bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

Italy became the first team to reach the knockout stage of Euro 2020 as midfielder Manuel Locatelli scored twice in a 3-0 win over Switzerland in Rome on Wednesday, while Wales moved to the brink of joining them by beating Turkey.
The Azzurri, now unbeaten in 29 matches and having won their last 10 games without conceding a goal, sit first in group A and are guaranteed a top-two finish and last-16 berth.
“We played well, we wanted to win at all costs,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini told RAI.
“They started well, it was not easy to win a second game in five days.”
Greenpeace apologises after protester parachutes on to pitch at Germany-France Euro 2020 football match
Mancini’s men, looking to win Italy a second European title after their sole success in 1968, host Wales in their final group game on Sunday, with top spot up for grabs.
A new star shone for Italy at the Stadio Olimpico, where they had brushed aside Turkey 3-0 in the tournament’s opening match last week, as Sassuolo’s Locatelli scored twice before Ciro Immobile’s late third.

Captain Giorgio Chiellini had an early effort ruled out by VAR for handball, before the 36-year-old defender was forced off with what appeared to be a thigh injury.
But the hosts always looked the more dangerous side and took the lead in the 26th minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo breaks goal record as France edge Germany
Locatelli played a wonderful volleyed pass to his Sassuolo teammate Domenico Berardi on the wing, who powered to the byline and picked out Locatelli for a simple tap-in.
The three points and a place in the knockout phase for the fourth straight European Championship were all but secured less than seven minutes after the interval, when a flowing move ended with Locatelli driving a left-footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.
Immobile had wasted a couple of earlier chances but did grab his second goal of the tournament in the 89th minute, curling a low effort past Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Switzerland will now likely have to beat Turkey in Baku on Sunday to reach the next round.

After drawing 1-1 with the Swiss in their opening group A game, Wales now have four points from two matches after goals from Aaron Ramsey and Connor Roberts saw off a disappointing Turkey 2-0.
“You’d like to think so, but we’ll have to wait and see,” said Wales captain Gareth Bale when asked if his team had done enough to get through.
“If you’d offered us four points at the start we would’ve bitten your hand off.”
Senol Gunes’ side, roared on by the majority of the crowd in Azerbaijan, have lost both of their games without scoring and face a mountain to climb if they are to qualify.
Wales, semi-finalists five years ago, should have won more convincingly, but wasted several chances including a second-half penalty which was blazed over by Bale.
Up to 4,000 Turkish fans travelled for the game, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but Wales immediately were on the front foot and Ramsey wasted two excellent chances early on.
He made no mistake three minutes before the break, though, chesting down Bale’s pass and slotting home.
Bale, whose future at Real Madrid is uncertain, won a penalty just after the hour mark but was uncharacteristically wayward from the spot.
Robert Page’s Wales grabbed the second goal their performance deserved in stoppage time, as Bale danced through and teed up Roberts to sweep into the net.

In the first match of the day, Russia defeated neighbours Finland 1-0 in Saint Petersburg courtesy of Aleksei Miranchuk’s goal just before half-time to pick up their first points in group B.
It blows open the section after Russia lost 3-0 to Belgium in their opening game at the weekend. Finland had beaten Denmark 1-0 in Copenhagen on Saturday, a game completely overshadowed by Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest.

On Thursday, Belgium could all but confirm their spot in the last-16 when they take on Denmark in Copenhagen.
The game will be the Danes’ first since Eriksen had to be revived on the pitch at the Parken Stadium against Finland on Saturday.
The players and crowd, with up to 25,000 fans allowed to attend, will pay tribute to the Inter Milan player with a minute’s applause in the 10th minute.
“Several of our players have played with him,” said Eriksen’s Inter Milan teammate and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku, who added that the players would kick the ball out of play in the 10th minute.
“But tomorrow we’ll be there to win the game, which promises to be difficult.”
Depending on the result of the first game of the day between Ukraine and North Macedonia in group C, the Netherlands could qualify with a victory over Austria in Amsterdam.


Hong Kong police arrest 824, seize records detailing HK$3.6 billion worth of bets in illegal gambling busts around Euro 2020

Euro 2020: Naomi Osaka shows support for England’s Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka after online racist abuse

London police: 86 people arrested around Euro 2020 football final between England and Italy

Euro 2020: who is England’s highest-paid player? From Harry Kane to Raheem Sterling, the national football team’s 10 richest stars, ranked by net worth

Euro 2020

Euro 2020: Manuel Locatelli, Ciro Immobile fire Italy to last-16 as Wales deliver against Turkey

Italy have looked very impressive at the Uefa European Championships so far. Photo: AFP

Soccer Football - Euro 2020 - Group A - Italy v Switzerland - Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy - June 16, 2021 Italy's Manuel Locatelli celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates Pool via REUTERS/Alessandra Tarantino

Finland's goalkeeper Lucas Hradecky (C) concedes the opening goal goal shot by Russia's forward Aleksey Miranchuk (not pictured) during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group B football match between Finland and Russia at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on June 16, 2021. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP)

epa09276089 Players of Finland warm up wearing a t-shirt with a get well message for Christian Eriksen of Denmark prior to the UEFA EURO 2020 group B preliminary round soccer match between Finland and Russia in St.Petersburg, Russia, 16 June 2021. EPA-EFE/Lars Baron / POOL (RESTRICTIONS: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.)

TOPSHOT - Wales' forward Gareth Bale (C) gestures as they celebrate their victory after the final whistle of the UEFA EURO 2020 Group A football match between Turkey and Wales at the Olympic Stadium in Baku on June 16, 2021. (Photo by Dan Mullan / POOL / AFP)

Wembley capacity for Euro 2020 finale raised to 40,000

London’s Wembley Stadium will be allowed to hold 40,000 spectators during the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020. Photo: EPA

epa09267521 Players of England celebrate with fans after winning the UEFA EURO 2020 group D preliminary round soccer match between England and Croatia at Wembley stadium in London, Britain, 13 June 2021. EPA-EFE/Catherine Ivill / POOL (RESTRICTIONS: For editorial news reporting purposes only. Images must appear as still images and must not emulate match action video footage. Photographs published in online publications shall have an interval of at least 20 seconds between the posting.)

Euro 2020: Christian Eriksen’s heart stopped and he ‘was gone’ before being resuscitated, says team doctor

A young football fan holds a banner of support for Denmark’s Christian Eriksen after he collapsed on the pitch during his side’s Euro 2020 match with Finland on Saturday. Photo: Reuters  

Denmark’s national team doctor Morten Boesen said there was still no explanation for midfielder Christian Eriksen’s collapsed on Saturday. Photo: AFP 

Denmark’s Joakim Maehle reacts as Denmark’s Christian Eriksen lies on the pitch after collapsing in Copenhagen, Denmark on Saturday. Photo: AP

Sport

Football


Italy are now unbeaten in 29 matches, having won their last 10 games without conceding a goal, and sit top of group A, guaranteed a top-two finish



Italy are now unbeaten in 29 matches, having won their last 10 games without conceding a goal, and sit top of group A, guaranteed a top-two finish and last-16 berth.


Euro 2020: Manuel Locatelli, Ciro Immobile fire Italy to last-16 as Wales deliver against Turkey

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Italy are now unbeaten in 29 matches, having won their last 10 games without conceding a goal, and sit top of group A, guaranteed a top-two finish

Italy are now unbeaten in 29 matches, having won their last 10 games without conceding a goal, and sit top of group A, guaranteed a top-two finish