Euro 2024 – Inside World Football

Significant milestone in UEFA’s EURO 2024 sustainability journey as nearly €8m committed from Climate Fund

Andy Elliott — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 12:17:30 +0000

January 21 – The final round of funding from the UEFA EURO 2024 Climate Fund has brought the total investment to an impressive €7.925million, marking a significant chapter in the tournament’s ambitious sustainability journey.

With 225 clubs across Germany now benefiting from this initiative, UEFA has demonstrated that eco-conscious football can extend far beyond the pitch. Initially, the climate fund was set at €7 million, based on an early carbon footprint analysis which predicted EURO 2024 would produce 280,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions,

Spain win fourth Euros with 2-1 dismantling of England

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 14 Jul 2024 22:13:49 +0000

July 14 – Spain were crowned European champions for a record fourth time following a late strike from Mikel Oyarzabal in a 2-1 victory against England.

At the end, Nico Williams kneeled and Mikel Oyazabal burst into tears. Overcome by emotions, Spain’s two goalscorers were dealing with the magnitude of their achievement – they had steered their team to European glory with a composed victory, the coronation and culmination of a dominant four weeks in Germany.

Spain and England line-up for Berlin blockbuster

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 06:25:24 +0000

July 12 – In a blockbuster final in Berlin, Spain, the standout team of Euro 2024 will be looking to clinch a record fourth European title against Gareth Southgate’s England.

The Spanish are the most successful team in tournament history together with Germany. They won the European championship in 1964, 2008 and 2012 and return to their first major final since their triumph in Kyiv.

It will be Spain’s fifth final,

England edge past Netherlands with added time Watkins strike

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 21:53:03 +0000

July 10 – England will play Spain in their second successive European championship final and their first-ever major final abroad after Ollie Watkins’s brilliant 90th-minute strike eliminated the Netherlands in a 2-1 semi-final victory.

England and Gareth Southgate faced criticism for a turgid style and unimaginative substitutions, though they have improved in the knock-out rounds. The semi-final saw a very different England, at last comfortable with their set up and playing at a greater pace and intensity going forward.

Yamal wonder goal sets Spain up for French win and a trip to Berlin

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 22:03:36 +0000

July 9 – What a goal, what a player. And not a bad team either. Sixteen-year-old Lamine Yamal entered footballing immortality tonight by becoming the youngest player ever to score in a major men’s tournament as Spain reached the final of Euro 2024.

Before the game, France’s Adrien Rabiot tweeted that if Yamal wanted to play in Sunday’s final he would “have to do more things than he has so far”.

How he must be regretting calling the mercurial teenager’s talent into question.

Injury and suspensions force Spanish rejig as France defiantly brush off critics

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 07:00:15 +0000

July 9 – Goal-shy France will be looking to silence the critics when they take on Spain in their Euro 2024 semi-final clash tonight in Munich while their opponents hope to end a 12-year success drought despite missing a string of key players through suspension and injury.

French superstar captain Kylian Mbappé has struggled to get to grips with his protective mask while his country haven’t scored a single goal in open play.

Whistle blowing. UEFA appoint ref for Eng-Ned semi who was banned for taking a bribe

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 04:44:31 +0000

July 9 – The referee for England’s semi-final against the Netherlands at Euro 2024 once had ties to a match-fixing scandal in Germany.

Felix Zwayer was served a six-month ban for his role in a case in 2005.

Zwayer also has history with England star Jude Bellingham who received a fine of €40,000 from the German FA for his post-match comments about the same official in 2021 after his then Borussia Dortmund team lost 3-2 to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

Turkey’s Euro adventure ends with 2-1 loss to the Netherlands

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 21:27:15 +0000

July 6 – The Netherlands came back to beat Turkey 2-1 with two second half goals to silence the cacophonous Turkish support and start a party of their own in the Olympicstadion in Berlin.

The last time this reporter was in this stadium it was in the 1980s for a rock concert in a facility that was overgrown, a little unloved with its uncomfortable past, and in a city surrounded by a wall.

England beat Swiss on penalties to head into last four

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 19:57:25 +0000

July 6 – England defeated Switzerland 5-3 from the penalty spot after a 1-1 draw to reach the last four of Euro 2024.

In the end, England prevailed. Just about. They had fallen behind, clawed their way back into the match, hung on in the final minutes of extra time, and ultimately won, almost uncharacteristically, from the penalty spot.

It wasn’t the free flowing, excitement English fans had been calling for,

Nagelsmann pays tribute to Kroos and a team that has united a nation

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 10:28:11 +0000

July 6 – Julian Nagelsmann defended Germany’s performance after their quarter-final exit from Euro 2024 in a 2-1 extra-time defeat at the hands of Spain, highlighting the team’s investment in the tournament and Toni Kroos’s class. He called on Germany to unite as a society.

Mikel Merino’s 119th-minute strike shattered Germany’s dream of reaching the last four and the final in Berlin, but Nagelsmann, who has had a wobbly time steering the national team back to the elite,

Clinical French shatter Portugal’s dream of a big finish for Ronaldo in penalty shoot-out

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 21:52:40 +0000

July 5 – Another goalless performance by France saw them eventually beat Portugal on penalties in Hamburg and set up a semi-final against Spain.

Billed as Kylian Mbappe against Cristiano Ronaldo, it had all the makings of the exhilarating 2022 World Cup final match-up between Mbappe and Lionel Messi.

Ultimately neither of the superstars were able to step up, Ronaldo not quite being able to find enough space, Mbappe clearly troubled by his mask and perhaps life in general.

Germany bow out with hearts broken after Spain score in last minutes of added time

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 20:14:51 +0000

July 5 – In a nail-biting, close contest marked by 16 yellow cards, Spain eliminated Germany and Toni Kroos 2-1 from their home tournament after substitute Mikel Merino claimed a 119th-minute winner in extra time.

Germany bullied Spain off the ball and yet it was not enough. The Germans kicked Pedri off the park early following an unnecessarily physical challenge from Kroos. In the end the Germans can count themselves a little unlucky.

Nagelsmann and de la Fuente set the stage for Germany-Spain blockbuster

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 10:39:32 +0000

July 5 – In a tale of heavyweights, namesake wingers, and undoubted high-octane football, Spain will be the favourites in their quarter-final against Germany, but home manager Julian Nagelsmann believes that his side has enough to claim possession and win the match.

Whichever side wins, whichever young winger whizzes his way past markers, whoever gets that decisive goal, Germany – Spain is not just the blockbuster clash of the last eight, but also a final avant la lettre.

Mbappé vs Ronaldo, France vs Portugal. Euros braced for a big night in Hamburg

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 09:59:27 +0000

July 5 – Billed as Cristiano Ronaldo against Kylian Mbappé, tonight’s Portugal vs France Euro 2024 quarter final has shades of the Mbappé vs Lionel Messi 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

It is the match-up of one of the biggest superstars (some would argue the biggest) the game has ever seen, against the heir apparent. When individual records are compared no-one will be able to say that the remarkable Mbappé was never pitched in a head-to-head duel with football’s greatest,

Turkish government says investigation of Demiral’s ‘Grey Wolf’ salute is ‘unacceptable’

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 14:37:04 +0000

July 4 – The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs have reacted to UEFA’s investigation of Turkish international Merih Demiral, following his actions during the Euro 2024 round of 16 match against Austria, describing UEFA’s action as “unacceptable”.

Central defender Demiral scored both goals for Turkey in a 2-1 victory.

The 26-year-old celebrated his second goal by raising the index and little finger of each hand above his head, meaning he could face a potential suspension for the quarter-final.

In-form Spain look to maintain 26-year unbeaten streak against Germany

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 11:47:48 +0000

July 4 – It should, on current form, be the showpiece final between the two best teams in the tournament.

But due to the vagaries of the Euro 24 draw, heavyweights Germany and Spain have been forced to clash in the last eight on Friday with the host nation hoping to end a winless run against their opponents that stretches back to 1988.

The Germans are enjoying their best international tournament in eight years and on the crest of a wave under their shrewd head coach Julian Nagelsmann but will have to be at their very best to get past a Spanish team that is the most exciting in the competition and are looking set a record of four Euro crowns as well as their first major men’s title in over a decade.

Foden says England players need to take responsibility

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 08:27:05 +0000

July 4 – As England’s much-maligned team prepare to take on Switzerland in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 on Saturday, star forward Phil Foden says the players need to shoulder some of the blame for a spate of underwhelming performances.

England manager Gareth Southgate has been widely criticised for tactics that have seen the side, one of the pre-tournament favourites, create very little in the final third in four straight games as they stumbled into the last eight.

Mert Gunok’s wonder save keeps Turkish hearts pounding into the last 8

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 05:24:21 +0000

July 3 – It was one of those defining moments that will go down in the annals of European football.

When Turkish keeper Mert Gunok flung himself across goal to prevent Austria’s Christoph Baumgartner taking their pulsating last-16 tie at Euro 2024 into extra time by miraculously keeping out his downward header, those of a certain age immediately recalled something similarly spectacular over half a century ago.

Ever since England’s Gordon Banks defied Pele in the 1970 World Cup,

Demiral double sees Turkey beat Austria 2-1 on an adrenalin-fuelled night

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:41:43 +0000

July 3 – Turkey versus Austria is a historical rivalry based on religion, land, trade routes, and tonight in the Red Bull Arena Leipzig, the ‘Beautiful Game’.

With a 6-1 hiding of the Turks just three months ago in a friendly, Ralf Rangnick, was keen to snuff out any overconfidence.

In contrast, his opposite number, Vincenzo Montella said, “it was a humiliating result on a personal level but that was another match,

Dutch brush Romania aside 3-0 to head for Berlin

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 19:05:50 +0000

July 2 – Netherlands silenced their critics with a win over Romania in what started as a bitter dogfight but ended up with a runaway 3-0 scoreline that could have been even more.

The Allianz Arena watched on as the Dutchmen secured their place in the quarter finals in spectacular fashion. A date with the winner of Turkey v Austria looms on Saturday.

Koeman’s side were better value than the three-goal lead,

Deschamps: Who needs goals if we just keep winning?

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 10:41:45 +0000

July 2 – French coach Didier Deschamps praised his team after Monday’s 1-0 win over Belgium which took them into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 and continued to shrug off criticism about their profligacy in front of goal.

The 2022 World Cup runners-up edged their neighbours thanks to a late own goal in Dusseldorf and have still not scored a single goal in open play.

“We have been playing against teams who are used to having more possession but we have made lots of progress in that regard and our opponents are more wary of us now,”

Portugal and the Ronaldo roadshow need penalties to beat Oblak-led resistance

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 22:56:21 +0000

July 1 – For the first time in these European Championships, the make-up of the crowd at the Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt for the last 16 tie between Portugal and Slovenia was somewhat neutral, except of course it wasn’t (40% Portugal/Slovenia – 60% Ronaldo fans).

As always, all eyes were on the most Instagrammable person on the planet, CR7, Cristiano Ronaldo and he would have a major say in a night of high drama that would last 120 minutes plus penalty kicks.

Belgian own-goal sends misfiring France into last 16

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 20:12:40 +0000

July 1 – France’s quest for a first European crown in 24 years continues but they were made to fight all the way before securing a 1-0 over neighbours Belgium courtesy of a Jan Vertonghen own goal just as an absorbing if hardly memorable contest was heading for extra time.

On paper, this was the blockbuster heavyweight clash no-one wanted to miss between Europe’s top two nations on ranking, paired in the last-16 only because both somehow failed to win their respective groups.

Georgia’s cameo over as Spain turn up the heat

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 20:31:14 +0000

June 30 – On a night of great drama and goal-mouth action, Spain dispatched a superb Georgia 4-1 with three-second half goals from Fabian Ruiz, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo to book a last-eight encounter with hosts Germany.

Tournament darlings Georgia bowed out of Euro 2024 in grand style, once again playing their electric counter-attacking football. They were enchanting in the group stages and for 21 minutes they dreamt of causing one of the all-time upsets in tournament history after taking the lead before Spain’s class proved too much.

Bellingham and Kane spare England’s blushes against Slovakia, just

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 19:16:25 +0000

June 30 – Half an hour before kick-off, as the Lightning Seeds’ famous Three Lions anthem was belted out over the tannoy, England’s legions of fans, who made the Arena AufShalke a home from home, did their best to join in, even if their timing was not quite in sync.

Football Coming Home? Not for 95 minutes it wasn’t until a quite extraordinary denouement when England, seemingly on the end of a humiliating exit at Euro 2024,

Germany ride the storm, VAR and Demark to win 2-0

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 21:41:45 +0000

June 29 – This is what knockout football is all about. A pulsating encounter saw hosts Germany battle their into the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 as they overcame not only a Denmark side who gave everything but also a violent first-half monsoon that caused a 20-minute suspension.

Two second-half goals, including a somewhat fortuitous penalty, were enough to see off opponents who displayed their trademark teamwork but simply couldn’t muster enough cutting edge in the final third.

Swiss give Italians a lesson in style

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 20:10:42 +0000

June 29 – The last time the current European Champions, Italy, graced the Olympic Stadion in Berlin, they ruled the world after beating France on penalty kicks to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup. That match is best remembered for Zindine Zidane’s outrageous ‘Panenka’ penalty and of course, his headbutt into the chest of Marco Materazzi.

On a sun-baked Berlin evening with temperatures in the high 80s, the round of 16 kicked off with Switzerland attempting to achieve something they hadn’t managed in 31 years,

The post Swiss give Italians a lesson in style appeared first on Inside World Football.

Nagelsmann says Germany are not done, but Danes are an ‘uncomfortable’ opponent

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 08:03:43 +0000

June 19 – Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said his team is “not done yet” as they prepare to face Denmark in the last-16 of Euro 2024.

Nagelsman says images of fans celebrating in the streets inspired the hosts to continue their Euro 2024 run, saying the “special” scenes reminded him of the 2006 World Cup on home soil.

That year, hosts Germany reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Italy in extra-time in Dortmund – where Saturday’s knockout tie takes place.

Rosetti says VAR is now quicker and yellow cards are coming faster

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 14:23:13 +0000

June 28 – The head of UEFA’s refereeing department has leapt to the defence of his officials at Euro 2024 insisting most decisions have been right and presenting a detailed graphic to prove it.

At a briefing today analysing decision making during the group stage of the competition, Roberto Rosetti was quizzed about controversial individual cases, not least those that contributed to teams’ elimination, Scotland and Czech Republic being two cases in point.

Serbian FA boss quits as Croatian plane scandal takes off

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:16:33 +0000

June 27 – Jovan Šurbatović, general secretary of the Serbian Football Union, has announced he will leave his post following the national team’s elimination from Euro 2024.

He said it had made the decision to resign his post before the finals, and not because of the behaviour of Serbian fans. The news of his resignation comes as details of an aircraft ‘scandal’ emerged that saw the Serbian team leave for the finals in Germany on a plane that was registered in Croatia.