Euro 2024: Scotland prepare for Switzerland and reaction to Portugal’s late win – live | Euro 2024
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Key events
Germany will be hoping to continue their bright start to the tournament when they take on Hungary tonight. Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann said “the mood in our camp is excellent and the relationship between the younger and older players is really good.”
Germany v Scotland set the tone for an exciting run of games at this year’s tournament. It also generates some strange statistics. After Germany’s 5-1 triumph, each of the net six matches had as many or fewer goals than the previous match. Is there any logic in this? Knowledge probably explains it, as well as other pub quiz facts, better than I can.
Ewan Murray
We could see a start for Brighton midfielder Billy Gilmour after he was conspicuously absent from Scotland’s starting XI in their 5-1 loss to Germany.
“It’s impossible to answer,” Clarke said when asked if choosing Gilmour from the start felt like a mistake. “In a 5-1 game that we’ve never been in, is one player going to make that much of a difference.
“Maybe by talking about Billy in that context, we’re just putting too much pressure on him. If he is selected for the next game, let him go into it with a clear head. It’s hard. You can say what you want and I can say that I don’t think it matters. You can say, ‘Yeah, it matters,’ and we’ll never know.”
Ewan Murray
Scotland full-back Andy Robertson says it’s time for the team to show everyone what they’re capable of.
Asked if the Swiss clash was a time for action rather than words, Robertson said: “I can sit and talk all night but it won’t matter. It’s easy to talk before or after a game, but not so easy to go out and do it. This is what we need to do, we need action.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke kept his cards close to his chest in an interview with the BBC last night. “I think it might be better not to talk too much this time and put the action on the pitch and show everyone what we can do… You have to bounce back and show what you’re made of in the next match and that’s what we aim to do… My emotions are good. I’m just looking forward to the game. I look forward to seeing my players play as well as they can.”
Looking forward to today’s games, Scotland need to bounce back from their 5-1 loss to Germany to keep their EURO 2024 dream alive.
The semi-automated ambush technology was particularly effective in yesterday’s matches. Goals from Kenan Yıldız and Diogo Jota were swiftly ruled out after the players strayed slightly into an ambush in the build-up. I look forward to seeing the technology used in the Premier League.
Czech coach Ivan Hasek speaks to the press after his team’s defeat. “Obviously we’re disappointed to concede a goal so late in the game, but we have to keep our heads up. We have to get better because it wasn’t the perfect game for us… We wanted to be much higher up the pitch but they dominated and pushed us very deep into our half. When we got the ball we wanted to go forward and attack but some poor passing allowed them to dominate again. Losing the balls was our biggest mistake,” reports Reuters.
Portugal’s last-minute substitutes Pedro and Neto Francisco Conceição connected in stoppage time to seal victory over a tough Czech Republic side.
Man of the match Vitinha speaks to the press after Portugal’s win. “Fortunately we equalized and until the end we believed we could turn the game around… We have to do better but it was the first game. Everyone was enthusiastic, but sometimes we were a bit rushed,” reports Reuters.
Portugal got off to a winning start in the other game of the night with a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Czech Republic. Check out Jonathan Liew’s report from Leipzig Stadium.
While everyone rightly admires Guler, I think Mert Mulder had the pick of the bunch in yesterday’s game. As a full back, he has no right to hit the ball like that!
Sid Lowe
“Arda has a gift,” Ancelotti said, but it was only briefly seen. Now, the European Championship could be the introduction everyone else needs too, a chance to enjoy Guler more, an opportunity for him to announce the arrival he had imagined coming earlier.
Arda Güler, also known as the Turkish Messi, has broken Cristiano Ronaldo’s record to become the youngest player to score a goal in European championship an absolute peach debut. See his nakedness in all its glory.
In case you missed the match of the tournament yesterday or need a recap, we bring you Sid Lowe’s match report from BVB Stadion Dortmund.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to today Euro 2024 live blog!
Since each team has only played one game so far, it’s probably too early to review. But that won’t stop me from providing you with one.
Germany have looked the side to beat so far, beating Scotland 5-1, while the other usual suspects, apart from Spain in their 3-0 win over Croatia, have done a better job in their opening matches. There have been some absolute screamers since last Friday – thank you Nicolae Stanciu. Yet the goals of the tournament came yesterday as Turkey beat Georgia 3-1 in the game of the tournament so far.
If the first round of meetings is anything to go by, we’re in for a treat today. There are three matches: Croatia v Albania at 14:00, Germany v Hungary at 17:00 and Scotland v Switzerland at 20:00. Each team will have something to prove with Steve Clarke’s Scotland side particularly keen to bounce back from a disappointing first leg.
Keep refreshing this page for the latest updates and email me for a chance to give your opinion.
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