Euro 2024 LIVE: Harry Kane calls emergency meeting as Ronaldo safety concerns raised

Euro 2024 fans have been gushing over a genius throw-in routine from Group E dark horses Slovakia.

Eagle-eyed viewers spotted the routine, which sees a player hand over responsibility to his team-mate, before making a darting run to the byline and crossing into the box.

It worked a treat against Ukraine last week, with the move leading to Slovakia’s opener.

Scotland’s players have left their base in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and started their journey home to the UK.

The squad was greeted by fans outside their hotel, with many still singing ans playing music despite the exit. According to the Scotsman, Callum McGregor, Angus Gunn, Scott McTominay, Che Adams, Tommy Conway and John McGinn have made their own travel arrangements and will not travel with the rest of the group.

Gary Lineker has argued he has to be ‘balanced’ after Harry Kane hit out at ex-players criticising the England team.

On Monday’s Rest is Football podcast, Lineker said:”Can you imagine if we went on and said ‘well, I thought they played really well’? We’d be lying for a start and Harry knows that they didn’t play well.

“And there’s one bit there – where he said ‘they have responsibilities being ex-England players and they should know, they know what it’s like. It’s not like they’ve won anything’ or words to that effect.

“Fine and he’s absolutely right. But the last thing in the world we want to be is downbeat and critical. We want the England team to perform well on the pitch, the best punditry of all is when England play well and we’re excited and enthusiastic about them.

“We don’t want to be critical. But we have to be sometimes. We have to be balanced as well.”

David Moyes is the new favourite to replace Steve Clarke as Scotland boss.

According to BonusCodeBets, the former West Ham man is 6/4 to take over after the Tartan Army exited Euro 2024.

Next Scotland manager odds: David Moyes 6/4; Lee Carsley 2/1; Derek McInnes 3/1; Alex Neill 7/2; Roy Keane and Steven Gerrard 4/1; Frank Lampard 5/1; Graham Potter 8/1 Michael Beale and Neil Lennon 10/1; Russell Martin 25/1; Steve Evans 50/1; Dwight Yorke 100/1.

Conor Gallagher will reportedly replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in the starting XI when England face Slovenia.

According to the Athletic, the Chelsea man will be handed his first start of Euro 2024.

READ MORE HERE.

Spain are already through to the last-16 as group winners and are set to rest players ahead of the knockout rounds when they play Albania tonight (8pm).

Italy will qualify as runners-up if they avoid defeat against Croatia (also 8pm). However, the 2020 champions will be out if they lose and Albania beat Spain.

Albania can take second if they beat Spain and Croatia beat Italy. However, if Croatia’s margin of victory is two goals greater than Albania’s, they would jump above their Group B rivals.

Croatia can also finish second if they beat Italy and Albania do not beat Spain.

Got it?

Former England striker Alan Shearer has argued the players are still behind Gareth Southgate despite mounting criticism in Germany.

“The relationship Southgate has with the players is hugely important,” he told Betfair. “You can tell that he’s got a great rapport and understanding with his players. They all like and respect him.

“He knows what he’s doing, Gareth is a bright guy, he can talk to the media and understand what is needed, which I think is important in our country. The most important thing is the players like him and respect him, you have to have that if you are going to win.”

Luke Shaw will take part in full training today for the first time since England arrived in Germany.

According to The Sun, all 26 players will take part in the session ahead of Tuesday’s crucial game with Slovenia.

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has opened up on seeing team-mate Barnabas Varga going down in the match between Hungary and Scotland.

Szoboszlai rushed to help get the stretcher on as Varga was treated for several minutes, before being stretchered off and was later declared conscious.

“I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” he told Sportal.hu “I was one of the first to be there. It was also startling to see, burned into my retina.

“I don’t understand how the protocol worked, that the paramedics can’t run or the stretcher can’t be brought in.”

Six renowned stars are among the players who will be out of contract after Euro 2024.

Kasper Schmeichel, Adrien Rabiot, Memphis Depay, Che Adams, Koen Casteels and Ricardo Rodriguez will all be available on free transfers.

READ MORE HERE.

Toni Kroos claimed Germany’s desire led to the late Niclas Fullkrug equaliser that saw them draw 1-1 with Switzerland and top Group A.

“I’m happy we made it in the end and won the group,” he told @iMiaSanMia. “We’ve shown that we believe in ourselves until the end, which is important for the team. I don’t think we deserved to go behind, we had good control of the game and rewarded ourselves in the end. Switzerland is a good team but we controlled the game and conceded with the first chance. I’m totally happy with the team.”

It’s another blockbuster day of Euro 2024 action ahead…

8.00pm: Albania vs Spain

8.00pm: Croatia vs Italy

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has been enraged after Stuart Armstrong was not awarded a penalty in the 1-0 defeat to Hungary that eliminated them from the competition.

There had been contact between Armstrong and Willi Orban inside the area on 78 minutes, but referee Facundo Tello waved away Scotland’s protests.

“It was 100 per cent a penalty,” Clarke said. “Somebody, somewhere has to explain to me why that is not a penalty. It was, 100 per cent. It was a one-goal game; if we get the penalty it can be a different night. I have other words but I am not going to use them.”

He then questioned the use of an Argentinian official for the match: “European competition, might have been better to have a European ­referee. But we had European VAR.

“Maybe the referee didn’t see the challenge clearly on the pitch so what’s the purpose of VAR if they are not going to come in on something like that? It was a penalty.”

The Hungarian Football Federation have issued a further update on Barnabas Varga, who is likely to undergo an operation soon.

Having already been ruled out of the remainder of Euro 2024 after a sickening collision that prompted a huge amount of worry, he has been confirmed to be conscious though suffered several injuries.

A statement read: “Several bones in Barnabas Varga’s face were broken during the collision during the match, and he also suffered a concussion.

“The Ferencvaros striker is most likely to undergo surgery. He spends the night in the hospital in Stuttgart. The whole team is rooting for him!”

BBC received mass complaints for showing an action replay of the incident that knocked Barnabas Varga unconscious in Scotland’s defeat to Hungary.

Gabby Logan took time on air to address the reasoning for the decision, pointing the finger at UEFA.

“All of our thoughts are with Barnabas Varga after that sickening collision, and we are updating you as we get information on his condition,” Logan explained.

“We were as shocked as you when they replayed that incident. There are protocols around those kinds of things after Christian Eriksen [collapsed] three years ago.

“We were very surprised when UEFA chose to show that replay, which is why we cut away immediately to a wide angle as soon as we could.”

Barnabas Varga suffered a horror injury during Scotland’s defeat to Hungary. A collision with Angus Gunn left the striker unconscious and requiring treatment behind a screen.

Players were in tears as Varga was stretchered off the pitch in Stuttgart before Hungary scored a winner in the 10th minute of stoppage time to dump Scotland out.

The Hungarian FA have now confirmed that the 26-year-old is in a stable condition in hospital with a promising update.

The final whistle blows in both Group A games.

Germany finish top with seven points after their late equaliser, and Switzerland finish second with five. Both teams enter the last 16 unbeaten.

Hungary are third with three points and will hope they can squeeze through as one of the four best third-place teams.

Scotland finish rock bottom after failing to win any of their matches, ending on one point.

Scotland are OUT!

Both teams have gone for it in stoppage time as they stared an early exit in the face, and Kevin Csoboth has won it for Hungary!

Scotland’s 70-year wait to progress into the knockout stages of a major tournament continues at Euro 2024.

Heartbreak for Switzerland!

They’ve defended so well, but a Niclas Fullkrug header in stoppage time looks to have earned Germany top spot in Group A!

The half-time whistle blows in both Group A matches as Switzerland lead Germany 1-0 in Frankfurt.

Scotland and Hungary are locked level at 0-0 in Stuttgart.

Well, well, well…

After Robert Andrich was denied a long-range opener for Germany due to a foul in the build-up, Switzerland have taken the lead!

Dan Ndoye met a cross first to direct the ball past Manuel Neuer and stun the Frankfurt crowd.

As it stands, Switzerland will win Group A ahead of Germany!

We’re off in both of tonight’s matches!

Stay tuned for goal updates as and when they go in…

And here is how Scotland and Hungary line up in their crucial clash in Stuttgart…

Scotland XI: Gunn; Hendry, Hanley, McKenna; Ralston, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson; McGinn, McTominay; Adams.

Hungary XI: Gulacsi; Botka, Orban, Dardai; Bolla, Styles, Schafer, Kerkez; Szoboszlai, Sallai; Varga.

Today’s matches are almost upon us!

Germany face Switzerland in Frankfurt, and the team line-ups are now out.

Germany XI: Neuer; Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Mittelstadt; Andrich, Kroos; Wirtz, Gundogan, Musiala; Havertz.

Switzerland XI: Sommer; Akanji, Schar, Rodriguez; Widmer, Xhaka, Freuler, Aebischer; Rieder; Ndoye, Embolo.

Alvaro Morata has contributed to Spain’s perfect start to Euro 2024 on the pitch, and he’s been doing his bit off it, too.

The Atletico Madrid striker was filmed cooking up a storm in the team kitchen ahead of their final Group B game against Albania.

His spaghetti carbonara went down a treat among his team-mates…

Germany can secure top spot in Group A with a draw against Switzerland in Frankfurt tonight.

And fans have been in high spirits ahead of kick-off, having a party on the streets to the tune of one man and his saxophone…

The scenes may be a little more tense in Stuttgart, where Scotland and Hungary gear up to essentially play a loser-goes-home match.

Harry Kane has hit back at Gary Lineker after the ex-England international branded the opening two Euro 2024 performances “s**t”.

Lineker and Alan Shearer tore into Gareth Southgate’s side after they drew 1-1 against Denmark on Thursday.

But ahead of a must-win final Group C clash against Slovenia, Kane has reminded pundits of how they carry themselves during their analysis.

The England captain said: “What ex-players or ex-players who are pundits now have got to realise it is very hard not to listen to it now, especially for some players who are not used to it or some players who are new to the environment.

“I always feel like they [pundits] have a responsibility – I know they have got to be honest and give their opinion but also they have a responsibility of being an ex-England player that a lot of players look up to that. People do listen to them and people do care what they say.”

Spain risk violating German law if Lamine Yamal plays the full match against Albania tomorrow night.

According to BILD, U18s are now allowed to work past 8pm local time under German law.

While athletes in the same age bracket can work until 11pm, including time for showering and media duties, Spain may be cutting it fine.

Their final Group B match will end at around 11pm and could leak over, which may result in a fine if Yamal is on the pitch at full-time.

It’s like the Simpsons ‘say-the-line Bart’ meme by now, but it’s true: Scotland have never progressed from the group stage at a major tournament.

Three years ago they finished bottom, but confidence is high ahead of tonight’s crucial clash with Hungary.

A win is the only thing that will see Scotland out of Group A, but even three points doesn’t confirm progression.

If Scotland win and Switzerland get a result against Germany, there will be a nervy wait for the Tartan Army to see if they’ve gone through as a lucky loser.

The good news though, since the format change at Euro 2016, no third-place finisher has ever finished on four points and not made it into the round of 16.

But if Germany take all three points against Switzerland, Scotland will only need the win against Hungary to qualify in second.

Jarrod Bowen has urged England fans to keep calm and carry on following their 1-1 draw with Denmark on Thursday.

England came under fire for their performance, specifically their passiveness after taking the lead early on.

A chorus of boos from the travelling England fans met the players at full-time.

But Bowen has called on fans to stick with the team this summer.

He said: “Yes, we’re disappointed that we haven’t won the game but those are the standards we have set.

“My message to the fans would be ‘keep sticking with it, keep showing the support you have because for me to experience it has been incredible.’ Stick with it and we’ll see you on Tuesday.”

Spain captain Alvaro Morata has been showing off his cooking skills while away with the national team at Euro 2024.

In a video shared to X by the official Spain account, Morata was seen cooking a carbonara dish for his team-mates.

His fellow La Roja stars appeared to enjoy the dish, proving Morata is just as adept in the kitchen as he is leading the line.

Ange Postecoglou dubbed Radu Dragusin a defender who ‘loves to defend’, admitting he’s different to the ball-dominant centre-backs popular in European football.

Postecoglou was speaking during ITV’s coverage of Belgium vs Romania, which Dragusin was playing in.

The Spurs boss said: “He’s a super kid. He really wants to learn. He actually went to Juventus at a very young age, so he has been schooled in Italian defending.

“I know it sounds weird, but he is a defender who loves defending. He loves the physical contact. He will be relishing coming up against Lukaku. Every time they clash, he will be relishing. He’s that kind of defender.”

It’s a largely accepted part of major tournament culture nowadays, with the two final group matches played simultaneously.

But the reason behind this is a little more sinister than you might think.

It dates back to the 1982 World Cup in Spain, when West Germany entered their final group game against Austria knowing a win would send both teams through.

Dubbed the ‘Disgrace of Gijon’, West Germany took the lead early on, with the game descending into a non-competitive fixture thereafter.

Algeria were the side most aggrieved by this, as they missed out on qualification, having played their final group game the day before.

It sparked a change in how group matches are played, with the two games now taking place at the same time.

It’s a sad day for football lovers across the continent, as the 2pm and 5pm slot aren’t in use at Euro 2024 today.

Instead, both matches will be played in Group A at 8pm.

Full Schedule:

Scotland vs Hungary – 8pm (BBC One)

Germany vs Switzerland – 8pm (BBC One)

Vincenzo Montella was visibly frustrated by a UEFA official’s request ahead of Turkey’s Group F clash with Portugal on Saturday.

The Turkey boss was asked for his accreditation moments after stepping off the official team coach.

But Montella wasn’t impressed, with the Italian firstly questioning the steward’s actions, before appearing to shove the accreditation in their face.

Montella’s Turkey went onto lose the game with Portugal 3-0.

Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier were both reportedly involved in a training ground row following England’s draw with Denmark.

It’s claimed the pair shared a heated exchange during a training session, with Phil Foden forced to intervene and diffuse the situation.

The pair quickly smoothed over their differences and were seen laughing and joking with each other shortly after.

READ MORE

It was a busy afternoon for Cristiano Ronaldo during Portugal’s 3-0 win over Turkey on Saturday – and not for the reason you might think.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United superstar picked up a hat-trick, not of goals, but selfies.

All in all, a whopping four people gained access to the pitch during the second half of the Group F encounter.

And Portugal boss Roberto Martinez believes his main man was lucky to have not been hurt.

Speaking after the game, he said: “It is a concern, because today we were lucky that the intentions of the fans were good.

“We all love a fan that recognizes the big stars and the big icons in their minds. We all agree with that.

“But you can understand it was a very, very difficult moment – if those intentions are wrong, the players are exposed and we need to be careful with that.

“I don’t think that should happen on a football pitch.”

Let’s face it, England’s performance against Denmark was bobbins.

There’s no way of dressing it up otherwise, and that’s something captain Harry Kane knows too.

The ex-Tottenham Hotspur star called a players’ summit following the Denmark game, as per The Sun.

It’s claimed the private meeting didn’t involve any coaches, with the idea being players could thrash out any differences they might have ahead of the Slovenia clash.

Welcome and hello to Day 10 of this summer’s European Championship! Wow, hasn’t that gone quick…

And it could prove to be Scotland’s final day at the tournament, with their crunch group game against Hungary to come later tonight.

The host nation are also in action, as Group A comes to a close.

We’ll be covering that and much more, so make sure to stick around.