Daily Archives: June 21, 2024

Netherlands 0 France 0 – Why was Xavi Simons’ goal disallowed? Should Rabiot have shot?

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“The Netherlands and France played out the first 0-0 draw of Euro 2024 as both moved closer to qualification for the knockout stages. The first-half was defined more by a strange decision than anything else. Adrien Rabiot was played through on goal courtesy of a flick from Marcus Thuram. Just yards away from the net, he chose to try and pass the ball to Antoine Griezmann rather than shoot. The ball was slightly behind Griezmann, and his attempt did not trouble Bart Verbruggen in the Netherlands goal. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Netherlands have to settle for draw with France after VAR rules out Simons strike

Poland 1 Austria 3 – Arnautovic shines as Rangnick’s changes prove effective

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Manager Ralf Rangnick
“An impressive Austria beat Poland 3-1 in Berlin, thanks to goals from Gernot Trauner, Christoph Baumgartner and a Marko Arnautovic penalty. Poland, who were again unable to start Robert Lewandowski, offered little throughout and will now need to beat France in their final group game to have any chance of reaching the knockout stage after losing their first two matches. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

Ukraine prove their football is alive: ‘The strong man is the one who can get back up’

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“They came down the Rhine, at first in flecks and clumps and then in a yellow and blue torrent from the centre of Dusseldorf to the football ground on the city’s northern edge. After the Russian invasion in February 2022, the presence of any Ukraine fans in Germany feels improbable. Their domestic league has been shattered, their squad scattered across Europe. And for the first 150 minutes of this tournament, defiant support appeared to be all Ukraine had brought to Euro 2024. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Ukraine show ‘different spirit’ as Yaremchuk completes comeback in win over Slovakia – Jonathan Wilson

Spain 1 Italy 0: Calafiori own goal settles ‘European Clasico’, Nico Williams shines

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“Meetings between Spain and Italy rarely disappoint and this one was no exception — even if it was an own goal that decided the contest. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente described Thursday’s Euro 2024 Group B match as a ‘European Clasico’ in the build-up, and his players certainly came out motivated to impress. They completely dominated the first half, and Italy only went in level at half-time thanks to several key saves from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. After the break, Spain’s luck changed and they finally found the goal they’d been pushing for when Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori turned into his own net after Donnarumma palmed out an Alvaro Morata header. …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)
Guardian: Spain race into Euro 2024 last 16 after Calafiori’s own goal floors Italy