST

Meunier, who has had a fine game since coming on in the first half, made the goal. He moseyed infield, realised nobody was going to challenge him and kept going. Then he guided a good ball through to Lukaku, who outpaced Semonov and drove a low right-foot shot past Shunin at the near post. Excellently taken.

9.48pm BST

Romelu Lukaku gets his second!

9.47pm BST

87 min Russia’s next game is against Finland on Wednesday. Belgium meet Denmark the following day.

9.45pm BST

84 min “That was a good point by Ben Stanley about the Finnish players,” says Kári Tulinius. “Joel Pohjanpalo was interviewed on Finnish TV after the match, and he didn’t have the expected demeanour of someone who’d scored his country’s first ever goal at a major tournament. He looked like someone who’d seen a fellow human being nearly die right in front of him.”

9.43pm BST

82 min Eden Hazard loses Mukhin with a scintillating turn on the halfway line. Nothing comes of it but it was a pleasant reminder of his delicious balance and skill.

9.41pm BST

81 min Nothing to report in the football, with Belgium happily passing the clock down. That nasty injury to Castagne aside, this really has been the perfect tune-up for them.

9.39pm BST

79 min “Whether or not they should have played I think it ultimately does come down to the players’ decision,” says Joshua Reynolds. “I agree that they might regret making the decision and that it was certainly not a good environment for making one, but ultimately they did want to play. It’s hard without a guideline to say in the moment ‘you don’t know what is best. We do.’. Maybe there should be a rule put into place where if a player has this kind of health event happen then the match is abandoned and cannot be played until at least 24 hours after. I have no idea what the logistics of that would be, however.”

Yes, well put. That’s why I have sympathy with the Danish players, who went through a kaleidoscope of emotions from the moment Eriksen collapsed. They did what they thought was right, and I wouldn’t criticise them for that.

9.36pm BST

77 min Two more changes for Belgium: Thomas Vermaelen and Dennis Praet replaces Jan Vertonghen and Yannick Carrasco.

9.36pm BST

76 min The second half has been a non-event. The substitute Miranchuk tries to enliven proceedings with a strong run into the area, only for Boyata to calmly dispossess him. Boyata has been really good tonight.

9.34pm BST

74 min “As others have said, it would always have been impossible for the Danish players to perform at their usual level under those circumstances,” writes Alasdair Murray. “It reminded me of that England v France friendly played a few days after a terrorist attack in Paris, where the minds of the French players were clearly not on the game at all. Additionally, though it’s far from the most important thing here - it seems a shame that Finland’s first win at a major tournament will now always have an asterisk next to it. Best wishes to Christian Eriksen.”

Though I agree with you, it’s interesting that Arsenal-Wolves continued last season after Raul Jimenez fractured his skull, and Wolves went on to win. I’m trying to work out what the differences are – the incidents were different but equally serious (I was doing the liveblog and I thought Jimenez had died).

9.32pm BST

72 min Eden Hazard replaces Dries Mertens. It would be great to see him return to form in this tournament; the world is a better place when Hazard is playing well.

9.31pm BST

71 min Eden Hazard is getting ready to come on.

9.29pm BST

69 min Nothing much is happening. Russia have been better in the second half, but Belgium have still kept them at arm’s length.

9.27pm BST

65 min “Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Looking ahead, I really think Scotland could spring a surprise, and maybe even win the tournament. And I’m not just saying that because I picked them in the work sweepie.”

I found out today that I’ll be liveblogging the England/Scotland game next Friday. Please email us, whatever state you’re in.

9.24pm BST

63 min Russia make their final substitutions: Maksim Mukhin and Aleksei Miranchuk replace Cheryshev, who was one of the first-half substitutes, and Zobnin.

9.22pm BST

61 min If Russia get one it could become interesting, because Belgium have been coasting for most of the second half. It’s human nature, I suppose: we all thought it was over at half-time so they probably did too, at least subconsciously.

9.20pm BST

59 min “Emotional trauma is no less trauma for being emotional,” says Ben Stanley. “In rugby you see players who get concussed and want to carry on. The decision is taken out of their hands, and rightly so. The Denmark players were always going to do what Eriksen asked of them, and that’s totally understandable, but in such circumstances it shouldn’t be a decision for them to make. It’s also worth thinking about the Finnish players - they could hardly refuse on hearing of Eriksen’s request, but they will also have been emotionally affected by seeing someone nearly die on the pitch in front of them. Someone needs to be empowered to say ‘no, this isn’t going to happen’.”

Things have at least improved since, for example, the Burnden Park tragedy of 1946.

9.18pm BST

58 min Dzyuba breaks forward dangerously, and Boyata does really well to hold him up on the edge of the area. This is a decent spell for Russia.

9.17pm BST

55 min “I don’t agree they were wrong to restart the game,” says Ric Arthur. “Eriksen texted his teammates asking them to finish the game, and after consulting with the Finland players, they all agreed to play. What benefit would there have been to stew on it for another day, and have the whole crowd come back to witness another half?”

Well, I doubt Denmark would have lost for a start. To what extent that is important is another matter. I can see both sides, but I think the Denmark players will eventually regret playing, and not only because they lost. We all have experience of muddled thinking when we are suffering from shock or grief, and we usually end up regretting our lack of clarity.

9.14pm BST

54 min Dzyuba has a rising shot saved comfortably by Courtois, though it wouldn’t have counted as Dendoncker was nobbled by Cheryshev in the build up.

9.13pm BST

52 min Russia are huffing and puffing to no great effect. Their GPS trackers probably suggest otherwise, but from afar this looks like an easy night’s work for Belgium.

9.11pm BST

50 min First Kevin De Bruyne, now Timothy Castagne may have fractured an eye socket. His eye was already swollen and bruised by the time he left the field.

9.10pm BST

Doctors fear that Timothy Castagne has broken his eye socket. He was subbed off after a collision. pic.twitter.com/Gr4NdZjH8H

9.09pm BST

48 min Russia would probably be happy with damage limitation in the second half. It’s hard to be sure at this stage, but a win and a draw against Finland and Denmark would probably be enough to put them through to the knockout stage. Anything tonight would be a bonus.

9.06pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Belgium begin the second half. Russia win the ball straight away and Zobnin shoots well wide from long range.

9.05pm BST

Russia have made a half-time substitution: Igor Diveev is on for Dmitri Barinov.

8.59pm BST

“No matter what the circumstances of the Denmark players being asked to resume the game, it should have been abandoned & replayed tomorrow at the earliest,” says Mike Nagle. “When you have witnessed a teammate being given CPR on the pitch there is no way you can be in the right frame of mind to finish the game shortly afterwards. Uefa need to get the message that physical & mental health comes first.”

I think you’re right. It would be really interesting to know who first suggested the match should be completed today. If it was Eriksen, as some people have written, I can understand why it happened, even if in hindsight it was the wrong decision.

8.51pm BST

Half-time reading

8.49pm BST

Peep peep! Belgium are cruising to victory in St Petersburg. The inevitable Romelu Lukaku put them ahead with his 61st goal for Belgium, and then the substitute Thomas Meunier added a second after a wicked cross from Thorgan Hazard. Russia had a decent spell at 1-0 but for the most part it has been a stroll for Belgium, the perfect way to ease themselves into the tournament.

8.48pm BST

45+3 min Carrasco almost makes it 3-0, lifting a shot over the bar after a dizzying run infield from the left. Belgium are a class apart.

8.44pm BST

43 min Another Russia change: Zhirkov can’t continue, so he is replaced by Vyacheslav Karavaev.

8.42pm BST

41 min: No penalty

8.42pm BST

41 min It’s still being checked, but it shouldn’t be a penalty - replays show that Meunier ran into Zhirkov.

8.41pm BST

40 min Meunier picks up a loose ball, moves into the area and goes over under challenge from Zhirkov. There was no real appeal for a penalty, though it was a risky challenge and it’s being checked by VAR.

8.39pm BST

38 min A free-kick is headed back across goal by Dzyuba, six yards out, and the ball bounces to safety. I’m not sure why he didn’t head at goal, though I think he was offside anyway.

8.38pm BST

38 min “There are no right answers in this situation,” says Mary Waltz. “This is not a critique. But the Finland goal was a save Schmeichel makes in his sleep. The Hjobjerg penalty effort was of a man who didn’t want to be on the spot. The Danes just suffered major trauma. The result could have just as well happened tomorrow. It’s just sad.”

It’s really hard to judge because we don’t know the exact circumstances by which the game was resumed. If Eriksen asked them to finish the match, they were never going to say no. It’s hard to say as I haven’t been watching the game, but it does sound like their minds were elsewhere.

8.38pm BST

37 min Zhirkov is struggling. He slipped as he cleared the ball and started feeling his knee, but it looks like he’s okay to continue.

8.36pm BST

35 min It was a delicious cross from Hazard. I wouldn’t be too harsh on Shunin, as I think he lost sight of the ball because of a posse of bodies at the near post.

8.35pm BST

Hazard’s dipping, inswinging cross from the left was spilled by Shunin, who I think was unsighted, and Meunier gobbled up the rebound from 10 yards.

8.34pm BST

The substitute Thomas Meunier makes it two.

8.32pm BST

31 min Barinov is a bit late on Mertens, who stamps on Barinov’s personal space as he lands. I’m fairly sure it was an accident. The referee and VAR weren’t interested.

8.31pm BST

31 min “Whatever the law states, that goal was ridiculous,” says Alex Dann. “The defender wouldn’t have had to make a clearance, under pressure, if Lukaku had not been standing (offside)behind him.”

Yep, I agree. I thought it would be overturned by VAR.

8.30pm BST

30 min: Russia substitution Kuzyaev has been replaced by the popular Denis Cheryshev.

8.29pm BST

29 min Alderweireld thrikes over the bar from 25 yards. It was beautifully struck but a few yards too high.

8.28pm BST

28 min Kuzyaev is having his head bandaged on the touchline. He wants to continue but the decision might be taken out of his hands.

8.27pm BST

27 min: Belgium substitution Castagne, holding an icepack to his already bruised right eye, is replaced by Thomas Meunier.

8.26pm BST

25 min A clash of heads between Castagne and Kuzyaev leads to a break in play while they receive treatment. Castagne looks very groggy and might not be able to continue.

8.23pm BST

23 min Castagne is very lucky not to be booked for a cynical foul on Kuzyaev.

8.23pm BST

22 min: Good save from Shunin! A cross from the left ricochets into the path of Hazard, who smacks the bouncing ball towards goal from the left edge of the area. Shunin charges out to make a terrific block.

8.19pm BST

18 min Lukaku storms into the area and is about to shoot when the stretching Dzhikiya makes a vital tackle. Lukaku collects the loose ball near the byline, gets his head up and picks out the late arriving Dendoncker on the edge of the area. He smashes a first-time shot over the bar.

8.18pm BST

"Chris, Chris... I love you!" ❤️

Romelu Lukaku gives #BEL an early lead over #RUS - before delivering a message of love for club team-mate Christian Eriksen #ITVFootball | #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/AJsMrQloyu

8.18pm BST

16 min Russia are playing some purposeful stuff. Fernandes’s cross is controlled with his left shoulder by Dzyuba, who then lays it off to Ozdoyev on the edge of the D. He drags a low shot well wide.

8.16pm BST

15 min I’m not sure I like that offside rule, because Lukaku ultimately benefitted from being offside, but there you go. It was not dissimilar to that Tyrone Mings incident at Manchester City last season.

8.14pm BST

14 min A half chance for Russia. Golovin’s excellent corner finds Fernandes, who does well to get above the Belgian defence but heads straight at Courtois.

8.13pm BST

Mertens’ routine cross from the right somehow went through the legs of Semonov, a slapstick endeavour on his part, and dribbled through to Lukaku. He was 12 yards out and dragged an instant shot on the turn past Shunin. Lukaku was in an offside position when the cross came in, but Semonov’s touch meant it was a new phase of play and he was thus onside. He celebrated his goal by saying “Chris, Chris, I love you” to the camera. Lukaku plays with Christian Eriksen at Internazionale.

8.10pm BST

It took the big man only 10 minutes!

8.09pm BST

8 min “You know the way UEFA fine clubs when their fans boo the Champions League anthem?” says Stephen Carr. “Reckon they’ll do similar when it happens when teams take the knee? (That’s a rhetorical question by the way.)”

They’ll probably fine Belgium for delaying the kick off.

8.08pm BST

7 min Dzyuba rumbles forward and wins the first corner of the game. Russia should be dangerous from set-pieces. Golovin strolls over to take the corner... and booms it out of play for a throw-in on the far side.

8.06pm BST

5 min Nothing to report so far. Belgium have had most of the ball, with Castagne and Thorgan Hazard more wing than back in the first few minutes.

8.03pm BST

2 min Belgium’s players took a knee before the game, while Russia’s did not. There were plenty of boos around the ground as well.

8.01pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Russia kick off from right to left. They are technically the away side so they are wearing their white change strip. Belgium are in red.

8.00pm BST

“I do understand your point about the game being resumed but I have full confidence in the Danes discussing as a group about what they would like to do,” says Ruth Purdue. “Others outside the group can have opinions on it on whether it’s right or not but they made their decision. I applaud them all for their bravery and solidarity. I thank all those involved today in helping save Mr Eriksen and those who planned in case of such terrible events should happen.”

I agree – at first I was appalled because I thought they had been pressured into it, but it sounds like that wasn’t the case.

7.58pm BST

The players line up for the national anthems. There’s a decent crowd in St Petersburg, around 34,000 I think.

7.56pm BST

“Hello Rob,” says Kári Tulinius. “My wife is Finnish, and we live in Helsinki. Our son is six years old and has just caught the football bug. He’s now falling asleep watching his first ever Finland match. So many children in Denmark and Finland watched a game of football for the first time. I’m beyond happy for Eriksen and his family, teammates and friends, but also for my son and all the children who can hear that Eriksen is recovering.”

7.51pm BST

The pre-match thoughts of Roberto Martinez

“We are all aware of what happened in Copenhagen and it was a real shock. Some of our squad have played with him, and straight away there was a real sense of wanting to send our energy and our prayers. We hope he has a speedy recovery.”

7.48pm BST

Belgium and Russia were in the same qualifying group for Euro 2020. Both teams won eight of eight against the rest... and Belgium made it 10 out of 10 by beating Russia 3-1 and 4-1.

7.45pm BST

“News reports state that the Danish players talked to Eriksen and agreed to play on,” says Mary Waltz. “I can’t say I agree but I am assuming the Danish players made that decision as a group. This near tragedy reminded me of two things. How grateful I am for our medical professionals and how quickly we as a society put aside the fact that millions of people all over the world have died and are dying as I type. The crap of 2020 just won’t leave us. Prayers for Eriksen and everyone else who are suffering today.”

At first I was appalled that the match was going to resume, but if the Danish players instigated it I think it’s the right decision. I can see both sides of this argument. The game in which Fabrice Muamba collapsed was abandoned, but last season Arsenal and Wolves played on after that sickening injury to Raul Jimenez. They must have known, like the Danish players now, that he had regained consciousness and was doing okay.

7.39pm BST

“Let me please say thanks for Barry Glendenning’s updates in the last hour or so,” says Duncan Edwards. “His respectful and no-nonsense reporting was spot on. No doubt many tears of stress and relief have been shed around Europe, I’m sure. We all love a good laugh and a good moan about football but it’s not life and death. Now I hope you have a nine-goal thriller to commentate on.”

I couldn’t agree more. There’s no manual for how to cover a shocking event like this, and Barry did brilliantly.

7.33pm BST

The match between Denmark and Finland is about to resume. It sounds like the Danish players were very keen to finish the game this evening.

7.18pm BST

Eden Hazard is only on the bench for Belgium, though that isn’t a huge surprise given the season he’s had. His brother Thorgan starts at left wing-back, and Kevin De Bruyne misses out as expected. Only four of tonight’s team started the World Cup semi-final defeat to France in 2018: Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Romelu Lukaku.

Five of the Russia team started their quarter-final defeat to Croatia three years ago: Mario Fernandes, Roman Zobnin, Daler Kuzyaev, Aleksandra Golovin and the captain Artem Dzyuba. There’s also a place for Chelsea alumnus Yuri Zhirkov, 37, who was part of the marvellous team that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008.

4.50pm BST

Christian Eriksen is alive. This is not the opening line I expected to write for a liveblog of Belgium v Russia, but Eriksen’s harrowing on-field collapse has overshadowed everything else at Euro 2020. The latest news is that he is awake and stable in hospital, where further tests will be done.

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Published on June 12, 2021 13:56

June 11, 2021

Euro 2020 countdown: build up to the big kick off – as it happened

All the latest news and features ahead of the opening match between Turkey and Italy in Rome

5.30pm BST

That’s it from me. The great Scott Murray will take you by the hand for the next five hours or so. Enjoy the game!

5.26pm BST

I’m going to hand over to Scott Murray for the build-up to Turkey v Italy. Before that, here’s a reminder of some of today’s news and features:

5.15pm BST

Belgium have confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne will not play in their opening match against Russia tomorrow night. De Bruyne suffered a fractured nose and eye socket during the Champions League final.

5.13pm BST

5.10pm BST

“So, it only takes 25 years of hindsight (3.51pm) to make VAR feel like a plus?” says Tom Hopkins. “Good to know. On that theme, I recall Germany’s winner in the final (Golden Goal, let’s never bring that nonsense back) having a whiff of offside but their whole squad rushing on to the pitch and the ref not having the nerve to send them all off again?”

That’s right: Stefan Kuntz was in an offside position and the linesman did put his flag up. The referee spoke to him and then gave the goal. In his defence, I don’t think Kuntz was interfering with play. But nor is it beyond the realms that a referee might bottle it.

5.05pm BST

(Just under) three hours to kick off! Scott Murray will be covering that, and the build up; he’s due to arrive in the MBM dungeon any minute now.

4.55pm BST

“It may not be the World Cup, but the combination of the Euros and the Copa America is a very close second!” chirps Mary Waltz. “While I look forward to the celebration of football with delight I notice the attitude of a prisoner on death row emanating from many of the fans of the Three Lions. Your history does not dictate another collapse. You have a wonderful squad. Stop with the funeral dirges.”

If you think this is bad, wait until they start winning games.

4.53pm BST

“More very useless info,” parps Paul Kelly. “Speaking of Marco Van Basten. A goal he definitely did score, the wonder volley in the final. Want to feel old? The man who provided the assist for that goal, Arnold Muhren, turned 70! last week.”

On that largely depressing note, I’ve just realised that the first man to score a European Championship-winning goal, Viktor Ponedelnik, died last December aged 83. I’m surprised that wasn’t more widely reported.

4.44pm BST

4.43pm BST

“Great to be reminded of Kevin McCarra,” says Charles Antaki, “what a terrific writer, and by all accounts a lovely man.”

It’s become such a cliché – “surprisingly down to earth, and very funny” – but Kevin really was one of the nicest people you could meet. He was painfully decent, incapable of the kind of egomania that runs through sports journalism. He had such originality, too, both in his writing style and thoughts about football. Jonathan Wilson wrote a really moving, perceptive tribute last year.

4.38pm BST

Please, please, please, let him start against Croatia

#EURO2020 ready ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/bOXvzAY4As

4.33pm BST

From the archive

Greece’s triumph makes even less sense now than it did in 2004. It was, as Kevin McCarra wrote, “a victory never to be forgotten or fully explained”.

4.01pm BST

Four hours until kick-off in Rome. I’m really looking forward to watching Turkey, who many people are tipping for biggish things.

3.57pm BST

Did you know (part 2) The first goal of Marco van Basten’s hat-trick against England in 1988 was actually a Gary Stevens own-goal.

We’re full of useless information today.

3.55pm BST

Here’s Andy Hunter on Croatia’s preparation for the big game at Wembley on Sunday. Yeeze, that’s going to be a cracker.

3.51pm BST

Did you know that, had VAR been used at Euro 96, Germany’s goal against England in the semi-final would have been disallowed for offside?

3.45pm BST

ICYMI, here’s Sean Ingle’s tournament preview

Given the challenges Uefa has faced from Covid as European football’s governing body, officials could have been forgiven for echoing Edmund Blackadder by sticking underpants on their heads, shoving a couple of pencils up their noses and crying “wibble”

3.44pm BST

I’ve just put Sky Sports News on to see what people are saying about Euro 2020. The first words I heard were “transfer window”. Make it stop!

3.36pm BST

Cheers David, hello everyone. Let’s start with a piece on Gareth Southgate and Englishness.

3.31pm BST

And on that behind-the-scenes bombshell, I’ll pass you back to Rob Smyth.

3.28pm BST

What do you see in your mind’s eye when listening? Was it this? Pretty much, to be honest.

@maxrushden @guardian_sport I feel this screenshot sums up tonight's Football Weekly live pod pretty well #GuardianLive #FootballWeekly #husky pic.twitter.com/BVusYpfGdb

3.21pm BST

Labour leader Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of a lack of courage over his reluctance to condemn fans who boo England’s players for taking the knee. Starmer has told the prime minister that his “failure of leadership” undermines the team’s chances of success at Euro 2020 and that Gareth Southgate has shown him how to be a leader.

Exclusive here from Jacob Steinberg:

3.06pm BST

Euro 2020 fan zone match screenings in the north-west of England are set to go ahead despite concerns around the high Covid rates in the region.

The rising rates are linked to the spread of the Delta variant. The variant first discovered in India is thought to spread more easily and be more resistant to vaccines.

3.03pm BST

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has backed the decision by Scotland’s football team to take a knee in solidarity with England when they play at Wembley.

From kick-off at Wembley next Friday, @ScotlandNT and @EnglandFootball will be the fiercest of opponents - but before that, the players will unite in solidarity against racism. Good decision, Scotland - well done! https://t.co/w15smxGsus

2.55pm BST

Spain’s players have been vaccinated against Covid at their training centre today as they continue their preparations for Monday’s opener against Sweden. Those who have experienced side effects a few days after receiving the jab may question the timing.

(Via Reuters):

2.44pm BST

A quick bit of non-Euro 2020 news. Tottenham defender Juan Foyth has joined Villarreal on a permanent basis.

The La Liga club have exercised the option they had to sign the 23-year-old Argentina international after he spent last season on loan with them.

2.35pm BST

Will you be cheering on all the home nations on?

The answer could be shaped by lots of things but as an Englishman born on St. David’s Day, whose favourite player as a kid was Kenny Dalglish, I don’t have to think twice when answering that question: of course I bloody will.

2.24pm BST

Scotland players will take the knee in solidarity with their England counterparts when they play at Wembley in Euro 2020.

(Per PA):

2.16pm BST

So you thought the only Greek connection with the Euros was Charisteas and co. causing a massive upset in 2004.

2.07pm BST

Thansk Rob. And I’ll start with some good news for Wales. Robert Page has confirmed that Aaron Ramsey is available for selection against Switzerland on Saturday. Ramsey sat out yesterday’s training session but will be involved at Baku’s Olympic Stadium.

We are sat here with 26 players fully fit and raring to go and Aaron falls into that category. We had a plan in place when I spoke to him a month ago about how many minutes we needed to achieve with one eye on Switzerland.

The build-up has gone really well, the medical team have got to take an enormous amount of credit for that.

1.55pm BST

I’m away to the doctors for a blood test, so I’ll hand you back to David Tindall for the next hour or so. Ta-ra!

1.51pm BST

Here are 24 reasons to be excited about the Euros

1.46pm BST

From the archive (4)

When asked for a rundown of Scotland’s strengths before the tournament, Franz Beckenbauer replied: “None visible.”

1.35pm BST

A reminder of this weekend’s fixtures (all kick-off times BST)

Friday

1.30pm BST

On this day in 2000, Jaap Stam didn’t flinch.

1.29pm BST

On this day in 1996, Croatia scored a late winner to beat Turkey at the City Ground. The reverse pass from Aljosa Asanovic is a beauty.

1.22pm BST

You can follow the race for the Golden Boot with our funky* interactive

1.03pm BST

Another plug for Jonathan Liew’s tournament preview

1.02pm BST

This is an interesting piece. I didn’t realise it was perceived as a humiliation, as Morocco were a bloody good side who would have gone through to the knockout stages but for Norway beating Brazil.

12.56pm BST

“Erthygl hyfryd gan Elis James,” says Matt Dony. “Surprisingly moving, too. Obviously, the Euros has hung over the end of the season, and I knew it was coming, and I was vaguely looking forward to it, but it always felt kind of distant. I’m suddenly hugely, unabashedly excited. The summer of 2016 was a massive highlight in my football life. But, I’m also aware that part of the magic was that everything was new and unexpected. This time around, it’s going to be an anticlimax, isn’t it? The group is horrible. There would be no shame in exiting at the group stage, but it will feel like a failure compared to last time. Sometimes, you wait a long time for a follow up, and it’s brilliant. Tool took 13 years to release Fear Inoculum, and it was magnificent. On the other hand, Chinese Democracy. Oh dear.”

Matt isn’t lying about the impact of 2016. I have fond memories of his increasingly, erm, unfettered emails during that semi-final against Portugal.

12.53pm BST

Ted Lasso intrigues me, because it looks hideous but has had consistently brilliant reviews. If I ever conquer my Premier League Years addiction, I’ll give it a try.

Best football film is tricky. Can't remember a single one. But the tv show Ted Lasso is a lot better than it has any right to be. It is a very American take on soccer but the characters have a lot more depth to them than you would expect from a pretty low budget tv comedy.

12.52pm BST

This is an interesting and slightly heartbreaking profile of João Cancelo, who is likely to play at full-back for Portugal.

12.49pm BST

Then and now

12.40pm BST

From the archive (3)

The Ladislav Jurkemik goal is a personal favourite, one of the great thunderbarstewards.

12.36pm BST

IT’S ONLY JOLLY WELL COMING HOME!

Yep, the Fiver is getting giddy, ish.

12.35pm BST

What’s the best football film you’ve seen?

No, Clive, Premier League Years 1994-95 doesn’t count as a film.

12.34pm BST

Predictions department

12.30pm BST

It’s such a personal thing. I would go for 2000 as well, though 1976 packed an astonishing amount into four games. You can make an extremely good case for 1984 as well.

A simple question: which Euros was the best:

I m not neutral, but 2000..., this equalizer in the last seconds and a golden goal (the volley of Trezeguet!!!) in final...
My best and strongest emotions with football.

12.27pm BST

From the archive (2)

The Sun has maintained a jingoistic approach, rather than a xenophobic one

12.25pm BST

Elis James will be writing for us throughout the tournament (and if you haven’t seen his Football Nation series, you should, as it’s exceedingly good). Here he is on the joy and camaraderie of watching Wales overseas, some of which even involves the football.

12.21pm BST

From the archive

12.18pm BST

Here’s our Experts’ Network feature on the defending champions Portugal, an intriguing mix of galacticos, geriatricos and Wolverhampton Wanderers players.

12.14pm BST

Thanks David, hello everyone. Let’s start with the big calls facing Gareth Southgate ahead of England’s game on Sunday. Since you asked, my XI would be Pickford; James, Stones, Lordknows, Chilwell; Phillips, Rice; Sancho, Mount, Grealish; Kane.

12.12pm BST

Time to pass the Euro 2020 baton to Rob Smyth, who’ll be keeping you informed and entertained for the next few hours.

12.02pm BST

A simple question: which Euros was the best? I’d personally go Euro 96 (a combination of being in my carefree 20s and England doing well) although 1984 when John Motson got very, very excited (Tigana... Tigana... Platini... GOAL!!!) in a more natural way then he does now was a belter too.

Guardian readers reminisce here in this feature by Paul Campbell.

11.53am BST

Gareth Bale, looking uncannily like a Cyberman from Doctor Who (hence the robotic answers), has been speaking this morning on the eve of Wales’s Euro 2020 opener against Switzerland on Saturday afternoon. Italy and Turkey get the Group A action in play this evening.

It’s similar (to Euro 2016) coming into the tournament. On the back of 2016 there should be expectations, but it’s a different team and a different tournament.

We know it’s a difficult group to get out of. They are all difficult teams to play against, but we’ve got to take one game at a time. We are very excited to be here and one day away. I feel fine and ready to give 100 per cent for my country, as I always do.

11.38am BST

Turkey are being billed as a side that could score plenty of goals but concede their fair share too. However, it’s a stretch to think that their game against Italy this evening will come close to matching this one.

Richard Foster for The Football Mine takes us back in time.

11.31am BST

Germany currently out on the training pitch in Herzogenaurach (a couple of hours from Munich) and Champions League final hero Kai Havertz is getting a birthday hug from manager Joachim Löw. Havertz is the grand old age of 22.

11.19am BST

There’s something very pleasing about comparing stadiums at a major football tournament. My own fetish probably started with Panini stickers. Sometimes they came as two-parters, meaning great care and attention was needed when joining one half to the other.

We have 11 to peruse this time and Barry Glendenning and Paul Bellsham have put together this lovely guide:

11.10am BST

For those who like perfect symmetry, Turkey and Italy’s only previous meeting in a major tournament was on this very day in Euro 2000.

Italy won 2-1 courtesy of goals from some guy called Antonio Conte (huh, whatever happened to him?) and a penalty from Filippo Inzaghi. Okan Buruk scored for Turkey.

Related: Turkey 1 - 2 Italy

11.02am BST

If I’ve filled in my When Saturday Comes Euro 2020 wallchart correctly, I’m getting a France v Belgium final.

Gregg highlighted the predictions of our writers earlier so I’ve decided to tot up the votes from the 12-strong panel:

10.41am BST

Talk of that 1988 Dutch team a couple of posts earlier inevitably leads us to that volley from Marco van Basten. The eye is obviously drawn to the goalscorer but an underrated part of this clip is the comic drunken stumble of Soviet goalkeeper Rinat Dasayev as the ball nestles in the back of the net.

10.32am BST

I know Gregg’s already mentioned it but I’ll give the magnificent Euro 2020 interactive guide another shout out.

Having been born in Whitehaven myself, this Dean Henderson snippet is a personal favourite:

Like the former Liverpool and West Brom keeper Scott Carson, Henderson was born in Whitehaven, Cumbria, and his first steps in sport came at a local rugby league club, Kells. In the 2001 census, taken when Henderson was four and Carson 15, the town’s population was 24,054 – so approximately one in every 2,056 people in England lived there. Since 2001 one in every seven people to debut in goal for England has been from Whitehaven.

10.24am BST

It’s important for any team with trophy aspirations to get off to a fast start, right? That’s the ideal but it’s not everything as Danish attacker Pernille Harder points out here. She has first-hand experience having lost to the Netherlands in the groups stages of the Euros in 2017 before going on to reach the final.

Off the top of my head I can think of another couple of examples: the Netherlands lost their opening group game to Russia in Euro 1988 but later beat them in the final and Spain lifted the World Cup trophy in 2010 despite suffering a shock 1-0 defeat in their first match against Switzerland.

10.14am BST

Hello! David Tindall here. In the spirit of the Euros, we’re moving the blog around different locations so I’ll take over from Gregg for a few hours.

10.00am BST

The Scotland team faced heavy criticism overnight following its decision not to take the knee during the Euro 2020 championship, in contrast to England’s determination to keep kneeling. Campaigning lawyer Aamer Anwar described the decision as “pathetic”, and called on the Scottish FA to explain how it can unite against racism “when you do the opposite?”

The move was also condemned by politicians. Kirsten Oswald, the SNP’s deputy leader at Westminster, said: “This is a mistake. Not taking the knee sends a really disappointing message from our national team.|

9.58am BST

It seems ridiculous that Finland, the nation that gave the world the joyful talents of Jari Litmanen, is only now playing in a first major football tournament. The Finnish captain Tim Sparv, who is writing a regular column for the Guardian throughout the tournament, describes how he feels on the eve of their opening Group B match against Denmark tomorrow. Yes, he’s psyched.

9.42am BST

Xherdan Shaqiri’s huge and often injured calf muscles have prevented the Liverpool forward from gaining much momentum going into the tournament. But he is aiming to do big things with in-form Switzerland and says he has “a secret” target for Euro 2020. Here’s Andy Hunter on the threat the “Power Cube” still poses to Wales’s hopes when they meet in Baku tomorrow.

9.32am BST

England’s buildup has been overshadowed by the booing of players taking a knee at Middlesbrough and the political discussion that has followed it, with Boris Johnson refusing to condemn the fans’ actions. The former prime minister Gordon Brown has spoken to the BBC’s Nick Robinson this morning and told the UK government to support the England team’s decision to take the knee before matches and stop fighting culture wars over “unimportant” gestures.

I would like Boris Johnson to come out publicly and support the England football team and what they do.

9.20am BST

I haven’t mentioned England yet. So here goes. After some underwhelming warm-up games, how will they fare with Harry Maguire likely to miss at least two group games and both Jordan Henderson and Jack Grealish struggling for fitness? Personally, I think they may run into trouble in the last 16 but they still have a very talented group of young attack-minded players. One of them is Bukayo Saka, Arsenal’s only England representative at the Euros. He explains here how he got his “little chilli” nickname.

9.06am BST

The Guardian’s Rome correspondent, Angela Giuffrida, has been talking to locals to get their views on how they feel as Euro 2020 kicks off in their back yard. It’s fair to say excitement is hardly at fever pitch. Here’s the opinion of Marco Martinelli, a restaurant owner.

The atmosphere is a little sad. You don’t have all the fervour that you would usually get before such a tournament … I don’t feel the excitement yet.

8.55am BST

I know a lot about North Macedonia’s creative spark, Eljif Elmas. For instance, he used to work in his father’s sweet shop in Skopje. How do I know such vital information? Because I’ve read and digested this complete guide to all 622 players at Euro 2020. There’s still time for you to do the same too.

8.35am BST

Good morning! So, just the 364 days after it was supposed to start, Euro 2020 is upon us. Have you got that Big Tournament buzz, yet? The first match kicks off in Rome tonight at 8pm (BST), where 16,000 fans at the Stadio Olimpico will watch Italy take on Turkey in Group A. That’s just a quarter of the grand old stadium’s capacity and a sign of these Covid times. Jonathan Liew is in Rome to report on that one and he’s written this scene-setter before the big kick-off.

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Published on June 11, 2021 09:30

The Euro 2020 Fiver: hope, hubris, resignation and despair

And so to Rome. And then Baku, and then Copenhagen, and we’d love to keep this up for all 51 games of the European Championship, thus fulfilling our word count for today’s Fiver without breaking into a thought never mind a sweat. But we really don’t want to get on the wrong side of The Man, especially while he’s engrossed in The Brewdog Guide to Employee Morale. Besides, today is about happiness and positivity – it’s Euros Day, the start of an international tournament like no other.

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Published on June 11, 2021 04:30

June 8, 2021

The Fiver | Selflessly embracing the silver lining by giving ourselves the afternoon off

After the spectacular success of 2009’s STOP FOOTBALL campaign, which was formally recognised by Fifa last year following an unrelated pandemic, The Fiver moved enthusiastically on to its next project: STOP MYRIAD SOCIAL MEDIA DISGRACES. It was a simple idea, designed to preserve the endangered concept of the dignified private conversation. After a year of meticulous preparation, which mostly involved telling our techie cousin Two-Bit Fiver what to do while we watched repeats of Premier League Years 1994-95, we proudly prepared for the launch of our campaign this morning. And then we pressed the wrong bloody button and shorted half the internet!

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Published on June 08, 2021 08:03

May 31, 2021

Morecambe 1-0 Newport (aet): League Two play-off final – as it happened

A controversial extra-time penalty, coolly converted by Carlos Mendes Gomes, secured a historic promotion to the third tier for Morecambe

6.09pm BST

That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with Sam Dalling’s report from Wembley, where Morecambe made history by reaching League One for the first time. Commiserations to Newport, who were pretty hard done by in a play-off final for the second time in three years. Goodnight!

6.07pm BST

Derek Adams giving it the big one to the Newport coaches/in the rough vicinity of Kevin Ellison: the sort of undignified scenes we all like to see.

6.06pm BST

And here’s an extremely hoarse Derek Adams

“Magnificent. It was a difficult game today, there wasn’t a lot of good play in the match, but we’ve come a long way this season and we deserve to be in League One next season. We changed formation a few times in the game to try and get the better of Newport. We switched from 3-4-1-2 to 4-2-3-1 at the start of extra time because we needed to get on the ball and play.

5.57pm BST

The player of the match is... Yann Songo’o

“It’s unbelievable what we’ve done for the town and the club. Sometimes in football it’s about the team, not the badge, and the manager has created an unbelievable squad. Everyone has chipped in and I’m so proud of every single one of them.

5.50pm BST

A word on Yann Songo’o, who had a magnificent game in two positions - centre back for most of the first 90 minutes, then in midfield for extra time.

5.49pm BST

And now Sam Lavelle has a far more important job: to lift the play-off trophy and confirm that Morecambe are a League One club!

5.48pm BST

Here’s the Morecambe captain Sam Lavelle

“I’m trying to think of the words to describe that, honestly. The relief… is unbelievable. Wow. Our town’s so small, the club’s so small, and League One is unheard of for Morecambe.

5.46pm BST

“Morecambe and Sunderland at the same level...” says Brad Wilson. “Gotta love it. Well done Shrimpers!”

5.45pm BST

The goalscorer Carlos Mendes Gomes speaks

“I feel like I’ve worked all my life for moments like this. It’s unbelievable - I know how much it means to Morecambe. It’s my first professional club and they’ve treated me like part of the family since I arrived.

5.40pm BST

The Morecambe players and staff started celebrating prematurely when the whistle was blown for an offside decision. But 20 seconds later it happened for real, sparking celebrations of rare joy at Wembley. This is a staggering achievement for a team who finished 22nd last season, and who didn’t spend a penny in the summer.

In truth, the scoreline is really harsh on Newport - they dominated the game, should have had a penalty early on and then lost to a dodgy penalty. They also missed the best chance of the game when the captain Joss Labadie cleared the bar from five yards. Football is a cruel game, and a beautiful one.

5.37pm BST

Full time: Morecambe 1-0 Newport History is made! Morecambe have been promoted to the third tier for the first time!

5.35pm BST

120+3 min The corner is headed away, lobbed back in and then booted clear.

5.35pm BST

120+2 min Corner to Newport. This is their last chance...

5.33pm BST

120+1 min Three added minutes. Mendes Gomes can’t watch.

5.33pm BST

120 min Demetriou’s long throw is headed down towards Ellison, who can’t sort his feet out in the six-yard box and falls over the ball! It wasn’t an easy chance, as he was running away from goal, but even so.

5.31pm BST

Yes? No?

| Morecambe have the BREAKTHROUGH!!!

The Wembley roof almost comes off as Mendes Gomes scores from the spot, but should it have been a penalty?!

Morecambe against Newport is live on Sky Sports Football!pic.twitter.com/Mt3C7y3ltL

5.31pm BST

117 min Newport have lost their heads since going behind. It’s easy to criticise them for that, but I’m not sure most of us would be any better in the circumstances. They feel they have been robbed in the play-off final for the second time in three years.

5.30pm BST

116 min Folk always talk about the agony and the ecstasy of the playoffs, and this has been a textbook example. In the 104th minute, the Newport captain Joss Labadie missed a sitter. Three minutes later, Carlos Mendes Gomes put Morecambe ahead.

5.29pm BST

115 min Ellison appeals for a penalty when his cross deflects behind off Mellor. There was nothing in that. The corner is lofted deep and headed wide under pressure by Bennett.

5.27pm BST

114 min The goalscorer Carlos Mendes Gomes is replaced by Alex Kenyon.

5.27pm BST

113 min “My first instinct was penalty so I can see why the ref has given it, and he only has one look at it,” says Sam Campbell. “But it was a foul outside the box.”

Agreed. I can see why he gave it, though I also think the hasty introduction of VAR has led to a complete loss of nerve and judgement among referees, and even armchair referees.

5.25pm BST

112 min Since the goal there has been an understandable desperation to both teams’ play. O’Sullivan, the hero/villain of the piece, is booked for flattening a Newport player with a body check.

5.24pm BST

111 min Newport make their final substitution. Ryan Haynes, who gave away the penalty, is replaced by Priestley Farquharson.

5.22pm BST

110 min Mendes Gomes was booked for taking off his shirt after scoring.

5.22pm BST

109 min There is a case for a penalty for that challenge by Haynes, but I think it would have been overturned if VAR was being used. Newport cursed the lack of VAR two years ago, and it’s happening again.

5.21pm BST

Morecambe are 13 minutes away from making history! Carlos Mendes Gomes, their player of the season, sent King the wrong way and swept the penalty to his left. Newport are fuming, with good reason; I really don’t think that should have been a penalty.

5.20pm BST

Mendes Gomes scores!

5.19pm BST

PENALTY TO MORECAMBE! Lyons plays a reverse pass to O’Sullivan, who goes down under challenge from Haynes. I’m not sure it was a foul, and it might have been outside the box as well.

5.18pm BST

106 min Peep peep! Newport begin the last 15 minutes of the season.

5.18pm BST

Another change for Morecambe. Kelvin Mellor is on for Liam Gibson.

5.16pm BST

That miss will haunt Joss Labadie if Newport aren’t promoted. It was an instinctive touch, and he might have been put off by Ellison in front of him. But he should still have scored.

5.15pm BST

104 min: What a chance for Newport! Maynard gets round the back - it’s the only way to beat them - on the right side of the area and hammers a cross towards the near post. It’s missed by the stretching Ellison and flicked over the bar from five yards by Labadie. That was the best chance of the match by a distance.

5.12pm BST

103 min Kevin Ellisonwatch: he’s been quiet. Morecambe fans may feel he’s been too darn quiet.

5.11pm BST

102 min O’Sullivan runs at Haynes down the right and is fouled just outside the area. The assistant referee disagrees and gives a goalkick to Newport.

5.09pm BST

100 min The fear of defeat is overpowering the hope of victory. Morecambe have a hint of a chance when Songo’o finds Mendes Gomes 20 yards from goal, but he runs into trouble.

5.08pm BST

98 min I wonder what Goldie Lookin Chain, Newport’s finest, are up to right now.

5.05pm BST

96 min The Newport captain Labadie is booked for a late tackle on Songo’o.

5.05pm BST

95 min Morecambe, who had so little of the ball in the second half, are playing with greater intent in extra time. These things are relative, though, and penalties is still the likeliest outcome.

5.02pm BST

93 min Morecambe have reverted to 4-2-3-1, with Yann Songo’o moving back into midfield.

5.01pm BST

92 min A fast cross from Cooney flashes well wide off the head of Stockton, 12 yards from goal. It was a half chance at best.

5.01pm BST

91 min Morecambe made a change during the break: the fit again John O’Sullivan is on for Aaron Wildig.

5.00pm BST

91 min Peep peep! We’re off again.

5.00pm BST

“Has there ever been a worse game at Wembley?” asks Luke Conway.

Oh yes.

4.54pm BST

Just as in 2019, Newport’s play-off final is going to extra-time. At least they have 11 men this time.

4.54pm BST

90+5 min Demetriou throws it short to Sheehan, whose cross is headed away with authority by Lavelle.

4.53pm BST

90+5 min One last long throw from Demetriou...

4.53pm BST

90+3 min: GOOD SAVE FROM LETHEREN! Haynes’ precise free-kick bounces just in front of Letheren, who shovels it round the post as he dives to his left. It looked a fairly tame effort at first but it very nearly sneaked into the net.

4.51pm BST

90+2 min Songo’o and Taylor have an impromptu wrestle 30 yards from goal. Bobby Madley calls it in favour of Newport, which means another free-kick in a promising position.

4.49pm BST

90+1 min Five added minutes.

4.49pm BST

90 min They don’t: Sheehan blooters it onto the running track. Is there a running track? You get the point.

4.48pm BST

89 min Maynard cleverly draws a foul by backing into Diagouraga 30 yards from goal. If Newport score from this, Morecambe will argue forever that the free-kick should have gone the other way.

4.46pm BST

88 min A reminder of what happened when Ellison scored against Morecambe in March.

4.46pm BST

87 min Wildig is rightly penalised for handball just before he slams a rising drive against the bar.

4.45pm BST

86 min Here comes the big man: 42-year-old Kevin Ellison, who spent nine years at Morecambe, replaces Lewis Collins. I’m pretty sure Collins was born after Ellison made his Premier League debut.

4.43pm BST

85 min Collins’ dangerous cross is headed away by the increasingly outstanding Songo’o.

4.43pm BST

84 min Kevin Ellison is getting ready to come on. Who has written his script today?

4.43pm BST

83 min Wildig’s clipped, outswinging corner is headed wide at the near post by Lavelle, 10 yards out. The Newport defender, don’t ask me who it was because it’s not going to happen, did really well to ensure he couldn’t get a clean header at goal.

4.41pm BST

82 min Labadie is penalised for what looked a decent tackle on Cooney. Songo’o fires the free-kick into Mendes Gomes, whose sharp cross on the turn is booted behind for a corner.

4.40pm BST

81 min A couple of corners in quick succession for Newport. The second, taken by Haynes on the right, leads to a bit of a scramble in the area before Stockton knees it clear.

4.38pm BST

79 min Newport make their third substitution: Nicky Maynard is on for Padraig Amond.

4.38pm BST

78 min: Good save from Letheren! It’s all Newport now. After a couple of long-range shots are blocked, Shephard has another try with a left-footed drive from 25 yards. Letheren gets down smartly to his right to push it round the post. That’s his best save of the match.

4.34pm BST

75 min A Morecambe change. Liam McAlinden, who has had a quiet game, is replaced by Brad Lyons.

4.34pm BST

74 min Haynes’ cross is headed out by Songo’o, who has had a fine game, and Morecambe break. Mendes Gomes plays the ball up to Stockton, who is shoved over on the halfway line by Bennett. That might have been a booking.

4.32pm BST

73 min Sheehan’s imaginative through pass is slightly too heavy for Labadie, and the ball runs out for a goalkick.

4.30pm BST

71 min Lewis Collins has looked dangerous since moving to the right wing when Taylor came on for Newport. Morecambe are starting to look a little weary.

4.29pm BST

69 min “I’m cheering on the Shrimps from Perth, Australia,” says Lindsay Dick. “I’ve had a soft spot for them for years, mistly for the fact that a shrimp is a hilarious team symbol. Some promising signs so far but playing on the counter is always nerve-racking. The long throws on both sides are a delight.”

4.28pm BST

68 min It’s time for another drinks break.

4.27pm BST

66 min A defensive clearance comes to Cooney, 30 yards out. He pushes the ball forward and hits a fierce, wobbling shot that bounces up awkwardly in front of King, who changes direction to push it away. That was Morecambe’s first shot on target and only the fourth of the match.

4.24pm BST

64 min Demetriou’s long throw is headed up in the air by the substitute Taylor. It drops towards Lewis Collins, whose optimistic overhead kick loops onto the roof of the net.

4.22pm BST

62 min Two substitutions for Newport: Anthony Hartigan and Ryan Taylor replace Aaron Lewis and Matthew Dolan.

4.21pm BST

61 min Lewis and Bennett play nice short passes in a tight space on the edge of the area, forcing Mendes Gomes to get in front of Amond and concede a corner. Newport look the likelier scorers, though there isn’t a huge amount in it.

4.19pm BST

60 min A crisp low strike from Sheehan, 25 yards out, is well held to his right by Letheren.

4.17pm BST

56 min I don’t know what to say really. Both teams are huffung and puffing but very little has happened in the second half.

4.12pm BST

52 min Another quiet spell in the game. Newport have been the stronger side since half-time though, and we all know about their options on the bench.

4.09pm BST

48 min Newport have made a fast start to the second half. A long kick from the keeper King is headed infield by Amond and miscontrolled by Labadie on the edge of the area. His poor touch turns into a pass to Collins, whose deflected shot is saved by the keeper Letheren as he falls to his left.

4.06pm BST

47 min Morecambe switched to a back three during the first half, with Songo’o dropping in from midfield. I completely missed it, I won’t lie to you, but it was highlighted by the excellent Sky Sports punditry team during the break.

4.04pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Morecambe begin the second half. No changes on either side, but Kevin Ellison has been warming up with intent.

3.57pm BST

“Hi Rob,” says Richard Mason in Dublin. “I’m cheering Morecambe on today for no other reason than that in 2006 I went for a day trip with pals to Nottingham. We went to Meadow Lane to watch Notts County take on the Shrimps and ended up in the Morecambe end with our shoes on our hands singing a chorus of ‘shoes off... if you love the Shrimps’. We later went to the greyhound track in Notts and won a tidy sum. A fond memory we still talk about, and the reason I’m watching this match sans shoes. Up the Shrimps!”

3.53pm BST

Half-time listening

3.53pm BST

Peep peep! A cagey half ends goalless. Both teams played plenty of good football without creating too many clear chances. Liam Gibson had a shot cleared off the line for Morecambe; Newport’s best efforts came from Scot Bennett, a header and a deflected shot that both went just wide. They also had a case for a penalty when Bennett was punched in the face by the Morecambe keeper Kyle Letheren after beating him to the ball for the aforementioned header.

3.50pm BST

45+3 min I know Newport have embraced tiki-taka, but that Bennett shot was a rare demonstration of Ramba-Zamba. Sheehan played the Gunter Netzer role, with Bennett moving forward from the back like Franz Beckenbauer.

3.48pm BST

45+2 min The resulting corner is headed over by Demetriou in front of the near post.

3.48pm BST

45+1 min: So close from Bennett! Sheehan brings the ball forward and slides a nice pass between the lines to Bennett, 35 yards from goal. He runs at a backpedalling defence and drives a shot that takes a big deflection off Songo’o, wrongfoots the keeper Letheren and drifts this far wide of the post.

3.46pm BST

45 min Three minutes of added time.

3.44pm BST

42 min: Off the line by Shephard! Lewis misses a clearance 25 yards from goal, allowing Mendes Gomes to slide the ball through to Gibson in the area. He screws it back past the outrushing King, but Shephard gets back to block. That was a vital bit of defending because, although there was another Newport player on the line, I think Gibson’s shot would have sneaked in the far corner.

3.42pm BST

41 min Lewis sees Wildig’s misplaced optimism and raises it by trying a long-range volley - a proper volley, not one of those bouncing non-volleys - from a tight angle. Goalkick to Morecambe.

3.41pm BST

40 min In the Premier League, Sheehan might have been sent off for that tackle. In League Two, nobody really batted an eyelid. It’s the little differences.

3.40pm BST

39 min Sheehan ploughs through Cooney, taking both man and ball. Play continues and Morecambe break promisingly, and then Wildig goes and spoils it all by saying something stupid like, ‘I fancy a pop from 25 yards’.

3.36pm BST

35 min There’s a break in play after 34 minutes so that both sets of players and fans can applaud the late Christian Mbulu.

3.34pm BST

34 min For all the promising approach play, there has only been one shot on target in the match, Sheehan’s dribbler in the 24th minute.

3.34pm BST

32 min The corner is headed away to Sheehan, who shoots well wide from the edge of the area.

3.33pm BST

31 min Amond runs onto a classy backheel from Collins in the inside-right channel and hits a shot that is deflected behind for a corner.

3.30pm BST

29 min King comes for a cross and, though he gets to it a fraction before Stockton, his unconvincing punch goes behind for a corner. Morecambe work it short and Lewis charges out to block.

3.28pm BST

25 min It’s so hot at Wembley that the officials have factored in a drinks break.

3.26pm BST

24 min Demetriou’s flat long throw is headed away by Knight-Percival, but only as far as Labadie, 12 yards out. His snapshot is crucially blocked and the follow up from Sheehan (I think) dribbles through to Letheren.

3.24pm BST

23 min Stockton’s dangerous low cross from the right just evades Wildig at the near post.

3.23pm BST

21 min Demetriou varies the Newport throw-ins by hurling the ball to Shephard 25 yards from goal. He has a touch and drills a low shot that is blocked by his teammate Labadie. I think it was going wide anyway. Labdadie was also given offside, though that wouldn’t have mattered had Shephard’s shot gone straight in.

3.22pm BST

20 min This is becoming a decent game, with lots of precise short passing from both teams. And the occasional long throw from Demetriou, but nobody’s perfect.

3.18pm BST

18 min Anyone out there?

3.18pm BST

16 min Morecambe break three-on-three from a Newport corner, only for McAlinden to let the ball run under his feet 25 yards from goal. That was a good chance. Just before that, there was another penalty appeal after a man-and-ball challenge by Knight-Percival on Demetriou. It was a good tackle, though had he made contact a split-second later it would have been a penalty.

3.16pm BST

15 min Now Morecambe appeal for a penalty when Stockton’s stopping header hits somebody on the hand. I thought it hit his teammate Mendes Gomes; either way, Bobby Madley again says play on.

3.15pm BST

122 min: Chance for Newport! Another long throw from Demetriou tempts Letheren from his line. But this time the ball swings away from him towards Bennett 10 yards from goal. He gets there first, just before Letheren, and heads just wide of the empty net. He was also punched in the face by Letheren, who was going for the ball but got there a fraction too late and crumped both fists into Bennett’s coupon. Newport’s penalty appeals are ignored and there’s no VAR today.

3.11pm BST

11 min It’s been a pretty slow start, which is probably down to the heat more than the nerves.

3.07pm BST

7 min At the other end, Demetriou’s long throw is confidently held by Letheren. That was excellent goalkeeping, decisive and accomplished.

3.06pm BST

6 min Morecambe look the more spritely team so far, especially Mendes Gomes on the left.

3.04pm BST

4 min Stockton lifts the ball over the top towards McAlinden, who is beaten to the ball on the edge of the area by King. Good sweeper-keeping.

3.04pm BST

4 min “Hi Rob,” says Matt Burtz. “It’s also a holiday here in the US and I can think of no better way to spend a Monday morning than watching this match. My literal money is on Morecambe, and personally I don’t know how anyone could root against a team that has a shrimp on their crest (except for Newport fans). And isn’t the right to play Sunderland twice next season incentive enough to win today?”

3.03pm BST

3 min That free-kick aside, it’s been a watchful start from both teams.

3.02pm BST

2 min Morecambe try a training-ground free-kick, with Mendes Gomes shooting wide on the turn from 18 yards.

3.01pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Newport kick off from left to right. They are in amber and black; Morecambe are in red.

3.00pm BST

It’s not such a thrill to hear a few boos as the players take a knee.

3.00pm BST

It’s such a thrill to see fans of both clubs dotted around Wembley. Here we go.

2.55pm BST

The players stroll into the north London sunshine. It looks sweltering, which might make for a slower tempo than usual. May the best team win!

2.54pm BST

Wembley Way, busy with fans once again. #EFL | #EFLPlayOffs | #StepUp pic.twitter.com/pHiG3ozmey

2.46pm BST

One man won’t be at Wembley today, but Christian Mbulu - who died shockingly at the age of 23 a year ago - hasn’t been forgotten.

A space on the @ShrimpsOfficial bench for Christian Mbulu ❤️#EFL | #EFLPlayOffs | #StepUp pic.twitter.com/AXAfrShbrW

2.44pm BST

And his manager Michael Flynn

“Joss [Labadie] is raring to go. He was probably ready to start the second leg against Forest Green but we wanted to be extra careful because he’s a big player for us. I’m hoping we don’t need Kevin [Ellison] today, but if he comes on and scores the winner, fair play. We’ve got to enjoy it. We’ve had a great season – the staff, the players – and now we want that last push to give those fans something to celebrate.”

2.44pm BST

The pre-match thoughts of Kevin Ellison

“It’s not about me - it’s about Newport. I want to get involved but if that doesn’t and we win, I’ll be just as happy. The last time [when he scored against Morecambe] my emotions ran wild, so I don’t know what will happen if I score today. More importantly I just want to be happy at the end of the game.”

2.40pm BST

The pre-match thoughts of Derek Adams

“We’ve got a really fit squad now, and John O’Sullivan gets himself onto the bench. He’s been out for a long while. We feel that the players in the starting XI are the ones who can win the game. [Tell us about Kevin Ellison, Derek] It’s all about us - it’s how we play and how we take the game to Newport. We need to continue what we’ve been doing this season - we’re one of the highest scorers in the division and we created more opportunities than any other team. We can defend as well, and we need to do all that today if we are to get the win that everyone at Morecambe wnts.

2.37pm BST

Morecambe (4-2-3-1) Letheren; Cooney, Lavelle, Knight-Percival, Gibson; Songo’o, Diagouraga; McAlinden, Wildig, Mendes Gomes; Stockton.
Substitutes: Halstead, Mellor, Davis, Kenyon, Lyons, O’Sullivan, Pringle.

Newport County (3-5-2) King; Shephard, Bennett, Demetriou; Lewis, Labadie, Sheehan, Dolan, Haynes; Amond, Collins.
Substitutes: Townsend, Farquharson, Ledley, Hartigan, Ellison, Maynard, Taylor.

2.36pm BST

It’s another gorgeous day at Wembley, with the temperature pushing 25 degrees. To make things even better, one of the Sky Sports pundits is Championship Manager 01-02 icon Michael Duff. What a pleasure to put a face to a name that gave so many lonely males so much pleasure with his remorseless consistency at right-back.

2.28pm BST

The road to Wembley

2.05pm BST

2.02pm BST

Morecambe are unchanged from the second leg of their semi-final against Tranmere. The Newport captain Joss Labadie, who has recovered from a grisly knee injury he suffered at Southend earlier this month, replaces Anthony Hartigan in midfield. That’s their only change from the epic semi-final against Forest Green. The Newport substitutes include two men who came off the bench to score in that game: Nicky Maynard and the 42-year-old Morecambe legend Kevin Ellison, who is not a huge fan of his old boss Derek Adams.

STARTING XI | Derek Adams has named his #Shrimps side to face @NewportCounty at @WembleyStadium in this afternoon's @SkyBetLeagueTwo play-off final!!! ⚽️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/84NvNU8zSI

| Here's how the Exiles line-up for the @SkyBetLeagueTwo play-off final against @ShrimpsOfficial.

Michael Flynn makes one change from the semi-final second leg against @FGRFC_Official as @JossLabadie replaces @AntHartigan. #OneClubOneCounty pic.twitter.com/VLptUtlwUe

11.50am BST

Hello and welcome to live, minute-by-minute coverage of the League Two play-off final between Morecambe and Newport County at Wembley. This is, gulp, the 1671st and final game of another soul-stirring EFL season, and one way or another it’s going end on a high. By 5pm, at a push 6pm, one of these teams will be in the giddiest of stratospheres: League One.

Morecambe have never played in the third tier before; nor have this iteration of Newport County. They were last in the old Division Three in 1986-87, a couple of years before the club went out of business. A reformed team started in the Hellenic League, where they played the likes of Kintbury Rangers and Almondsbury Picksons, and eventually returned to the Football League in 2013 under the late, legendary Justin Edinburgh.

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Published on May 31, 2021 10:09

May 30, 2021

Blackpool 2-1 Lincoln City: League One play-off final – as it happened

Kenny Dougall scored two superb goals as Blackpool recovered from a hideous start to deservedly win promotion to the Championship

5.05pm BST

Ben Fisher’s match report has landed, so it’s time to wrap up the blog. Thanks for your company and emails. Commiserations to Lincoln and huge congratulations to all who love Blackpool FC. The rebirth is complete!

5.04pm BST

Blackpool’s players walk up to receive their medals, most of them sporting big dumb grins. The captain Chris Maxwell is last - he walks theatrically towards the play-off trophy and then lifts it as high as possible: BLACKPOOL ARE BACK IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP!

5.00pm BST

An incredible contribution at #LFC and now promotion in your first full season in management! Congratulations to you and your team on reaching the Championship, Neil Critchley

4.57pm BST

The Blackpool fans are going berserk. Michael Appleton warmly congratulates Neil Critchley, who has done a glorious job since joining from Liverpool. Blackpool thoroughly deserved their victory. They got off to a shambolic start when Ollie Turton scored an own goal after 47 seconds. It took them 10 minutes to clear their heads, but from that moment on they played with calm certainty. Kenny Dougall scored two superb goals and Jerry Yates had a magnificent game up front. Lincoln didn’t have a shot on target, which is an odd thing to say in a match that finished 2-1; it also reflects Blackpool’s defensive excellence.

4.53pm BST

Blackpool return to the Championship for the first time since 2015! The primal roar at the final whistle is euphoric confirmation of the club’s rebirth under the owner Simon Sadler and the manager Neil Critchley. The unlikely hero was the Australian midfielder Kenny Dougall, who rifled two superb goals, one with each foot, from just outside the area.

4.51pm BST

90+3 min: Great chance for Lincoln! Scully’s free-kick is blocked at the near post and cleared. Bridcutt launches it back towards the edge of the area, where a defensive header falls nicely for Poole. He controls the ball smartly but then sweeps a shot over the bar from 18 yards. That was a big chance.

4.50pm BST

90+2 min The corner is cleared but then Dougall fouls McGrandles 30 yards from goal on the right. He is booked. Palmer stays forward for the free-kick.

4.48pm BST

90+2 min A corner to Lincoln. The keeper Palmer comes forward...

4.47pm BST

90 min There will be four minutes of added time.

4.46pm BST

89 min Blackpool make the opposite change: the centre-back Jordan Thorniley replaces the outstanding Jerry Yates.

4.45pm BST

88 min Lincoln bring on the centre-back Lewis Montsma to play up front. Joe Walsh goes off.

4.45pm BST

88 min Scully finds Rogers in a bit of space 25 yards from goal. He turns and whips a curling shot towards the far corner, but it’s well off target.

4.44pm BST

87 min 49 games, 735 hours apiece: the whole season comes down to the next few minutes.

4.43pm BST

86 min Scully’s teasing cross hits a Blackpool defender on or near the arm at the far post. The ball bounces up and is punched away desperately by Maxwell, with the ball ricocheting to safety.

4.42pm BST

85 min Johnson teases a slow cross towards Morton, who gets between Turton and Ballard but heads over from six yards. It wasn’t the easiest chance - slightly too high, no pace on the ball - but it was the best opportunity Lincoln have had for a while.

4.41pm BST

84 min Husband is booked for pulling back Morton near the halfway line.

4.39pm BST

81 min Lincoln haven’t had a shot on target in the entire match.

4.38pm BST

80 min A half chance for Morton, who miscontrols Bridcutt’s long pass on the edge of the area. It wasn’t the easiest ball to take, especially as he was under pressure from Ballard, but had he done so he would have been through on goal.

4.36pm BST

80 min A change for Lincoln as well. Anthony Scully on, Jorge Grant off.

4.36pm BST

79 min There’s a break in play while Ballard receives treatment for cramp. Blackpool make a couple of substitutions: the fit again CJ Hamilton replaces Embleton, and Grant Ward comes on for the limping Keshi Anderson.

4.35pm BST

78 min The last man Bridcutt, on a yellow card, makes a terrific sliding challenge on Anderson.

4.34pm BST

76 min In an identical position at the other end, Bridcutt is penalised for shoving Madine this far outside the area. I’m not sure it was a foul, in truth. Garbutt hangs the free-kick up towards Madine, who loops a header onto the roof of the net.

4.33pm BST

75 min Replays show that Garbutt didn’t get the ball when he tackled Johnson in the 67th minute. I think the contact was just outside ethe area, though it was extremely close.

4.32pm BST

75 min Good pressure from Lincoln, with the teenager Morgan Rogers starting to look dangerous on the left wing. He wins a corner and then a couple of throw-ins near the corner flag.

4.30pm BST

72 min: Poole clears off the line! Dougall, surrounded by Lincoln players, stabbed a short pass towards Madine just inside the penalty area. He let it run cleverly to Yates, who dinked the ball over the outrushing Palmer. I think it was going wide, but Poole made sure by booting it clear.

4.29pm BST

1953 - As well as becoming the first Australian player to score in a club game at Wembley, Kenny Dougall is the first player to score more than once in a match at Wembley for Blackpool since Stan Mortensen scored a hat-trick in the 1953 FA Cup final. Illuminated. pic.twitter.com/0zC1oSf4LK

4.27pm BST

70 min “Could Dougall score Blackpool’s first Wembley hat-trick since that long-forgotten game in 1953?” says Lino Ruocco. “I jest of course, but also, has any team recovered so many times from being a goal down in the playoffs as Blackpool? Win or lose, they always show resilience, regardless of the era.”

Even when the personnel are completely different, that kind of resilience has a happy habit of perpetuating itself.

4.26pm BST

69 min A change for Blackpool: Gary Madine replaces Demetri Mitchell, which suggests a switch to 4-4-2.

4.24pm BST

67 min Garbutt slides in on Johnson to concede another corner. Brennan Johnson has been Lincoln’s best attacker by a mile. Grant’s corner is headed away at the near post.

4.24pm BST

67 min Yates waits for Garbutt to run round the outside and finds him with a lovely pass. Garbutt tries to dance past Eyoma on the byline but runs the ball out of play.

4.23pm BST

65 min This is a good spell for Lincoln, their best since the first 10 minutes. Bridcutt is booked for taking out Anderson, and then berates the referee for not giving Lincoln a free-kick moments earlier for a challenge on Johnson.

4.21pm BST

64 min If it stays like this Kenny Dougall will take the headlines, and quite right too, but Jerry Yates has had an outstanding game up front for Blackpool. His pressing led to the first goal, and his unselfishness and precision were a key part of the second.

4.20pm BST

63 min Lincoln make their first change: Callum Morton is on for Tom Hopper.

4.19pm BST

61 min Lincoln have gone up a couple of gears since going behind. Johnson twists Garbutt one way and then the other in the area before his cross his cleared. He had a great chance to shoot when he first received the ball from Bridcutt, but instead decided to take Garbutt on.

4.17pm BST

59 min This game has demonstrated the potential perils of scoring too early. Johnson tries to Lincoln going again with a surging run that forces Ballard to concede a corner. Moments later he goes down in the area after a slight shove from Husband. There wasn’t enough force for a penalty.

4.14pm BST

57 min I think I’m right in saying that, before today, Kenny Dougall had scored two goals in his three seasons in English football. Both his goals were beautifully struck, one with each foot.

4.12pm BST

Mitchell’s cross from the right took a slight deflection and ran through to Yates, 12 yards out with his back to goal. He thought about a shot, realised it wasn’t on and played a slow, inviting pass to Dougall on the edge of the D. This time he went with his right foot, drilling a daisy-cutter into the bottom-left corner. That was so sweetly struck.

4.10pm BST

Kenny Dougall scores another superb goal!

4.08pm BST

50 min Embleton plays a slick one-two with Turton and wins a corner. It’s curled under the bar and punched away a little desperately by Palmer. Moments later, Stewart cracks a bouncing ball over the bar from distance.

4.04pm BST

48 min Ballard is booked for a foul on Rogers.

4.04pm BST

47 min The goalscorer Dougall slides a through ball towards Yates, but Walsh comes across to intercept.

4.02pm BST

46 min Peep peep! Blackpool begin the second half.

3.49pm BST

Peep peep! It’s level at Wembley after a fascinating first half. Lincoln went ahead after 47 seconds through an own goal from Ollie Turton, but they became passive thereafter and allowed Blackpool into the game. They accepted the invitation with a fine equaliser from Kenny Dougall, though there was an unpunished handball by Elliot Embleton in the build up.

Jorge Grant, who was at fault for the Blackpool goal, had earlier hit the crossbar with a fine effort. At the other end Blackpool had a number of shots on target, though all bar Dougall’s were straight at the keeper Palmer.

3.45pm BST

45 min Blackpool continue to press for a second goal. Neil Critchley will be thrilled with their calm, authoritative response to that abysmal start.

3.41pm BST

41 min Lincoln may need another half-time brollocking from Michael Appleton. They are hanging on a little bit now, and Palmer has to make another save when Mitchell meets Garbutt’s cross with a decent header.

3.40pm BST

40 min Embleton, who is looking increasingly dangerous, shoots straight at Palmer from 22 yards.

3.39pm BST

"Blackpool rise to the challenge!"

Lincoln appeal for handball but Dougall keeps his cool and slams home the equaliser!

Watch live on Sky Sports Football now: https://t.co/fURlRue4zg pic.twitter.com/Gs5WOyBg8O

3.39pm BST

39 min Palmer will be annoyed that he was beaten at his near post, but it was a very clean strike from Dougall with his left foot. I think Palmer saw it late as well. He did get a hand on it but couldn’t keep it out.

3.37pm BST

37 min A Lincoln free-kick is half cleared to Edun, who sprays over from 25 yards.

3.37pm BST

36 min Lincoln had been asking for trouble, playing too passively after the first 10 minutes. I suppose it’s human nature to do that when you go ahead so early in such a vital game, but it’s not always the best policy.

3.36pm BST

35 min There’s no VAR in the play-offs. I think the goal would have been disallowed if VAR was in use, though it’s not certain. You could argue there was enough time between the accidental handball and Dougall’s goal to invalidate the offence.

3.35pm BST

Yates stole the ball off Grant in the centre circle, moved forward and found Embleton on the edge of the area. He ran into trouble and lost the ball, but then Walsh’s clearance hit him on the hand and dropped at his feet, 20 yards from goal. He squared it to Dougall, who whistled a superb low past Palmer at the near post.

3.33pm BST

Kenny Dougall equalises for Blackpool - and Lincoln are furious!

3.33pm BST

32 min “Afternoon Rob,” says Lee Smith. “Perhaps a confirmed Lancastrian such as Phil Sawyer (5th minute) should remain focused on the Roses drubbing currently being handed out to the White Rose fraternity. Either that or enjoy Brennan Johnson before he heads back to Nottingham!”

Nottingham via Azerbaijan and Italy, I hope.

3.31pm BST

31 min Brennan Johnson, who has been quiet since that flying start, has started to see more of the ball in the last few minutes. I can’t wait to see him in the Championship with Forest next season.

3.28pm BST

27 min: Good save from Palmer! The ball ricochets kindly into the path of Yates on the left side of the area. His clever cutback just evades Husband and runs on to Mitchell, who sweeps a first-time shot towards goal with his left foot. It’s sweetly struck but too close to Palmer, who beats it away.

3.26pm BST

26 min At the other end, Embleton’s looping cross is headed over by the backpedalling Mitchell. It wasn’t much of a chance.

3.26pm BST

25 min: Grant hits the bar! Lincoln come so close to making it 2-0. Rogers zips infield from the left and plays a crisp pass into Grant, unmarked 20 yards from goal. He has time to turn and hit an extravagant curling shot that beats Maxwell and clatters off the top of the bar.

3.23pm BST

23 min Blackpool have had 88 per cent of the possession in the last five minutes. Most of it has been harmless, but it’s another sign that they have cleared their heads from the shock of that first-minute own-goal.

3.22pm BST

22 min “Any comments on the booing clearly heard on TV,” says Dave Stevens. “TV commentators ignored it.”

When the players took a knee? I was typing something about it when Turton scored the own goal, and I got lost in that. But yes, it was audible. It’s hard to know what to say really.

3.20pm BST

21 min Free-kick to Blackpool, 25 yards from goal. Garbutt strikes it well but straight at Palmer.

3.18pm BST

18 min This is a good spell for Blackpool, who have pinned Lincoln back for the last five or six minutes.

3.17pm BST

16 min Ballard, in his own half, booms a long angled pass to Yates on the left side of the area. He feeds the underlapping Garbutt, whose cross is put behind for a corner by Johnson. This time Walsh heads clear.

3.16pm BST

15 min And now their first shot on target. Mitchell makes a promising run infield from the right but hits a weak effort straight at Palmer.

3.14pm BST

13 min Blackpool win their first corner, another sign they are getting into the game after that desperate. Garbutt swings it in, Hopper heads clear.

3.11pm BST

11 min Blackpool enjoy their first extended spell of possession. Eventually Husband drives a long pass towards Yates, who is just beaten to the ball by the alert keeper Alex Palmer.

3.09pm BST

9 min The resulting free-kick is curled to the near post, where Walsh heads over from six yards. That was a fairly decent chance; he couldn’t quite get over the ball.

3.08pm BST

9 min Garbutt is booked for clattering Johnson, the Welsh winger who has made a sensational start to the game.

3.07pm BST

That is a nightmare start for Blackpool...

Turton puts the ball in his own net after less than 50 seconds!

Watch live on Sky Sports Football now: https://t.co/n7BkuVpLRJ pic.twitter.com/h5F53ABeyI

3.06pm BST

6 min Brennan Johnson has made a superb start on the right wing. His low cross is put behind for Lincoln’s first corner. It’s curled towards the penalty spot and headed away by Husband. Never mind clearing with the head; Blackpool urgently need to clear their heads.

3.05pm BST

5 min “Afternoon, Rob,” says Phil Sawyer. “As The Only Blackpool Lad In Lincoln, I’m keeping my head down this afternoon. I’m stocked up on tangerines should a baying mob storm Sawyer Towers post-match, hungry for blood. If you never hear from me again, know that I fought to the last squirt of citric acid and stick of rock. Seasiders!”

3.05pm BST

3 min What a nightmare for Ollie Turton. His brain and body just weren’t in sync. He must have been distracted by Hopper and the keeper Maxwell missing the ball at the near post, because he was a bit slow to adjust his body position and that’s why the ball went into his own net rather than behind for a corner.

3.02pm BST

Michael Appleton said his team had to come out of the traps, and by heaven they have. Johnson charged at the left-back Garbutt and fizzed a low cross into the six-yard box. It was missed by Hopper at the near post and turned into his own net by Ollie Turton!

3.01pm BST

Lincoln are ahead after 47 seconds!

3.00pm BST

1 min Peep peep! Lincoln, in their black away strip, kick off from right to left. Blackpool are wearing tangerine.

2.58pm BST

It’s a gorgeous day at Wembley, and the 10,000 fans in attendance are making a rousing noise.

2.57pm BST

The players line up for the national anthem, and what a timeless cracker it is.

2.50pm BST

With ten minutes to go until kick off, here’s a reminder of the teams.

Blackpool (4-2-3-1) Maxwell; Turton, Ballard, Husband, Garbutt; Dougall, Stewart; Mitchell, Embleton, Anderson; Yates.
Substitutes: Moore, Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Thornley, Ward, Hamilton, Madine.

2.49pm BST

And here’s the Lincoln manager Michael Appleton “[On their delayed arrival] Hopefully it won’t affect us too much. These things can happen with London traffic - I think there was a big accident and one of the roads was shut. Listen, the lads will be ready by 3 o’clock.

“We’ve got to come out of the traps - we know Blackpool will start fast and we need to compete with them. The longer the game goes on and stays close, that’s when we start to back ourselves. We always tend to finish strongly. But we know Blackpool are very organised, efficient and hard to beat.”

2.40pm BST

The thoughts of Blackpool manager Neil Critchley

“I really feel for the kid [Ellis Simms]. It was basically the last kick of the training session yesterday - he took a penalty and felt something go. It’s heartbreaking. He was going to start today, so for that to be taken away in such cruel circumstances is a body blow for us and even more so for him.

2.37pm BST

Lincoln didn’t arrive at Wembley until 2.15pm, according to David Prutton on Sky Sports. I can’t speak for the Lincoln players but I would hate that. I panic if I’m not in the MBM dungeon an hour before kick-off, so I’d be all over the show if I was a player.

2.14pm BST

Blackpool had a fairly comfortable passage to Wembley, beating Oxford 6-3 on aggregate in their semi-final.

2.10pm BST

Pre-match reading

2.00pm BST

A blow for Blackpool: the in-form Ellis Simms, on loan from Everton, picked up a knock in training and doesn’t even make the bench.

Conor McGrandles, an influential substitute in Lincoln’s semi-final win over Sunderland, starts in place of Anthony Scully.

Today's side to take on @LincolnCity_FC, in association with @smithshire:

Yates up top as Simms misses out
Mitchell and Anderson out wide
CJ HAMILTON returns for a place on the bench!

#UTMP pic.twitter.com/5isSKB0Syd

@JoeWalsh92 and @McGrandlesConor start

1.41pm BST

There are umpteen things that make the play-offs so compelling, even for the neutral. They provide agony and ecstasy, to use the most popular cliché, but also drama, controversy, desperation and occasionally the highest farce. Most of all, they give us brilliant, sometimes legendary stories. And in today’s League One play-off final at Wembley, we are guaranteed a feelgood belter of a tale.

In the black corner, we have Lincoln City. If they are promoted, they will play in the second tier for the first time since 1961, and continue the spectacular rise of a club that was in the National League as recently as 2017. In the tangerine corner, we have Blackpool FC. They are recovering from 32 years of ever increasing misery under the revolting ownership of Owen Oyston. He was finally removed a cojple of years ago, and Blackpool’s storming run into the play-offs - they were 15th at the end of January - has enhanced the feeling of a club reborn.

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Published on May 30, 2021 09:07

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