Thank you very much for joining me for today’s blog.
The good news is that there is some live football about to happen. Join Daniel Harris for Slovenia v Serbia.
“I watched England crash out of Euro 2004 in a packed pub in Fulham, wearing a Saracens rugby top (back before they were popular, which is also back before they were unpopular),” writes Tim Hoult.
“The man in front of me turned round at one point, clocked my shirt, and slurred ‘Do you play rugby for them, then?’ at me. I would love to say I had a witty reply, but skinny, gawky teenage-me probably stuttered awkwardly in the negative.
“He then turned round, picked up somebody else’s pint and downed it. Said pint’s owner, on realising, turned to confront him angrily...only to realise it was Ross Kemp, off of the telly. I’ve since learned that Kemp used to play for the Sarries second team, so...whilst he wasn’t a pro, there’s at least some tenuous link there!”
Classic Kemp.
Switzerland’s Fabian Schar suffered a broken nose in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Scotland at Euro 2024, compounding what was already a rough night having inadvertently helped their opponents to score moments earlier.
Schar collided with Scotland’s Anthony Ralston 19 minutes in, with both players needing medical attention but playing on for the rest of what was a gripping match in Cologne.
The clash came six minutes after a mishap for Schar that helped Scotland take the lead in a match the Swiss were expected to win and earn a place in the next round with a game to spare.
Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer was poised to comfortably catch Scott McTominay’s goal-bound shot before Schar intervened and steered it painfully into the net. It was initially recorded as an own goal but later awarded to McTominay.
“My nose is broken,” Schar told Swiss broadcaster Blue Sport. “There were a lots of tackles and duels, as we expected. They made it extremely difficult for us.”
“Going to watch the game with Sunderland legend Michael Gray at the Beach House in Doha, can’t wait!” emails Kristian Abbott. What a night ahead.
This relates to me asking if you have watched a match with a professional sportsman.
Do not try this at home.
“Regarding that photo of fans settling in for a (checks watch) 10:30 AM eye-opener,” says Joe Pearson. “My friends like to say that you can’t spend all day drinking, if you don’t start early. That’s dedication!”
Thankfully, they are an hour ahead in Germany.
Serbia threaten to withdraw from Euros
Serbia are demanding that Uefa punish Croatia and Albania after accusing their fans of hateful chanting during their Euro 2024 clash in Hamburg on Wednesday.
Jovan Surbatovic, General Secretary of the Football Association of Serbia, said a formal complaint had been submitted, claiming that Croatia and Albania fans chanted “Kill, kill, kill the Serb” during the 2-2 draw. He even threatened that Serbia, themselves charged by Uefa for incidents during their defeat by England last Saturday, could withdraw from the tournament.
“First of all, I want to thank our fans for their support in the match against England and I hope we will beat Slovenia,” Surbatovic was quoted by Serbia’s PTC. “What happened is scandalous and we will ask Uefa for sanctions, even if it means not continuing the competition. If Uefa doesn’t punish them, we will think about how to proceed.”
On Monday the Serbian Football Association was charged by Uefa after their supporters displayed a banner that “transmitted a provocative message unfit for a sports event” and for throwing objects inside the stadium.
That charge came after the Kosovo Football Federation complained to Uefa about “Serbian fans displaying political, chauvinistic, and racist messages against Kosovo” during their 1-0 defeat by England. “We were punished for isolated cases and our fans behaved much better than the others,” Surbatovic said. “One fan was punished for racist insults and we don’t want it to be attributed to others. We Serbs are gentlemen and we have an open heart.”
Serbia face Slovenia in Group C later on Thursday.
The German transport system has been a theme of this tournament. It sounds impressively terribly.
Sorry to say that the Munich transport network is actually performing worse than it did on Friday night. The carriages are older, more full, hotter and moving even slower this time.
— Seb Stafford-Bloor (@SebSB) June 20, 2024
“I wonder if France Portugal and Italy got completely roasted in the press the day after their competent but underwhelming victories,” ponders Owen Harris. “Or is it just England who like to talk our own team down? Saw an interview with Gareth yesterday where he wistfully remembered beating Denmark last time lamenting “we were popular then”.Made me feel really sad. A great team with one of footballs actual good guys at the helm and we can’t stop moaning about it.”
I think the overall analysis was pretty far. I am very much in the ‘win’s a win’ camp and victories breed confidence. Clearly they cannot go through the tournament playing like they did against Serbia.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is eager to share is views with the world again.
Is it the noon lull? I will therefore just push my own work relating to the Euros.
Do not forget, you can learn about every single player at the Euros. What a cracking guide it is.
“Hi Will,” hi Jacob Naish. “Tonight, I will be reliving 2021 being likely the only Englishman surrounded by Danes at Enghave Plads in Copenhagen, my home. I wrote a thread below about my last experience of ‘Roligan’ culture (one of the best football cultures in the world IMHO) as an outsider, which triggered some football fans in England who felt Danish easy-football vibes somehow shone an uncomfortable light on some of the more aggressive corners of our own football fandom. Hoping for a similar result tonight, and believing that whatever happens, I’ll be embraced the same way I always am with these fine football fans.”
Quick story of how wonderful Danes - and the Denmark story was - from Copenhagen (last night)... Decided to watch the game in Enghave Plads. I was the only England fan that I saw down there, surrounded by Danes. Kept incognito for a while but was outed by one of my 'mates'.
— Jacob Naish (@munchenbikkies) July 8, 2021
Transfer news …
Aston Villa have opened talks with Everton over a deal for young winger Lewis Dobbin.
The 21-year-old, who joined the Toffees’ academy a decade ago, had made only 15 Premier League appearances, a dozen of which came last season with all-but-one coming as a substitute.
Dobbin, whose contract expires next summer, scored his first senior goal in the 2-0 win at home to Chelsea in December but has struggled to make a breakthrough despite Everton’s well-documented problems up front last term.
The PA news agency understands 20-year-old Villa midfielder Tim Iroegbunam could move in the other direction in a separate deal.
It is England v Denmark later and the two goalkeepers have something in common: they have both played for Darlington.
Jordan Pickford had a loan spell at Darlo as a teenager when he was on the books at Sunderland back in 2012, going to play 17 league games in the Conference. Meanwhile Kasper Schmeichel played four games for the north-east club way back in 2006 in League Two.
Michael Moran would like me to point out that Preston will also play against Fiorentina this summer.
🟣 I Viola will visit Deepdale next month! 🇮🇹
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) June 20, 2024
👊 North End will take on Serie A side and back-to-back UEFA Conference League finalists Fiorentina in a pre-season friendly on Saturday 27th July.#pnefc
Fun with Flags.
Flags update from the FA pic.twitter.com/UoiV8mIrv0
— Free Lions (@WeAreFreeLions) June 20, 2024
Son Heung-min has confirmed Rodrigo Bentancur has apologised for making a racist joke about him during a television interview in Uruguay, saying his Tottenham team-mate had “made a mistake.”
An interesting news story from your friend and mine Nick Ames.
German Police arrested three England fans overnight in Frankfurt but praised the behaviour of the majority ahead of the big game tonight
The UK football policing unit which is in Germany with the travelling Three Lions support said 2000 England fans had been out in the main city square, the Hauptwache, last night. One individual was arrested for throwing a bottle, another for abusing a UK officer and a third for throwing a missile and being in possession of drugs.
“This is indicative of what we have seen across Germany so far, with the vast majority of England fans behaving extremely well,” police said.
It is not all about England today. Denmark will be eager to get one over on England.
Jonathan Wilson on Christian Eriksen and the Danes.
A nation inspired.
Gareth Southgate lookalike addresses #ENG fans outside hotel near Frankfurt Arena. #DENENG #EURo2024 pic.twitter.com/Iy3Yyb8tTv
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) June 20, 2024
First England called up Tom Heaton to help with goalkeeper training and now Scott Carson is playing his part in the Euros.
HelloFresh is offering 100 free match-day meal kits for anybody who scores against the Manchester City goalkeeper at a ‘beat the goalie kick-about’ at Exchange Square, London.
I’ve asked the boss and they will not let me leave immediately. Those who know me well, accept I love Carson more than anyone. I am upset to miss this.
The atmosphere is building in Frankfurt. Kick off: 5pm BST.
Steve Cooper appointed Leicester manager
In more Euros adjacent news … Steve Cooper is the new Leicester manager.
Updated
A generation of black British football pioneers have called on organisers to use the next men’s European Championship, to be held in the home nations in 2028, to celebrate the contribution of black footballers to the game.
England have the ability to go all the way thanks to their array of attacking talent, according to Bukayo Saka.
The Three Lions won 1-0 against Serbia in their first match of the tournament but there is plenty more to come from the most dangerous players in the team.
“Everything is possible with that,” he told ITV Sport when asked what England can achieve with Saka, Bellingham, Phil Foden and Harry Kane playing together.
“He (Bellingham) since he was 17 he was always so mature, he always knew how to carry himself on and off the pitch. What he has done this season has been special so I was a bit taken aback, 20 years old going to Real Madrid and doing what he has done, it is unbelievable but it is no surprise when you know him as a person.”
Asked to describe Bellingham in one word, Saka replied: “Wow!”
(I have not seen the interview but Gabriel Clarke almost certainly asked that question).
In Euros adjacent news … this is my sort of friendly.
🇮🇹 Wanderers to host Italian giants @acffiorentina!
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) June 20, 2024
The Serie A side and Europa Conference League finalists will visit the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Friday 26th July.
Ticket details will be announced in due course 👇#bwfc
If you are looking for solid advice about how to not get into trouble in Frankfurt, then Paul MacInnes has the answer.
As Frankfurt prepares to host England’s European Championship fixture against Denmark, a piece of stern advice has been issued to supporters: do not jump in the river Main.
The idea of hurling yourself into a tributary of the Rhine is unlikely to be at the forefront of many people’s thinking, especially given the dismal weather that has so for characterised the tournament in Germany. But fans did so at the 2006 World Cup, when England last played in the city, and authorities are leaving no stone unturned in making sure this game passes off without incident.
We have not had enough criticism of officials thus far.
Get in the mood for England v Denmark with plenty of hot Three Lions content.
Very reassuring for England fans.
3 - England are unbeaten in their previous three meetings with Denmark at major tournaments (W2 D1), with their only goal conceded against them coming from Mikkel Damsgaard’s free-kick at EURO 2020. Favourites. #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/gyKhgTLzPh
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 20, 2024
Billy Gilmour got the call yesterday. Barney Ronay looked at how the Brighton and Scotland midfielder performed.
Naturally, we could sit here all day and discuss whether Gareth Southgate will make any changes but we all know he will not. Luckily, we are all smarter than the average England football manager. What changes would you make? I think a fit Luke Shaw would make a difference, other than that the main thing is to give Phil Foden time to settle into this role to give him the best chance of making a difference come the knockout rounds.
I was on holiday last week and watched England v Serbia in the hotel bar with Everton’s James Tarkowski, Hampshire and England cricketer James Vince and – last but not least – Harrogate Town’s James Belshaw.
It begs the question: have you ever watched a football match with a professional sportsman? Email in.
And catch up with yesterday’s games in the form of the written word.
Croatia v Albania
Hungary v Germany
Scotland v Switzerland
Why not start your day with Euro Football Daily? Something for your commute.
Preamble
England are playing later! Will they manage to build on their tedious win over Serbia? Will Gareth Southgate make any changes? Will every pass be aimed at Jude Bellingham? So many questions to answers and it is literally hours until kick off against Denmark.
As well as looking ahead to Denmark v England, we will review what happened in yesterday’s fixtures. Scotland gave themselves a boost by drawing with Switzerland, while Albania and Croatia played out a classic. Germany showed they mean business with a victory over a much-improved Hungary, too.
The slightly tough sell of Slovenia v Serbia starts the day at 2pm BST before England and Denmark take to the pitch. Thursday’s most exciting game – and tournament so far – sees Italy take on Spain this evening. The Spanish cruised against Croatia in their opening fixture, while Italy battled to defeat Albania. It will be interesting to see how this match will go.
Today’s fixtures (all times BST):
Group C
Slovenia v Serbia 2pm
Denmark v England 5pm
Group B
Spain v Italy 8pm
