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Denmark and Slovenia kick off their Euro 2024 campaigns in Stuttgart. England’s Group C rivals will hope to bank early points in the battle to advance to the knock-out stages with games against the Three Lions to come next week.
Talisman Christian Eriksen suffered a heart attack in their Euro 2020 opener against Finland but would make a successful return to the game several months later and Kasper Hjulmand believes the Manchester United midfielder can inspire his team in Germany.
“He has something you can't train yourself to do, he has a fantastic ability to see the game and find a rhythm," Hjulmand told broadcaster DR. “I have often said, paradoxically, that he is our heart, he is the pulse of our team.”
Follow all the the build-up to Denmark v Slovenia including the latest updates, following the early kick-off between Poland and Netherlands:
Euro 2024: Poland vs Netherlands LIVE
Dutch fans are certainly enjoying themselves ahead of the start of their Euros campaign!
Karl Matchett16 June 2024 13:30
Euro 2024: Poland vs Netherlands LIVE
Around 45 minutes to kick-off in Hamburg.
As a reminder, following this Group D match it’s straight onto Group C, with England in action tonight, before Group C’s other fixture sees Austria and France do battle tomorrow at 8pm, following the Group E games. Hope that’s clear...!
Karl Matchett16 June 2024 13:14
Poland vs Netherlands confirmed lineups
The teams are in!
Poland: Szczesny, Bednarek, Salamon, Kiwior, Frankowski, Zielinksi, Romanchuk, Zalewski, S Szymanski, Buksa, Urbanski
Netherlands: Verbruggen, Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake, Schouten, Veerman, Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo, Depay
Karl Matchett16 June 2024 13:03
Luka Modric, the problem with ageing, and the worst day for Croatia’s best generation
It only took Luka Modric 18 years. In 2006, the summer before Lamine Yamal was born, he was an unused substitute against Brazil at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. He didn’t quite get on the pitch then – blame manager Zlatko Kranjcar for that one – but a remarkable longevity took him back to Berlin, into historic company. For the Croatia captain, playing in a ninth major tournament meant he joined only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lothar Matthaus among Europeans. A few months before his 39th birthday, he became the oldest ever player at European Championships; though perhaps only for a few days, until Ronaldo and Pepe go past him.
A day of record-breakers, however, became an advertisement for youth, rather than experience. Lamine Yamal, the youngest footballer ever at this level, some 22 years Modric’s junior, delivered a star turn. Croatia lost 3-0 to Spain. It wasn’t quite as dramatic a case of a glorious career ending at the Olympiastadion as Zinedine Zidane’s, later in the 2006 World Cup, but it was a day to prompt questions. Are Croatia, finally, too old? Will time eventually catch up with the timeless Modric, boyish as his physique remains, baggy as the shorts are?
Jamie Braidwood16 June 2024 13:00
Poland vs Netherlands confirmed line-ups
Poland XI: Szczesny, Bednarek, Salamon, Kiwior, Frankowski, Zielinski, Romanchuk, Zalewski, Sebastian Szymanski, Buksa, Urbanski.
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen, Dumfries, de Vrij, van Dijk, Ake, Schouten, Veerman, Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo, Depay
Robert Lewandowski is named on the bench for Poland, but isn’t expected to feature.
Jamie Braidwood16 June 2024 13:00
Lamine Yamal dazzles as face of new Spain to validate clever swap at Euro 2024
A new Spain, in more ways than one. As Lamine Yamal, who was not even a year old when they won Euro 2008, became first the youngest footballer to play in a European Championships and then, before half-time, the youngest to set up a goal in one, Luis de la Fuente’s side made a break with the past.
With less possession and more potency, Spain looked a team trying to cast off the influence of their champion sides. They had 47 percent of the ball but scored three goals. After going out of successive World Cups in knockout games where they attempted over 1,000 passes each, but seemed to show precious little interest in scoring, this was Spain, but not as we knew them.
By Richard Jolly at the Olympiastadion
Jamie Braidwood16 June 2024 12:45
Hamburg police shoot man near Euro 2024 fan park ‘threatening officers with pickaxe’
Police cordon off area near fanpark following shooting of person threatening them with axe and “incendiary device”.
German newspaper Bild reported that the incident took place at 12:30pm local time, with the man attacking a police officer using a gold-tinted hammer.
Karl Matchett16 June 2024 12:43
The lingering England questions that Euro 2024 opener against Serbia will answer
On Friday night, as Germany were setting a pace for their tournament by thrashing Scotland, Gareth Southgate gathered the England squad for a meeting. The theme of this was more reflective, almost a final mission statement before it all begins. Southgate spoke about the tournaments they’ve already been through and the lessons that his staff and senior players have taken. That’s more important than usual, given that 12 of the 26 have never even been in this situation before. Southgate did also point to how some elements from the past that have served England well can now be discarded.
That doesn’t really apply to opening games, though. England actually have a fine record in such matches under Southgate, that has actually improved with each tournament. In 2018, there was the late 3-1 win over Tunisia. In Euro 2020, there was a professional – and vengeful – victory over Croatia. In 2022, there was the 6-2 evisceration of Iran. England were almost the Germany of that tournament.
By Miguel Delaney in Gelsenkirchen
Jamie Braidwood16 June 2024 12:30
Slovenia vs Denmark team news and predicted line-ups
Slovenia have injury questions over Sandi Lovric and Benjamin Verbic, who might both contend to start in midfield if fit. Miha Blazic and Peter Stojanovic are also doubts.
Simon Kjaer has retained the captaincy for Euro 2024 but the veteran centre-half is unlikely to feature in every game, with Denmark well stocked at the back. Victor Nelsson was originally named in the squad but will miss the tournament through injury.
Predicted line-ups
Slovenia XI: Oblak; Karnicnik, Brekalo, Bijol, Janza; Horvat, Elsnik, Gnezda Cerin, Mlakar; Sporar, Sesko.
Denmark XI: Schmeichel; Andersen, Christensen, Vestergaard; Kristiansen, Hjulmand, Eriksen, Hojbjerg, Bah; Hojlund, Wind.
Jamie Braidwood16 June 2024 12:20
Police confirm person with ‘incendiary device’ shot near fanzone hours before Euro 2024 match
Breaking news:
German police have confirmed that one person has been shot and taken for medical treatment, after they threatened officers with an axe and an “incendiary device” in Hamburg, just two hours before the start of a Euro 2024 fixture in the city.
“At StPauli there is currently a major police operation,” read a statement on social media from Hamburg police. “According to initial findings, a person threatened police officers with a pickaxe and an incendiary device. The police then used their firearms. The attacker was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.”
More details here:
Karl Matchett16 June 2024 12:17