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Leicester City have appointed former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper, the newly promoted Premier League club said on Thursday.

"Leicester City Football Club can today confirm the appointment of Steve Cooper as our new First Team Manager ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Steve, 44, has agreed a three-year contract," the club said in a statement.

Cooper fills the vacuum left by Enzo Maresca, who left for the vacant post at Chelsea earlier this month.

Maresca, 44, had steered 2016 Premier League champions Leicester back to the Premier League after just one season in the Championship.

"We are delighted to welcome Steve to Leicester City," said Leicester City Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha in a statement.

"His vision for the team, including his ability to develop players and implement a dynamic style of play, is very much aligned with our aspirations for the Club.

"As a leader, he has the ability to build on the strong relationship that has been forged between our fans and our team, strengthening a bond that will be vital to us re-establishing the Club in the Premier League."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/official-chelsea-appoint-enzo-maresca-as-new-coach-to-replace-pochettino-728378">Also read |&nbsp;OFFICIAL! Chelsea appoint Enzo Maresca as new coach to replace Pochettino</a>

Cooper guided Forest to promotion in 2022 but was fired in December 2023 with the club deep in relegation trouble. They eventually remained in the Premier League under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

"I am really excited and proud to be appointed Leicester City's First Team Manager," said Welshman Cooper.

"This is a fantastic club with a rich history and passionate supporters.

"I am excited to work with such a talented squad and I'm looking forward to the challenge of achieving our shared ambitions in the Premier League."

Leicester City have appointed former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper, the newly promoted Premier League club said on Thursday. "Leicester City Football Club can today confirm the appointment of Steve Cooper as our new First Team Manager ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

Leicester City have appointed former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper, the newly promoted Premier League club said on Thursday. "Leicester City Football Club can today confirm the appointment of Steve Cooper as our new First Team Manager ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Steve, 44, has agreed a three-year contract," the club said in a statement. Cooper fills the vacuum left by Enzo Maresca, who left for the vacant post at Chelsea earlier this month. Maresca, 44, had steered 2016 Premier League champions Leicester back to the Premier League after just one season in the Championship. "We are delighted to welcome Steve to Leicester City," said Leicester City Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha in a statement. "His vision for the team, including his ability to develop players and implement a dynamic style of play, is very much aligned with our aspirations for the Club. "As a leader, he has the ability to build on the strong relationship that has been forged between our fans and our team, strengthening a bond that will be vital to us re-establishing the Club in the Premier League." Also read | OFFICIAL! Chelsea appoint Enzo Maresca as new coach to replace Pochettino Cooper guided Forest to promotion in 2022 but was fired in December 2023 with the club deep in relegation trouble. They eventually remained in the Premier League under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo. "I am really excited and proud to be appointed Leicester City's First Team Manager," said Welshman Cooper. "This is a fantastic club with a rich history and passionate supporters. "I am excited to work with such a talented squad and I'm looking forward to the challenge of achieving our shared ambitions in the Premier League."

Premier League: Steve Cooper announced new Leicester City manager

Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gundogan scored as hosts Germany became the first team to qualify for the last 16 of Euro 2024 on Wednesday after beating Hungary 2-0 in Stuttgart.

Musiala struck for the second game running midway through the first half, much to the anger of Hungary players who felt a foul should have been awarded in the build-up to the goal.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-albania-come-from-behind-to-secure-2-2-draw-against-croatia-733254">Euro 2024: Albania come from behind to secure 2-2 draw against Croatia</a>

Gundogan grabbed his side's second on 67 minutes as Germany eased to a second successive win in Group A, making sure they will progress to the knockout phase at least as one of the best third-placed sides.

Julian Nagelsmann's men can wrap up top spot when they play Switzerland in Frankfurt in their final group fixture on Sunday.

Hungary are staring at elimination after back-to-back defeats and must beat Scotland if they are to stand any chance of reaching the last 16.

Germany unsurprisingly stuck with the same line-up that battered Scotland 5-1 in the first game of the tournament, ending a run of three major finals in which they had lost their opening match. &nbsp;

Hungary coach Marco Rossi made two changes following a disappointing 3-1 loss to Switzerland, bringing Marton Dardai into his three-man defence and starting Bendeguz Bolla at right wing-back.

A dismal first half left Hungary with too much to do against the Swiss and Rossi admitted beating Germany would require a "perfect match" from his team.&nbsp;

Hungary almost struck in the opening seconds as Manuel Neuer raced out to take the ball off the toe of Roland Sallai.&nbsp;

Kai Havertz outmuscled Willi Orban only to be superbly denied by Peter Gulacsi, who thrust out his right hand to deny the Arsenal attacker.

Robert Andrich's volley from the resulting corner was bravely headed behind by Bolla, but it wasn't long until Germany's persistence was rewarded.

Musiala cushioned the ball through for Gundogan and the Germany captain kept the attack alive after jostling with Orban, knocking it back for Musiala to slam in off the crossbar with a touch off Attila Fiola.

<h2>- Hungary protests dismissed -</h2>

Hungary were furious no foul was given for the contact between Gundogan and Orban that knocked the defender to the ground, the goal confirmed after a brief VAR check.

Dominik Szoboszlai's curling free-kick drew a terrific stop from Neuer soaring to his right, the goalkeeper kicking away the follow-up as Hungary tried to scramble in the rebound.

A key block from Jonathan Tah foiled a second opportunity in quick succession for Szoboszlai, with Musiala then drilling into the side-netting at the other end.

Hungary had the ball in Germany's net in first-half stoppage time, but Sallai's effort was ruled out for offside after Neuer palmed away an Orban header.

Gulacsi clawed away a deflected Toni Kroos drive early in the second half before Hungary forward Barnabas Varga, who scored in the loss to Switzerland, nodded narrowly over from an inviting cross.

Germany picked apart the Hungary defence with a patient attack to double their lead just past the hour.

Maximilian Mittelstaedt found space down the left and slid across a pass for Gundogan to sweep home from near the penalty spot.

Niclas Fuellkrug failed to get a finishing touch as Joshua Kimmich powered across the face of goal, with Gulacsi making smart saves to keep out Kimmich and Leroy Sane as Germany sought a third goal.

Julian Nagelsmann withdrew his front three with the game under control to keep them fresh for the Switzerland clash.

Neuer had a nervy moment late on when he spilled a cross, but Kimmich cleared Orban's shot off the line to preserve the clean sheet for Germany -- their first in eight games at the European Championship.

Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gundogan scored as hosts Germany became the first team to qualify for the last 16 of Euro 2024 on Wednesday after beating Hungary 2-0 in Stuttgart.

Jamal Musiala and Ilkay Gundogan scored as hosts Germany became the first team to qualify for the last 16 of Euro 2024 on Wednesday after beating Hungary 2-0 in Stuttgart. Musiala struck for the second game running midway through the first half, much to the anger of Hungary players who felt a foul should have been awarded in the build-up to the goal. Also Read: Euro 2024: Albania come from behind to secure 2-2 draw against Croatia Gundogan grabbed his side's second on 67 minutes as Germany eased to a second successive win in Group A, making sure they will progress to the knockout phase at least as one of the best third-placed sides. Julian Nagelsmann's men can wrap up top spot when they play Switzerland in Frankfurt in their final group fixture on Sunday. Hungary are staring at elimination after back-to-back defeats and must beat Scotland if they are to stand any chance of reaching the last 16. Germany unsurprisingly stuck with the same line-up that battered Scotland 5-1 in the first game of the tournament, ending a run of three major finals in which they had lost their opening match. Hungary coach Marco Rossi made two changes following a disappointing 3-1 loss to Switzerland, bringing Marton Dardai into his three-man defence and starting Bendeguz Bolla at right wing-back. A dismal first half left Hungary with too much to do against the Swiss and Rossi admitted beating Germany would require a "perfect match" from his team. Hungary almost struck in the opening seconds as Manuel Neuer raced out to take the ball off the toe of Roland Sallai. Kai Havertz outmuscled Willi Orban only to be superbly denied by Peter Gulacsi, who thrust out his right hand to deny the Arsenal attacker. Robert Andrich's volley from the resulting corner was bravely headed behind by Bolla, but it wasn't long until Germany's persistence was rewarded. Musiala cushioned the ball through for Gundogan and the Germany captain kept the attack alive after jostling with Orban, knocking it back for Musiala to slam in off the crossbar with a touch off Attila Fiola. - Hungary protests dismissed - Hungary were furious no foul was given for the contact between Gundogan and Orban that knocked the defender to the ground, the goal confirmed after a brief VAR check. Dominik Szoboszlai's curling free-kick drew a terrific stop from Neuer soaring to his right, the goalkeeper kicking away the follow-up as Hungary tried to scramble in the rebound. A key block from Jonathan Tah foiled a second opportunity in quick succession for Szoboszlai, with Musiala then drilling into the side-netting at the other end. Hungary had the ball in Germany's net in first-half stoppage time, but Sallai's effort was ruled out for offside after Neuer palmed away an Orban header. Gulacsi clawed away a deflected Toni Kroos drive early in the second half before Hungary forward Barnabas Varga, who scored in the loss to Switzerland, nodded narrowly over from an inviting cross. Germany picked apart the Hungary defence with a patient attack to double their lead just past the hour. Maximilian Mittelstaedt found space down the left and slid across a pass for Gundogan to sweep home from near the penalty spot. Niclas Fuellkrug failed to get a finishing touch as Joshua Kimmich powered across the face of goal, with Gulacsi making smart saves to keep out Kimmich and Leroy Sane as Germany sought a third goal. Julian Nagelsmann withdrew his front three with the game under control to keep them fresh for the Switzerland clash. Neuer had a nervy moment late on when he spilled a cross, but Kimmich cleared Orban's shot off the line to preserve the clean sheet for Germany -- their first in eight games at the European Championship.

Euro 2024: Host Germany ease past Hungary to book last 16 berth

Albania left Croatia in danger of a group-stage exit from Euro 2024 after a thrilling 2-2 draw on Wednesday (Jun 19) as Albania's Klaus Gjasula scored at both ends, including a dramatic injury-time equaliser.

Albania left Croatia in danger of a group-stage exit from Euro 2024 after a thrilling 2-2 draw on Wednesday (Jun 19) as Albania's Klaus Gjasula scored at both ends, including a dramatic injury-time equaliser. After a disappointing 3-0 loss to Spain in their opener, Croatia were behind again when Qazim Laci gave Albania an early lead in Hamburg. But Croatia improved after making two half-time substitutions and Andrej Kramaric levelled with 16 minutes remaining, before Gjasula put one in his own net, courtesy of a nasty deflection. The Albania midfielder became the last-gasp hero, though, slotting into the bottom corner in the fifth minute of injury time to snatch his team a point. Croatia, World Cup semi-finalists in 2022, will now likely need to win their final Group B match against holders Italy on June 24 to reach the knockout phase for a fifth straight major tournament. Albania have won plenty of plaudits with their performances against both Italy, in a 2-1 defeat, and Croatia, but could not hold a lead in either game and will probably have to beat Spain to keep their last-16 hopes alive. Croatia's 'golden generation' were ultimately made to pay for a poor first-half display and are in danger of bowing out from major tournament football in limp fashion. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic opted against a change in formation from the Spain defeat, sticking with his midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic. But he brought in Ivan Perisic at left-back, moving Manchester City's Josko Gvardiol into central defence. Also read | Who is Arda Güler? The Turkish Messi who lit up Euro 2024 with wonder strike Albania start fast again The smell of smoke from flares filled the air outside the stadium as the supporters of both teams created one of the best atmospheres of the tournament so far. Albania scored the fastest goal in European Championship history after just 23 seconds against Italy and they made another quick start. It took until only the 11th minute for Sylvinho's men to break the deadlock this time, as Sparta Prague midfielder Laci ghosted into the area unmarked to nod home an inch-perfect, inswinging cross from Jasir Asani. Croatia tried to impose their passing game, but Albania were constantly in their faces and continued to look the more dangerous side, with right-back Elseid Hysaj firing off target. The underdogs could have doubled their advantage just after the half-hour mark, but Kristjan Asllani was denied by Dominik Livakovic when face-to-face with the Croatia goalkeeper. Albania striker Rey Manaj passed up another excellent opportunity, failing to get enough purchase on his free header in first-half added time to seriously trouble Livakovic. Dalic responded by making two changes at the interval, bringing on 21-year-old Luka Sucic and Mario Pasalic for the ineffective Lovro Majer and Brozovic. Those substitutions brought about a quick improvement from Croatia, as Albania goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha made a good save to keep out Sucic's left-footed shot, before Pasalic headed over seconds later. Albania continued to threaten on the counter-attack, though, with Nedim Bajrami drilling wide of the near post in the 67th minute. But Croatia finally found a way through in the 74th minute as substitute Ante Budimir picked out Kramaric inside the box and the forward cut inside before sending a composed finish inside Strakosha's near post. The turnaround appeared to be complete two minutes later as Sucic's close-range effort was blocked, but only against the unfortunate Gjasula and into an empty net. Albania did not give up, missing a series of chances as it appeared Croatia would cling on. Gjasula had other ideas though, sweeping a loose ball home before a chaotic denouement that saw both sides throw bodies forward in search of a winner, to no avail.

Euro 2024: Albania come from behind to secure 2-2 draw against Croatia

Former Chelsea and England international Frank Lampard has revealed that he avoided Cristiano Ronaldo after bumping into the Portuguese star during a holiday earlier this year, seemingly out of physical embarrassment.&nbsp;

Speaking ahead of Portugal's opening Euro&nbsp;2024 match against Czechia, Lampard shared the funny anecdote when he was staying in the same hotel as 39-year-old Ronaldo.&nbsp;

"I bumped into him on holiday a few months ago, I was in the same hotel on the beach and fortunately his sun spot each day was a little down from me,"&nbsp;Lampard told BBC.

"I made sure to stay away from him because he was in incredible shape. So I gave him a little bit of distance. I pulled him over for a picture with my son because of the incredible player he's been and I quickly put my t-shirt on and had a nice picture with him," said Lampard.&nbsp;

While most athletes retired in their early thirties, Ronaldo is still going strong and representing his country at the highest level.&nbsp;

"I noticed he was going to the gym twice a day with his personal trainer. Just shows you his dedication to what he does," said Lampard.&nbsp;

"I was sipping a beer watching him and gave him a ripple of applause as he walked back!"

Cesc Fabregas, who was on the panel alongside Lampard also applauded Ronaldo for his longevity in the sport and attributed his mentality as the factor that separated the five-time Ballon d'Or winner from the rest.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-who-is-cristiano-ronaldos-teammate-francisco-conceicao-portugals-match-winning-hero-vs-czechia-733055">Also read |&nbsp;Euro 2024: Who is Cristiano Ronaldo's teammate Francisco Conceicao, Portugal's match-winning hero vs Czechia?</a>

<h2>Ronaldo off to perfect start</h2>

Ronaldo, playing his sixth European Championship, started the tournament with a hard-fought win after&nbsp;Francisco Conceicao scored deep in stoppage time to secure the three crucial points.&nbsp;

Ronaldo put up a tidy&nbsp;performance playing up front as some of the big chances created by him were thwarted by the opposition goalkeeper.&nbsp;

Ater the match, Czechia&nbsp;manager, Ivan Hasek, paid a glowing tribute to Ronaldo by calling him one of the greatest to have ever graced the sport.&nbsp;

"It's amazing how dangerous he is. He showed what a genius he is. I take my hat off to him. He's one of the best players in history,” said Hasek.&nbsp;

Ronaldo will be next seen in action against Türkiye on Saturday (Jun 22) as Portugal travel to Dortmund to face one of the dark horses of the tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Former Chelsea and England international Frank Lampard has revealed that he avoided Cristiano Ronaldo after bumping into the Portuguese star during a holiday earlier this year, seemingly out of physical embarrassment.

Former Chelsea and England international Frank Lampard has revealed that he avoided Cristiano Ronaldo after bumping into the Portuguese star during a holiday earlier this year, seemingly out of physical embarrassment. Speaking ahead of Portugal's opening Euro 2024 match against Czechia, Lampard shared the funny anecdote when he was staying in the same hotel as 39-year-old Ronaldo. "I bumped into him on holiday a few months ago, I was in the same hotel on the beach and fortunately his sun spot each day was a little down from me," Lampard told BBC. "I made sure to stay away from him because he was in incredible shape. So I gave him a little bit of distance. I pulled him over for a picture with my son because of the incredible player he's been and I quickly put my t-shirt on and had a nice picture with him," said Lampard. While most athletes retired in their early thirties, Ronaldo is still going strong and representing his country at the highest level. "I noticed he was going to the gym twice a day with his personal trainer. Just shows you his dedication to what he does," said Lampard. "I was sipping a beer watching him and gave him a ripple of applause as he walked back!" Cesc Fabregas, who was on the panel alongside Lampard also applauded Ronaldo for his longevity in the sport and attributed his mentality as the factor that separated the five-time Ballon d'Or winner from the rest. Also read | Euro 2024: Who is Cristiano Ronaldo's teammate Francisco Conceicao, Portugal's match-winning hero vs Czechia? Ronaldo off to perfect start Ronaldo, playing his sixth European Championship, started the tournament with a hard-fought win after Francisco Conceicao scored deep in stoppage time to secure the three crucial points. Ronaldo put up a tidy performance playing up front as some of the big chances created by him were thwarted by the opposition goalkeeper. Ater the match, Czechia manager, Ivan Hasek, paid a glowing tribute to Ronaldo by calling him one of the greatest to have ever graced the sport. "It's amazing how dangerous he is. He showed what a genius he is. I take my hat off to him. He's one of the best players in history,” said Hasek. Ronaldo will be next seen in action against Türkiye on Saturday (Jun 22) as Portugal travel to Dortmund to face one of the dark horses of the tournament. (With inputs from agencies)

Why did Frank Lampard avoid Cristiano Ronaldo? Former Chelsea player reveals

Portugal star Joao Cancelo has confirmed his desire to play for Barcelona in the 2024-25 season as the player keeps the Spanish giants as top priority. Cancelo, still a Manchester City player will return to his parent club after his deal expires. However, the Portugal star’s relationship with Pep Guardiola is not great and is expected to be sold or loaned out again.

Addressing the issue, Cancelo has stated that he would be happy to return to Barcelona.

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🔵🔴 João Cancelo confirms: "I really like being at Barça, I am very comfortable". 
 
"My family, my daughter, my wife also. We hope that next year we will be here!", told <a href="https://twitter.com/futbolemotion?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@futbolemotion</a>. <a href="https://t.co/1iXoej3fsS">pic.twitter.com/1iXoej3fsS</a>
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1803350255477690747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Cancelo hints at Barcelona's return</h2>

"I really like being at Barça, I am very comfortable. My family, my daughter, my wife also. We hope that next year we will be here,” Cancelo said in the post-match after Portugal beat Czechia.

Having spent the entire last season on loan with the Spanish giants, Cancelo wants Barcelona to strike a deal in the coming days. The club is also happy to keep the Portuguese player, but face Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues. According to the FFP rules, Barcelona will first have to sell players before purchasing any.

<h2>What needs to happen for Cancelo to return?</h2>

Reports have stated that Barcelona’s current financial situation has made them unable to register new manager Flick with La Liga. For Cancelo to stay, the club needs to sell homegrown players or loan them out to create space on the balance sheet. Selling homegrown players offers the best deal as they would account for zero loss on the balance sheet.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-francisco-conceicaos-stoppage-time-winner-helps-portugal-down-czechs-in-group-opener-733001">Euro 2024: Francisco Conceicao's stoppage time winner helps Portugal down Czechs in group opener</a>

If the wage bill is still not fixed, Cancelo might have to take a pay cut which could help the club register him. Another option is to ask the parent club, Manchester City, to terminate his current contract and sign for free while also registering him for a lower salary.

For now, the Portuguese defender will have his eyes on winning international honours as his side are one of the favouirtes to win the ongoing Euro 2024.

Portugal made a winning start having beaten Czechia 2-1 on Tuesday evening.

They will next face Turkiye and Georgia in the group stage matches before turning their attention to the knockout stages.

Portugal star Joao Cancelo has confirmed his desire to play for Barcelona in the 2024-25 season as the player keeps the Spanish giants as top priority. Cancelo, still a Manchester City player will return to his parent club after his deal expires.

Portugal star Joao Cancelo has confirmed his desire to play for Barcelona in the 2024-25 season as the player keeps the Spanish giants as top priority. Cancelo, still a Manchester City player will return to his parent club after his deal expires. However, the Portugal star’s relationship with Pep Guardiola is not great and is expected to be sold or loaned out again. Addressing the issue, Cancelo has stated that he would be happy to return to Barcelona. 🔵🔴 João Cancelo confirms: "I really like being at Barça, I am very comfortable". "My family, my daughter, my wife also. We hope that next year we will be here!", told @futbolemotion. pic.twitter.com/1iXoej3fsS — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 19, 2024 × Cancelo hints at Barcelona's return "I really like being at Barça, I am very comfortable. My family, my daughter, my wife also. We hope that next year we will be here,” Cancelo said in the post-match after Portugal beat Czechia. Having spent the entire last season on loan with the Spanish giants, Cancelo wants Barcelona to strike a deal in the coming days. The club is also happy to keep the Portuguese player, but face Financial Fair Play (FFP) issues. According to the FFP rules, Barcelona will first have to sell players before purchasing any. What needs to happen for Cancelo to return? Reports have stated that Barcelona’s current financial situation has made them unable to register new manager Flick with La Liga. For Cancelo to stay, the club needs to sell homegrown players or loan them out to create space on the balance sheet. Selling homegrown players offers the best deal as they would account for zero loss on the balance sheet. ALSO READ | Euro 2024: Francisco Conceicao's stoppage time winner helps Portugal down Czechs in group opener If the wage bill is still not fixed, Cancelo might have to take a pay cut which could help the club register him. Another option is to ask the parent club, Manchester City, to terminate his current contract and sign for free while also registering him for a lower salary. For now, the Portuguese defender will have his eyes on winning international honours as his side are one of the favouirtes to win the ongoing Euro 2024. Portugal made a winning start having beaten Czechia 2-1 on Tuesday evening. They will next face Turkiye and Georgia in the group stage matches before turning their attention to the knockout stages.

'I really like being at Barça': Joao Cancelo confirms desire to stay at Barcelona as Man City exit accelerates

The fixtures for the 2024-25 Premier League season were announced on Tuesday (June 18) as 20 sides will start their bid to achieve respective goals on August 16. Champions Manchester City will face Chelsea&nbsp;in the opening weekend which will be the highlight reel as Pep Guardiola meets Enzo Maresca while Arne Slot’s first Liverpool game will see him face Ipswich Town away from home. Arsenal, meanwhile, will open their campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers at home.

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🚨 Announce 2024/25 Premier League fixtures 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/g7PU3duDV6">pic.twitter.com/g7PU3duDV6</a>
— Premier League (@premierleague) <a href="https://twitter.com/premierleague/status/1802974531214291162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Manchester City face Leicester </h2>

Champions Manchester City will be in search of their fifth consecutive title having recently conquered their fourth title in May. City will face Chelsea on Sunday (August 18) in what will be a heavyweight clash of the weekend.

Both Chelsea and Manchester City met in last season’s FA Cup semifinal while they also served Premier League classics with a 4-4 and a 2-2 draw. For Maresca, it will be a special outing considering he was working with Guardiola in the past at Man City.

Liverpool’s new era will begin with Arne Slot’s side facing newly promoted Ipswich Town his first assignment for the side. It will be his first Premier League fixture for Liverpool, having succeeded Jurgen Klopp after the end of last season. It will be an early kickoff on Saturday 17th for Slot and Co which will also mark Ipswich Town’s first Premier League game in over two decades.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/india-coach-job-former-indian-opener-gautam-gambhir-to-be-interviewed-in-mumbai-on-tuesday-reports-732745">India coach job: Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir to be interviewed in Mumbai on Tuesday - Reports</a>

The Premier League season though will get underway on Friday (August 16) when Manchester United face Fulham at Old Trafford. The two teams had an interesting time in the 2023-24 season with Erik ten Hag set to resume duties for the third consecutive season. He was reported to be on the brink of sack after the Premier League’s 2023-24 season, but the FA Cup win over Manchester City changed all equations. He will also face Man City in the FA Community Shield before the Premier League season starts.

The opening weekend of the Premier League season will conclude on Monday evening with Spurs facing returning Leicester City. Spurs finished fifth in the Premier League while Leicester won the Championship title.

The fixtures for the 2024-25 Premier League season were announced on Tuesday (June 18) as 20 sides will start their bid to achieve respective goals on August 16.

The fixtures for the 2024-25 Premier League season were announced on Tuesday (June 18) as 20 sides will start their bid to achieve respective goals on August 16. Champions Manchester City will face Chelsea in the opening weekend which will be the highlight reel as Pep Guardiola meets Enzo Maresca while Arne Slot’s first Liverpool game will see him face Ipswich Town away from home. Arsenal, meanwhile, will open their campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers at home. 🚨 Announce 2024/25 Premier League fixtures 🚨 pic.twitter.com/g7PU3duDV6 — Premier League (@premierleague) June 18, 2024 × Manchester City face Leicester Champions Manchester City will be in search of their fifth consecutive title having recently conquered their fourth title in May. City will face Chelsea on Sunday (August 18) in what will be a heavyweight clash of the weekend. Both Chelsea and Manchester City met in last season’s FA Cup semifinal while they also served Premier League classics with a 4-4 and a 2-2 draw. For Maresca, it will be a special outing considering he was working with Guardiola in the past at Man City. Liverpool’s new era will begin with Arne Slot’s side facing newly promoted Ipswich Town his first assignment for the side. It will be his first Premier League fixture for Liverpool, having succeeded Jurgen Klopp after the end of last season. It will be an early kickoff on Saturday 17th for Slot and Co which will also mark Ipswich Town’s first Premier League game in over two decades. ALSO READ | India coach job: Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir to be interviewed in Mumbai on Tuesday - Reports The Premier League season though will get underway on Friday (August 16) when Manchester United face Fulham at Old Trafford. The two teams had an interesting time in the 2023-24 season with Erik ten Hag set to resume duties for the third consecutive season. He was reported to be on the brink of sack after the Premier League’s 2023-24 season, but the FA Cup win over Manchester City changed all equations. He will also face Man City in the FA Community Shield before the Premier League season starts. The opening weekend of the Premier League season will conclude on Monday evening with Spurs facing returning Leicester City. Spurs finished fifth in the Premier League while Leicester won the Championship title.

Premier League: Manchester City face Chelsea in headline fixture of 2024-25 season opening day

Youngster Francisco Conceicao snatched Portugal a last-gasp 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 Group F opener on Tuesday just minutes after coming off the bench.

The 21-year-old Porto winger capitalised from close range after the Czechs were unable to clear a cross, completing his team's comeback.

The Czechs went ahead against the run of play through Lukas Provod's fine strike from the edge of the box after the hour mark.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal did not shine but dug just deep enough to claim victory, with Robin Hranac's own goal pulling them level before Conceicao's dramatic winner.

Ronaldo, 39, playing at a record-extending sixth European Championship, was denied by Stanek on three occasions as Portugal constantly looked to find the competition's all-time top goalscorer.

The striker hit the post with the score tied and Diogo Jota nodded in the rebound but the goal was disallowed for offside against Ronaldo.

"We showed all our coolness and resilience," said Portugal midfielder Vitinha.

"We remained calm, got the draw and always believed until the end to get the win.

"Luckily we managed to do it with the help of the players who came on... we are truly a team."

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez selected 41-year-old defender Pepe, who became the oldest player in Euros history, beating the record set by Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly aged 40 in 2016, as part of a three centre-back defence.

Portugal won that tournament in 2016 to claim the trophy for the first time and captain Ronaldo said they deserve another, although they got off to a stuttering start in Germany.

In coach Ivan Hasek's first competitive game after taking over in January, the Czech Republic largely frustrated Martinez's side, who qualified unbeaten while scoring more goals than any other team.

Ronaldo sent an effort wide with his shoulder after Rafael Leao cut inside with menace early on, as the Portuguese controlled the ball.

Bruno Fernandes' deflected dipping effort had some Portugal fans out of their seats and Leao was inches away from connecting with a low cross from the Manchester United playmaker.

Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek thwarted Ronaldo twice in the first half of his record 26th Euros appearance, but on both occasions the striker appeared marginally offside.

The Al Nassr hitman's brightest moment came with a clever backheel which played in Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha, but the Czech defence swarmed around him quickly and blocked his shot.

Debate over whether Ronaldo should still be a starter or not has rumbled on since the 2022 World Cup and at times Portugal looked short on ideas beyond slinging crosses in towards him. &nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-arda-gulers-wonder-goal-helps-turkiye-sink-georgia-in-group-f-thriller-732972">Euro 2024: Arda Güler's wonder goal helps Türkiye sink Georgia in Group F thriller</a>

<h2>Enormous pressure</h2>

Stanek comfortably saved a Ronaldo free-kick from distance before the Czechs made their breakthrough.

Slavia Prague midfielder Provod whipped a superb strike past Diogo Costa from the edge of the box after Portugal failed to fully clear a cross just past the hour mark.

However Portugal were quickly level when Hranac unfortunately turned the ball into his own net, after Stanek palmed Nuno Mendes' header straight at him from point-blank range.

Ronaldo and Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick finished as joint top scorers at Euro 2020 with five goals each but neither was at their lethal best in Leipzig.

Jota thought he had grabbed a last-gasp winner after Ronaldo's header bounced off the woodwork into his path, but VAR showed the veteran forward was offside.

It didn't matter for Martinez's men though after Conceicao came on to fire them to the three points, putting Portugal level with Turkey at the top of Group F.

"Of course it hurts extremely (badly), although nobody completely thought we would prevail today," Provod told Czech national television.

"The goals we conceded did not come after well put together attacks, but we have to acknowledge Portugal's quality. The (goals) came from the enormous pressure."

Youngster Francisco Conceicao snatched Portugal a last-gasp 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 Group F opener on Tuesday just minutes after coming off the bench.

Youngster Francisco Conceicao snatched Portugal a last-gasp 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their Euro 2024 Group F opener on Tuesday just minutes after coming off the bench. The 21-year-old Porto winger capitalised from close range after the Czechs were unable to clear a cross, completing his team's comeback. The Czechs went ahead against the run of play through Lukas Provod's fine strike from the edge of the box after the hour mark. Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal did not shine but dug just deep enough to claim victory, with Robin Hranac's own goal pulling them level before Conceicao's dramatic winner. Ronaldo, 39, playing at a record-extending sixth European Championship, was denied by Stanek on three occasions as Portugal constantly looked to find the competition's all-time top goalscorer. The striker hit the post with the score tied and Diogo Jota nodded in the rebound but the goal was disallowed for offside against Ronaldo. "We showed all our coolness and resilience," said Portugal midfielder Vitinha. "We remained calm, got the draw and always believed until the end to get the win. "Luckily we managed to do it with the help of the players who came on... we are truly a team." Portugal coach Roberto Martinez selected 41-year-old defender Pepe, who became the oldest player in Euros history, beating the record set by Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly aged 40 in 2016, as part of a three centre-back defence. Portugal won that tournament in 2016 to claim the trophy for the first time and captain Ronaldo said they deserve another, although they got off to a stuttering start in Germany. In coach Ivan Hasek's first competitive game after taking over in January, the Czech Republic largely frustrated Martinez's side, who qualified unbeaten while scoring more goals than any other team. Ronaldo sent an effort wide with his shoulder after Rafael Leao cut inside with menace early on, as the Portuguese controlled the ball. Bruno Fernandes' deflected dipping effort had some Portugal fans out of their seats and Leao was inches away from connecting with a low cross from the Manchester United playmaker. Czech goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek thwarted Ronaldo twice in the first half of his record 26th Euros appearance, but on both occasions the striker appeared marginally offside. The Al Nassr hitman's brightest moment came with a clever backheel which played in Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha, but the Czech defence swarmed around him quickly and blocked his shot. Debate over whether Ronaldo should still be a starter or not has rumbled on since the 2022 World Cup and at times Portugal looked short on ideas beyond slinging crosses in towards him. ALSO READ | Euro 2024: Arda Güler's wonder goal helps Türkiye sink Georgia in Group F thriller Enormous pressure Stanek comfortably saved a Ronaldo free-kick from distance before the Czechs made their breakthrough. Slavia Prague midfielder Provod whipped a superb strike past Diogo Costa from the edge of the box after Portugal failed to fully clear a cross just past the hour mark. However Portugal were quickly level when Hranac unfortunately turned the ball into his own net, after Stanek palmed Nuno Mendes' header straight at him from point-blank range. Ronaldo and Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick finished as joint top scorers at Euro 2020 with five goals each but neither was at their lethal best in Leipzig. Jota thought he had grabbed a last-gasp winner after Ronaldo's header bounced off the woodwork into his path, but VAR showed the veteran forward was offside. It didn't matter for Martinez's men though after Conceicao came on to fire them to the three points, putting Portugal level with Turkey at the top of Group F. "Of course it hurts extremely (badly), although nobody completely thought we would prevail today," Provod told Czech national television. "The goals we conceded did not come after well put together attacks, but we have to acknowledge Portugal's quality. The (goals) came from the enormous pressure."

Euro 2024: Francisco Conceicao's stoppage time winner helps Portugal down Czechs in group opener

Türkiye started their Euro 2024 campaign with a dramatic 3-1 win over Georgia in what fans described as the most thrilling match of the tournament so far. Despite several ballers showing their class on the biggest stage, it was 19-year-old Arda Güler who stole the limelight with his gameplay and a wonderful outside-of-the-box goal that secured three points for the&nbsp;Turkish side.&nbsp;

Güler, often referred to as the Turkish Messi has seen his stocks rise rapidly in recent months. The boy from the capital city of Ankara started playing football early but joined the local&nbsp;club Gençlerbirliği at the tender age of nine.&nbsp;

At the age of 14 in 2019,&nbsp;Türkiyeish side&nbsp;Fenerbahçe came calling for Güler and brought him to the club. The youngster's capability of dribbling in tight spaces coupled with his tendency to cut inside from the right wing onto his left foot naturally drew comparisons to Messi.

The teenager quickly delighted the first-team manager at the club while still being with the U19. Impressed with his performances,&nbsp;Güler was given his&nbsp;Fenerbahçe senior debut when just 16 years and 174 days old in a Europa League qualification match.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-arda-gulers-wonder-goal-helps-turkiye-sink-georgia-in-group-f-thriller-732972">Also read |&nbsp;Euro 2024: Arda Güler's wonder goal helps Türkiye sink Georgia in Group F thriller</a>

<h2>Güler moves to the Galacticos</h2>

At&nbsp;Fenerbahçe,&nbsp;Güler also got to learn the ropes from legendary German midfielder Mesut Ozil who arrived at the club in the final essay of a storied&nbsp;footballing career. Notably, after Ozil left&nbsp;Fenerbahçe, it was&nbsp;Güler who received the No.&nbsp;10 jersey worn by the German.&nbsp;

After a productive stint with one of the biggest clubs in&nbsp;Türkiye, Real Madrid came calling for&nbsp;Güler who recognised that the youngster had the potential to become a Galactico.&nbsp;

Subsequently, Güler joined the Spanish giants in July 2023 for $21.5 million&nbsp;plus $11 million in incentives.&nbsp;The transition though was not as smooth as Güler would have hoped. Injuries and a stacked bench meant that&nbsp;Güler struggled to get minutes in the Los Blancos jersey and&nbsp;only played 31 La Liga minutes by the end of April.&nbsp;

However, it changed in the final weeks of the season as&nbsp;manager Carlo Ancelotti gave the opportunity to the youngster who returned the favour by scoring five goals in five top-flight games and becoming the first player from&nbsp;Türkiye to win the Champions League.&nbsp;

The first match of Euro 2024 has shown that&nbsp;Güler has what it takes to be successful on the biggest stage. If&nbsp;Türkiye are to go deep into the continental championship,&nbsp;Güler's form will be critical.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Türkiye started their Euro 2024 campaign with a dramatic 3-1 win over Georgia in what fans described as the most thrilling match of the tournament so far. Despite several ballers showing their class on the biggest stage, it was 19-year-old Arda Güler who stole the limelight with his gameplay and a wonderful outside-of-the-box goal that secured three points for the Turkish side.

Türkiye started their Euro 2024 campaign with a dramatic 3-1 win over Georgia in what fans described as the most thrilling match of the tournament so far. Despite several ballers showing their class on the biggest stage, it was 19-year-old Arda Güler who stole the limelight with his gameplay and a wonderful outside-of-the-box goal that secured three points for the Turkish side. Güler, often referred to as the Turkish Messi has seen his stocks rise rapidly in recent months. The boy from the capital city of Ankara started playing football early but joined the local club Gençlerbirliği at the tender age of nine. At the age of 14 in 2019, Türkiyeish side Fenerbahçe came calling for Güler and brought him to the club. The youngster's capability of dribbling in tight spaces coupled with his tendency to cut inside from the right wing onto his left foot naturally drew comparisons to Messi. The teenager quickly delighted the first-team manager at the club while still being with the U19. Impressed with his performances, Güler was given his Fenerbahçe senior debut when just 16 years and 174 days old in a Europa League qualification match. Also read | Euro 2024: Arda Güler's wonder goal helps Türkiye sink Georgia in Group F thriller Güler moves to the Galacticos At Fenerbahçe, Güler also got to learn the ropes from legendary German midfielder Mesut Ozil who arrived at the club in the final essay of a storied footballing career. Notably, after Ozil left Fenerbahçe, it was Güler who received the No. 10 jersey worn by the German. After a productive stint with one of the biggest clubs in Türkiye, Real Madrid came calling for Güler who recognised that the youngster had the potential to become a Galactico. Subsequently, Güler joined the Spanish giants in July 2023 for $21.5 million plus $11 million in incentives. The transition though was not as smooth as Güler would have hoped. Injuries and a stacked bench meant that Güler struggled to get minutes in the Los Blancos jersey and only played 31 La Liga minutes by the end of April. However, it changed in the final weeks of the season as manager Carlo Ancelotti gave the opportunity to the youngster who returned the favour by scoring five goals in five top-flight games and becoming the first player from Türkiye to win the Champions League. The first match of Euro 2024 has shown that Güler has what it takes to be successful on the biggest stage. If Türkiye are to go deep into the continental championship, Güler's form will be critical. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Arda Güler? The Turkish Messi who lit up Euro 2024 with wonder strike

It was a night of drama in the Euro 2024 on Tuesday (June 18) as Portugal snatched a late winner to start proceedings in Group F as they beat Czechia 2-1. A game in which Cristiano Ronaldo’s side trailed until the final 20 minutes saw them roll their sleeves and mount an amazing comeback as Francisco Conceicao scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute with his first meaningful touch of the match. But who is Francisco Conceicao and why is he considered the next big thing in football?

<h2>Francisco Conceicao makes headlines</h2>

Hailing from a very influential football family in Portugal, Conceicao emerged from Porto’s famous youth academy before bursting onto the scene at club level. Born in December 2022, Conceicao was part of Sporting Lisbon’s academy until 2018 when he decided to swap Lisbon for Porto. One of the major reasons for this was his father Sergio’s appointment as Porto’s senior team’s head coach who brought the youngster along with him.

He&nbsp;made his first team debut for Porto in 2021 when he played against Benfica as a substitute. He was handed his debut by his father at that time which was a proud moment for the duo. He&nbsp;wore the No.10 shirt for the 2021-22 season, a hallmark of any football team’s best player. However, he&nbsp;failed to impress in his first spell before being sold to the Dutch side Ajax. He&nbsp;spent a year in the Netherlands capital before returning to Portugal on loan.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/new-zealands-kane-williamson-steps-down-from-captaincy-role-after-early-exit-in-t20-world-cup-733007">New Zealand's Kane Williamson steps down from captaincy role after early exit in T20 World Cup</a>

Conceicao was handed back the No.10 shirt as he showcased his talent yet again for the side earning applause from the national team manager. His deal was made permanent ahead of the 2023-24 season having already won the Liga Portugal and the Portugal Cup.

<h2>International stint</h2>

Sergio Conceicao, Francisco’s father scored at the Euro 2000 for the national side and he followed in his footsteps on Tuesday when the latter scored against Czechia. Having been a regular at youth levels, Conceicao represented under-16, under-17, under-18&nbsp;and under-21 levels before making his debut for the senior side in 2024.

It was a night of drama in the Euro 2024 on Tuesday (June 18) as Portugal snatched a late winner to start proceedings in Group F as they beat Czechia 2-1. A game in which Cristiano Ronaldo’s side trailed until the final 20 minutes saw them roll their sleeves and mount an amazing comeback as Francisco Conceicao scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute with his first meaningful touch of the match.

It was a night of drama in the Euro 2024 on Tuesday (June 18) as Portugal snatched a late winner to start proceedings in Group F as they beat Czechia 2-1. A game in which Cristiano Ronaldo’s side trailed until the final 20 minutes saw them roll their sleeves and mount an amazing comeback as Francisco Conceicao scored the winning goal in the 93rd minute with his first meaningful touch of the match. But who is Francisco Conceicao and why is he considered the next big thing in football? Francisco Conceicao makes headlines Hailing from a very influential football family in Portugal, Conceicao emerged from Porto’s famous youth academy before bursting onto the scene at club level. Born in December 2022, Conceicao was part of Sporting Lisbon’s academy until 2018 when he decided to swap Lisbon for Porto. One of the major reasons for this was his father Sergio’s appointment as Porto’s senior team’s head coach who brought the youngster along with him. He made his first team debut for Porto in 2021 when he played against Benfica as a substitute. He was handed his debut by his father at that time which was a proud moment for the duo. He wore the No.10 shirt for the 2021-22 season, a hallmark of any football team’s best player. However, he failed to impress in his first spell before being sold to the Dutch side Ajax. He spent a year in the Netherlands capital before returning to Portugal on loan. ALSO READ | New Zealand's Kane Williamson steps down from captaincy role after early exit in T20 World Cup Conceicao was handed back the No.10 shirt as he showcased his talent yet again for the side earning applause from the national team manager. His deal was made permanent ahead of the 2023-24 season having already won the Liga Portugal and the Portugal Cup. International stint Sergio Conceicao, Francisco’s father scored at the Euro 2000 for the national side and he followed in his footsteps on Tuesday when the latter scored against Czechia. Having been a regular at youth levels, Conceicao represented under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-21 levels before making his debut for the senior side in 2024.

Euro 2024: Who is Cristiano Ronaldo's teammate Francisco Conceicao, Portugal's match-winning hero vs Czechia?

All India Football Federation (AIFF) has fired men's national team's coach Igor Stimac after five years in the position. The decision comes days after India bowed out of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers following a controversial loss to Qatar.

"Noting the disappointing outcome of the Senior Men's National Team's FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign, the members unanimously agreed that a new Head Coach would be best placed to take the team forward," the AIFF statement read.

"A notice of termination has been issued to Mr. Stimac by the AIFF Secretariat, and he stands relieved of his obligations with immediate effect. The AIFF thanks Mr. Stimac for his service to the National Team and wishes him well in his future endeavours," it further said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/theres-no-unity-coach-gary-kirsten-rips-into-pakistan-team-after-t20-wc-exit-732574">'There's no unity': Coach Gary Kirsten rips into Pakistan team after T20 WC exit</a>

The decision was in making for some time now, and India's below par performance in FIFA qualifier was the final nail in coffin for Stimac's reign.

During his tenure, India played in 53 international matches, managing 19 wins, 14 draws and 20 losses. Stimac's term&nbsp;started with a 3-1 loss against Curacao in 2019 and ended with a 2-1 loss against Qatar around a week ago.

India didn't perform well at all this year, putting a question mark on Stimac's job. The first disappointment was AFC Asian Cup in Qatar where India lost three matches. The Men in Blue conceded six goals in those three games and score none.

In FIFA qualifiers, Stimac's team could gather only four points. The worrisome part was only two goals managed by the Indian team in those four games.

In FIFA qualifiers, India lost against Afghanistan and Qatar while managing a draw against Kuwait and Afghanistan. In last 810 minutes or nine international games, India managed to score just three goals under Stimac.

The appointment of next coach could take some time as India's next international match is not before September later this year.

All India Football Federation (AIFF) has fired men's national team's coach Igor Stimac after five years in the position. The decision comes days after India bowed out of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers following a controversial loss to Qatar.

All India Football Federation (AIFF) has fired men's national team's coach Igor Stimac after five years in the position. The decision comes days after India bowed out of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers following a controversial loss to Qatar. "Noting the disappointing outcome of the Senior Men's National Team's FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign, the members unanimously agreed that a new Head Coach would be best placed to take the team forward," the AIFF statement read. "A notice of termination has been issued to Mr. Stimac by the AIFF Secretariat, and he stands relieved of his obligations with immediate effect. The AIFF thanks Mr. Stimac for his service to the National Team and wishes him well in his future endeavours," it further said. Also Read: 'There's no unity': Coach Gary Kirsten rips into Pakistan team after T20 WC exit The decision was in making for some time now, and India's below par performance in FIFA qualifier was the final nail in coffin for Stimac's reign. During his tenure, India played in 53 international matches, managing 19 wins, 14 draws and 20 losses. Stimac's term started with a 3-1 loss against Curacao in 2019 and ended with a 2-1 loss against Qatar around a week ago. India didn't perform well at all this year, putting a question mark on Stimac's job. The first disappointment was AFC Asian Cup in Qatar where India lost three matches. The Men in Blue conceded six goals in those three games and score none. In FIFA qualifiers, Stimac's team could gather only four points. The worrisome part was only two goals managed by the Indian team in those four games. In FIFA qualifiers, India lost against Afghanistan and Qatar while managing a draw against Kuwait and Afghanistan. In last 810 minutes or nine international games, India managed to score just three goals under Stimac. The appointment of next coach could take some time as India's next international match is not before September later this year.

Indian football head coach Igor Stimac fired after 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier exit

Kylian Mbappe could be out until the quarter-final stage of the ongoing Euro 2024 after suffering a nasty nose injury during the opening fixture against Austria on Monday (Jun 17), a report in The Guardian has claimed. France have two more matches in the group stage but Mbappe's absence would mean that Les Bleus will have to dig deep and find solutions elsewhere.&nbsp;

While Mbappe might aim for a quick return to action, the French Football Federation (FFF) is busy sourcing a tailor-made mask for their star player after a surgery was ruled out at the current stage.&nbsp;

“Concerning his participation in the rest of the tournament, it is a bit premature to decide that. The news coming from the doctors is more positive than not and luckily he doesn’t need surgery which would rule him out completely for the rest of the tournament," said FFF president Philippe Diallo on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Mbappe broke his nose after a hefty collision with Austria and Lens defender&nbsp;defender Kevin Danso, deep into the second half with the French side leading 1-0.&nbsp;

After the accident, Mbappe was rushed to the hospital where results showed that his condition was not too serious but might require a significant recovery period.&nbsp;

The newly-announced Real Madrid player looked in high spirits when he took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to look at the funny side of things.&nbsp;

Mbappe jokingly asked his fans for suggestions for what type of mask he should wear the next time he takes the field.

He wrote: "Any ideas for masks?"

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Des idées de masques 🎭😅 ?
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) <a href="https://twitter.com/KMbappe/status/1802845265688445414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-kylian-mbappe-to-avoid-surgery-on-broken-nose-ahead-of-key-netherlands-clash-on-friday-reports-732717">Also read |&nbsp;Euro 2024: Kylian Mbappe to avoid surgery on broken nose ahead of key Netherlands clash on Friday - Reports</a>

<h2>Roy Keane slams Mbappe</h2>

While fans sympathised with Mbappe for the injury, former Manchester United player-turned-pundit, Roy Keane, was not overly impressed by the French striker's antics.&nbsp;

Notably, after being attended by the medics on the pitch, Mbappe went out briefly as the game continued with 10-men France defending their slender side.&nbsp;

However, a few moments later, Mbappe returned to the pitch and instantly sat down, bringing the game to a halt.

The referee ran to Mbappe and showed him a yellow-card for attempting to slow down the proceedings.&nbsp;

"He gets an injury, obviously it’s frustrating he’s gone back on the pitch. Whether he’s trying to stop the play... but he’s gone on to sit on the pitch. I don’t like to see this, this is out of order. Listen, whether he’s been instructed by the manager to go back, he’s obviously had treatment, he’s come off," said Keane on ITV.&nbsp;

"I don’t mind he’s gone back on the pitch, I know players can make mistakes. But to go back on and sit on the pitch, he deserved that yellow card. I don’t like to see it. No, it’s not (good gamesmanship)," he added.&nbsp;

France next square up against the Netherlands&nbsp;in Leipzig on Friday (Jun 21) before finishing the Group D league stage against Poland in Dortmund, next week.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Kylian Mbappe could be out until the quarter-final stage of the ongoing Euro 2024 after suffering a nasty nose injury during the opening fixture against Austria on Monday (Jun 17), a report in The Guardian has claimed.

Kylian Mbappe could be out until the quarter-final stage of the ongoing Euro 2024 after suffering a nasty nose injury during the opening fixture against Austria on Monday (Jun 17), a report in The Guardian has claimed. France have two more matches in the group stage but Mbappe's absence would mean that Les Bleus will have to dig deep and find solutions elsewhere. While Mbappe might aim for a quick return to action, the French Football Federation (FFF) is busy sourcing a tailor-made mask for their star player after a surgery was ruled out at the current stage. “Concerning his participation in the rest of the tournament, it is a bit premature to decide that. The news coming from the doctors is more positive than not and luckily he doesn’t need surgery which would rule him out completely for the rest of the tournament," said FFF president Philippe Diallo on Tuesday. Mbappe broke his nose after a hefty collision with Austria and Lens defender defender Kevin Danso, deep into the second half with the French side leading 1-0. After the accident, Mbappe was rushed to the hospital where results showed that his condition was not too serious but might require a significant recovery period. The newly-announced Real Madrid player looked in high spirits when he took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to look at the funny side of things. Mbappe jokingly asked his fans for suggestions for what type of mask he should wear the next time he takes the field. He wrote: "Any ideas for masks?" Des idées de masques 🎭😅 ? — Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 17, 2024 × Also read | Euro 2024: Kylian Mbappe to avoid surgery on broken nose ahead of key Netherlands clash on Friday - Reports Roy Keane slams Mbappe While fans sympathised with Mbappe for the injury, former Manchester United player-turned-pundit, Roy Keane, was not overly impressed by the French striker's antics. Notably, after being attended by the medics on the pitch, Mbappe went out briefly as the game continued with 10-men France defending their slender side. However, a few moments later, Mbappe returned to the pitch and instantly sat down, bringing the game to a halt. The referee ran to Mbappe and showed him a yellow-card for attempting to slow down the proceedings. "He gets an injury, obviously it’s frustrating he’s gone back on the pitch. Whether he’s trying to stop the play... but he’s gone on to sit on the pitch. I don’t like to see this, this is out of order. Listen, whether he’s been instructed by the manager to go back, he’s obviously had treatment, he’s come off," said Keane on ITV. "I don’t mind he’s gone back on the pitch, I know players can make mistakes. But to go back on and sit on the pitch, he deserved that yellow card. I don’t like to see it. No, it’s not (good gamesmanship)," he added. France next square up against the Netherlands in Leipzig on Friday (Jun 21) before finishing the Group D league stage against Poland in Dortmund, next week. (With inputs from agencies)

Kylian Mbappe could be absent until quarterfinal stage in big blow to France's Euro 2024 hopes

Türkiye's 19-year-old sensation Arda Guler thumped a wonder goal from outside the box to flatten Georgia 3-1 in front of a boisterous crowd,&nbsp;dominated by tens of thousands of&nbsp;Türkiye supporters at the&nbsp;Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund on Tuesday (Jun 18)

Mert Muldur gave Türkiye a first-half lead with a thunderous volley from the edge of the box. Georges Mikautadze quickly equalised. In the second half, Guler whipped in a curling effort before Kerem Akturkoglu added a late third on the counter after Georgia had hit the woodwork.

Georgia were dangerous after Georges Mikautadze levelled Mert Muldur's 25th-minute opener for Türkiye just after the half-hour mark, and were denied a second equaliser by the woodwork and a series of saves and blocks.

But Akturkoglu made sure Türkiye would top the group ahead of Portugal's opening match with the Czech Republic later on Tuesday.

Türkiye took the cue from their fervent support and went at Georgia from the off, pressuring their inexperienced opposition high up the pitch as a huge din came rolling down the stands.

Kaan Ayhan and Abdulkerim Bardakci both went close with headers from corners inside the first 10 minutes before Ayhan crashed a low drive off the inside of the post.

And in a breathless opening period Anzor Mekvabishvili almost gave Georgia a shock lead in the 11th minute when his wildly deflected shot was well saved by Mert Gunok.

But Muldur sparked wild celebrations in the stands in the 25th minute with a stunning volley after Ferdi Kadioglu's cross was cleared to him on the edge of the area.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-slovakia-cause-first-tournament-upset-with-win-over-belgium-732629">Also read |&nbsp;Euro 2024: Slovakia cause first tournament upset with win over Belgium</a>

<h2>Brave Georgia</h2>

The roars from Muldur's goal had barely subsided when Kenan Yildiz poked home what he thought was Türkiye's second, only for the goal to be ruled out for the Juventus attacker's toes straying offside before he tapped home.

And Mikautadze stunned what was effectively the home crowd in the 32nd minute by sweeping home Giorgi Kochorashvili's low cross after brilliant play down the right.

The small but loud Georgian contingent had their heads in their hands shortly afterwards when Mikautadze look certain to put their team ahead but dragged a great opportunity wide.

Türkiye again started in the front foot after the break but Georgia held their own and Mikautadze was in the thick of it again in the 52nd minute when Bardakci blocked his effort after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's burst down the left.

Kvaratskhelia, who was below-par throughout, then poked a good chance wide in the 62nd minute and only moments later Guler took aim from distance and arrowed in an unstoppable shot past the despairing Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Georgia pushed for another equaliser and came desperately close five minutes after Guler's strike when Kochorashvili skipped past a couple of weak challenges only to see his shot rattle the crossbar.

But Kochorashvili and Zuriko Davitashvili were both unfortunate not to level in added time as Mamardashvili pushed forward for one last effort and Akturkoglu charged home on the break to seal a thrilling win.

Türkiye's 19-year-old sensation Arda Guler thumped a wonder goal from outside the box to flatten Georgia 3-1 in front of a boisterous crowd, dominated by tens of thousands of Türkiye supporters at the Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund on Tuesday (Jun 18) Mert Muldur gave Türkiye a first-half lead with a thunderous volley from the edge of the box.

Türkiye's 19-year-old sensation Arda Guler thumped a wonder goal from outside the box to flatten Georgia 3-1 in front of a boisterous crowd, dominated by tens of thousands of Türkiye supporters at the Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund on Tuesday (Jun 18) Mert Muldur gave Türkiye a first-half lead with a thunderous volley from the edge of the box. Georges Mikautadze quickly equalised. In the second half, Guler whipped in a curling effort before Kerem Akturkoglu added a late third on the counter after Georgia had hit the woodwork. Georgia were dangerous after Georges Mikautadze levelled Mert Muldur's 25th-minute opener for Türkiye just after the half-hour mark, and were denied a second equaliser by the woodwork and a series of saves and blocks. But Akturkoglu made sure Türkiye would top the group ahead of Portugal's opening match with the Czech Republic later on Tuesday. Türkiye took the cue from their fervent support and went at Georgia from the off, pressuring their inexperienced opposition high up the pitch as a huge din came rolling down the stands. Kaan Ayhan and Abdulkerim Bardakci both went close with headers from corners inside the first 10 minutes before Ayhan crashed a low drive off the inside of the post. And in a breathless opening period Anzor Mekvabishvili almost gave Georgia a shock lead in the 11th minute when his wildly deflected shot was well saved by Mert Gunok. But Muldur sparked wild celebrations in the stands in the 25th minute with a stunning volley after Ferdi Kadioglu's cross was cleared to him on the edge of the area. Also read | Euro 2024: Slovakia cause first tournament upset with win over Belgium Brave Georgia The roars from Muldur's goal had barely subsided when Kenan Yildiz poked home what he thought was Türkiye's second, only for the goal to be ruled out for the Juventus attacker's toes straying offside before he tapped home. And Mikautadze stunned what was effectively the home crowd in the 32nd minute by sweeping home Giorgi Kochorashvili's low cross after brilliant play down the right. The small but loud Georgian contingent had their heads in their hands shortly afterwards when Mikautadze look certain to put their team ahead but dragged a great opportunity wide. Türkiye again started in the front foot after the break but Georgia held their own and Mikautadze was in the thick of it again in the 52nd minute when Bardakci blocked his effort after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's burst down the left. Kvaratskhelia, who was below-par throughout, then poked a good chance wide in the 62nd minute and only moments later Guler took aim from distance and arrowed in an unstoppable shot past the despairing Giorgi Mamardashvili. Georgia pushed for another equaliser and came desperately close five minutes after Guler's strike when Kochorashvili skipped past a couple of weak challenges only to see his shot rattle the crossbar. But Kochorashvili and Zuriko Davitashvili were both unfortunate not to level in added time as Mamardashvili pushed forward for one last effort and Akturkoglu charged home on the break to seal a thrilling win.

Euro 2024: Arda Güler's wonder goal helps Türkiye sink Georgia in Group F thriller

Ahead of Portugal's opening Euro 2024 match against Czechia, the official FIFA World Cup Instagram&nbsp;handle paid tribute to Indian cricketer MS Dhoni and Portuguese footballer&nbsp;Cristiano Ronaldo using the common link that binds the two superstars.&nbsp;

Both Dhoni and Ronaldo have been the legends of their respective sports and contributed immensely to the success of their&nbsp;national teams. The similarities do not stop here as both wear the iconic no. 7 on their jerseys.&nbsp;

FIFA used the 'Thala for a reason' phrase that is often used in popular culture by the fans of the cricketer to associate it with Ronaldo who wears the same-numbered jersey. 'Thala' (Tamil word for 'head' or 'leader') is what fans call Dhoni affectionately.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-tickets-to-watch-cristiano-ronaldo-train-for-portugal-selling-at-outrageous-prices-731142">Also read |&nbsp;Euro 2024: Tickets to watch Cristiano Ronaldo train for Portugal selling at OUTRAGEOUS prices</a>

<h2>Ronaldo's last dance</h2>

While Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, Ronaldo is still going strong at the young age of 39. The Portuguese star has said he is lucky to be able to represent his country at the top stage and making every moment count in the final essay of his career.&nbsp;

"I know I don't have many years of football left," Ronaldo said in the lead-up to the Euros.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"It's a gift to play year after year, after 35. I'm 39 and every year is about enjoying [myself]. To score for the national team is special. The national team is the love of my life, winning the Euros would be a dream."

The Portuguese is the leading goal scorer in&nbsp;men’s international football with 128 goals in 204 official matches. He will be playing his final Euros, having featured in six previous editions, winning one (2016) and finishing runners-up (2004) in another.&nbsp;

"For me, playing for the national team is a passion, a love. Any game is special, a European Championship is special, it will be my sixth, which is also a record. "Playing in 2004, when I made my [European Championship] debut, or playing today, the feeling is always of pride and passion. It doesn't get any better than this."

While Ronaldo was extended terrible treatment under former coach Fernando Santos who benched him in the important World Cup matches in Qatar, the newly-appointed Roberto Martinez has put complete faith in the Al-Nassr striker.&nbsp;

<h2>Portugal Euro 2024 group and squad&nbsp;</h2>

Group F:&nbsp;Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic

<meta name="uuid" content="uuidsHvLuXCmUvDD" />

Goalkeepers:&nbsp;Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Patricio&nbsp;

Defenders:&nbsp;Antonio Silva, Danilo Pereira, Diogo Dalot, Goncalo Inacio, Joao Cancelo, Nelson Semedo, Nuno Mendes, Pepe, Ruben Dias&nbsp;

Midfielders:&nbsp;Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Joao Palhinha, Otavio Monteiro, Ruben Neves, Vitinha

Forwards:&nbsp;Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota, Francisco Conceicao, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao

(With inputs from agencies)

Ahead of Portugal's opening Euro 2024 match against Czechia, the official FIFA World Cup Instagram handle paid tribute to Indian cricketer MS Dhoni and Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo using the common link that binds the two superstars.

Ahead of Portugal's opening Euro 2024 match against Czechia, the official FIFA World Cup Instagram handle paid tribute to Indian cricketer MS Dhoni and Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo using the common link that binds the two superstars. Both Dhoni and Ronaldo have been the legends of their respective sports and contributed immensely to the success of their national teams. The similarities do not stop here as both wear the iconic no. 7 on their jerseys. FIFA used the 'Thala for a reason' phrase that is often used in popular culture by the fans of the cricketer to associate it with Ronaldo who wears the same-numbered jersey. 'Thala' (Tamil word for 'head' or 'leader') is what fans call Dhoni affectionately. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FIFA World Cup (@fifaworldcup) × Also read | Euro 2024: Tickets to watch Cristiano Ronaldo train for Portugal selling at OUTRAGEOUS prices Ronaldo's last dance While Dhoni retired from international cricket in 2020, Ronaldo is still going strong at the young age of 39. The Portuguese star has said he is lucky to be able to represent his country at the top stage and making every moment count in the final essay of his career. "I know I don't have many years of football left," Ronaldo said in the lead-up to the Euros. "It's a gift to play year after year, after 35. I'm 39 and every year is about enjoying [myself]. To score for the national team is special. The national team is the love of my life, winning the Euros would be a dream." The Portuguese is the leading goal scorer in men’s international football with 128 goals in 204 official matches. He will be playing his final Euros, having featured in six previous editions, winning one (2016) and finishing runners-up (2004) in another. "For me, playing for the national team is a passion, a love. Any game is special, a European Championship is special, it will be my sixth, which is also a record. "Playing in 2004, when I made my [European Championship] debut, or playing today, the feeling is always of pride and passion. It doesn't get any better than this." While Ronaldo was extended terrible treatment under former coach Fernando Santos who benched him in the important World Cup matches in Qatar, the newly-appointed Roberto Martinez has put complete faith in the Al-Nassr striker. Portugal Euro 2024 group and squad Group F: Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, Czech Republic Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Patricio Defenders: Antonio Silva, Danilo Pereira, Diogo Dalot, Goncalo Inacio, Joao Cancelo, Nelson Semedo, Nuno Mendes, Pepe, Ruben Dias Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Joao Neves, Joao Palhinha, Otavio Monteiro, Ruben Neves, Vitinha Forwards: Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diogo Jota, Francisco Conceicao, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao (With inputs from agencies)

FIFA pays tribute to MS Dhoni and Cristiano Ronaldo ahead of Portugal's opening Euro 2024 match

The 2016 European champs Portugal will kick off their first match at UEFA Euro 2024 against Czech Republic or Czechia on Tuesday (June 18) in Group F.

The match, which will be played at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena in Germany, has drawn plenty of intrigue around Roberto Martinez’s team, with many forecasting Portugal’s tight win against Czechia.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/kylian-mbappe-could-be-absent-until-quarterfinal-stage-in-big-blow-to-frances-euro-2024-hopes-732876">Kylian Mbappe could be absent until quarterfinal stage in big blow to France's Euro 2024 hopes</a>

Cristiano Ronaldo will feature at his sixth European Championships when Portugal open&nbsp;its Euro 2024 campaign against the Czech Republic.

Although Ronaldo remains the focal point for fans, the rest of the Portugal team is also stacked and boasts a formidable attacking lineup with Barcelona's João Félix, Paris Saint-Germain's Gonçalo Ramos and Milan's Rafael Leão, all providing options for Bruno Fernandes in midfield.

However, Czechia could prove to be a legit dark horse.&nbsp;

They will be extremely tough to break down and they had an excellent qualifying campaign as they finished above Poland to reach the tournament.&nbsp;

The Czech side even reached the quarterfinals at EURO 2020.

Tomas Soucek captains Czechia and West Ham’s midfield destroyer is the heartbeat of this team.&nbsp;

Patrik Schick is the main man up top and had a great season with Bayer Leverkusen and this Czech side are more than capable of beating Portugal and it wouldn’t be much of an upset.

<h2>When is the Portugal vs. Czechia kickoff?</h2>

The Portugal versus Czech Republic Euro 2024 match is scheduled to kick off at 9:00 PM local time (12:30 AM IST) at Red Bull Arena.

<h2>Where to watch Portugal vs. Czechia match LIVE?</h2>

The Portugal versus Czech Republic Euro 2024 match will be live telecast on Fox and Fox Sports.&nbsp;

In India, Euro 2024 matches are available to stream on JioTV and Sony LIV. Sony Ten 2 and 3 will be showing the match on TV.

The 2016 European champs Portugal will kick off their first match at UEFA Euro 2024 against Czech Republic or Czechia on Tuesday (June 18) in Group F. The match, which will be played at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena in Germany, has drawn plenty of intrigue around Roberto Martinez’s team, with many forecasting Portugal’s tight win against Czechia.

The 2016 European champs Portugal will kick off their first match at UEFA Euro 2024 against Czech Republic or Czechia on Tuesday (June 18) in Group F. The match, which will be played at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena in Germany, has drawn plenty of intrigue around Roberto Martinez’s team, with many forecasting Portugal’s tight win against Czechia. Also Read: Kylian Mbappe could be absent until quarterfinal stage in big blow to France's Euro 2024 hopes Cristiano Ronaldo will feature at his sixth European Championships when Portugal open its Euro 2024 campaign against the Czech Republic. Although Ronaldo remains the focal point for fans, the rest of the Portugal team is also stacked and boasts a formidable attacking lineup with Barcelona's João Félix, Paris Saint-Germain's Gonçalo Ramos and Milan's Rafael Leão, all providing options for Bruno Fernandes in midfield. However, Czechia could prove to be a legit dark horse. They will be extremely tough to break down and they had an excellent qualifying campaign as they finished above Poland to reach the tournament. The Czech side even reached the quarterfinals at EURO 2020. Tomas Soucek captains Czechia and West Ham’s midfield destroyer is the heartbeat of this team. Patrik Schick is the main man up top and had a great season with Bayer Leverkusen and this Czech side are more than capable of beating Portugal and it wouldn’t be much of an upset. When is the Portugal vs. Czechia kickoff? The Portugal versus Czech Republic Euro 2024 match is scheduled to kick off at 9:00 PM local time (12:30 AM IST) at Red Bull Arena. Where to watch Portugal vs. Czechia match LIVE? The Portugal versus Czech Republic Euro 2024 match will be live telecast on Fox and Fox Sports. In India, Euro 2024 matches are available to stream on JioTV and Sony LIV. Sony Ten 2 and 3 will be showing the match on TV.

Portugal vs Czechia EURO 2024 today: Live streaming, TV channel, when, where to watch Cristiano Ronaldo match

The man who was seen wielding an axe-like object before the Euro 2024 match between Netherlands and Poland on Sunday (June 16) has been charged with manslaughter. The development was shared in a statement by the Attorney General's Office in Hamburg on Monday (June 17).

Police shot the man in the leg after he did not drop the object which was defined as a pickaxe by the German police.

"The temporary confinement of the person concerned has just been ordered.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-romania-bundle-toothless-ukraine-3-0-to-kickstart-campaign-732580">Euro 2024: Romania bundle toothless Ukraine 3-0 to kickstart campaign</a>

"He is charged with attempted manslaughter and crimes under the Weapons Act. He did not provide any information about the accusation during the presentation," read the statement.

The Attorney General's statement also added that the case is&nbsp;now with the Central Office of State Security because of "the significance of the matter and the still unclear background of the crime".

The incident took place in the Reeperbahn district - a popular entertainment district in Hamburg's city centre where a police officer was initially attacked by the man. The area where almost 40,000 Dutch fans had gathered was subsequently cleared around 12:30 p.m. CET (6:30 am ET) before the security agencies shot the attacker.

Police said the man was also carrying an incendiary device, probably some kind of Molotov cocktail. The media reports said police used pepper spray against the attacker before deploying a firearm.&nbsp;

The motive of the attacker remains unknown at this stage but reports indicate that it was not related to football. The video clips of the incident have gone viral on social media and show the attacker attempting to charge at the officials who gave him ample opportunity to surrender before discharging their firearm.&nbsp;

Sunday's incident is not the first violent incident to have rocked the Euros. On the opening night of the tournament on Friday (Jun 14), a knifeman in eastern Germany killed one person and severely injured two more at a Euros party ahead of the match between Germany and Scotland.

The man who was seen wielding an axe-like object before the Euro 2024 match between Netherlands and Poland on Sunday (June 16) has been charged with manslaughter.

The man who was seen wielding an axe-like object before the Euro 2024 match between Netherlands and Poland on Sunday (June 16) has been charged with manslaughter. The development was shared in a statement by the Attorney General's Office in Hamburg on Monday (June 17). Police shot the man in the leg after he did not drop the object which was defined as a pickaxe by the German police. "The temporary confinement of the person concerned has just been ordered. Also Read: Euro 2024: Romania bundle toothless Ukraine 3-0 to kickstart campaign "He is charged with attempted manslaughter and crimes under the Weapons Act. He did not provide any information about the accusation during the presentation," read the statement. The Attorney General's statement also added that the case is now with the Central Office of State Security because of "the significance of the matter and the still unclear background of the crime". The incident took place in the Reeperbahn district - a popular entertainment district in Hamburg's city centre where a police officer was initially attacked by the man. The area where almost 40,000 Dutch fans had gathered was subsequently cleared around 12:30 p.m. CET (6:30 am ET) before the security agencies shot the attacker. Police said the man was also carrying an incendiary device, probably some kind of Molotov cocktail. The media reports said police used pepper spray against the attacker before deploying a firearm. The motive of the attacker remains unknown at this stage but reports indicate that it was not related to football. The video clips of the incident have gone viral on social media and show the attacker attempting to charge at the officials who gave him ample opportunity to surrender before discharging their firearm. Sunday's incident is not the first violent incident to have rocked the Euros. On the opening night of the tournament on Friday (Jun 14), a knifeman in eastern Germany killed one person and severely injured two more at a Euros party ahead of the match between Germany and Scotland.

Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man ahead of Netherlands vs Poland game charged with attempted manslaughter

Maximilian Woeber's own goal was enough to give France a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday as they edged Austria 1-0 in their opening game but Kylian Mbappe came off late on with a broken nose.

Woeber diverted Mbappe's cutback into his own net seven minutes before half-time in Duesseldorf to allow the French, one of the leading contenders to win the tournament, to come through a stiff test.

Austria have been much-improved under Ralf Rangnick and they often made life uncomfortable for the 2022 World Cup runners-up, who saw Mbappe leave the field near the end after being hurt in a collision.

He had earlier failed to convert a glorious chance that would have allowed France to win by a wider margin, and sources close to the player confirmed he had broken his nose in the accidental clash with Kevin Danso.

"He is in a bad way. He is not well. His nose is a mess, that's for sure. That is the black mark of the evening for us," France coach Didier Deschamps said, without confirming the extent of the injury.

"We had the chance to put the game to bed and it is true that we could have been more precise in attack, but it's very good to start with a victory," Deschamps said of the result.

Despite Mbappe's injury, France will be relieved to have emerged victorious after a build-up overshadowed by talk of politics rather than football.

Mbappe and other French players had spent much of their time before the media in recent days answering questions about upcoming elections in the country which could see the far-right National Rally become the biggest party.

Any slip-up here would have led to suggestions their minds had not been fully focused on the competition.

Instead, the result leaves France level on three points in Group D with the Netherlands, who defeated Poland 2-1 on Sunday.

France and the Netherlands meet next in Leipzig on Friday, while Austria face Poland the same day in Berlin.

"We are obviously disappointed with the result. No France player scored against us in 100 minutes, just a very unfortunate own goal," said Rangnick.

"I think Didier Deschamps was really happy when the final whistle came which shows how well my team played."

Austria had enjoyed some impressive results coming into the tournament and their team is on familiar ground during these Euros -- Rangnick is from Germany and eight of their starting line-up played in the German Bundesliga last season.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-axe-wielding-man-ahead-netherlands-vs-poland-game-charged-with-attempted-manslaughter-732623">Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man ahead of Netherlands vs Poland game charged with attempted manslaughter</a>

<h2>Woeber own goal</h2>

The French, however, are arguably the most talented team at the tournament, led by their captain Mbappe.

He endured a miserable time at his only previous Euros in 2021, failing to score and missing the decisive penalty in a shoot-out defeat by Switzerland in the last 16.

The new Real Madrid signing will wonder how he did not score in this game, with his first big opportunity arriving inside eight minutes.

Antoine Griezmann and Theo Hernandez combined to release Mbappe, who cut in from the left and shaped to curl a shot into the far corner before instead aiming for the near post.

However, Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz managed make the save.

The Austrians settled into the contest and passed up a wonderful chance of their own to go ahead on 36 minutes.

Skipper Marcel Sabitzer touched down a Michael Gregoritsch cross from the left for Christoph Baumgartner, but he was foiled by goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

That proved crucial as France took the lead two minutes later.

Ousmane Dembele gave the ball to Mbappe on the right, and he produced a stepover to get to the byline before his cutback was nodded into the far corner of his own net by the unfortunate Woeber.

Mbappe was then thwarted by Pentz as he tried to go around the goalkeeper in first-half stoppage time, but that was nothing compared to the chance he squandered 10 minutes after the restart.

Adrien Rabiot sent Mbappe away, bounding in behind the Austrian defence, but he somehow put his shot wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

That left the game in the balance, and Austria continued to push for a leveller, without success.

Their fans were less than impressed by what they perceived as timewasting late on from Mbappe, who needed treatment after colliding with Danso in the box.

He left the pitch with his shirt stained by blood, only to then come back on and sit down, earning himself a yellow card before being replaced by Olivier Giroud.

Maximilian Woeber's own goal was enough to give France a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday as they edged Austria 1-0 in their opening game but Kylian Mbappe came off late on with a broken nose.

Maximilian Woeber's own goal was enough to give France a winning start to their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday as they edged Austria 1-0 in their opening game but Kylian Mbappe came off late on with a broken nose. Woeber diverted Mbappe's cutback into his own net seven minutes before half-time in Duesseldorf to allow the French, one of the leading contenders to win the tournament, to come through a stiff test. Austria have been much-improved under Ralf Rangnick and they often made life uncomfortable for the 2022 World Cup runners-up, who saw Mbappe leave the field near the end after being hurt in a collision. He had earlier failed to convert a glorious chance that would have allowed France to win by a wider margin, and sources close to the player confirmed he had broken his nose in the accidental clash with Kevin Danso. "He is in a bad way. He is not well. His nose is a mess, that's for sure. That is the black mark of the evening for us," France coach Didier Deschamps said, without confirming the extent of the injury. "We had the chance to put the game to bed and it is true that we could have been more precise in attack, but it's very good to start with a victory," Deschamps said of the result. Despite Mbappe's injury, France will be relieved to have emerged victorious after a build-up overshadowed by talk of politics rather than football. Mbappe and other French players had spent much of their time before the media in recent days answering questions about upcoming elections in the country which could see the far-right National Rally become the biggest party. Any slip-up here would have led to suggestions their minds had not been fully focused on the competition. Instead, the result leaves France level on three points in Group D with the Netherlands, who defeated Poland 2-1 on Sunday. France and the Netherlands meet next in Leipzig on Friday, while Austria face Poland the same day in Berlin. "We are obviously disappointed with the result. No France player scored against us in 100 minutes, just a very unfortunate own goal," said Rangnick. "I think Didier Deschamps was really happy when the final whistle came which shows how well my team played." Austria had enjoyed some impressive results coming into the tournament and their team is on familiar ground during these Euros -- Rangnick is from Germany and eight of their starting line-up played in the German Bundesliga last season. ALSO READ | Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man ahead of Netherlands vs Poland game charged with attempted manslaughter Woeber own goal The French, however, are arguably the most talented team at the tournament, led by their captain Mbappe. He endured a miserable time at his only previous Euros in 2021, failing to score and missing the decisive penalty in a shoot-out defeat by Switzerland in the last 16. The new Real Madrid signing will wonder how he did not score in this game, with his first big opportunity arriving inside eight minutes. Antoine Griezmann and Theo Hernandez combined to release Mbappe, who cut in from the left and shaped to curl a shot into the far corner before instead aiming for the near post. However, Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz managed make the save. The Austrians settled into the contest and passed up a wonderful chance of their own to go ahead on 36 minutes. Skipper Marcel Sabitzer touched down a Michael Gregoritsch cross from the left for Christoph Baumgartner, but he was foiled by goalkeeper Mike Maignan. That proved crucial as France took the lead two minutes later. Ousmane Dembele gave the ball to Mbappe on the right, and he produced a stepover to get to the byline before his cutback was nodded into the far corner of his own net by the unfortunate Woeber. Mbappe was then thwarted by Pentz as he tried to go around the goalkeeper in first-half stoppage time, but that was nothing compared to the chance he squandered 10 minutes after the restart. Adrien Rabiot sent Mbappe away, bounding in behind the Austrian defence, but he somehow put his shot wide with just the goalkeeper to beat. That left the game in the balance, and Austria continued to push for a leveller, without success. Their fans were less than impressed by what they perceived as timewasting late on from Mbappe, who needed treatment after colliding with Danso in the box. He left the pitch with his shirt stained by blood, only to then come back on and sit down, earning himself a yellow card before being replaced by Olivier Giroud.

Euro 2024: France edge Austria in group stage opener as Kylian Mbappe gets broken nose

Football megastar Lionel Messi is adored by fans across the world for being one of the greatest to ever play the sport. Messi, originally from Argentina, spent&nbsp;the majority of his formative and playing career in Spain where Spanish is the preferred language. However, since moving to the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the US, Messi has been seen speaking more and more English.&nbsp;

Quizzed during a press conference about his English-speaking skills, Messi admitted that he could speak the language properly but felt 'embarrassed' about it.&nbsp;

“I understand everything, or almost everything in English. But out of embarrassment I don't speak - but I think I can actually," said Messi.&nbsp;

The Inter Miami star was recently seen&nbsp;in a promotional video for the latest Bad Boys film starring Will Smith. Messi showed off his English skills in the video which instantly went viral all across social media.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/lionel-messi-schools-kylian-mbappe-after-new-real-madrid-star-makes-absurd-euro-copa-america-comparison-731402">Also read |&nbsp;Lionel Messi schools Kylian Mbappe after new Real Madrid star makes absurd Euro-Copa America comparison</a>

<h2>Messi jokes in English</h2>

His Inter Miami teammate&nbsp;Julian Gressel also revealed that the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had a shy demeanour but did speak enough English to joke on the pitch.&nbsp;

“Messi doesn't really ever speak to me much and if he did, then it was a little bit in Spanish always. I understand most of it in Spanish," said Gressel.

"He came over to me and said something in English. That was the first time he'd spoken to me in English, during the game. He was covering his mouth, like he always does. Then after - this is the funny part about it - he goes, 'English pretty good, no?'”

Having reached&nbsp;the pinnacle of his&nbsp;football career in 2022 by winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar for his country, Messi would now be hoping to say goodbye with one last silverware in the form of Copa America.

The continental competition gets underway on Thursday (Jun 20) with Argentina facing off against Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.&nbsp;Argentina are the defending champions, having beaten Brazil in the summit clash in 2021 at the Marcana.&nbsp;

Argentina are the favourites to win the tournament, followed by rivals Brazil and Uruguay. Messi remains the point of difference between the teams and the Argentine would be hoping to emulate his World Cup form yet again.&nbsp;

Football megastar Lionel Messi is adored by fans across the world for being one of the greatest to ever play the sport. Messi, originally from Argentina, spent the majority of his formative and playing career in Spain where Spanish is the preferred language.

Football megastar Lionel Messi is adored by fans across the world for being one of the greatest to ever play the sport. Messi, originally from Argentina, spent the majority of his formative and playing career in Spain where Spanish is the preferred language. However, since moving to the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the US, Messi has been seen speaking more and more English. Quizzed during a press conference about his English-speaking skills, Messi admitted that he could speak the language properly but felt 'embarrassed' about it. “I understand everything, or almost everything in English. But out of embarrassment I don't speak - but I think I can actually," said Messi. The Inter Miami star was recently seen in a promotional video for the latest Bad Boys film starring Will Smith. Messi showed off his English skills in the video which instantly went viral all across social media. Also read | Lionel Messi schools Kylian Mbappe after new Real Madrid star makes absurd Euro-Copa America comparison Messi jokes in English His Inter Miami teammate Julian Gressel also revealed that the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner had a shy demeanour but did speak enough English to joke on the pitch. “Messi doesn't really ever speak to me much and if he did, then it was a little bit in Spanish always. I understand most of it in Spanish," said Gressel. "He came over to me and said something in English. That was the first time he'd spoken to me in English, during the game. He was covering his mouth, like he always does. Then after - this is the funny part about it - he goes, 'English pretty good, no?'” Having reached the pinnacle of his football career in 2022 by winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar for his country, Messi would now be hoping to say goodbye with one last silverware in the form of Copa America. The continental competition gets underway on Thursday (Jun 20) with Argentina facing off against Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Argentina are the defending champions, having beaten Brazil in the summit clash in 2021 at the Marcana. Argentina are the favourites to win the tournament, followed by rivals Brazil and Uruguay. Messi remains the point of difference between the teams and the Argentine would be hoping to emulate his World Cup form yet again.

Lionel Messi reveals why he doesn't speak English despite 'understanding everything'

France’s Kylian Mbappe is likely to avoid surgery on the broken nose he suffered during the Euro 2024 group opener on Monday (June 17). Mbappe, seen bleeding after colliding with Austrian defender Kevin Danso in the 86th minute was rushed to medical help before being taken off. According to reports, he is doing well but the medical staff will make further decisions on the player’s involvement in Friday’s key clash against 1988 champions, The Netherlands.

<h2>Mbappe to avoid surgery</h2>

According to a report from ESPN’s Julien Laurens, France Football Federation president Philippe Diallo has stated that Mbappé would be OK without an operation after undergoing new tests. The new Real Madrid player was in a hospital in Dusseldorf until 1 am local time before being released. Plans are already in place for Mbappe who will wear a customised mask for the rest of&nbsp;Euro 2024, in case he returns at any point.

"He's got a really bad nose," said manager Didier Deschamps. "We'll have to wait and see, the medical staff are dealing with it. We'll have to see what's going to be done and then how long it will take. It's very bad news for us tonight.

"Obviously, the French team with or without him, this is not the same thing. I hope he can be there."

Currently, Mbappe is more likely to stay away from action until a proper medical update is available while scans will reveal the extent of the injury. If this is the case, he will miss the Netherlands match on Friday while Poland clash looks like a likely return date for him.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-france-edge-austria-in-group-stage-opener-as-kylian-mbappe-gets-broken-nose-732647">Euro 2024: France edge Austria in group stage opener as Kylian Mbappe gets broken nose</a>

<h2>Mbappe could face suspension as well</h2>

Having broken his nose, Mbappe received medical treatment on the sidelines during the Austria clash. This saw France temporarily down to 10 players with Austria taking full advantage of the extra player and trying to score an equaliser. During a promising Austrian attack, Mbappe decided to return to the field without the referee’s consent and then went down on the pitch while he was still bleeding. This prompted the referee to stop the match while Austria were on the attack.

As a result, Mbappe was booked while breaking the phase of play and allowing the substitutions to happen, thereby resettling France to 11 players. The caution though could come at a cost for Mbappe as he is now one more card away from a suspension. In case Mbappe picks another card in the final group game match against Poland or any stage before the quarterfinal, he will face suspension for one match.

The yellow cards slate will be cleared in the semifinal stage until which the French superstar will have to be wary of a possible suspension.

France’s Kylian Mbappe is likely to avoid surgery on the broken nose he suffered during the Euro 2024 group opener on Monday (June 17). Mbappe, seen bleeding after colliding with Austrian defender Kevin Danso in the 86th minute was rushed to medical help before being taken off.

France’s Kylian Mbappe is likely to avoid surgery on the broken nose he suffered during the Euro 2024 group opener on Monday (June 17). Mbappe, seen bleeding after colliding with Austrian defender Kevin Danso in the 86th minute was rushed to medical help before being taken off. According to reports, he is doing well but the medical staff will make further decisions on the player’s involvement in Friday’s key clash against 1988 champions, The Netherlands. Mbappe to avoid surgery According to a report from ESPN’s Julien Laurens, France Football Federation president Philippe Diallo has stated that Mbappé would be OK without an operation after undergoing new tests. The new Real Madrid player was in a hospital in Dusseldorf until 1 am local time before being released. Plans are already in place for Mbappe who will wear a customised mask for the rest of Euro 2024, in case he returns at any point. "He's got a really bad nose," said manager Didier Deschamps. "We'll have to wait and see, the medical staff are dealing with it. We'll have to see what's going to be done and then how long it will take. It's very bad news for us tonight. "Obviously, the French team with or without him, this is not the same thing. I hope he can be there." Currently, Mbappe is more likely to stay away from action until a proper medical update is available while scans will reveal the extent of the injury. If this is the case, he will miss the Netherlands match on Friday while Poland clash looks like a likely return date for him. ALSO READ | Euro 2024: France edge Austria in group stage opener as Kylian Mbappe gets broken nose Mbappe could face suspension as well Having broken his nose, Mbappe received medical treatment on the sidelines during the Austria clash. This saw France temporarily down to 10 players with Austria taking full advantage of the extra player and trying to score an equaliser. During a promising Austrian attack, Mbappe decided to return to the field without the referee’s consent and then went down on the pitch while he was still bleeding. This prompted the referee to stop the match while Austria were on the attack. As a result, Mbappe was booked while breaking the phase of play and allowing the substitutions to happen, thereby resettling France to 11 players. The caution though could come at a cost for Mbappe as he is now one more card away from a suspension. In case Mbappe picks another card in the final group game match against Poland or any stage before the quarterfinal, he will face suspension for one match. The yellow cards slate will be cleared in the semifinal stage until which the French superstar will have to be wary of a possible suspension.

Euro 2024: Kylian Mbappe to avoid surgery on broken nose ahead of key Netherlands clash on Friday - Reports

Denmark's Christian Eriksen completed a magnanimous comeback story with his 17th minute goal in the Euro 2024 clash against Slovenia on Saturday (June 16). This was Eriksen's first goal in the continental championship after nearly 1,100 days and suffering a cardiac arrest in the last edition. The 32-year-old's goal gave Denmark a lead which the team sustained throughout the first half.&nbsp;

The footballer had collapsed on the pitch in the first half of the match against Finland back in 2021. The Euro 2020 was shifted an year ahead due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Eriksen was attended by medical staff immediately after collapsing on the pitch during the game. He was then shifted to a nearby hospital after getting the CPR by Danish medics.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-violent-clashes-erupt-in-german-town-hours-before-england-vs-serbia-clash-732315">Euro 2024: Violent clashes erupt in German city hours before England vs Serbia match</a>

The national team's doctor had confirmed that the midfielder had to be fully resuscitated from the cardiac arrest. The footballer spent nearly nine months away from the field.

Upon his return in March next year against Netherlands in an International friendly Eriksen scored a goal in Denmark's 4-2 loss. He then played in the FIFA World Cup 2022 but Denmark couldn't advance form the group stage.

As a results of his cardiac arrest, Eriksen is now fitted with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The device isn't approved by Italian football league Serie A and hence Eriksen's contract in the league was cancelled. He was part of multi-time Scudetto champions Inter Milan in Serie A.

Eriksen then joined the English Premier League (PL) side Brentford on a six-month deal. The PL doesn't consider an ICD as violations of its playing condition.

He was given a standing ovation by fans in his first PL appearance for Brentford when he came on the pitch in 52nd minute as a substitute during the game against Newcastle.

"If you take away the result, I'm one happy man. To go through what I've been through, being back is a wonderful feeling," he had said after the game.

Denmark's Christian Eriksen completed a magnanimous comeback story with his 17th minute goal in the Euro 2024 clash against Slovenia on Saturday (June 16). This was Eriksen's first goal in the continental championship after nearly 1,100 days and suffering a cardiac arrest in the last edition.

Denmark's Christian Eriksen completed a magnanimous comeback story with his 17th minute goal in the Euro 2024 clash against Slovenia on Saturday (June 16). This was Eriksen's first goal in the continental championship after nearly 1,100 days and suffering a cardiac arrest in the last edition. The 32-year-old's goal gave Denmark a lead which the team sustained throughout the first half. The footballer had collapsed on the pitch in the first half of the match against Finland back in 2021. The Euro 2020 was shifted an year ahead due to Covid-19 pandemic. Eriksen was attended by medical staff immediately after collapsing on the pitch during the game. He was then shifted to a nearby hospital after getting the CPR by Danish medics. Also Read: Euro 2024: Violent clashes erupt in German city hours before England vs Serbia match The national team's doctor had confirmed that the midfielder had to be fully resuscitated from the cardiac arrest. The footballer spent nearly nine months away from the field. Upon his return in March next year against Netherlands in an International friendly Eriksen scored a goal in Denmark's 4-2 loss. He then played in the FIFA World Cup 2022 but Denmark couldn't advance form the group stage. As a results of his cardiac arrest, Eriksen is now fitted with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The device isn't approved by Italian football league Serie A and hence Eriksen's contract in the league was cancelled. He was part of multi-time Scudetto champions Inter Milan in Serie A. Eriksen then joined the English Premier League (PL) side Brentford on a six-month deal. The PL doesn't consider an ICD as violations of its playing condition. He was given a standing ovation by fans in his first PL appearance for Brentford when he came on the pitch in 52nd minute as a substitute during the game against Newcastle. "If you take away the result, I'm one happy man. To go through what I've been through, being back is a wonderful feeling," he had said after the game.

Euro 2024: Denmark's Eriksen who suffered cardiac arrest in 2021, scores goal after 1,100 days

Slovakia caused the first upset at Euro 2024 as Ivan Schranz fired the underdogs to a 1-0 win against Belgium on Monday.

Francesco Calzona's side&nbsp;are 45 spots below third-placed Belgium in FIFA's world rankings.

But they made a mockery of the supposed quality gap between the teams with a courageous performance in Frankfurt.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-axe-wielding-man-ahead-netherlands-vs-poland-game-charged-with-attempted-manslaughter-732623">Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man ahead of Netherlands vs Poland game charged with attempted manslaughter</a>

Calzona, who also served as Napoli's interim boss in the second half of last season, had admitted he would be "delighted" with a draw.

The Italian got more than he could have dreamed of as Schranz left Belgium reeling after ending his nine-game international goal drought.

Romelu Lukaku missed a host of chances for Belgium and had a late equaliser controversially disallowed by VAR.

Slovakia's unexpected victory blew Group E wide open, just hours after Romania beat Ukraine 3-0 in Monday's other match in that pool.

It was a bitter loss for Belgium, who are in danger of once again failing to fulfil their potential at a major tournament.

Belgium's golden generation has lost much of its lustre since they crashed out of the 2022 World Cup in the group stage.

The Red Devils fell at the quarter-finals in the last two editions of the European Championship, making a third place finish at the 2018 World Cup the highwater mark of a talented but underachieving team once hailed as a potential dynasty.

Dominic Tedesco was appointed to replace Roberto Martinez in February 2023 and led Belgium on a 14-match unbeaten run heading into the Euros.

Before what was billed as a last hurrah for Belgium's veteran stars, Kevin De Bruyne had insisted they were ready to do "something good" in Germany.

But instead they reverted to type with a spluttering display that puts them under intense pressure to beat Romania in their second group game on Saturday.

<h2>- Lukaku misery -</h2>

Playing in a Belgian record 11th game at major tournaments, Lukaku should have bagged his 86th goal for his country in the second minute.

Jeremy Doku turned adroitly on the halfway line and accelerated menacingly into the Slovakia penalty area, where his cross was poked toward Lukaku by De Bruyne.

Lukaku looked certain to score but his close-range effort was straight at Slovakia keeper Martin Dubravka.

He threatened again moments later, only to let Doku's pass run away from him after bearing down on goal.

Slovakia punished Lukaku's profligacy to take the lead in the seventh minute.

Doku was culpable with a wayward pass as he tried to clear, allowing Robert Bozenick to cleverly backheel the ball to Juraj Kucka.

Koen Casteels saved Kucka's strike but could do nothing about the rebound as Schranz fired home from an acute angle.

Lukaku endured a nightmare evening and he again took a woefully heavy touch to waste a good chance from Yannick Carrasco's raking pass.

Belgium's angst increased in the 56th minute when Lukaku was denied by Dubravka's near-post save.

From the resulting corner, Amadou Onana looped a header over Dubravka and Lukaku slid in to score from a yard out, only for his celebrations to be curtailed as VAR ruled he was offside.

Belgium laid seige to the Slovakia goal but Dubravka saved well from Trossard and Lukaku volleyed into the side-netting before Johan Bakayoko's shot was cleared off the line by David Hancko.

And in a fitting coda to a day to forget for Belgium, Lukaku blasted home in the 86th minute but saw the goal disallowed for handball by Lois Openda in the build-up.

Slovakia caused the first upset at Euro 2024 as Ivan Schranz fired the underdogs to a 1-0 win against Belgium on Monday. Francesco Calzona's side are 45 spots below third-placed Belgium in FIFA's world rankings.

Slovakia caused the first upset at Euro 2024 as Ivan Schranz fired the underdogs to a 1-0 win against Belgium on Monday. Francesco Calzona's side are 45 spots below third-placed Belgium in FIFA's world rankings. But they made a mockery of the supposed quality gap between the teams with a courageous performance in Frankfurt. Also Read: Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man ahead of Netherlands vs Poland game charged with attempted manslaughter Calzona, who also served as Napoli's interim boss in the second half of last season, had admitted he would be "delighted" with a draw. The Italian got more than he could have dreamed of as Schranz left Belgium reeling after ending his nine-game international goal drought. Romelu Lukaku missed a host of chances for Belgium and had a late equaliser controversially disallowed by VAR. Slovakia's unexpected victory blew Group E wide open, just hours after Romania beat Ukraine 3-0 in Monday's other match in that pool. It was a bitter loss for Belgium, who are in danger of once again failing to fulfil their potential at a major tournament. Belgium's golden generation has lost much of its lustre since they crashed out of the 2022 World Cup in the group stage. The Red Devils fell at the quarter-finals in the last two editions of the European Championship, making a third place finish at the 2018 World Cup the highwater mark of a talented but underachieving team once hailed as a potential dynasty. Dominic Tedesco was appointed to replace Roberto Martinez in February 2023 and led Belgium on a 14-match unbeaten run heading into the Euros. Before what was billed as a last hurrah for Belgium's veteran stars, Kevin De Bruyne had insisted they were ready to do "something good" in Germany. But instead they reverted to type with a spluttering display that puts them under intense pressure to beat Romania in their second group game on Saturday. - Lukaku misery - Playing in a Belgian record 11th game at major tournaments, Lukaku should have bagged his 86th goal for his country in the second minute. Jeremy Doku turned adroitly on the halfway line and accelerated menacingly into the Slovakia penalty area, where his cross was poked toward Lukaku by De Bruyne. Lukaku looked certain to score but his close-range effort was straight at Slovakia keeper Martin Dubravka. He threatened again moments later, only to let Doku's pass run away from him after bearing down on goal. Slovakia punished Lukaku's profligacy to take the lead in the seventh minute. Doku was culpable with a wayward pass as he tried to clear, allowing Robert Bozenick to cleverly backheel the ball to Juraj Kucka. Koen Casteels saved Kucka's strike but could do nothing about the rebound as Schranz fired home from an acute angle. Lukaku endured a nightmare evening and he again took a woefully heavy touch to waste a good chance from Yannick Carrasco's raking pass. Belgium's angst increased in the 56th minute when Lukaku was denied by Dubravka's near-post save. From the resulting corner, Amadou Onana looped a header over Dubravka and Lukaku slid in to score from a yard out, only for his celebrations to be curtailed as VAR ruled he was offside. Belgium laid seige to the Slovakia goal but Dubravka saved well from Trossard and Lukaku volleyed into the side-netting before Johan Bakayoko's shot was cleared off the line by David Hancko. And in a fitting coda to a day to forget for Belgium, Lukaku blasted home in the 86th minute but saw the goal disallowed for handball by Lois Openda in the build-up.

Euro 2024: Slovakia cause first tournament upset with win over Belgium

Disgraced former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales will stand trial in February next year for his unsolicited kiss on the lips of Women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, the court overseeing the process said Monday (Jun 17).

Rubiales, 46, provoked worldwide outrage by kissing Hermoso during the medal ceremony after Spain beat England to win the World Cup in Australia last year.

In May a court had ruled Rubiales should be tried for sexual assault over the kiss, and for the alleged coercion subsequently exerted to make her say that it was consensual, without setting a date.

The trial will be held at the Audiencia Nacional, a Madrid court in charge of complex cases, from February 3 to 19, the court said in a statement.

Public prosecutors have requested a sentence of two-and-a-half years in prison for Luis Rubiales -- one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion.

The prosecution is also asking for two years' probation once the sentence has been served and for him to pay 50,000 euros ($54,000) in compensation to the player.

Rubiales is also under investigation in a separate alleged corruption case involving his reign at the federation, has denied any wrongdoing.

Three of his former associates are also being tried for putting pressure on Hermoso: former women's coach Jorge Vilda, men's team director Albert Luque and federation marketing boss Ruben Rivera.

The kiss took place live in front of the world's cameras, provoking widespread outrage and prompting his suspension by world football governing body FIFA.&nbsp;

At the time, Rubiales brushed it off as "a consensual" peck on the lips, but Hermoso, 34, said it was not.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/disgraced-ex-spanish-football-chief-luis-rubiales-claims-hes-facing-jail-sentence-because-hes-a-man-707660">Also read |&nbsp;Luis Rubiales claims he's facing jail sentence because 'he's a man'</a>

<h2>What Spanish law says?&nbsp;</h2>

Under Spanish law, a non-consensual kiss can be classed as sexual assault -- a criminal category that groups all types of sexual violence.

Rubiales told private Spanish television station La Sexta in April that he could not understand how the kiss he gave Hermoso could be labelled as sexual assault, saying there was "no sexual context" to it.

He denied accusations that he and other federation officials coerced Hermoso by pressuring her to speak out in his defence after the scandal erupted.

"I have a clear conscience, things have been blown out of proportion," Rubiales said.

Hermoso filed a lawsuit against Rubiales in September, telling the judge she had come under pressure to defend him both on the flight back from Australia and on a subsequent team holiday to Ibiza in the Balearic Islands.

Disgraced former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales will stand trial in February next year for his unsolicited kiss on the lips of Women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, the court overseeing the process said Monday (Jun 17).

Disgraced former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales will stand trial in February next year for his unsolicited kiss on the lips of Women's World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, the court overseeing the process said Monday (Jun 17). Rubiales, 46, provoked worldwide outrage by kissing Hermoso during the medal ceremony after Spain beat England to win the World Cup in Australia last year. In May a court had ruled Rubiales should be tried for sexual assault over the kiss, and for the alleged coercion subsequently exerted to make her say that it was consensual, without setting a date. The trial will be held at the Audiencia Nacional, a Madrid court in charge of complex cases, from February 3 to 19, the court said in a statement. Public prosecutors have requested a sentence of two-and-a-half years in prison for Luis Rubiales -- one year for sexual assault and 18 months for coercion. The prosecution is also asking for two years' probation once the sentence has been served and for him to pay 50,000 euros ($54,000) in compensation to the player. Rubiales is also under investigation in a separate alleged corruption case involving his reign at the federation, has denied any wrongdoing. Three of his former associates are also being tried for putting pressure on Hermoso: former women's coach Jorge Vilda, men's team director Albert Luque and federation marketing boss Ruben Rivera. The kiss took place live in front of the world's cameras, provoking widespread outrage and prompting his suspension by world football governing body FIFA. At the time, Rubiales brushed it off as "a consensual" peck on the lips, but Hermoso, 34, said it was not. Also read | Luis Rubiales claims he's facing jail sentence because 'he's a man' What Spanish law says? Under Spanish law, a non-consensual kiss can be classed as sexual assault -- a criminal category that groups all types of sexual violence. Rubiales told private Spanish television station La Sexta in April that he could not understand how the kiss he gave Hermoso could be labelled as sexual assault, saying there was "no sexual context" to it. He denied accusations that he and other federation officials coerced Hermoso by pressuring her to speak out in his defence after the scandal erupted. "I have a clear conscience, things have been blown out of proportion," Rubiales said. Hermoso filed a lawsuit against Rubiales in September, telling the judge she had come under pressure to defend him both on the flight back from Australia and on a subsequent team holiday to Ibiza in the Balearic Islands.

Disgraced ex-Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales to go on trial next year for non-consensual kiss

Romania won at a major international tournament for the first time in 24 years on Monday (Jun 17) as they beat Ukraine 3-0 at Euro 2024, helped by two errors from goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Romania won at a major international tournament for the first time in 24 years on Monday (Jun 17) as they beat Ukraine 3-0 at Euro 2024, helped by two errors from goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. Captain Nicolae Stanciu's magnificent long-range strike gave Romania, backed by the vast majority of the Munich crowd, a first-half lead in their Group E opener. Razvan Marin's shot from distance then skipped under Lunin as Romania turned the screw with two more goals before the hour, Denis Dragus tapping home the third. It was a disastrous start to the campaign for Ukraine, who must quickly regroup with games to follow against Slovakia and Belgium. Ukraine players emerged onto the pitch with Ukrainian flags draped over their shoulders in the country's first game at a major tournament since the Russian invasion in February 2022. They missed out on qualifying for the World Cup two years ago but secured a fourth successive appearance at the Euros, despite the backdrop of the largest European conflict since World War II. Three years ago Ukraine reached the quarter-finals under Andriy Shevchenko. But a lot has changed since for a country ravaged by war, with his former striker partner Serhiy Rebrov now in charge. Rebrov confided that simply taking part in Germany, where more than a million Ukrainians have found refuge, is an important step for the nation. He said he had received countless messages from people back home, including those fighting on the front line, and that it was up to his team to "show the spirit" of Ukraine in troubled times. Also read | 'People talk rubbish': Jude Bellingham shuts Trent Alexander-Arnold's critics after England win 'Worse was to come' Romania advanced through qualifying unbeaten but had not won in four games this year ahead of their return to the big stage after missing out on Euro 2020. Their last and only previous win at the tournament came when they reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2000. Ukraine probed early on a warm afternoon at the Allianz Arena without success and paid the price for inviting pressure on themselves which led to a misplaced clearance from Lunin. The Real Madrid stopper played the ball straight to Dennis Man, who slid a pass across for Stanciu to rifle a sensational 20-yard strike into the top corner. Lunin was immediately consoled by Oleksandr Zinchenko, but he was nearly beaten again minutes later by Stanciu, this time directly from a corner. Also read | Star striker Kylian Mbappe unavailable for Paris Olympics after Real Madrid move After a deflected Man effort fizzed just wide, Stanciu's inswinging corner glanced off the bar with the backpedalling Ukraine 'keeper flapping at thin air. Worse was to come for Lunin as following a swift Romanian counter-attack, Marin fired a crisp low strike from 25 yards that appeared to deceive him for pace eight minutes into the second half. Dragus effectively wrapped up the victory shortly after when he prodded in as Man knocked the ball across the six-yard box following a well-worked short corner. Romania goalkeeper Florin Nita saved well from Georgiy Sudakov late on before substitute Roman Yaremchuk's lob grazed the bar on its way over, encapsulating what was a day to forget for Ukraine.

Euro 2024: Romania bundle toothless Ukraine 3-0 to kickstart campaign

Belgium and Slovakia are set to lock horns in their opening match of Euro 2024 in Group E on Monday (June 17).

The Red Devils, under the leadership of Kevin De Bruyne, arrive at Euro 2024 to top a weak Group E. Meanwhile, Slovakia are making their third straight appearance at the European Football Championship finals.&nbsp;

Following a first-round exit at 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Belgium are no longer classed among the leading contenders for major tournaments.

As far as Euros are concerned, they haven't even made it to the semi-finals of a European Championship since 1980, and were dumped out at the quarter-final stage in each of the last two editions.

But they have the opportunity to build momentum after landing in a favourable group, with Ukraine and Romania also their opponents in Group E.

On the other hand, the Slovaks, coached by Francesco Calzona, have fared reasonably well despite their evident lack of experience.&nbsp;

They reached the Round of 16 in 2016 before bowing out to Germany.

The upcoming match will be the first competitive meeting between Belgium and Slovakia after 11 years.&nbsp;

<h2>When and where will Belgium vs Slovakia take place?&nbsp;</h2>

The Euro 2024 match between Belgium and Slovakia will be on Monday, June 17 at 6:00 PM local time (9:30 PM IST) at Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt, Germany.

<h2>How to watch live?</h2>

To watch the Belgium vs Slovakia match in India, tune in to Sony Sports Network for live telecast and the SonyLIV App for live streaming.&nbsp;

In the UK, catch the live telecast of the match on BBC or ITV. And in the USA, you can watch the match live on FOX Sports or Fubo TV.

Belgium and Slovakia are set to lock horns in their opening match of Euro 2024 in Group E on Monday (June 17). The Red Devils, under the leadership of Kevin De Bruyne, arrive at Euro 2024 to top a weak Group E.

Belgium and Slovakia are set to lock horns in their opening match of Euro 2024 in Group E on Monday (June 17). The Red Devils, under the leadership of Kevin De Bruyne, arrive at Euro 2024 to top a weak Group E. Meanwhile, Slovakia are making their third straight appearance at the European Football Championship finals. Following a first-round exit at 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Belgium are no longer classed among the leading contenders for major tournaments. As far as Euros are concerned, they haven't even made it to the semi-finals of a European Championship since 1980, and were dumped out at the quarter-final stage in each of the last two editions. But they have the opportunity to build momentum after landing in a favourable group, with Ukraine and Romania also their opponents in Group E. On the other hand, the Slovaks, coached by Francesco Calzona, have fared reasonably well despite their evident lack of experience. They reached the Round of 16 in 2016 before bowing out to Germany. The upcoming match will be the first competitive meeting between Belgium and Slovakia after 11 years. When and where will Belgium vs Slovakia take place? The Euro 2024 match between Belgium and Slovakia will be on Monday, June 17 at 6:00 PM local time (9:30 PM IST) at Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt, Germany. How to watch live? To watch the Belgium vs Slovakia match in India, tune in to Sony Sports Network for live telecast and the SonyLIV App for live streaming. In the UK, catch the live telecast of the match on BBC or ITV. And in the USA, you can watch the match live on FOX Sports or Fubo TV.

Belgium vs Slovakia LIVE streaming EURO 2024 today: When, where and how to watch online

England superstar Jude Bellingham was full of praise for his midfield partner Trent Alexander-Arnold after the Three Lions kickstarted their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 win against Serbia on Sunday (Jun 16).

England superstar Jude Bellingham was full of praise for his midfield partner Trent Alexander-Arnold after the Three Lions kickstarted their Euro 2024 campaign with a 1-0 win against Serbia on Sunday (Jun 16). Despite being spoiled for options in the middle of the park, England manager Gareth Southgate opted for Trent in the double-pivot alongside Declan Rice with Bellingham pushing up. Trent, whose natural position is right-back, managed to hold his own in the midfield and put up a tidy performance. Speaking after the match, Bellingham, showing maturity beyond his age, made it a point to highlight Trent's contribution as the Liverpool player made the position switch at the biggest of stages. "He makes it so easy for me because he can control the game so well defensively in that position. I know people talk a lot of rubbish but he's so aggressive with that back-to-goal pressure and it really helped me as well because it meant I got a breather when he went out," said Bellingham. “I think we understand each other well with the ball, he wants to play positive all the time, he wants to play forward all the time. We accept as team-mates who have that kind of quality that we are going to lose the ball and that's fine. We will win it back for each other and we will keep playing. I thought he was brilliant," he added. Also read | Euro 2024: ‘We suffered but it’s good for us’ – Southgate after England’s gritty win over Serbia Southgate echoes similar sentiments Bellingham came to Trent's defence at a time when former players such as Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane, and Gary Neville have criticised the Liverpool player's inclusion in the playing XI as a midfielder. Southgate echoed Bellingham's sentiments and said the midfield experiment with Trent was a success. “Good. I have to say he’s been really diligent in getting his positioning right. Obviously Jude goes forward a lot, so I thought Trent adapted and adjusted to his positioning really well. Used the ball well, obviously had a really good effort on goal," said Southgate. England led through a superb header from Bellingham in the 13th minute and dominated the first half by pinning the Serbian side inside their own half. However, the second half saw England lose control as the Serbians increased the pressure but could not land the sucker punch due to lack of quality in the final third. (With inputs from agencies)

'People talk rubbish': Jude Bellingham shuts Trent Alexander-Arnold's critics after England win

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has made a startling revelation that the Premier League club courted Thomas Tuchel to replace the Dutchman as the manager. Ahead of the England vs Serbia Euro 2024 match, Ten Hag, appearing for a television channel, stated that United went behind his back and talked to potential manager candidates.&nbsp;

The top hierarchy at United was all set to fire Ten Hag at the end of the season but the team's improbable FA Cup win against Manchester City made the situation fluid.

Despite the overwhelming majority of the fanbase wanting Ten Hag to stay at the job, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the minority owner of United, held a meeting with Tuchel to discuss the job opportunity.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Manchester United have told me that they spoke with Tuchel, but they eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager,” said Ten Hag.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/goodbye-erik-ten-hag-thomas-tuchel-meets-manchester-united-owner-over-manager-job-730298" target="_blank">Also read |&nbsp;Goodbye Erik ten Hag? Thomas Tuchel meets Manchester United owner over manager job</a>

<h2>'That's no secret'</h2>

Ten Hag said the Tuchel meeting was no secret but the fact that Ratcliffe's company INEOS held the conversation when he was still the manager, came as a cultural shock to him.&nbsp;

"That’s no secret. Everyone has heard that they have spoken to several candidates. In the Netherlands that is not done. You are not even allowed to talk to another club if there is a current trainer there. But in England the rules and laws are different. But in the end, they came to the conclusion that they have the best trainer,”

After the talks with Tuchel led nowhere, the United board decided to persist with Ten Hag as bringing a new manager would have offset all the development.&nbsp;

“The club management came to me while I was on holiday in Ibiza. They suddenly showed up on my doorstep and told me they wanted to continue with me. It was a turbulent season. Never a dull moment," Ten Hag added.&nbsp;

The Dutchman added that although it was discussed to extend the contract, a final agreement was yet to be agreed between both parties.&nbsp;

While Ten Hag has managed to win two trophies in his two-year stay at Old Trafford and now secured the job,&nbsp;the club is yet to display a cogent footballing philosophy.

Oftentimes,&nbsp;Ten Hag has been bailed by individual brilliance from players and such a streak for a club of stature like United does not augur well regarding a long-term future.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has made a startling revelation that the Premier League club courted Thomas Tuchel to replace the Dutchman as the manager. Ahead of the England vs Serbia Euro 2024 match, Ten Hag, appearing for a television channel, stated that United went behind his back and talked to potential manager candidates.

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has made a startling revelation that the Premier League club courted Thomas Tuchel to replace the Dutchman as the manager. Ahead of the England vs Serbia Euro 2024 match, Ten Hag, appearing for a television channel, stated that United went behind his back and talked to potential manager candidates. The top hierarchy at United was all set to fire Ten Hag at the end of the season but the team's improbable FA Cup win against Manchester City made the situation fluid. Despite the overwhelming majority of the fanbase wanting Ten Hag to stay at the job, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the minority owner of United, held a meeting with Tuchel to discuss the job opportunity. “Manchester United have told me that they spoke with Tuchel, but they eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager,” said Ten Hag. Also read | Goodbye Erik ten Hag? Thomas Tuchel meets Manchester United owner over manager job 'That's no secret' Ten Hag said the Tuchel meeting was no secret but the fact that Ratcliffe's company INEOS held the conversation when he was still the manager, came as a cultural shock to him. "That’s no secret. Everyone has heard that they have spoken to several candidates. In the Netherlands that is not done. You are not even allowed to talk to another club if there is a current trainer there. But in England the rules and laws are different. But in the end, they came to the conclusion that they have the best trainer,” After the talks with Tuchel led nowhere, the United board decided to persist with Ten Hag as bringing a new manager would have offset all the development. “The club management came to me while I was on holiday in Ibiza. They suddenly showed up on my doorstep and told me they wanted to continue with me. It was a turbulent season. Never a dull moment," Ten Hag added. The Dutchman added that although it was discussed to extend the contract, a final agreement was yet to be agreed between both parties. While Ten Hag has managed to win two trophies in his two-year stay at Old Trafford and now secured the job, the club is yet to display a cogent footballing philosophy. Oftentimes, Ten Hag has been bailed by individual brilliance from players and such a streak for a club of stature like United does not augur well regarding a long-term future. (With inputs from agencies)

Was Ten Hag backstabbed by Man United? Dutchman reveals how club contacted other managers

An England fan and a police officer were left with head injuries on Sunday (Jun 16) after hooligans attacked a bar where Serbia supporters were drinking before their team's Euro 2024 opening match against the Three Lions, scheduled for later in the evening.&nbsp;

Pictures of the English fan with a bloodied head in the German city of Gelsenkirchen went viral on social media while video clips showed the two factions fighting each other by hurling tables, chairs and other objects.&nbsp;

According to a report in the Guardian,&nbsp;the incident took place shortly after 3:30 pm local time where Serbian fans, outside the bar were targeted with projectiles. Other media reports claimed that&nbsp;Serbia's arch-rivals Albania and its hooded supporters launched the attack, claiming to be English fans.&nbsp;

The perpetrators of the violence fled the scene as soon as&nbsp;about 200 German riot police arrived.

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England and Serbia fans clashing in the streets of Gelsenkirchen. 
 
😨 <a href="https://t.co/SljpQLySRU">pic.twitter.com/SljpQLySRU</a>
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBAwayDays/status/1802347596666568900?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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English fans attacked Serbian fans at a cafe in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, before Serbia takes on England today in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EURO2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EURO2024</a>. 
 
The result? 
 
The English fans quickly learned the meaning of “FAFO” as they had to scatter down the street like rats. <a href="https://t.co/RLqS9UYg1z">pic.twitter.com/RLqS9UYg1z</a>
— Aleks Djuricic (@AleksDjuricic) <a href="https://twitter.com/AleksDjuricic/status/1802356699904307322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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(TRIGGER WARNING: The below-mentioned media might be triggering for some. Please proceed at your own caution)

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Fights have broken out between groups of England and Serbia fans. 
 
Please stay safe out there if you are in the Gelsenkirchen area. 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇷🇸<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EURO2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EURO2024</a> <a href="https://t.co/dTK1hckftP">pic.twitter.com/dTK1hckftP</a>
— Euro 24 Hub (@Euro24Hub) <a href="https://twitter.com/Euro24Hub/status/1802346868132782168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The unfortunate incident took place despite security being heightened after intel reports indicated that a squad of 500 Serbian hooligans might attempt to engage in a violent confrontation with the English supporters.

As many as 40,000 English fans are expected to have arrived in the city for the match while between 5,000 to 8,000 Serbian supporters have also made the journey for the match which will be played at the Veltins Arena -&nbsp;home to Bundesliga 2 club Schalke.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-500-serbians-to-engage-in-violence-at-englands-first-match-in-germany-report-730573">Also read |&nbsp;Euro 2024: 500 Serbians to engage in violence at England's first match in Germany - Report</a>

<h2>Axe-wielding attacker shot</h2>

Earlier in the day, an axe-wielding man was shot by the German police in the&nbsp;Reeperbahn district of Hamburg before the Netherlands vs Poland match.&nbsp;

The area where almost 40,000 Dutch fans had gathered was subsequently cleared around 12:30 p.m. CET (6:30 am ET) before the security agencies shot the attacker.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/football/euro-2024-axe-wielding-man-shot-by-german-police-ahead-of-poland-vs-netherlands-match-732261">Also read |&nbsp;Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man shot by German police ahead of Poland vs Netherlands match</a>

Police said the man was also carrying an incendiary device, probably some kind of Molotov cocktail. The media reports said police used pepper spray against the attacker before deploying a firearm.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

An England fan and a police officer were left with head injuries on Sunday (Jun 16) after hooligans attacked a bar where Serbia supporters were drinking before their team's Euro 2024 opening match against the Three Lions, scheduled for later in the evening.

An England fan and a police officer were left with head injuries on Sunday (Jun 16) after hooligans attacked a bar where Serbia supporters were drinking before their team's Euro 2024 opening match against the Three Lions, scheduled for later in the evening. Pictures of the English fan with a bloodied head in the German city of Gelsenkirchen went viral on social media while video clips showed the two factions fighting each other by hurling tables, chairs and other objects. According to a report in the Guardian, the incident took place shortly after 3:30 pm local time where Serbian fans, outside the bar were targeted with projectiles. Other media reports claimed that Serbia's arch-rivals Albania and its hooded supporters launched the attack, claiming to be English fans. The perpetrators of the violence fled the scene as soon as about 200 German riot police arrived. England and Serbia fans clashing in the streets of Gelsenkirchen. 😨 pic.twitter.com/SljpQLySRU — Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) June 16, 2024 × English fans attacked Serbian fans at a cafe in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, before Serbia takes on England today in #EURO2024. The result? The English fans quickly learned the meaning of “FAFO” as they had to scatter down the street like rats. pic.twitter.com/RLqS9UYg1z — Aleks Djuricic (@AleksDjuricic) June 16, 2024 × (TRIGGER WARNING: The below-mentioned media might be triggering for some. Please proceed at your own caution) Fights have broken out between groups of England and Serbia fans. Please stay safe out there if you are in the Gelsenkirchen area. 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇷🇸#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/dTK1hckftP — Euro 24 Hub (@Euro24Hub) June 16, 2024 × The unfortunate incident took place despite security being heightened after intel reports indicated that a squad of 500 Serbian hooligans might attempt to engage in a violent confrontation with the English supporters. As many as 40,000 English fans are expected to have arrived in the city for the match while between 5,000 to 8,000 Serbian supporters have also made the journey for the match which will be played at the Veltins Arena - home to Bundesliga 2 club Schalke. Also read | Euro 2024: 500 Serbians to engage in violence at England's first match in Germany - Report Axe-wielding attacker shot Earlier in the day, an axe-wielding man was shot by the German police in the Reeperbahn district of Hamburg before the Netherlands vs Poland match. The area where almost 40,000 Dutch fans had gathered was subsequently cleared around 12:30 p.m. CET (6:30 am ET) before the security agencies shot the attacker. Also read | Euro 2024: Axe-wielding man shot by German police ahead of Poland vs Netherlands match Police said the man was also carrying an incendiary device, probably some kind of Molotov cocktail. The media reports said police used pepper spray against the attacker before deploying a firearm. (With inputs from agencies)

Euro 2024: Violent clashes erupt in German city hours before England vs Serbia match

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