6/20/24
Group C
Slovenia 1 vs. Serbia 1

Last gasp Luka keeps Serbia alive

Mark Strange, 38 min ago
Luka Jović scored a last-gasp equaliser for Serbia at the Allianz Arena in Munich to secure a 1-1 draw against Serbia and keep their hopes of reaching the UEFA European Championship knockout stages alive.

Both sides knew three points could well be essential to their respective hopes of sealing progression into the last 16. Slovenia, though, were in a slightly better position considering they came into this clash with a point already to their name, and they started positively. Adam Gnezda Čerin took advantage of some slack Serbian defending and forced Predrag Rajković into a save.

It took until shortly before the half-hour mark for Serbia to trouble Jan Oblak as Dragan Stojković’s side looked to recover from their 1-0 defeat to England. Juventus forward Dušan Vlahović got himself in front of Vanja Drkušić, but his diving header was well stopped by the Atlético Madrid keeper.

The best chance of the first half fell the way of Slovenia on 37 minutes, when Timi Max Elšnik crashed a shot off the post before the usually clinical Benjamin Šeško screwed the rebound over. Despite a late flurry from Serbia, which saw Aleksandar Mitrović’s close-range effort smothered by Oblak, the half ended as only the second without a goal so far this tournament. Straight from the restart, Mitrović linked up well with captain Dušan Tadić, only for Oblak to deny him yet again. Then, Jaka Bijol had Slovenian hearts in mouths as he sliced sub Mijat Gaćinović’s cross just over his own crossbar.

No game at Euro 2024 had previously gone as long without a goal, but Žan Karničnik made sure it did not end without the back of the net rippling. The right back pick-pocketed Gaćinović in the 68th minute and went on a powerful run into the Serbian half before playing it out left to Elšnik. He then continued his run untracked and was picked out at the back post to slide home.

Serbia almost hit back immediately, with Andrija Živković’s cross being met by Mitrović, but he rattled the crossbar from close range as Serbian frustrations grew. It seemed they would depart empty-handed but, with the allotted five minutes of stoppage time already up, Jović headed Ivan Ilić’s corner into the bottom corner to send the Balkan nation’s supporters into raptures. Stojković’s men now face Denmark on Tuesday with renewed hope, while Slovenia, who have two points, take on England.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Luka Jović (Serbia)

Slovakia Serbia

6/20/24
Group C
Denmark 1 vs. England 1

Great Danes frustrate tame Three Lions

Ben Sully, 19 min ago
England spurned their first opportunity to reach the 2024 UEFA European Championship knockout rounds after they produced an underwhelming performance to draw 1-1 with Denmark in Frankfurt, ensuring it will be all to play for in the final group game.

After scoring an early goal in the 1-0 win over Serbia, the Three Lions made another impressive start against Denmark, requiring just 18 minutes to break the deadlock in Frankfurt. Kyle Walker was the architect, showing great persistence to win the ball high up the pitch before his cross diverted into the path of Harry Kane, who produced a simple finish to become the third England player to score in four different major tournaments. However, England failed to build upon Kane’s 64th international strike, adopting a passive approach before they were ultimately punished by Morten Hjulmand’s 34th-minute piledriver. The midfielder was given ample time to wind up a fierce long-range shot, fizzing it in off the post to send the Danish contingent into raptures.

Following a disappointing end to the first period, England offered a positive response in the opening stages of the second half. In his final act before being replaced by Conor Gallagher, Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a sublime long pass to pick out Bukayo Saka, who could only steer his header into the side-netting from a narrow angle. Not long after, Phil Foden nearly caught Kasper Schmeichel off guard, crashing the ball off the upright with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Those brief moments of promise could not dissuade Gareth Southgate from making further changes, introducing Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze and Ollie Watkins in one fell swoop. The latter was soon involved in the thick of the action, racing onto Jude Bellingham’s defence-splitting pass before forcing Schmeichel into a near-post stop.

England were quickly reminded they needed to remain vigilant at the opposite end of the pitch, with Jordan Pickford diving at full stretch to keep Pierre-Emile Højbjerg at bay. Højbjerg then unleashed another long-range strike after capitalising on a Bellingham error, leaving a relieved Pickford to watch the ball whistle wide of his goal. England ultimately had to be content with a point, which still leaves them top ahead of their final group game against Slovenia, while Denmark are left in second spot with two points to their name.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Morten Hjulmand (Denmark)

Denmark Englan

6/20/24
Group B
Spain 1 vs. Italy 0

Cala-fury for muted Italy as Spain sparkle

Spain qualified for the knockout stages of the 2024 UEFA European Championship with a game to spare after beating Italy 1-0 in their 11th encounter at a major tournament - a record between two European nations.

With this their fifth meeting in as many European Championships, these two international giants are familiar foes as they both took to the field in search of successive group stage wins. Despite having suffered elimination at the expense of Italy at both Euro 2016 and Euro 2020, Spain have already proved they are not a team stuck in the past. Their whitewash first game triumph over Croatia saw them win the game despite having less possession - the first time since the Euro 2008 final that they had less of the ball in a game.

Still, La Roja saw plenty of the ball early on here, and some sublime build-up saw Pedri’s header draw a remarkable save from Gianluigi Donnarumma. Italy struggled to adapt to Spain’s tempo and Nico Williams spurned his own golden headed chance after 10 minutes, nodding past the post when found in acres of space. As the half progressed, the Italians looked to strike on the counter, but there was little doubt who was in charge as Álvaro Morata flashed a shot at Donnarumma before the keeper pulled off another fine save from Fabián Ruiz’s long-range effort.

Having seen an early chance thwarted within 90 seconds of the first half, there was early second-half symmetry as Pedri sent his 12-yard effort wide of the goal. Considering their inability to find the back of the net, perhaps Spain coach Luis de la Fuente breathed a sigh of relief when his side eventually took the lead courtesy of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori’s unfortunate own goal with 55 minutes gone - though it was undoubtedly a deserved one for La Roja.

There was a hint of Spain’s golden era about the way this side moved the ball around, with the Azzurri unable to keep up with the tormenting young trio of Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Williams. The latter nearly scored one of the goals of the tournament with 20 minutes to go, curling a brilliant effort onto the woodwork from the edge of the box.

Only finally making inroads into La Roja’s defence with 10 minutes to go, it was a case of too little, too late for an Italian outfit that will be hoping for much more in what is now a crucial final group stage game against Croatia. Spain, meanwhile, continue to defy some critics and look to be playing their best football ahead of their contest against Albania.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Pedri (Spain)

Spain Italy