In other non-Euro international news, Manchester City’s Ferran Torres and Rodri will not turn out for Spain at the Tokyo Olympics after their manager, Pep Guardiola, put his foot down.
“Ferran Torres and Rodri [are] not going because they went to the Euros. It’s too much,. One tournament in a summer is enough. The clubs are the ones who pay the players and they need to protect their assets.”
“The current match calendar is brutal and yet new competitions and tournaments keep being created,” Guardiola added in a broadside at this new-fangled ‘Olympics’ nonsense. Pep also backed Luis Enrique in trademark style: “You can’t know how happy I am for Luis Enrique. He deserves all this and more.”
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Nations League finals, eh? Yeah, I had forgotten about them too. The four-team knockout will be played in Italy this October. It will feature one Euro 2020 finalist, as Italy and Spain are there, meeting in the first semi-final at San Siro. Belgium will play France in Turin before the winners meet in the final on 10 October. Something to look forward to during the long, dull domestic break.
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Martínez likely to stay on with Belgium
Speculation had been rife that Roberto Martínez might call time on his tenure as Belgium manager after their Euro 2020 exit. But the latest reports suggest the Spaniard will stay on for the 2022 World Cup cycle and Nations League finals.
“Tomorrow we are already starting preparations for the [next] matches,” chief executive Peter Bossaert told Belgian radio. “Roberto Martínez will be there. No official communication will follow, but there is no reason to change the staff.”
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"Remember lads, the accumulation of wealth at one pole is at the same time the accumulation of misery, agony of toil, slavery, ignorance, brutality, and mental degradation at the opposite pole. Also stay tight on Højbjerg." pic.twitter.com/gnL8xrowJo
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) July 5, 2021
Harry Maguire on Denmark: “It’s been really inspiring their journey,” he said of Wednesday’s opponents. “First and foremost our thoughts have always been with Christian [Eriksen] and his recovery and we’re all right behind that. They’re a good team. They’ve proved that for years, they’re a top team, the highest-ranked team we will have played in this competition. They’re a strong team with great leaders in their team, great experience. We know it will be a tough game, but we’re really focused on ourselves.”
Griezmann and Dembele issue ‘apologies’ after race row
Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele have both released statements apologising after a video of the pair appearing to mock Asian hotel staff in Japan was circulated on social media over the weekend.
Purported to have been recorded by Dembele in 2019, the video shows the France and Barcelona teammates laughing at staff attempting to fix a television in their hotel room. In it, Dembele is heard referring to “ugly faces” and “backward language” while Griezmann can be heard laughing.
“Hello all, during these last few days, a private video dating back to 2019 has been circulating on social media,” Dembele wrote in an Instagram post. “It all took place in Japan. It could’ve taken place anywhere on the planet and I would’ve used the same expression.
“I was therefore not targetting any community. I just happened to use this type of expression with my friends regardless of their origins. This video has since been made public. I appreciate therefore that it could’ve hurt the people present in these images. Because of this, I would like to sincerely apologise to them.”
Following criticism on social media, Griezmann issued a statement of his own. “I have always been completely against all forms of discrimination,” he said. “For the past few days, certain people have wanted to paint me as someone that I am not. I firmly refute the accusations made against me and I’m sorry if I have offended any of my Japanese friends.”
It is not the first time Griezmann has found himself in this kind of trouble. In 2017 the 30-year-old posted a photo of himself on social media dressed in “blackface” for a fancy-dress party.
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Harry Maguire on Gareth Southgate: “Well ever since I made my England debut I think Gareth has been brilliant for this team,” he said. “He sits here and gives us all the plaudits but we appreciate the job he’s doing and the way that he sets us up and his man-management skills. I can’t speak highly enough of Gareth and his coaching staff and the way that he’s gone about his business over the last four years.
“He’s proved over the last four years that as an England manager it’s always hard to please everyone, especially the public, in terms of the way he sets up and selection. But we trust him. Whatever team he picks or whatever style of play he wants to go with, it’s the best one for the job.”
More from Maguire: “The motivation is there,” he said, surprising nobody. “It’s the semi-final of the European Championship. Losing the semi-final at the World Cup hurt a lot. So we need to make sure when it comes on Wednesday night we get a positive feeling rather than the one we got against Croatia.
“I think we’re in a lot better place than we were. The experience of that, we’ve learnt from it and also the experience of the games in between as well, for example the Nations League. We’ve had a lot of big games in that period to improve and a lot of time spent together on the training pitch, friendlies and qualifiers. Every game we play we feel we improve.
“In this tournament, from the first game to the Ukraine game, there’s a lot of differences in the principles that we’re demanding from each other. Of course we’re in a better place now, but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
Harry Maguire on Gareth Southgate: “I would be so happy for him if we went the distance,” he said. “Winning it was the aim before the tournament and it remains the aim now. I would be so happy for the whole county if we went on to win it. We are on the journey together and it is going well at the moment - I hope it carries on. I can’t speak highly enough of Gareth and what he has done for me and this team.”
Harry Maguire speaks. Well, he’s about to. The England central defender, who has been so impressive since returning from his ankle injury, is due to address the ladies and gentlemen of the Fourth Estate any minute now.
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So, @federicochiesa, how much do you know about Spain? 🤔#VivoAzzurro #EURO2020 #ITA #ITAESP pic.twitter.com/xvJicNZERY
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@azzurri) July 5, 2021
Here’s the new official match ball for the #EURO2020 semi-finals and final! pic.twitter.com/Em2N62jUVw
— UEFA (@UEFA) July 5, 2021
England v Denmark: Danish midfielder Andreas Christensen has been chatting ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final and has said he fancies his side to give England a good game.
“I feel like we have the qualities to play against everyone,” he said. “As a team, I would not say they are that much better,” he said. Read on ...
Lundstram signs for Rangers. The Scottish champions have announced the signing of John Lundstram, whose contract with Sheffield United expired last week, on a three-year deal. The 27-year-old midfielder from Liverpudlian has made 62 Premier League appearances for the Blades across the past two seasons.
“John is a player I have known for some time and knew he would enhance our squad,” said Rangers boss Steven Gerrard in a statement on the Rangers website. “Having played in the Premiership, he has the undoubted quality to enhance our midfield with his technical ability and physicality and I was impressed with his attitude and ambition when we spoke over recent weeks. John is a winner and knows what is required to succeed at a club of this stature.
“He will add steel and presence to our midfield along with his quality which makes our squad much stronger, and to procure a player of John’s profile and experience is very pleasing. Myself and the staff are looking forward to working with John. We know he is also very excited to get started at Rangers.”
Declan Rice: The England midfielder has been talking to the Official England podcast and has revealed that he has spent lots of his downtime while on Euro 2020 duty with England talking to celebrity West Ham fan ... James Corden.
“He was with Mark Noble at the Germany game so I spoke to them after and they were buzzing,” said Rice. “There are people who don’t even like football or don’t sit down and watch it and now it is a ritual to lock in and watch the games in this tournament.
“James Corden said to me, ‘Do you actually understand what you are doing?’ and I don’t really. It has not hit me yet and even when the tournament has finished it probably won’t hit me until my career finishes.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves but we know what is ahead of us and hopefully we can achieve a massive dream.”
Speaking about England’s win over Ukraine, Rice felt England went about their job professionally at the Stadio Olimpico and said it was nice to play a game away from Wembley for the first time in the tournament.
“It was an unbelievable night, the pressure was on us to go out and win because a lot of people expected us to beat Ukraine,” he said. “So we had to go out there and put a performance in and I think the early goal from H [Harry Kane] really settled us.
“The game just really opened up and it was pretty much an easy night, one we could take control of and really control the game, pass the ball and there were loads of positives.
“It was different but it was really nice to break it up and get away for a little bit. Obviously we have been in the UK for quite a while now so to get to Rome, lovely weather and an amazing stadium, to play there in a quarter-final is something ticked off.”
James Corden, eh.
Pre-season: While England’s players remain focussed on the Euros, plenty of their colleagues who play in the Premier League are back at their clubs to begin pre-season training today ahead of the big kick-off on the weekend commencing Friday 13 August, when Brentford will host Arsenal.
England training: Bukayo Saka recovered from a knock and trained on Monday as England built up towards the Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark.
Having topped Group D unbeaten, the Three Lions followed up a 2-0 win against Germany in the last 16 by beating Ukraine 4-0 in Rome at the weekend. Saka started against Germany last Tuesday but was not included in the squad for Saturday’s match at the Stadio Olimpico due to a slight knock.
But the 19-year-old was back training with the rest of the 26-man squad on Monday as Gareth Southgate’s side stepped up their preparations for the Denmark semi-final. “He should be fine,” Southgate said on Sunday. “He did declare himself available for the game but we had not really had the chance to see him on the pitch and working at the level we felt would vindicate that decision. He will go back into full training with the group [on Monday] and he should be fine, yeah.” PA Sport.
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In Arsene we trust. Mr Wenger was a guest on beIN Sports on Saturday night and was complimentary about England’s performance.
“It was the perfect night for English football,” he said. “The perfect night for the English team. They didn’t concede a goal, they secured an easy qualification and they could rest important players.
“They scored three goals from crosses. Sometimes small things cause a big impact. Certainly the fact that Ukraine lost a centre back in the first half had an impact on the goals they conceded in the second half. They didn’t even jump for the crosses! They’re free headers. It’s not expected at that level
“What was important for me tonight, for them, is that they didn’t concede a goal. As long as you don’t concede a goal the team focuses on defending well. That will be an important quality to go to the final and to win it”.
"They have not found the complete formula offensively, but they have not conceded a goal!"
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) July 3, 2021
Arsène Wenger has labelled England as "super favorites" for Euro 2020, hailing the defensive stability of the side. #beINEURO2020 #EURO2020 #UKRENG
Watch Now - https://t.co/RRmQgctETJ pic.twitter.com/dSarCanxBl
Marcus Christenson’s Denmark scouting report
A big noise on the Guardian football desk and a native of parts Scandinavian, Marcus is well placed to analyse the strengths, weaknesses, tactics and key men of Denmark ahead of their semi-final against England. Read on ...
Leonardo Spinazolla: The unfortunate Italy full-back, one of the stars of Euro 2020, ruptured his achilles tendon during Italy’s quarter-final win over Belgium. With his team-mates currently en route from Florence to Luton Airport on a charter flight, the Roma man has travelled to Finland to undergo surgery on his injury. We wish him well.
Italy’s footballers will be based in Harrow for the build-up to tomorrow night’s semi-final and will train at Barnet’s ground The Hive later this afternoon.
Italy v Spain: Speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s semi-final, Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal claimed his side are capable of beating Italy or anyone else on their day. “If we play as we know, we can beat anyone” he said. “We just have to trust our idea of football.
“Italy have great players and it will be a very complicated game, they have shown their level and we know they are in a great moment. But the same goes for us.”
The Real Sociedad forward claimed luck had nothing to do with their win over Switzerland in a penalty shoot-out, where he scored the decisive penalty. “We study goalkeepers and penalty shooters,” he said. “We have worked on penalties these days and surely the others will have done the same. It’s not a lottery, there’s a lot of work behind it.”
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Lovely idea but what we’re looking at here is a four minute song with an 86 minute prog improvisation in the middle. https://t.co/Ax6s6qEhKI
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) July 5, 2021
Italy v Spain: Nicolo Barella spokeg to the press at his squad’s Coverciano training base yesterday. “The Spain side that won Euro 2012 had a collective and a midfield of great players, champions like Xavi and Iniesta inspired everyone, not just me, but I have different characteristics,” he said. “Today there is Busquets, who has been among the best in the world for many years.”
From his own side, he singled Jorginho and Marco Verratti out for praise. “They are the two phenomenal players who direct the game for us,” he said. “I’m more focused on attacking. Jorginho rarely makes a mistake, he always chooses the right solution.”
Arsenal are still working on final details to sign Albert Sambi Lokonga. Personal terms agreed, €17.5m + €4.5m add ons offered but future sale percentage to be discussed. 🇧🇪 #AFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 5, 2021
Lokonga is not present at Anderlecht’s training camp, as @hlninengeland and @pjcalcoen reported.
Danny Ings: Perhaps a little unlucky to have been left out of England’s squad for Euro 2020, Danny Ings has turned down the offer of a new four-year deal from Southampton. The 28-year-old has just begun the final year of his current deal and is rumoured to be the subject of interest from both Manchester City and Manchester United after scoring 14 goals for Saints last season.
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Kasper Hjulmand speaks ...
Denmark have been in four major tournament semi-finals, most recently when they won the European Championship in 1992 when their players were summoned from assorted beaches around the world at short notice following the disqualification from the tournament of the former Yugoslavia, which had jusat broken up and was in the throes of civil war. Their current manager, Kasper Hjulmand has been talking ahead of Wednesday’s game.
“Going into Wembley with 60,000 [England fans] is a motivation and of course the motivation for us is to silence this crowd,” he said. “We know it’s going to be difficult but the boys are ready. All of them play on a big stage on a daily basis.”
Denmark’s Jannik Vestergaard also added his two cents. “England have a lot of famous players in the attacking part but they haven’t conceded yewt at this tournament so I think a lot of credit has to go to the defensive organisation in general,” said the Southampton defender.
A lunchtime recital with Barney Ronay and Jonathan Liew
Two of the Guardian’s finest and funniest football writers will be getting their livestreamed chat on at 1pm (BST) on Friday ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2020 final. You are welcome to join them, free of charge, for what could be a preview of England’s most important football match since 1966 ... or a post mortem of where it all went horribly wrong for Gareth Southgate’s brave boys in the semi-final against Denmark.
Whatever the subject of what promises to be an entertaining discussion, you can rest assured that there are far worse ways than passing an hour in the company of these excellent journalists. Click on this link to register for Friday’s event.
Good morning everyone. It seems today is another day for England fans to bask in the glorious improbability of such an easy win in the knockout stages of a major tournament, before the nerves kick in ahead of Wednesday night’s semi-final against Denmark at some point tomorrow. Mason Mount and Declan Rice certainly didn’t look too stressed out as they relaxed in the pool at St George’s Park yesterday.
It falls to me to pass over this blog into the warm hands of Barry Glendenning.
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There’s a Smiths lyric gag to be had here somewhere but I started something I couldn’t finish.
Tottenham are set to beat Manchester United to the signing of Miralem Pjanic thanks to Fabio Paratici, with Barcelona ready to allow the midfielder to depart.
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) July 5, 2021
And memories of that 2012 final abound. From Sid Lowe here in 2012, it was the moment that Spain team announced itself as the most dominant of all. They also met at Euro 2016, with Italy gaining revenge, and Giorgio Chiellini, ever present in tournaments since 2008, though it feels like 1978, getting one of the goals.
The socials are in ahead of Tuesday’s rerun of the Euro 2012 final.
Keep pushing, #Azzurri! 💪#VivoAzzurro #EURO2020 #ITA #ITAESP pic.twitter.com/pPu3j2CtKQ
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@azzurri) July 4, 2021
📸 ¡¡ÚLTIMO ENTRENAMIENTO ANTES DEL VIAJE!!
— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) July 5, 2021
✈️ La @SeFutbol vuela esta tarde destino Londres para disputar mañana las semifinales de la #EURO2020 ante Italia.
💪🏻 Antes, el equipo realiza el entrenamiento oficial en la Ciudad del Fútbol.#SomosEspaña pic.twitter.com/Vjdaocep1o
Robert Kitson on how everything’s coming up England. And maybe Britain and Ireland too.
Imagine, for comparison’s sake, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland coming together to compete as one in the European football championship. And, in some instances, being permitted only a few days’ preparation? How much chance of immediate success would they have? The only possible option is to do what the Lions have traditionally done: subvert their egos to the broader cause, hold tackle bags for others in the pouring rain if required and laugh along with mates who, days ago, were remote, unknown rivals.
Sir Gareth spoke to HM Press Corps yesterday.
It’s great to be coming back now. To go and have that different environment, preparation, focus was definitely helpful. But now to be coming back to Wembley is a great thing for us. It’s not for me to tell the fans how to be or what to be.
Transfer news from Fabrizio Romano: from what I have seen of this player, he is seriously good. And therefore would probably be a total disaster. But he’s a huge talent.
Camavinga, who has been selected for this month’s Olympics, last August became – at 17 years, nine months and 17 days – the youngest player called into a France senior squad since 1932. He came on against Croatia the following month, becoming their youngest debutant since 1914, according to Opta.
Political balance corner, though only one of them gets the Three Lions lyrics right.
Incredible result. Huge credit to Gareth Southgate and the team. It’s coming home! #ENGUKR pic.twitter.com/FDfut91dDo
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 3, 2021
An outstanding performance by @England tonight.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 3, 2021
We're all behind you for the semi-finals, bring it home 🏴
The latest from the political/non-political Uefa algorithm that nobody understands.
Uefa said in a statement on that occasion that it had no choice than to reject the action on the grounds that it “contravened its regulations as a political and neutral organisation”. It said due to the “political context” of the application, “a message aiming at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament”, Uefa had to decline the request.
David Hytner on England’s “leadership group”.
This is what the holy grail of tournament management looks like: players on the fringes making contributions, those off the pitch happy for them, fully supportive, prioritising the collective. If a team at these finals is only as strong as the attitude of its 26th squad member, England are in good shape for the semi-final against Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday.
Sid Lowe spoke to César Azpilicueta.
All the way back to my time with the Spanish categorías inferiores, we had the same DNA: control the play, combine, carry the weight of the game. Also, when I first started coming at 15, I did everything as I would in the senior squad, so that when the moment came you feel like you have lived this before, like you know what it’s like to be at a tournament. Every coach has their touch and Luis Enrique wants more intensity, we’re more aggressive. The intensity he likes has got us here.
Barney Ronay on this England.
At times it feels as though more creative energy has been poured into deconstructions of why England aren’t the very best, than into making sure they’re good enough. We were always nearly complete, always nearly so sweet. And nothing has ever been whiter than the Queen’s white gloves.
Marcus has also submitted a scouting report on the Danes.
Coach Hjulmand was originally supposed to take over from Hareide after Euro 2020 but because of the pandemic-enforced delay ended up coming in a year before the tournament. He has been a huge success. He shot to fame at Nordsjælland, winning the club’s first league title in 2012. A failed stint at Mainz, where he replaced Thomas Tuchel, did not dampen his enthusiasm. He returned to Nordsjælland before being approached to take over the national team. “He has been very important,” says Mæhle. “He is good at talking with the players and giving that freedom that many players need. He is a good coach and now a friend for us, too.”
Marcus Christenson’s got the power, and ranks England as number one.
England face Denmark at Wembley in the semi-finals on Wednesday believing they can go all the way.
Gulp...
The transfer window is open so there will plenty more where this came from when the Euros is done a week from now.
“Keeping him is not just my goal, it’s our goal as a club,” Paratici, who joined Tottenham last month after leaving Juventus, told Sky in Italy. “I can’t wait to watch him play live. I’ve been really lucky in the past years because I’ve watched a lot of top players and strikers, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Álvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuaín, and many more which now I forgot about.”
Let’s start with a trip down Memory Lane from the ever excellent Nick Ames, who will be writing a similar piece on Denmark in 17 years...
So the only target we had at Euro 2004 was to be competitive, represent the country with pride, and improve on that dreadful record in America. We had the inner belief that we could do that, but we didn’t really have the goal of qualifying from our group, it didn’t seem a realistic approach. We were just 100% determined to change the way we had approached that World Cup.
Happy Monday ...
Here we all are again, as the semi finals approach. The excitement is building across Italy, Spain, Denmark and dear old England as London takes on the role of host for the semis and final.
We will be hearing from the camps of all four teams, and there’s plenty of red-hot Euro 2020 content planned for the day. Let’s face it, the English are getting very very excited, and many a politician and member of the Westminster bubble have been getting in on the fun, expounding their views on the ‘footy’. Even Wimbledon is taking a back seat.
Heady times then, and we’ll attempt to bring you the best of what’s out there throughout the day.
